epw024629 ENGLAND (1928). Tamworth Railway Station, Tamworth, 1928

The signal, which applies to the fast through line, is tall so that on approaching the low-level station the driver can see it over the high-level line. But once close to or passing through the station, the high arm can't be seen but the low arm can.

Sidings are never strange or useless. If their purpose in life ends, they are removed! My guess is as there is a river and a bridge on the other side of the tower access has to be here. You cannot have a "facing" point off a running line and so a "trailing" one was fitted and then a "kick back" siding to reach the base of the tower. That would act as a trap to prevent runaways rolling out on to the aforementioned running line. There's a reason for everything, the hard part is thinking what it is! For this siding, a place to hold a wagon carrying chemicals to purify the water?

This siding served the water tower, allowing deliveries of fuel and water treatment supplies.

Around 1960

Tamworth No 1 signal box. Tamworth No 2 box is out of site to the west of the station.

Water is pumped to the tank on the top to provide a "head" or pressure to allow service to the surrounding area.