174KB. Holliday Street, Attwood Green, Calthorpe Fields, Birmingham With thanks to Leo Conway for discovering this Survivor. Attached to the brickwork that marks the start of the disused Granville Street Railway Goods Tunnel is an equally disused top-entry reflector fitting of a type that was seen frequently on and adjacent railway property. This photograph, taken around 1957, shows the same fitting in place (and probably in operable condition at the time), with various sets of points diverging alongside. The scene couldn't be more different day, with the railway now a road, and all of the surrounding infrastructure having been replaced - only the tunnel mouth and this fitting are still recognisable in the modern era.
As the archival photograph shows a semaphore signal post near to where the reflector fitting is installed, the illumination may have been provided to assist engineers working on the signal after nightfall.
The left-hand fixing for the wall bracket looks rather precarious, given that much of the brick surrounding it seems to have disappeared. With this being a very hard-wearing brick type, it may have been damaged during possible attempted removal of the bracket in the past.
A short section of the steel conduit used to carry the electricity supply cables remains attached to the bracket.
The reflector fitting is also steel, and corrosion holes are visible through the enamel paintwork. The glass neck and internal support for an incandescent (GLS) lamp still remains fitted in the porcelain lampholder. The railway line looks to have closed in 1967, meaning that nearly 60 years had passed since the fitting was last required.
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