·  LMS  ·  GWR  ·  LNER  ·  Misc  ·  Stations  ·  What's New  ·  Video  ·  Guestbook  ·  About

Solihull Station

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Robert Ferris has transcribed the following article on the tests undertaken on the bridges located between Olton and Solihull. This article is repeated on the Olton page.

Bridge Tests on the Birmingham Main Line (from ‘The Railway Magazine’ June 1934 – J.D.H.)

On Sunday, March 25, a remarkable spectacle was afforded by the testing of steel underline bridges, on the recently completed quadrupling on the Olton – Lapworth section of the G.W.R. main line to Birmingham and the North. Four “King” class locomotives were used. Nos 6001, 6014, 6017 and 6005; the first two were coupled together without load, while the latter two double headed a train consisting of a third-class brake and a saloon, together weighting 45 tons. In testing a bridge carrying two tracks (one up and one down in normal working) the two pairs of locomotives first coasted across abreast at a speed of 2 m.p.h., or less, while the vertical deflections of the girders were measured. This was repeated twice , after which the locomotives ran back ¾ mile from the bridge, and stopped in line. All four then proceeded to accelerate in the up direction towards the bridge, with wide-open regulator and cut-off very late in the stroke.

The pairs of locomotives were drawn dead level as they approached the bridge, the exhausts rising quite 30 ft in the brilliant sunshine above each of the four chimneys, to the accompaniment of a deafening roar. The normal test conditions were 500 tons weight and 60 m.p.h.; in actual fact the four locomotives and tenders weighted 542 tons full, and in various runs speeds of 59 to 62 m.p.h. were attained, giving an acceleration from 0 to 62 m.p.h., which averaged almost exactly 1-foot-per-sec, - a phenomenal figure for steam locomotives. Even with so trifling a load. After passing the bridge the engines were stopped and returned to their starting point for a second run, the bridge deflections being measured each time. No 6001 alone was fitted with a working speedometer, of the type recently adopted.

The effect of the small load behind one pair of engines was a striking feature of the runs; some 20 yards in the first 200 yards of each run were lost by this pair, but they could, on the other hand, be brought to a stand in 150 yards less distance than could the unloaded pair, with the coach brakes operating in addition to those on the engines. Twelve runs in all were made at speed over the six double-track bridges tested on this date; on the same day Nos. 6001 and 6005 were used for two further tests of single-track bridges carrying the own relief lines only, the four tests runs being again made in the up direction. Railway enthusiasts from considerable distances, and other spectators also, might have been attracted had the fact been made public that these tests were to take place; as it was, the spectators who witnessed this sight of a lifetime numbered fewer than a score. For photographs of these Bridge Tests see: 'gwro1578', 'gwrs1566' and 'gwrs1567'.

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

A panoramic view of the original station taken at the turn of the 20th century looking towards Birmingham
Ref: gwrs273
Solihull Public Library
A panoramic view of the original station taken at the turn of the 20th century looking towards Birmingham
Close up showing the original down platform building and the passengers footbridge with the original signal box in the background
Ref: gwrs273a
Solihull Public Library
Close up showing the original down platform building and the passengers footbridge with the original signal box in the background
Close up showing Permanent Way workers working on a turnout next to the barrow crossing with the up platform in the background
Ref: gwrs273b
Solihull Public Library
Close up showing Permanent Way workers working on a turnout next to the barrow crossing with the up platform in the background
Looking towards Birmingham Snow Hill with the up platform on the right and Solihull signal box and second goods yard in the distance
Ref: gwrs1027
AJ Harvey
Looking towards Birmingham Snow Hill with the up platform on the right and Solihull signal box and second goods yard in the distance

Close up of the goods yard and sidings situated on the Birmingham side of Solihull station and the signal box that controlled both station and yard
Ref: gwrs1027a
AJ Harvey
Close up of the goods yard and sidings situated on the Birmingham side of Solihull station and the signal box that controlled both station and yard
View of the original station looking in the direction of Leamington from the Birmingham end of the down platform
Ref: gwrs275
P Hopkins
View of the original station looking in the direction of Leamington from the Birmingham end of the down platform
Close up showing the original signal box which was sited on the up platform and the very ornate lampposts
Ref: gwrs275a
P Hopkins
Close up showing the original signal box which was sited on the up platform and the very ornate lampposts
Close up showing the down platform and buildings with an unknown GWR locomotive standing in the down refuge siding
Ref: gwrs275b
P Hopkins
Close up showing the down platform and buildings with an unknown GWR locomotive standing in the down refuge siding

View of the rebuilt station's taken from the Down Main platform with the Up Main on the right and on the left the Up Relief platform
Ref: gwrs268
Real Photographs
View of the rebuilt station's taken from the Down Main platform with the Up Main on the right and on the left the Up Relief platform
A 1951 view taken from the Relief island platforms and looking towards Snow Hill showing the Main platforms with the booking office behind
Ref: gwrs266
Real Photographs
A 1951 view taken from the Relief island platforms and looking towards Snow Hill showing the Main platforms with the booking office behind
Close up view showing Solihull Station's Down Main platform on the left and the Up Main platform and buildings on the right with the goods yard and shed in the distance
Ref: gwrs266a
Real Photographs
Close up view showing Solihull Station's Down Main platform on the left and the Up Main platform and buildings on the right with the goods yard and shed in the distance
Close up showing the goods shed and yard which was located at the Birmingham end of the station and was rebuilt at the same time as the station
Ref: gwrs266b
Real Photographs
Close up showing the goods shed and yard which was located at the Birmingham end of the station and was rebuilt at the same time as the station

Panoramic view along the Down Main platform of Solihull station after rebuilding and looking in the direction of Leamington Spa
Ref: gwrs274
Real Photographs
Panoramic view along the Down Main platform of Solihull station after rebuilding and looking in the direction of Leamington Spa
Close up showing Solihull station's new Up Relief and Main platforms, platform furniture and the passenger facilities
Ref: gwrs274a
Real Photographs
Close up showing Solihull station's new Up Relief and Main platforms, platform furniture and the passenger facilities
Close up showing Solihull station's new Down and Up Relief platforms and the replacement signal box
Ref: gwrs274b
Real Photographs
Close up showing Solihull station's new Down and Up Relief platforms and the replacement signal box
View of the inside of Solihull station's new signal box showing the multitude of levers operated by George Horsley
Ref: gwrs267
P Hopkins
View of the inside of Solihull station's new signal box showing the multitude of levers operated by George Horsley

View of the original signal box shortly before its demolition with the old goods shed and yard behind
Ref: gwrs270
P Hopkins
View of the original signal box shortly before its demolition with the old goods shed and yard behind
View of the replacement signal box which was larger than original to accommodate the extra points and signalling
Ref: gwrs269
P Hopkins
View of the replacement signal box which was larger than original to accommodate the extra points and signalling
GWR 4-6-0 No 4080 'Powderham Castle' is seen at the head of an up express as it passes Solihull's original goods yard
Ref: gwrs271
P Hopkins
GWR 4-6-0 No 4080 'Powderham Castle' is seen at the head of an up express as it passes Solihull's original goods yard
Close up view showing the  numerous coal wagons which originated from many sources in Solihull's goods yard
Ref: gwrs271a
P Hopkins
Close up view showing the numerous coal wagons which originated from many sources in Solihull's goods yard

Measuring the deflection of the new plate girder bridges over Blossomfield Road just south of Solihull Station
Ref: gwrs1566
GWR
Measuring the deflection of the new plate girder bridges over Blossomfield Road just south of Solihull Station
Dynamic testing of the new plate girder bridge over Hillfield Road, halfway between Solihull and Widney Manor Stations
Ref: gwrs1567
GWR
Dynamic testing of the new plate girder bridge over Hillfield Road, halfway between Solihull and Widney Manor Stations
GWR 4-6-0 No 5031 'Totnes Castle' is seen standing at the head a train on the Down Main platform at Solihull
Ref: gwrs1012
P Hawkins
GWR 4-6-0 No 5031 'Totnes Castle' is seen standing at the head a train on the Down Main platform at Solihull
GWR 4-6-0 No 6006 'King George I' is seen at the head of the 5 10pm Paddington to Wolverhampton express as it enters Solihull station
Ref: gwrs1013
M Mensing
GWR 4-6-0 No 6006 'King George I' is seen at the head of the 5 10pm Paddington to Wolverhampton express as it enters Solihull station

GWR 4-6-0 No 6028 'King George VI' is seen at the head of an up express service entering Solihull station's on the Up Main line
Ref: gwrs1014
PC Wheeler
GWR 4-6-0 No 6028 'King George VI' is seen at the head of an up express service entering Solihull station's on the Up Main line
GWR 4-6-0 No 5950 Wardley Hall is seen at the head of a down perishables express goods service passing through Solihull station
Ref: gwrs1015
RS Carpenter
GWR 4-6-0 No 5950 Wardley Hall is seen at the head of a down perishables express goods service passing through Solihull station
GWR 2-6-2T 61xx class No 6105 rests between duties on a short Permanent Way train at Solihull station
Ref: gwrs1016
M Mensing
GWR 2-6-2T 61xx class No 6105 rests between duties on a short Permanent Way train at Solihull station
GWR 4-6-0 No 6022 'King Edward III' is seen at the head of an up express service as it restarts from a signal check north of Solihull station
Ref: gwrs1017
M Mensing
GWR 4-6-0 No 6022 'King Edward III' is seen at the head of an up express service as it restarts from a signal check north of Solihull station

Close up showing Solihull's rebuilt goods yard and shed with numerous open wagons and vans in the sidings
Ref: gwrs1017a
M Mensing
Close up showing Solihull's rebuilt goods yard and shed with numerous open wagons and vans in the sidings
GWR 4-6-0 Saint class No 2941 'Eaton Court' is seen at the head of a down express as it approaches Solihull station
Ref: gwrs272
P Hopkins
GWR 4-6-0 Saint class No 2941 'Eaton Court' is seen at the head of a down express as it approaches Solihull station
Layout of Soluhull's original station with the main entrance to the statioon being adjacent to the goods shed
Ref: solihull_old_map_station
OS
Layout of Soluhull's original station with the main entrance to the statioon being adjacent to the goods shed
Layout of the remodelled Solihull station with the main entrance to the station at the top alongside the Methodist Church
Ref: solihull_new_map_station
OS
Layout of the remodelled Solihull station with the main entrance to the station at the top alongside the Methodist Church

We apologise to passengers for any inconveniece resulting from engineering works

An unknown GWR 4-6-0 Star class locomotive is seen at the head of a rake of GWR crimson lake liveried coaches
Ref: gwrs1607
HW Burman
xxx
An unknown GWR 4-6-0 Star class locomotive is seen at the head of a rake of GWR crimson lake liveried coaches
Ref: gwrs1608
HW Burman
xxx
An unknown GWR 4-6-0 Star class locomotive is seen at the head of a rake of GWR crimson lake liveried coaches
Ref: gwrs1609
HW Burman
xxx
An unknown GWR 4-6-0 Star class locomotive is seen at the head of a rake of GWR crimson lake liveried coaches
Ref: gwrs1610
HW Burman
xxx

An unknown GWR 4-6-0 Star class locomotive is seen at the head of a rake of GWR crimson lake liveried coaches
Ref: gwrs1611
HW Burman
xxx
Layout of Solihull station's remodelled goods yard showing the goods shed, cattle pens and sidings
Ref: solihull_new_map_goods
OS
Layout of Solihull station's remodelled goods yard showing the goods shed, cattle pens and sidings