Knowle & Dorridge Station

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

The original station was built by the Great Western Railway and was opened in 1852 at the same time as the opening of the GWR's Oxford to Birmingham line. It was initially named Knowle station by the GWR before becoming Knowle and Dorridge station in 1897. It was renamed Knowle Station by British Rail in 1968 before finally becoming Dorridge Station on 6th June 1974.

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Ref: gwrkd1007 Lens of Sutton Edwardian view of Knowle and Dorridge station looking towards Birmingham with the down platform on the left

Ref: gwrkd131 P Hopkins A view of the original Brunel designed station buildings looking towards Birmingham prior to the quadrupling of the tracks

Ref: gwrkd131a Real Photographs Close up showing the Birmingham end of the station including the footbridge and the loop lines

Ref: gwrkd131b P Hopkins Close up showing the up platform building and the end of the goods yard with coal merchants office

Ref: gwrkd1010 RS Carpenter The 1930s frontage of Knowle and Dorridge station after quadrupling of the line resulted in a new station

Ref: gwrkd130 Real Photographs View of the new station looking towards Birmingham as viewed from Platform 1 with Platform 2, 3 and 4 being the other platforms from right to left

Ref: gwrkd130a Real Photographs Close up view showing the Down Relief line platform in the distance with the platform accommodating both the Down and Up Main lines in the foreground

Ref: gwrkd130b Real Photographs Close up view of the Down and Up Main platforms including the main station building which is to the right of the Up Main platform

Ref: gwrkd1005 Anon GWR 4-2-2 Achilles class 7'-8'' Single No 3050 'Royal Sovereign' is seen at the head on an express near Knowle and Dorridge C1909

Ref: gwrkd1009 Anon An unidentified GWR 4-6-0 Star class at the head of a London bound express with coaching stock carrying crimson lake livery

Ref: gwrkd113 WL Good GWR 4-6-0 No 4017 'Knight of Leige' is seen at the head of a Birmingham to Paddington express train as it passes the up loop line

Ref: gwrkd114 WL Good GWR 4-6-0 Star class No 4048 'Princess Victoria' is at the head of express with a Siphon G immediately behind the tender

Ref: gwrkd115 WL Good GWR 4-6-0 Star class No 4049 'Princess Maud' is seen at the head of an express approaching Knowle and Dorridge station in July 1925

Ref: gwrkd116 WL Good GWR 4-6-0 No 6013 'King Henry VIII' is seen near Knowle and Dorridge at the head of an express train in September 1929

Ref: gwrkd117 WL Good GWR 4-4-0 Bulldog class No 3372 'Sir N Kingscote' on an up excursion train with the two clerestory coaches behind the tender

Ref: gwrkd118 P Hopkins GWR 4-6-0 Castle class No 4016 'Night of the Golden Fleece' is seen at the head of a down express service during the quadrupling of the line

Ref: gwrkd119 P Hopkins GWR 4-6-0 No 'Dartmouth Castle' is seen at the head of an up express having just left Knowle and Dorridge en-route to Lapworth

Ref: gwrkd120 WL Good View of the GWR's founding member of the Star class, No 4000 'North Star' at the head of Paddington to Birmingham Snow Hill two-hour express

Ref: gwrkd121 WL Good GWR 4-4-0 Straight-framed Bulldog class No 3404 'Barbados' is seen at the head of a rake of close coupled six-wheel stock

Ref: gwrkd124 P Hopkins GWR 4-6-0 Saint class No 2983 'Redgauntlet' is seen at the head of a down express train as it approaches Knowle and Dorridge

Ref: gwrkd125 P Hopkins GWR 4-6-0 Saint class No 2989 'Talisman' is seen in full cry on the Down Main at the head of a Paddington to Birkenhead express

Ref: gwrkd126 WL Good Southern Railways Class D15 No 466 is seen at the head of a down express approaching Knowle and Dorridge

Ref: gwrkd127 WL Good Southern Railways Class D15 No 465 is seen at the head of an up express of Southern coaching stock

Ref: gwrkd128 WL Good London South Western Railway's Class L12 No 418 is seen at the head of a train of Southern coaching stock

Ref: gwrkd129 WL Good Ex-London South Western Railway 4-4-0 class T9 No 288 is seen at the head of an up express made up of Southern rolling stock in September 1926

Ref: gwrkd111 P Hopkins GWR 4-4-0 No 3252 'Duke of Cornwall', the founding member of the class, is seen with an inspection coach during the quadrupling of the lines

Ref: gwrkd1006 JWT House GWR 2-6-2T Large Prairie class No 4170 is seen at the head of an Down local Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill service standing at Platform 4 on the Down Relief line

Ref: gwrkd122 HC Casserley GWR 4-6-0 Hall class No 5990 'Dorford Hall' is seen entering the station at the head of a fast goods service on 22nd April 1958

Ref: gwrkd1008 G Adams GWR 2-8-0 No 7247 is seen at the head of a Class H through freight service as it approaches Lapworth on the Up Main line

Ref: knowle_dorridge_map Ordance Survey Map of Knowle and Dorridge station prior to the remodelling of the station due to the quadrupling of the lines