no.RS5

Railway yard, north of the west end of Devonshire Dock, Central, Barrow-in-Furness

Early twentieth century

Looking south, a shunter in a collarless white shirt and dark, high-waisted trousers with braces, uses his pole to couple/uncouple a two-plank open wagon to/from a line of similar wagons. Behind is the Furness Railway goods shed with ornate brickwork at the head of each bay. A gap between wagons allows a view of the brick arch in one bay - in fact, all have a similar arch. This is part of the annuual coupling competition which had been instigated by Furness Railway in 1887 for guards, shumters and porters. It was held on Good Friday by tradition.