Monument Lane Loco Shed

For ten years Tony Higgs researched the history of Monument Lane Locomotive Shed.

Monument Lane existed for around 110 years, having opened in the 1850s. It was responsible for both passenger and freight services, the pick of which were main line trains from Birmingham to London, Liverpool and Manchester. Local services operated across the West Midlands as far as Staffordshire and Northamptonshire, whilst the depot was also responsible for a number of freight services around the Birmingham area, including the well known Harborne branch.

The shed was the first in Birmingham to operate diesel services, running them alongside steam from 1956.

The text is supported by many rare photographs of locomotives and buildings, which trace the history of Monument Lane from Victorian times to the 1960s.

"Tony Higgs' new book on Monument Lane provides a concise and well-illustrated history of the depot... The choice of photography has been well-considered, using good-quality images printed in sensible sizes with detailed captions... For enthusiasts of the area, the LNWR or even the LMS, this book makes a good read."

Steam Railway Magazine
March 2009