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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton
GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Tyseley Junction (25) Tyseley Station (63) Tyseley Shed (139) Tyseley Shed Allocations & Memories

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Close up view showing the left hand island platforms with the down line nearest the camera and the up line furthest away

A Brief Description of Tyseley Station

Six miles from the centre of Birmingham, Tyseley station opened on 1st October 1906 as part of the Great Western Railway's early 20th century expansion, which included building a new terminus station at Moor Street to help serve commuter traffic on the route to Leamington Spa and later when, on 1st July 1908, the North Warwickshire Line opened. The latter had originally been planned by the fledgling and soon to fail independent Birmingham and North Warwickshire Railway Company in 1894. The North Warwickshire Line joined with the Moor Street to Leamington line at Tyseley thus making Tyseley station itself a busy and important junction.

Tyseley station was built with two wide island platforms because the lines through Tyseley station towards Olton were in the process of being quadrupled. This work was completed in January 1907 and in the June of the following year the quadrupling was also extended a short distance northwards towards Small Heath. At this time the four tracks were operated as a main line with a loop line on either side, but in June 1913 they were remodelled as main lines and relief lines. The construction of a new Locomotive Depot at Tyseley in July 1908 had allowed the old Bordesley Engine Shed to be demolished, which provided room necessary for further quadrupling towards Moor Street, but this was only completed in 1918.

When built the Goods Yard at Tyseley had a trailing connection to the up loop line on the south side of the station. From here a pair of sidings ran parallel with the running lines with one of the sidings passing through a Goods Shed in which there were two hand-operated cranes. By 1913 these two sidings had been extended to hold 51 wagons each and a trailing connection provided adjacent to Tyseley North Signal Box to both the Down Main and Down Relief lines. A scissor crossing had also been provided at the midpoint of the sidings to increase flexibility and close to this was a six ton Yard crane. In the Goods Yard there were four mileage sidings with the capacity to hold 31, 29, 21 and 25 wagons and a short end loading platform siding which could hold 3 wagons. There was also a long head shunt which ran parallel with the running lines and was capable of holding 44 wagons. In 1921, the machine tool manufacturer ‘EW Bliss & Co’ paid £342 for a Private Siding, but there is no record of any Private Sidings at Tyseley in the 1925 (or any subsequent) Railway Clearing House (RCH) Handbook.

In the 1920s Tyseley became a thriving industrial area providing a home for cutting edge technology companies; such as:

  • Damard Lacquer Co – who opened a factory in Greet in 1921 to manufacture thermosetting phenol formaldehyde (Bakelite) resin - an early plastic. When acquired by Bakelite Ltd in 1926, a new factory was built in Tyseley, opening in 1928.
  • Reynolds Tube Co Ltd - relocated to Hay Hall, Tyseley in 1917 and using experience gained by making aircraft frames in the First World War started to produce manganese steel tubing for bicycle and motorcycle frames. Acquired by Tube Investments (TI) Ltd in 1928, the Reynolds 531 aluminium tubeset was introduced in 1935.

These in-turn attracted other manufacturers including several electrical equipment and motorcycle companies. The later included; Abingdon (renamed AKD in 1926) motorcycles and the Excelsior Motor Company, who had premise adjacent to each other in Kings Road Tyseley, and also Rudge-Whitworth of Reddings Road, Tyseley, whose works were taken over by Midland Electrical Manufacturing (MEM) Co in 1936. As a result of this increasing industrialisation, the railway’s goods facilities were constantly being upgraded during this period:

  • 1923 (£8,900) - New Goods Offices built with electric lighting, alterations to the Stables, conversion of the six ton Yard crane to electric-operation and provision of two new mileage sidings next to Abingdon Road.
  • 1924 (£3,440) - Electric lighting in the Goods Shed and Station Buildings, plus the provision of an electric lift from the Station entrance on the Wharfdale Road bridge to the main line island platform (see 'gwrt1348'). This lift was justified due to the quantity of motor cycles being forwarded from Tyseley station as parcels traffic.
  • 1928 (£124) – Provision of bulk petrol storage facilities.
  • 1929 (£431) – Replacement of original weighbridge with new twenty ton cart weighbridge suitable for motor vehicles.
  • 1930 (£8,860) Extension of Goods Shed (see 'gwrt1345') and extending the length of the four existing mileage sidings. Note at this time there were forty goods staff allocated to Tyseley.

In the Birmingham ABC Rates book for 1935 there was an exceptional rate for Condensed milk in casks, cases or drums at 10s/7d (ten shillings, seven pence), which may indicate regular consignments to a sweet manufacturer in the locality. In addition there were exceptional rates for both Wagon Repairing Materials and Iron and Steel (list K) components.

As goods traffic declined in the 1960s the facilities and track layout at Tyseley were slowly rationalised. In July 1964 the trailing connection from the Down Main and Down Relief lines to the goods loop sidings was taken out of use. This was prior to the closure of Tyseley North Signal Box in July 1968. Tyseley South Signal Box closed on 1st September 1969 and a replacement Ground Frame (Tyseley No3) installed to control access to the goods yard. Four sidings in the Goods Yard were removed in March 1976 and the Goods Shed was later demolished as the site fell into disuse.

Robert Ferris

Much of the information on this and other webpages of Warwickshire Railways is derived from articles or books listed in our 'bibliography'.

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General Views ofTyseley station

A 1906 coloured Postcard showing the station being built prior to its opening in October of that year
Ref: gwrt2406
J Alsop
A 1906 coloured Postcard showing the station being built prior to its opening in October of that year
An Edwardian view of Tyseley station looking towards Leamington with the main platform on the left and relief platforms on the right
Ref: gwrt294
Postcard
Edwardian view looking towards Leamington with the main platform on the left and relief platforms on the right
Close up view showing the left hand island platforms with the down line nearest the camera and the up line furthest away
Ref: gwrt294a
Postcard
Close up view showing the left hand island platforms with the down line nearest the camera and the up line furthest away
Close up view of Tyseley station's right hand island platform with the up platform on the left and down platform on the right
Ref: gwrt294b
Postcard
Close up of the station's right hand island platform with the up platform on the left and down platform on the right
An unidentified GWR locomotive is seen standing at Platform 3 at the head of a local down train in July 1911
Ref: gwrt2407
J Alsop
An unidentified GWR locomotive is seen standing at Platform 3 at the head of a local down train in July 1911

View of Tyseley Station's down relief platform with a GWR steam railcar standing at the platform waiting for the right way to Moos Street circa 1908
Ref: gwrt1355
Lens of Sutton
Tyseley's down relief platform with a GWR steam railcar at the platform waiting for the right way to Moor Street
View looking south of a quiet Tyseley Station on the sunny afternoon of Tuesday 17th May 1932
Ref: gwrt2975
R Ferris
View looking south of a quiet Tyseley Station on the sunny afternoon of Tuesday 17th May 1932
An exterior view of Tyseley Station's booking office which was located at road level in between the two bridges carrying the road over the main and relief lines
Ref: gwrt1348
MA King
An exterior view of Tyseley Station's booking office which was located at road level in between the two bridges
View of Tyseley station taken from the Birmingham end of the up relief platfom looking in the direction of Leamington
Ref: gwrt293
Anon
View of Tyseley station taken from the Birmingham end of the up relief platfom looking in the direction of Leamington
Close up of Tyseley station's platform based passenger facilities, with the relief line passenger structure in the process of being refurbished
Ref: gwrt293a
Anon
Close up showing the removal of the platform based passenger facilities on the relief line island platform

View of the station showing the platforms after the removal of the brick buildings which provided the passenger facilities circa 1950s
Ref: gwrt295
Lens of Sutton
View of the station platforms after the removal of the brick buildings which provided the passenger facilities
Close up showing the footbridge with the lift on the right and behind and the GWR station signs still in use in the 1950s
Ref: gwrt295a
Lens of Sutton
Close up of the footbridge with the lift on the right and behind and the GWR station signs still in use in the 1950s
Close up of the stairs which led from the island platforms serving the relief lines to the main station building located on the road above
Ref: gwrt295b
Lens of Sutton
Close up of the stairs which led from the island platform to the station building located on the road above
An undated photograph of Tyseley station and the southern junction for Tyseley’s Carriage Sidings
Ref: gwrt2974
R Ferris
An undated photograph of Tyseley station and the southern junction for Tyseley’s Carriage Sidings
GWR vacuum braked Cattle Wagon No 68438 on the cripple road in front of the Sand Furnace at Tyseley Shed in July 1947
Ref: gwrt2974a
R Ferris
Close up showing the throat to Tyseley Carriage Sidings in its the final post 1957 iteration

View looking towards Birmingham of the goods yard from Wharfdale Road bridge as an unknown ex-GWR 0-6-0 Pannier tank engine shunts in the goods yard
Ref: gwrt636
John Downing
View looking to Birmingham of the goods yard as an unknown ex-GWR 0-6-0PT engine shunts in the yard
Close up showing the unidentified ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 'Pannier Tank' shunting in the goods yard with a train of wagons carrying sets of rail panels
Ref: gwrt636a
John Downing
Close up of the ex-GWR 0-6-0PT shunting in the yard with a train of wagons carrying sets of rail panels
Looking towards Snow Hill from the Birmingham end of the main up platform with Tyseley goods shed visible on the right
Ref: gwrt1345
Anon
Looking to Snow Hill from the Birmingham end of the main platforms with Tyseley goods shed visible on the right
A painting of the Webster & Horsfall wire works in rural Hay Mills in 1856, with a short train on the B&OR in background
Ref: gwrt3877
Unknown Artist
A painting of the Webster & Horsfall wire works in rural Hay Mills in 1856, with a short train in background

Locomotives seen at or near Tyseley station

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Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class No 8700 shunting a rake of coal wagons into Tyseley goods yard in 1958
Ref: gwrt2415
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class No 8700 shunting a rake of coal wagons into Tyseley goods yard in 1958
Ex-GWR 2-6-0 'Mogul' No 5380 is seen at the head of down excursion train originating from the south coast train on a holiday special
Ref: gwrt1048
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 2-6-0 No 5380 at the head of down train originating from the south coast train on a holiday special
BR built 2-6-0 No 46504 in Brunswick Green livery passeson the up main platform on an engineer's train carrying ballast
Ref: gwrt1050
M Mensing
BR built 2-6-0 No 46504 in Brunswick Green livery passes on the up main with a P & W train carrying ballast
A very dirty ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48385 has just restarted from signals as it heads an up London bound freight service on 6th November 1965
Ref: gwrt1051
M Mensing
Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48385 has just restarted from signals as it heads an up London bound freight
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class No 6017 'King Edward IV' is seen passing a goods shed on an up Birkenhead to Paddington express service on 29th August 1959
Ref: gwrt1052
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6017 'King Edward IV' is seen passing the goods shed on an up express to Paddington

Ex-GWR 2-6-2T Prairie No 4171 is passing through the down main running line whilst at the head of the 3.30pm Oxford to Snow Hill express passenger service
Ref: gwrt1046
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 4171 is seen at the head of the 3:30pm Oxford to Snow Hill express passenger service
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5909 'Newton Hall' passes through Tyseley's down main platform on a northbound holiday special on 29th August 1959
Ref: gwrt1045
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5909 'Newton Hall' passes through Tyseley's on a northbound holiday special
British Railways built 4-6-0 No 7029 'Clun Castle', now preserved, is seen arriving on the last day of Western Region steam with a Snow Hill to Birkenhead special on 5th March 1967
Ref: gwrt2317
C Gorton
BR built 4-6-0 No 7029 'Clun Castle arriving on the last day of Western Region steam with a special to Birkenhead
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 8700 is seen shunting a rake of oil tank wagons into Tyseley goods yard's sidings in 1958
Ref: gwrt2414
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 8700 is seen shunting a rake of oil tank wagons into Tyseley goods yard's sidings in 1958
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class No 8737 is seen shunting a rake of wagons into Tyseley goods yard in the summer of 1959
Ref: gwrt2416
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class No 8737 shunting a rake of wagons into Tyseley goods yard in the summer of 1959

Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class No 8700 hauls a rake of wagons along the up main with a train from Bordesley Junction in 1958
Ref: gwrt2417
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class No 8700 hauls a rake of wagons along the up main with a train from Bordesley Junction in 1958
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle class No 4079 'Pendennis Castle' is seen working hard as it passes Tyseley Goods shed at the head of an up express
Ref: gwrt1351
BP Hoper
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle class No 4079 'Pendennis Castle' is seen working hard as it passes Tyseley Goods shed
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 9753 is seen at the head of a short train of two gaurds van with an open truck in between on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1028
W Wright
Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 9753 is seen at the head of a short train with an open truck in between two guard vans
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 'Modified Hall' class No 6964 'Thornbridge Hall' is seen at the head of the 11 58am Banbury OIC to Bilston iron ore train on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1027
W Wright
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6964 'Thornbridge Hall' at the head of the 11:58am Banbury OIC to Bilston iron ore train
British Railways Standard class 5MT No 73066 is seen on a short trip working from Leamington to Bordesley on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1034
W Wright
BR Class 5MT No 73066 is seen on a short trip working from Leamington to Bordesley on 15th February 1965

British Railways 4-6-2 Britannia Class No 70018 'Flying Dutchman' passes through Tyseley at speed on a down express to Snow Hill on 30th October 1954.
Ref: gwrt1354
GW Sharpe
BR 4-6-2 7MT Class No 70018 'Flying Dutchman' passes through Tyseley at speed on a down express to Snow Hill
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6974 'Bryngwyn Hall' passing Tyseley on the 5:55 am Old Oak Common to Bordesley freight service
Ref: gwrt1037
W Wright
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6974 'Bryngwyn Hall' on the 5:55 am Old Oak Common to Bordesley freight service
An ex-GWR Autocoach now being used as mess facilities is seen standing in the siding opposite platform 4, the down relief platform
Ref: gwrt633
John Downing
An ex-GWR Autocoach now being used as mess facilities is seen standing in the siding opposite Platform 4
Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48133 is seen at the head of the 8 15 am Bilston to Banbury OIC ironstone empties train on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1041
W Wright
Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48133 is seen at the head of the 8 15 am Bilston to Banbury OIC ironstone empties train
Ivatt 2-6-0 4MT No 43112 is seen running light engine past Tyesley carriage sidings and shed on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1042
W Wright
Ivatt 2-6-0 4MT No 43112 is seen running light engine past Tyesley carriage sidings and shed

BR built 4-6-0 Castle class No 7013 'Bristol Castle' is seen at the head of a Birmingham to Paddington express on 6th April 1963
Ref: gwrt634
John Downing
BR built 4-6-0 Castle class No 7013 'Bristol Castle' is seen at the head of a Birmingham to Paddington express
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Prairie Tank' No 4133 at the head of a mineral train passes Tyseley station's down relief platform on the goods line to Moor Street
Ref: gwrt640
John Downing
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 4133 at the head of a mineral train passes Tyseley station's down relief platform
An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class locomotive is seen on a snowy winter's day on what is thought to be the up 'Inter City' express train service
Ref: gwrt638
John Downing
An ex-GWR 4-6-0 locomotive is seen on a snowy winter's day on the up 'Inter City' express train service
An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class locomotive is seen passing through Tyseley station's up main platform with an express service to Paddington
Ref: gwrt639
John Downing
An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class locomotive is seen passing through Tyseley with an express to Paddington
An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class locomotive is seen passing Tyseley station's up main platform at the head of a Birkenhead to Paddington express
Ref: gwrt1049
W Wright
An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class locomotive is seen at the head of a Birkenhead to Paddington express

Western class diesel-hydraulic locomotives No D1072 is seen at the head of the 09 10 am Birmingham to Paddington express on 15th Feb 1965
Ref: gwrt1347
Anon
Ex-LMS 4-6-0 5MT No 44872 works hard at the head of an up fitted freight service as it passes Tyseley Goods shed
British Railways built 4-6-0 Castle class No 7024 'Powis Castle' is seen passing through Tyseley station on a down express with Tyseley North Signal box in the distance
Ref: gwrt635
John Downing
BR built 4-6-0 No 7024 'Powis Castle' is seen passing through Tyseley station on a down express
Close up showing a GWR 0-6-0 'Dean goods' locomotive standing on one of the approach roads in front of the sheds with the doors to the repair shops on the right
Ref: gwrt2359
R Darlaston
Ex-GWR 2-6-0 43xx Class No 6364 passes Tyseley on the 17:38 Snow Hill to Lapworth service on 28th August 1964
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle Class No 5010 'Restormel Castle' passes Tyseley Goods shed on an up express train circa 1955
Ref: gwrt2411
J Davenport
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle Class No 5010 'Restormel Castle' passes Tyseley Goods shed on an up express train
An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle Class class locomotive passes through the station circa 1955
Ref: gwrt2410
P Kingston
An unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle Class class locomotive passes through the station circa 1955

Diesel Dawn

BR diesel Type 4 1Co-Co1 No D153 is seen at the head of a Washwood Heath to Banbury special freight working as it passes the carriage sidings on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1032
W Wright
BR Diesel Type 4 No D153 is seen at the head of a Washwood Heath to Banbury special freight working
BR Sulzer Type 2 Bo-Bo No D7596 is seen at the head of the 12 15 pm Washwood Heath to Eastleigh express freight on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1033
W Wright
BR Sulzer Type 2 No D7596 at the head of the 12:15 pm Washwood Heath to Eastleigh express freight
English Electric Type 4 1Co-Co1 No 333 is seen at the head of empty stock on the Tyseley diesel traction training special on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1030
W Wright
English Electric Type 4 No D333 is seen at the head of empty stock on the Tyseley diesel traction training special
Western class diesel-hydraulic locomotives No D1072 is seen at the head of the 09 10 am Birmingham to Paddington express on 15th Feb 1965
Ref: gwrt1044
W Wright
Western class Diesel-hydraulic No D1072 at the head of the 09:10 am Birmingham to Paddington express
British Railways Blue Pullman is seen on the 1 00 pm Birmingham Snow Hill to Paddington up express passing the coach sidings on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1036
W Wright
BR Blue Pullman is seen on the 1:00 pm Snow Hill to Paddington up express passing the coach sidings

A Brush Type 4 Co-Co No D1755 is seen at the head of a southbound Pines Express service passing carriage sidings on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1031
W Wright
A Brush Type 4 D1755 at the head of a southbound Pines Express service on 15th February 1965
English Electric Type 4 1Co-Co1 No 333 is seen at the head of empty stock on the Tyseley diesel traction training special on 15th February 1965
Ref: gwrt1346
Anon
BR diesel parcels car in early BR livery passing through Tyseley on an up parcels service in October 1966
A British Railways built 'Derby Heavyweight' DMU arrives at Tyseley with a Henley-in-Arden to Moor Street service
Ref: gwrt2408
G Dowling
A British Railways built 'Derby Heavyweight' DMU arrives at Tyseley with a Henley-in-Arden to Moor Street service

Staff of Tyseley station

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An Edwardian view of some of Tyseley station's staff posed on Platform 3 next to a revised station nameboard
Ref: gwrt2412
Millbrook House
An Edwardian view of some of Tyseley station's staff posed on Platform 3 next to a revised station nameboard
Porters Don Martin and Ted Breakwell are seen standing on Tyseley station's down relief Platform 4
Ref: gwrt2403
D Martin
Porters Don Martin and Ted Breakwell are seen standing on Tyseley station's down relief Platform 4

Aerial Views and Maps of Tyseley station, carriage sidings and shed

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Plan of Tyseley Station prior to 1923, showing the two island 500 feet long platforms, half of which were covered by canopies
Ref: gwrt2973
R Ferris
Plan of Tyseley Station prior to 1923, showing the two island 500 feet long platforms
A 1916 Ordnance Survey map showing Tyseley Junction station and the access to the carriage sidings
Ref: gwrt2404
Ordnance Survey
A 1916 Ordnance Survey map showing Tyseley Junction station and the access to the carriage sidings
A 1916 Ordnance Survey map showing the station's proximity to the carriage sidings and shed
Ref: gwrt2405
Ordnance Survey
A 1916 Ordnance Survey map showing the station's proximity to the carriage sidings and shed
An aerial view of Tyseley taken in 1939 shows the GWR main line running from bottom right to top left
Ref: gwrt1054
Britain from above
An aerial view of Tyseley taken in 1939 shows the GWR main line running from bottom right to top left
A 1930s aerial photograph showing the mileage sidings in Tyseley Goods Yard with the Carriage Yard and Cripple Sidings
Ref: gwrt2979
Anon
A 1930s aerial photograph of the mileage sidings in Tyseley Goods Yard with the Carriage Yard and Cripple Sidings

A 1928  ‘GWR Parcels Rates Book’ indicating Parcels Rates available for various sizes of motorcycles and other articles
Ref: gwrt2978
R Ferris
A 1928 ‘GWR Parcels Rates Book’ indicating Parcels Rates available for various sizes of motorcycles and other articles
A low resolution version of the Signalling Diagram for Tyseley North Signal Box showing the Main and Relief lines
Ref: gwrt2995
SRS
A low resolution version of the Signalling Diagram for Tyseley North Signal Box showing the Main and Relief lines

Tyseley Junction (25) Tyseley Station (63) Tyseley Shed (139) Tyseley Memories