Castle Bromwich Station

LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street
LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

The original Castle Bromwich station was opened in 1842 on the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway's (B&DJR) section of line between Lawley Street, Birmingham and Whitacre at the behest of the Earl of Bradford, a local landowner. In 1902, as part of the Midland Railway, Castle Bromwich station was extensive rebuilt and survived in this form in until scheduled services ceased in March 1968. Initially authorised in 1836, the bill envisaged the line running from Derby via Whitacre to Stechford and then over the London and Birmingham Railway's metals into Curzon Street station. London traffic was intended to run from Whitacre to Derby Junction (later known as Hampton station) at Hampton in Arden and then to be taken forward by London & Birmingham Railway (L&BR) services to Euston. The first section opened was Whitacre to Hampton where traffic to and from Birmingham and London initiated. However due to the high tolls charged by the L&BR and the traffic delays experienced by B&DJR travellers using the L&BR's services, the B&DJR very quickly decided to built their own line direct to Birmingham but elected to run along the Tame and Rea valleys to a new station in Lawley Street rather than at Stechford. Also known as the Tame Valley Railway, this and the Birmingham & Gloucester railway were merged in 1846 with other companies to become part of the Midland Railway. The British Industries Fair BIF exhibition centre 1920 stood alongside the railway north-west of the station; in 1933 for the BIF annual fair the first diesel train in the country arrived on its maiden run from Euston. Trains calling at Castle Bromwich were in the main local services from Birmingham New Street to Derby, Leicester via Nuneaton Abbey Street and to Walsall via Sutton Park. It was recorded that a few express trains stopped here including the Worcester to York service.

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

Ref: mrcb34 Lens of Sutton Exterior of Castle Bromwich station, which fronted on to Chester Road, is all decked out with bunting in 1955

Ref: mrcb34a Lens of Sutton Close up of the entrance to the station's booking office from which access to the platforms was via a footbridge

Ref: mrcb1030 B Pixton The rear of Castle Bromwich's brick built two-storey station building which fronted on to Chester Road

Ref: mrcb1027 Postcard An Edwardian postcard looking along the down platform in the direction of Birmingham New Street

Ref: mrcb36 Lens of Sutton Looking north along the station's up platform towards Castle Bromwich junction during the mid 1950s

Ref: mrcb36a Lens of Sutton Close up of the up platform's facilities which housed a both a general and a separate ladies waiting room

Ref: mrcb36b Lens of Sutton Close up showing the station building accommodating passenger facilities on the down platform

Ref: mrcb36c Lens of Sutton Close up showing Castle Bromwich Junction in the near distance and the goods yard on the right

Ref: mrcb1031a RS Carpenter Close up showing the stairs to the passenger footbridge which led to the booking office and the other platform

Ref: mrcb1031b RS Carpenter Close up showing part of the covered stairs onto the down platform and on the right open steps to the sidings

Ref: mrcb32a WL Good Close up showing part of Castle Bromwich Junction and the approach to the station and goods yard

Ref: mrcb1032 DJ Norton Looking West towards Castle Bromwich station with the junction signal box on the left from North of the station

Ref: mrcb1032a DJ Norton Close up showing Castle Bromwich Junction signal box and the entrance to the station's goods yard

Ref: mrcb1032b DJ Norton Close up showing the station's two platforms which were isolated at their rear by the goods lines for each direction

Ref: mrcb32 WL Good LMS 4P Compound 4-4-0 No 1079 is seen at the head of a Derby to New Street express on 3rd June 1925

Ref: mrcb35 WL Good LMS 4P Compound 4-4-0 No 1162 stands light engine on one of the two up refuge sidings at Castle Bromwich

Ref: mrcb37 WL Good Ex-MR 1P 2-4-0 No 1 stands at the up platform on a Birmingham to Derby local train on 3rd June 1925

Ref: mrcb38 WL Good Ex-MR 2P 4-4-0 No 371 approaches Castle Bromwich station with a local service for New Street on 3rd June 1925

Ref: mrcb39 WL Good Ex-MR 2P 4-4-0 No 375 enters the station whilst at the head of Derby to New Street service on 3rd June 1925

Ref: mrcb40 WL Good Ex-MR 2P 4-4-0 No 531 passes through the station on an up express service on 3rd June 1925

Ref: mrcb41 WL Good Ex-MR 3P 4-4-0 No 776 stands at Castle Bromwich's up platform on a local service on 3rd June 1925

Ref: mrcb42 WL Good Ex-MR 4-2-2 1P MR 'Spinner' No 673 arrives at the station with a local Birmingham bound train

Ref: mrcb1031 RS Carpenter An unidentified BR built 5MT 4-6-0 'Black Five' roars through the station on an up express service to Derby

Ref: mrcb33 ND Mundy Ex-LMS 4P 4-4-0 'Compound' No 41157 departs Castle Bromwich station on an up service on 15th May 1959

Ref: mrcb1033 DJ Norton Ex-LMS 2-6-0 'Horwich Crab' No 42826 heads towards Washwood Heath on a Class D semi-fitted express freight

Ref: mrcb1025 M Mensing BR 5MT 4-6-0 No 73028 departs Castle Bromwich on an up passenger service on 5th September 1959

Ref: mrcb1025a M Mensing Close up of ex-LMS 4-6-0 No 45690 'Leander' approaching Castle Bromwich on a York to Bristol express train

Ref: mrcb1019 DJ Norton BR 5MT 4-6-0 No 73003 approaches the station from Washwood Heath on an up express service in 1953

Ref: mrcb1021 Real Photographs Ex-S&D 3F 0-6-0 No 43194 is seen at the head of a freight en-route to Kings Norton during May 1957

Ref: mrcb1022 DJ Norton Ex-LNWR 'Super D' 0-8-0 No 49212 nears Castle Bromwich with a freight train on the down goods line

Ref: mrcb1023 M Mensing Ex-LMS 5XP 4-6-0 No 45519 'Lady Godiva runs through the station on the up Devonian on Saturday 5th September 1959

Ref: mrcb1024 C Banks BR Derby Lightweight two-car Diesel Multiple Units stand on the down platform during May 1955

Ref: mrcb30a HC Casserley Midland Railway 2P 4-4-0 No 517 approaches the station on a down train for New Street on 9th May 1936

Ref: mrcb1026 G Robinson Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44562 passes through Castle Bromwich with an Eastbound freight on 4th May 1963

Ref: mrcb1028 M Mensing BR 9F 2-10-0 No 92156 approaches Castle Bromwich with an express service on 5th September 1957

Ref: mrcb1029 RJ Buckley BR B1 4-6-0 No 61318 passes Castle Bromwich signal box with the daily Cleethorpes to New Street service

Ref: mrcb1034 DJ Norton BR Standard 5MT No 73030 approaches Castle Bromwich at the head of a down express service

Ref: mrcb31 E Manley LMS 6P 4-6-0 No 6100 'The Royal Scot' stands at the British Industrial Fair adjacent to the station

Ref: mr-misc001 J Griffiths Illustration of the variety of the oil lamps employed along the route between Castle Bromwich and Stockingford

Ref: mrcb1020 Ordnance Survey Map showing Castle Bromwich station and the layout of the track both through the station and the junction