London Midland & Scottish Railway shunter's pole hook

Hook from a shunting pole, London, Midland & Scottish Railway, fixed to a pole at a later date.

The shunter would hold one end of the pole and use the hooked end to lift or lower the coupling joining wagons together. The pole’s length meant it was no longer necessary for shunters to move between the wagons, which was dangerous, meaning less limbs were crushed, and lives lost.