It soon became clear in the early 1870s that more covered locomotive accommodation was urgently required, and two further turntable sheds were erected alongside shed No 1 in 1874 and 1875. These housed about 22 and 30 locomotives respectively. These three sheds were designated as shed Nos 1, 2 and 3, or were sometimes referred to as 'A', 'B' and 'C'. Any visitor during the period 1875-85 would have found an impressive array of both antiquated, rebuilt or newly-constructed engines on view, ranging from 2-2-2 singles and 2-4-0 passenger engines to 0-6-0 tender engines and 0-6-0 and 0-4-0 tank engines. Perhaps the most fascinating period of all at Wolverhampton would have been from around 1855 up until the turn of the century.

Joseph Armstrong's last class of singles were the 'Queen' class 2-2-2s, and No 999 Sir Alexander was a well-known Stafford Road resident. Completed at Swindon Works in March 1875, it was rebuilt at Stafford Road Works in September 1882, with enclosed wheel splashers, a cab and various typical Wolverhampton-style fitments, such as a roll-top chimney and smokebox wing-plates. For many years the 'Queens' worked express trains from London to Swindon, Gloucester and Wolverhampton. E. L. Ahrons, writing in Locomotive and Train Working in the Latter Part of the 19th Century, tells us that Nos 999, 1000, 1116, 1121 and 1127 were all allocated to Stafford Road shed; No 1126 was also later transferred to the Northern Division.

By 1904 the 'Queens' were largely relegated to secondary work from Oxford and Swindon, their reign at Wolverhampton coming to an end when a longer turntable was installed in one of the sheds, in about 1900, enabling the larger GWR 4-2-2 locomotives to work into Wolverhampton. New locomotives continued to arrive, and by January 1902 eleven Gooch-designed 0-6-0 goods engines had also been allocated. By now Stafford Road was one of the busiest GWR operating depots in the country. In view of this situation a decision was taken to erect another shed, mainly for goods locomotives, over on the north side of the Oxley viaduct, overlooking Dunstall Park racecourse. This new 'Oxley' shed was opened on 1 July 1907. Both sheds were then operated as a joint concern, although Oxley had its own integral coaling bay from new, located in the shed yard.

In the early years at Stafford Road shed, up until 1869 a coal transfer stage was operated whereby the coal was unloaded from narrow to broad gauge wagons from an overhead ramp, for distribution between the separate sheds. Coaling of locomotives was then carried out manually from secondary stages, one of which was in the lower yard adjacent to the broad gauge shed - this coal stage is clearly shown on an 1867 plan. A basic hand-operated crane fitted with an adjustable jib and bucket-style grab was then used to load the coal on to the locomotives. This situation became increasingly unsatisfactory and time-consuming and so by 1900 a purpose-built red-brick coaling plant was erected some distance away from the locomotive sheds on the opposite side of the BCN canal. This may well have replaced an earlier 1850s coaling stage left over from broad gauge days in the same area.

Also at the south end of the new coaling plant yard was a 65ft turntable and an oil-gas manufacturing plant. These buildings were all demolished following the closure of the sheds in 1963, the last remains being swept away in about 1985. However, at the time of writing the circular turntable hollow still remains visible, together with some of the perimeter brickwork. These last few remains of the coaling bay infrastructure have been included in The Wolverhampton City Council Lock Conservation Area appraisal document issued in May 2013, as being of archaeological potential.

Some Stafford Road locomotives got VIP treatment. Writing in Locomotive Adventure, H. Holcroft recalls that (circa 1898) 'one could see an old single-wheeler moving out of the gloom of the shed into the daylight with cleaner lads clinging on to it in order to put the finishing touches to the gleaming paint and shining brass. So keen were these lads that they had to be removed so as to enable the engine to depart'. Things would be very different as regards locomotive cleaning in the years just prior to closure.

As from around 1904, the '4400' and '4500' 2-6-2Ts started to appear, the first batches having been built at Stafford Road Works until such time as construction was transferred to Swindon in 1909. Large numbers of 0-6-0STs and '517' class 0-4-2Ts were also now being built at Stafford Road Works and they were often seen in the shed yard. Tank engines in general were, of course, always a regular sight on shed, right up until closure.

With the outbreak of World War 1 only a few months away, the following 'modern' passenger locomotives were noted at Stafford Road shed in the autumn of 1913 – French- built De Glehn Compound 4-4-2 No 104 Alliance, together with 'Saint' class 4-6-0s Nos 2901 Lady Superior, 2902 Lady of the Lake, 2905 Lady Macbeth, 2906 Lady of Lynn, 2908 Lady of Quality, 2909 Lady of Provence, 2910 Lady of Shallot, 2911 Saint Agatha and 2949 Stanford Court, and four-cylinder 'Star' class 4-6-0s Nos 4004 Morning Star, 4034 Queen Adelaide and 4036 Queen Elizabeth.

French-built De Glehn Compound No 104 Alliance is at Stafford Road's coaling plant on 19 July 1924. Taken into GWR stock during 1903 and 1905 for evaluation, this class of three 4-4-2s was initially put to use on West of England expresses. However, in about 1907 they were sent north to work the Wolverhampton and Worcester trains, so Nos 102 La France, 103 President and 104 Alliance were allocated to Stafford Road shed until around 1913, when transferred away to Oxford for use on Birmingham and Wolverhampton trains. Over the years they all received standard GWR boilers, chimneys and other fitments, and they were often seen being serviced at Stafford Road shed. The three engines were eventually withdrawn between 1926 and 1928 and cut up at Swindon, although the wheels, most of the frames and the cab of No 104 lingering on in the scrapyard well into 1930. Author's Collection.