Birmingham Snow Hill Station - Infrastructure Photographs

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Snow Hill station - The early years

Ref: gwrbsh1144 Birmingham Library An engraved view depicting the side elevation of the second Snow Hill station which was re-built in 1871

Ref: gwrbsh1192 D Harrison The North end of the station in 1898 showing the train shed on the left covering the main up and down platforms

Ref: gwrbsh69 British Railways The South end of the station in 1907 showing the booking halls and station entrance shortly before demolition

Ref: gwrbsh69a British Railways Close up showing the offices and passenger facilities and in the distance the train shed covering the bay platforms

Ref: gwrbsh1139 B Geen Snow Hill station's yard and parcels offices seen fronting Snow Hill with Colmore Row up the gradient on the left

Ref: gwrbsh69b British Railways Close up of an unidentified GWR 39xx class 2-6-2T locomotive standing at the head of an up local train

Ref: gwrbsh1558 P Collins Layout of Snow Hill station showing the mixed gauge trackwork with some broad gauge and standard gauge

Ref: gwrbsh1166 D Harrison The 1871 layout of Snow Hill's second station showing the changes to the track layout at both ends of the station

Ref: gwrbsh1166a D Harrison Close up of the North end of Snow Hill station showing the location of the Signal Box on the up side

Ref: gwrbsh1166b D Harrison Close up of the southern end of the station with access being available via the station access road off Livery Street

Snow Hill station - Expansion and redevelopment

Ref: gwrbsh1140 D Harrison Snow Hill's second train shed being dismantled with the aid of a timber support spanning the four through roads

Ref: gwrbsh77 Birmingham Library Looking North from the tunnel during rebuilding showing a GWR 2-6-2T locomotive at the head of a local up train

Ref: gwrbsh1640 GWR Magazine Initial steelwork construction phase of the new Snow Hill station by EC & J Keay Ltd in April 1910

Ref: gwrbsh1641 GWR Magazine The first of the main girders being lowered on to their columns by the progressive removal of the sleepers

Ref: gwrbsh1642 GWR Magazine Once the main longitudinal girders were in position 36 foot long cross girders at 12 foot intervals were erected

Ref: gwrbsh1643 GWR Magazine A picture from ground level showing the cross girders being fitted with steel supports for the third girder

Ref: gwrbsh1644 GWR Magazine A girder arriving on Pollen-wagons for the high level buildings at the south east end of Snow Hill station

Ref: gwrbsh1686 GWR Magazine A view across Snow Hill Station during the reconstruction work and showing some of the steel roof columns

Ref: gwrbsh1687 GWR Magazine The special stage in position at the North end of the station during the erection of the overall roof

Ref: gwrbsh1688 GWR Magazine The three girders that formed the special stage being moved between the two main platforms at Snow Hill

Ref: gwrbsh1683 GWR Magazine An elevation of the special stage resting on the wheeled trestles spanning the tracks between the main platforms

Ref: gwrbsh1682 GWR Magazine Sketch showing a section through one of the transverse bay trusses above the special stage supports

Ref: gwrbsh1736 GWR Main steel girders supporting the new booking hall floor above the track behind the Great Western Hotel

Ref: gwrbsh1689 GWR Magazine An advert from the GWR Magazine depicting the construction methods used in the glazing of the main roof

Ref: gwrbsh1639 GWR Magazine The article from the GWR Magazine identifing the difficulties in positioning the main longitudinal girders

Ref: gwrbsh1638 GWR Magazine A track diagram and plans of the new Snow Hill station showing the arrangement of the various levels

Ref: gwrbsh1671 GWR Magazine Contractors installing electric cable associated with the electric power signalling at Birmingham Snow Hill

Ref: gwrbsh1672 GWR Magazine A Siemens electrically powered point machine on one of the facing switches of the relief line scissors crossover

Ref: gwrbsh1670 GWR Magazine View of Birmingham Snow Hill station's North Signal Box which was opened on 31st October 1909

Ref: gwrbsh1737 GWR Fifty years after opening on 31st October 1909, Birmingham North Signal Box has one year left in service

Ref: gwrbsh1738 GWR View of the interior of Birmingham Snow Hill South Box during 1960 - the year the box was closed

Ref: gwrbsh1669 GWR Magazine A rear view of the new Siemens electro-mechanical locking frame at Birmingham North Signal Box in 1910

Ref: gwrbsh1193 Birmingham Post & Mail View of North Signal Box in 1932 showing a 'Bobby' at work 'pulling off' one of 224 electrically operated levers

Ref: gwrbsh1150 Anon View of North Signal Box which had 224 levers for controlling the points and signals to the northern approach

Ref: gwrbsh1673 GWR Magazine View of another type of Great Western Railway route indicator signal deployed at Snow Hill station

Ref: gwrbsh1742 Great Western Railway Electrically operated signals were more complex when they were interlocked with route indicators

Ref: gwrbsh1743 Great Western Railway An electrically operated double dwarf ground signal at the north end of Snow Hill station

Ref: gwrbsh1665 GWR Magazine An advertisement from the Great Western Railway Magazine of 1910 showing the new eight arm signal post

Ref: gwrbsh1740 Great Western Railway GWR photograph of the facing switch point machine adjacent to the Birmingham South Signal Box

Ref: gwrbsh1741 Great Western Railway Interior of Birmingham North Signal Box taken soon after the Signal Box opened on 31st October 1909

Ref: gwrbsh1770 Great Western Railway Official GWR Drawing of the power operated starting and shunt signals for the up platform No 12 line

Ref: gwrbsh1771 Great Western Railway Signalman carries out operations to set the route of an up train at Birmingham North Signal Box

Ref: gwrbsh1772 Great Western Railway A 1957 photograph of the interior of Birmingham North Signal Box showing the changes to equipment

Ref: gwrbsh1768 Great Western Railway The starting signals under the canopy at the end of down platform No 5 some 241 yards from the South Signal Box

Ref: gwrbsh1769 Great Western Railway Official GWR Drawing of the signals for both the down platform line under the canopy and down main line

Ref: gwrbsh1680 GWR Magazine Plan of the Sector Table located at the south end of Snow Hill station's bay platforms Nos 3 and 4

Ref: gwrbsh1679 GWR Magazine The sector table at the south end of bay platforms Nos 3 and 4 at Snow Hill Station with GWR class 2-6-2T No 3907

Ref: gwrbsh1664 GWR Magazine A view of the new Snow Hill Station as the rebuilding work nears completion, taken from a point midway up Snow Hill

Ref: gwrbsh1663 GWR Magazine Parcel traffic carried to Birmingham on the GWR passing through the parcel's yard under Snow Hill

Ref: gwrbsh1681 GWR Magazine The main platforms of Snow Hill station looking North showing how light flooded in through the main glazed roof

Ref: gwrbsh1684 GWR Magazine A view of Snow Hill station looking south towards Snow Hill Tunnel with most of the roof erected

Ref: gwrbsh76 British Railways Looking towards Bay Platforms 9 and 10 from the up platform with the Ladies Waiting Room to the right

Ref: gwrbsh1685 GWR Magazine A view of the reconstructed Snow Hill Station looking south from near Northwood Street Sidings

Ref: gwrbsh81b British Railways Close up showing the rolling stock stabled adjacent to the sector table at the end of the bay platforms

Ref: gwrbsh1690 GWR Magazine The striking buff and red terracotta elliptical arches on the platform buildings below the glazed transverse roof

Ref: gwrbsh81 British Railways View of the two bay platforms located at the Hockley end of the down island platform whilst still under construction

Ref: gwrbsh81a British Railways Close up of the work being carried out and the temporary fencing at the bay platforms on the down island platform

Ref: gwrbsh75 Postcard A view of the station's clock and concourse prior to the opening of Snow Hill's third station building in 1912

Ref: gwrbsh1873 Great Western Railway The vast new booking hall under construction in 1911 and the ornate porticos for the ticket issuing windows

Ref: gwrbsh1874 Great Western Railway The spacious Snow Hill Parcels Yard was located under platform 11 with a road exit directly on to Snow Hill

Ref: gwrbsh1875 Great Western Railway Official GWR drawing of the transverse and Longitudinal sections of the tunnel beneath the GWR Arcade

Ref: gwrbsh1645 GWR Magazine An artist's impression of how the Great Western Railway's new hotel in Colmore Row would look after completion

Ref: gwrbsh1896 Great Western Railway Two examples of the steelwork manufacturer's cast iron plates together with several other artifacts

Snow Hill station - At work

Ref: gwrbsh74 British Railways The station concourse located behind the hotel allowed vehicles to drop passengers in front of the booking offices

Ref: gwrbsh1122 Birmingham Post & Mail The Concourse shortly after its opening in 1912 with a range of vehicles standing on the driveway

Ref: gwrbsh565 KRM Pre-World War One view of Snow Hill station's concourse with both First and Third Class ticket offices on the left

Ref: gwrbsh1126a KRM Close up showing the East side of the concourse with a chauffeured driven car and horse-drawn carriage in view

Ref: gwrbsh1126b KRM Close up within the Concourse area showing queuing at the ticket offices whilst porters wait to help passengers

Ref: gwrbsh1125 Stations UK A 1960s view showing advertising hoardings around the glass roof and car parking bays in the driveway area

Ref: gwrbsh1124 Birmingham Post & Mail View of the Concourse ticket offices and the notice informing passengers that trains to London would cease

Ref: gwrbsh66 Lens of Sutton Looking towards Moor Street from the Hockley end of the down main platform with the up main platform on the left

Ref: gwrbsh66a Lens of Sutton Close up showing the scissor crossovers adjacent to the bridge carrying the lines over Great Charles Street

Ref: gwrbsh71 Lens of Sutton Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 6109 is seen approaching Snow Hill's up through road at the head of a freight from Hockley

Ref: gwrbsh72 Lens of Sutton Looking along bay Platforms 4 and 5 with two types of Diesel Multiple Units standing at the buffer stops

Ref: gwrbsh73 Lens of Sutton Looking along Platform 6 towards the South end of Snow Hill station with a DMU at the platform

Ref: gwrbsh73a Lens of Sutton Close up showing the middle portion of Platform 7 and the steps of the subway leading to the platforms

Ref: gwrbsh73b Lens of Sutton Close up of the set of steps that led down from the broad covered walkways which were accessed from either side

Ref: gwrbsh73c Lens of Sutton Close up of a three-car Diesel Multiple Unit standing at Platform 6 with passengers both alighting and boarding

Ref: gwrbsh78 Postcard Looking from the top of the steps towards Platform 5 in the foreground and towards Platform 6 in the distance

Ref: gwrbsh79 British Railways Looking from the steps leading down Platform 11, later renumbered 12, towards the platform buildings

Ref: gwrbsh80 Anon View taken alongside the steps looking towards Hockley with a breakdown train occupying the middle up road

Ref: gwrbsh80a Anon Close up showing the range of passenger facilities located on Platform 5 and 6 together with a variety of platform furniture

Ref: gwrbsh80b Anon Close up of Tyseley shed's breakdown train and crew re-railing at least one wagon derailed on the up centre road

Ref: gwrbsh80c Anon Close up showing the facilities on Platform 7 including Gentlemen's Lavatory and 3rd Class Waiting Room

Ref: gwrbsh1744 Anon View of Birmingham Snow Hill station from the rear of a departing up train in the post grouping period

Ref: gwrbsh759 Anon Looking to Hockley along the main up platform as an up express passes through on the 'down' middle road

Ref: gwrbsh1128 Birmingham Post & Mail View of the booking hall clock that kept time overlooking the Concourse at Snow hill station prior to demolition

Ref: gwrbsh70 British Railways GWR 39xx class 2-6-2T No 3907 stands on the sector table at the south end of the bay platforms Nos. 3 and 4

Ref: gwrbsh1745 Great Western Railway View of main tracks through Birmingham Snow Hill station from above the central scissor cross-over switch junctions

Ref: gwrbsh1746 Great Western Railway Photograph taken from close to the foot of the stairs from the main booking hall to the up island platform

Ref: gwrbsh1747 Great Western Railway View of the north end of Snow Hill station taken from the Birmingham North Signal Box, on the right is platform No 2

Ref: gwrbsh1129 Birmingham Post & Mail Snow Hill station's famous clock located on Platform 7 just before the demolition contractors removed it

Ref: gwrbsh1165 British Railways Looking from the overbridge towards Wolverhampton along Platform 5 whilst a train is seen standing at the platform

Ref: gwrbsh1163 M Mensing A six-coach DMU strengthened by a standard coach at the rear of the 5 40pm service to Cardiff General

Ref: gwrbsh1162 RS Carpenter A 1950 night time view of Platform 7 with staff preparing mail bags for forwarding by the next postal service

Ref: gwrbsh1168 Stations UK Platform 11 looking towards Wolverhampton with two Railcars standing in the bay platforms 9 and 10 on the left

Ref: gwrbsh1169 Stations UK Platform 7 showing on the right hand side the glazed side walls which fronted onto the Snow Hill side of station

Ref: gwrbsh1184 GWR Magazine An Edwardian view of the up main platform as passengers leave a train comprised of Clerestory coaching stock

Ref: gwrbsh1176 Birmingham Post & Mail A view of a practically deserted Snow Hill station as a consequence of the rail strike by ASLEF members

Ref: gwrbsh1183 GWR Magazine An official view of the station's main up platform taken from the end of Platform 7 shortly after opening

Ref: gwrbsh1178 Birmingham Post & Mail Platform 7 full of passengers waiting for the 'Cornishman' on the start of Birmingham's holiday fortnight

Ref: gwrbsh1160 B Bill A DMUs stands at Platform 6 whilst a diesel shunter stands at Platform 7 on the last day of 'Inter City' services

Ref: gwrbsh1181 GWR Magazine An official view of Snow Hill station showing the buildings situated between Platforms 7 and 11 shortly after opening

Ref: gwrbsh1190 B Bill A diesel shunter acts a station pilot and marshals parcel vans in Platform 7 on the last day of services to Paddington

Ref: gwrbsh1187 AWV Mace An ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class locomotive arrives at Platform 7 on the 8:55am Birkenhead to Paddington express

Ref: gwrbsh1799 Birmingham Post & Mail An unidentified GWR 4-6-0 ‘Hall’ class locomotive with a rake of 57 foot long, ganged, corridor coaches

Ref: gwrbsh1173 British Railways An internal view showing the magnificent splendour of the Refreshment Room on Platform 7 at Snow Hill station

Ref: gwrbsh1189 Birmingham Post & Mail The re-introduced refreshment service provided to passengers attending the BIF at Castle Bromwich

Ref: gwrbsh1188 RS Carpenter BR Standard Class 5 4-6-0 No 73013 runs on to Snow Hill's turntable which was located adjacent to Northwood Street

Ref: gwrbsh1161 B Geens The packed meal service located on Platform 7 which was the alternative to dining in the train's restaurant car

Ref: gwrbsh1172 M Mensing Snow Hill station's South Signal Box as British Railways Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No 75026 enters the station

Ref: gwrbsh1191 Birmingham Post & Mail The two water cranes located at the South end of Platforms 7 and 12 which have been secured by chains for safety

Ref: gwrbsh1182 GWR Magazine The northern approach to Snow Hill which amply demonstrates the differences in the length of the platforms

Ref: gwrbsh1367 HMRS View of the northern approach of Snow Hill Station, with the distinctive North Signal Box dominating the scene

Ref: gwrbsh763 DM Newband The station's North Signal Box shortly before it was removed to make way for the new North Signal Box relay house

Ref: gwrbsh763a DM Newband Close up of the signal box showing the ducting for the control cables operating the points and signals

Ref: gwrbsh1155 British Railways Looking South towards Snow Hill's North Signal Box showing the track work to the northern approach to the station

Ref: gwrbsh1158 D Piddington View of the station's North Signal Box and the new North signal box relay house which is still being built

Ref: gwrbsh762 RS Carpenter Looking north to the entrance to Hockley No 1 tunnel with Hockley No 2 tunnel seen through its bore

Ref: gwrbsh761 RS Carpenter Looking to Wolverhampton showing the signal gantries either side of the entrance to Hockley No 2 tunnel

Ref: gwrbsh1157 Birmingham Post & Mail Medical and military personnel await the arrival of an ambulance train with wounded soldiers arriving in the UK

Ref: gwrbsh1130 British Railways The debris on Platform 5 on the morning of the 10th April 1941 following the largest air raid suffered by Birmingham

Ref: gwrbsh1131 British Railways The damage to Platform 1 showing the ladies waiting room and the book stall both destroyed in the air raid

Ref: gwrbsh1131a British Railways In this photograph the weighted fouling bars adjacent to Snow Hill's Platform No 1 can be seen

Ref: gwrbsh1133 British Railways Platform 5 from the steps in the direction of Wolverhampton showing the major clear up operation

Ref: gwrbsh1143 D Harrison Engraving of the Great Western Hotel erected over the railway cutting as part of the rebuilding of the station

Ref: gwrbsh1147 Birmingham City Libraries The Great Western Hotel at the corner of Livery Street and Colmore Row prior to the rebuilding of the station

Ref: gwrbsh760 Anon The entrance of the former hotel in 1906 to enable passengers to gain access to Snow Hill station

Ref: gwrbsh65 Postcard The superb and majestic Great Western Hotel with the 1912 station buildings seen alongside of Livery Street

Ref: gwrbsh64 Lens of Sutton Pre-First World War view of the Great Western Hotel from Colmore Row, close to the corner of Cathedral Yard

Ref: gwrbsh1141 Birmingham Post & Mail A 1967 elevated view of the station showing the hotel roof and the array of ridges of the glazed train shed

Ref: gwrbsh1171 Anon Looking down Livery Street to Great Charles Street with the Dunlop factory on the left and Snow Hill station on the right

Ref: gwrbsh1132 British Railways The former restaurant in the Great Western Hotel seen on the morning of 21st November 1940

Ref: gwrbsh564 Anon Internal view of the Great Western Arcade which was built over the railway cutting avoiding New Street station

Ref: gwrbsh1138 British Railways Looking from Colmore Row down Snow Hill towards Great Charles Street with the station on the right hand side

Ref: gwrbsh1138a B Geen Close up of passengers waiting for a tram, and on the right, repairs to the tram stop at the junction of Snow Hill

Ref: gwrbsh1137 Anon The ornate but now very dirty entrance to Snow Hill station and the former entrance to the Great Western Hotel

Ref: gwrbsh1145 British Railways View of Snow Hill station's parcels office and yard which was located off Great Charles Street under the station

Ref: gwrbsh1174 British Railways View of the underpass which passed under Snow Hill station leading to Great Charles Street booking offices

Ref: gwrbsh1152 Birmingham Post & Mail An elevated rear view of the station concourse together with the flat roof and roof lights of the booking offices

Ref: gwrbsh1134 BR View of the GWR's Central Control Office and the diagram showing the area under its supervision

Ref: gwrbsh1121 Birmingham Post & Mail View of the Control Office at Snow Hill station responsible for the movement of trains on the former GWR lines

Ref: gwrbsh1149 B Bill Another view of the District Control Office with Bill Willerton manning the loco men's relief desk on the left

Ref: gwrbsh1148 B Bill View of the Western Region's District Control Office with Deputy Chief Controller Tubby Richards nearest the camera

Ref: gwrbsh1694 GWR Advertisement from Official Guide to the Great Western Railway dated 1912 for restaurant facilities

Ref: gwrbsh1790 Great Western Railway Arthur Cherry was twenty-one when he joined the Great Western Railway in January 1912

Ref: gwrbsh1167 British Railways View of Snow Hill station's original 1912 track plan showing the signals and double scissors crossovers

Ref: gwrbsh1167a British Railways Close up showing the North end of Snow Hill's extended platforms seen on the right and the re-sited turntable

Ref: gwrbsh1167b British Railways Close up of the southern end of the revised track layout to the island platform for up and down traffic

Ref: gwrbsh1186 D Harrison The basic layout of Snow Hill station after completion of the extensive rebuild showing the surrounding streets

Ref: gwrbsh1802 GWR Magazone A chalk script and map recorded as being the work of Snow Hill Station Porter Mr R White

Snow Hill station - 1967 to 1977 - A decade of decline and closure

Ref: gwrbsh1127 BR A sign advertising services to London by the new electric services from New Street station on 6th March 1967

Ref: gwrbsh1175 BR Passengers look at the Special Notice advertising emergency services being operated during the rail strike

Ref: gwrbsh1151 BR Mr Wye and Mr Doherty see the 17:52pm to Leamington Spa depart, the last train to pass through Snow Hill tunnel

Ref: gwrbsh1142 Birmingham Post & Mail Save Our Station is the message to MP Victor Yates who is talking to Councillor Jones on 6th March 1966

Ref: gwrbsh1154 Birmingham Post & Mail The fireman of ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6951 Impney Hall fixes the Last Steam Train Snow Hill to Lapworth headboard

Ref: gwrbsh1135 Birmingham Post & Mail The 5:48pm service to Wolverhampton Low Level stands at Platform 4 in a very dilapidated Snow Hill station

Ref: gwrbsh1136 D Harrison The near derelict station looking along the main lines of Snow Hill station towards Wolverhampton

Ref: gwrbsh1146 P Myhill View of one of the station's buildings and kiosks now abandoned and derelict from vandalism prior to demolition

Ref: gwrbsh1159 P Myhill Another view of one of Snow Hill station's derelict platform buildings after all passenger services had ceased