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

Saltley Station (50) Saltley Shed (245) Alan Pratt's Saltley Recollections Brian Murphy's Saltley Recollections

Saltley Station

The original station at Saltley was constructed by the Midland Railway (MR) in 1854 opening on 1 October. Two through platforms were provided, an ‘up’ and a ‘down’ either side of the double-track railway. The up platform extended across the Warwick Junction extension of the Grand Union Canal and also formed a bay platform some way to the north of the station. Access to the station was provided from either side of the level crossing which was directly to the south of the station. A waiting room and booking office were provided on the up side (Derby direction) with just a waiting room provided on the down side (Birmingham direction). No goods facilities were provided at the station due to its close proximity to the Lawley Street goods depot. In around 1887 the Saltley Viaduct was constructed to replace the level crossing and access was provided to the station via two sets of steps directly from the pathway on the viaduct.

In 1899 the station was demolished in conjunction with the widening of the line by the MR, and a single island platform in the centre of the main up and down passenger lines replaced it. The platform was reached by steps through one of the original apertures built into the Saltley Viaduct, which originally provided access to the down platform. The platform building was entirely of timber construction, of a style found scattered around the Midland Railway network wherever widenings and new works were undertaken between the 1880s and 1910: similar structures were at nearby Water Orton, but they were found as far afield as Cricklewood (Middlesex), Swinton (Yorkshire) and Stroud (Gloucestershire). The building was functional with a flat roof and minimal decoration. However a flat awning of generous proportions, carried on brackets, extended to the two platform edges and a short distance beyond the building on the other two sides, and a fairly deep valance with crenellations and circular piercings added a little distinction.

The station enjoyed a healthy level of service with the July 1922 Bradshaw showing 16 up and down services on Monday to Saturday, with six services on a Sunday. Most of the services which called at Saltley in 1922 were local trains to Derby or Walsall, but there were direct trains to Bradford and a single Derby to Plymouth/Bournemouth service which called there in both directions. Many of the patrons would have been workers travelling to and from the many local factories as well as shoppers wishing to travel into Birmingham.

On 1 January 1948 Saltley became part of British Railways London Midland Region. Following Nationalisation the through services calling at Saltley greatly diminished and destinations such as London St Pancras, Glasgow St Enoch and Liverpool Central required a change of train. The summer 1956 timetable shows a slight improvement with 20 down services on Monday to Friday, 21 services on a Saturday - the additional service was to Paignton - and seven services on a Sunday with one service to Weston-super-Mare; strangely there was no return service calling at Saltley. In the up direction there were 16 services on Monday to Friday with 18 on a Saturday - one being to Bournemouth - and seven on a Sunday.

By the early 1960s the station was suffering from omnibus competition and, with car ownership increasing, more people were holidaying using their own vehicle. The station was becoming increasingly run down, and although BR (LM) vitreous enamel running-in nameboards and totem name signs were installed, probably in the late 1950s, gas lighting was retained. The Reshaping of British Railways (‘Beeching’) report of 1963 recommended the withdrawal of all stopping services between Birmingham and Derby and the closure of the stations at which they called. Despite the identification of this route for closure Saltley was, surprisingly, not named in the list of stations to be closed – presumably an error. On 9 September 1964 formal notice was published of the proposal to withdraw Derby – Tamworth – Birmingham local trains, but it took until 16 August 1967 for Barbara Castle, Secretary of State for Transport to give her approval, reprieving one of the stations. Saltley closed to passenger services on 4 March 1968, together with neighbouring Castle Bromwich station.

Saltley station was soon demolished, and today there is little evidence that there ever was a station here apart from the swathe of land in the centre of the running lines on which the 1899 island platform stood. The two bricked-up entrances from the Saltley Viaduct are evident upon closer inspection. The Birmingham to Derby line still runs through the site and, with the Freightliner terminal located on the site of Lawley Street goods depot, the area is still busy with both freight and passenger services. The lines running through the station site comprise up and down passenger and up and down goods, and they carry a large amount of traffic.

Terry Callaghan of Disused Stations

Saltley Station

The road level entrance to Saltley Station as seen from Saltley Viaduct on 25th October 1964
Ref: mrsalt1469
R J Essery
The road level entrance to Saltley Station as seen from Saltley Viaduct on 25th October 1964
An Edwardian view of Saltley station looking towards New Street with Saltley viaduct behind the signals
Ref: mrsalt1470
L&GRP 25051
An Edwardian view of Saltley station looking towards New Street with Saltley viaduct behind the signals
A view looking towards Washwood Heath showing the station's double sided angled station nameboard
Ref: mrsalt1466
RJ Essery
A view looking towards Washwood Heath showing the station's double sided angled station nameboard
View from the Washwood end of Saltley station looking towards Birmingham in February 1968 shortly before closure
Ref: mrsalt954
A Muckley
View from the Washwood end of Saltley station looking to Birmingham in February 1968 shortly before closure
Looking towards Birmingham along the down side of Saltley station's island platform with Saltley viaduct seen in the distance
Ref: mrsalt400
RJ Essery
Looking towards Birmingham along the down side of Saltley station's platform with Saltley viaduct seen in the distance

Looking towards Water Orton along Saltley station's down platform with Saltley Sidings Signal Box and adjacent sidings in the distance
Ref: mrsalt423
RJ Essery
Looking towards Water Orton along Saltley station's down platform with Saltley Sidings Signal Box in the distance
View of the bottom of the steps which led down from Saltley Viaduct which were also gated
Ref: mrsalt1468
R J Essery
View of the bottom of the steps which led down from Saltley Viaduct which were also gated
Close up showing the carriage sidings which were located opposite Saltley Carriage Works on 8th August 1955
Ref: mrsalt992a
DJ Norton
Close up showing the carriage sidings which were located opposite Saltley Carriage Works on 8th August 1955
The ex-MR Stop Block located at the end of Saltley station for the short siding also doubled up as a coal bunker
Ref: mrsalt1467
R J Essery
The ex-MR Stop Block located at the end of Saltley station for the short siding also doubled up as a coal bunker
Saltley Junction Signal Box which was located on the up side of the Derby to Birmingham line at the North end of Duddeston Sidings
Ref: mrsalt618
DJ Norton
Saltley Junction Signal Box which was located at the North end of of the up side of Duddeston Sidings

Looking West from Saltley station towards the Gas Works with an LMS replacement buffer stop in the foreground
Ref: mrsalt1471
RJ Essery
Looking West from Saltley station towards the Gas Works with an LMS replacement buffer stop in the foreground
Close up of the short siding storing primarily open wagons which was located opposite from Saltley station's up platform and adjacent to Saltley viaduct
Ref: mrsalt400a
RJ Essery
Close up of the short siding storing primarily open wagons which was located opposite from Saltley station
Looking under the bridge carrying Saltley Road over the railway towards Camp Hill with Saltley Junction signal box
Ref: mrsalt964
DJ Norton
Looking under the bridge carrying Saltley Road over the railway towards Camp Hill with Saltley Junction signal box
Looking towards Washwood Heath sidings with Saltley station located the other side of Saltley Viaduct
Ref: mrsalt965
DJ Norton
Looking towards Washwood Heath sidings with Saltley station located the other side of Saltley Viaduct
Looking north from Saltley station with an ex-MR 0-6-0 2F goods on the right and an LMS 2-6-4T engine on the left
Ref: mrsalt1474
MF Yarnwood
Looking north from Saltley station with an ex-MR 0-6-0 2F goods on the right and an ex-MR 0-6-4T engine on the left

Looking towards Washwood Heath sidings with Saltley station located the other side of Saltley Viaduct
Ref: mrsalt965a
DJ Norton
Looking towards Washwood Heath sidings with Saltley station located the other side of Saltley Viaduct
In the distance is Saltley Junction Signal Box whilst in the foreground are the lines forming the throat to Saltley sidings
Ref: mrsalt676
DJ Norton
In the distance is Saltley Junction Signal Box and in the foreground are the lines to the throat of Saltley sidings
Looking towards Washwood Heath sidings with Saltley station located the other side of Saltley Viaduct
Ref: mrsalt965b
DJ Norton
Looking towards Washwood Heath sidings with Saltley station located the other side of Saltley Viaduct
Close up showing the carriage shed and sidings together with the layout of the lines running through Saltley station
Ref: mrsalt993a
DJ Norton
Close up of the carriage shed and sidings together with the layout of the lines running through Saltley station
View of Saltley Sidings Signal Box one month before the signal box was made redundant in September 1969 by the opening of Saltley Power box
Ref: mrsalt619
W Wright
Saltley Sidings Signal Box one month before the box was closed in September 1969 by the opening of the Power box

View of the inside of Saltley Junction Signal Box where unlike Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 box the frame was located at the front of the box
Ref: mrsalt617
DJ Norton
Inside Saltley Junction Signal Box where unlike Washwood Heath Sidings No 1 box the frame was located at the front
An illustration of the topography of the Saltley area of Birmingham some 17 years prior to the arrival of the Derby to Birmingham line
Ref: mrsalt426
Science Museum
The topography of the Saltley area of Birmingham 17 years prior to the arrival of the Derby to Birmingham line

Locomotives seen at or near Saltley Station

Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No 44745 passes the signal box at Saltley junction on a cross country service from Bristol
Ref: mrsalt958
BW Brookbank
Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No 44745 passes the signal box at Saltley junction on a cross country service from Bristol
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6985 Parwick Hall returns to Gloucester Horton Road on a freight in the 1960s
Ref: mrsalt963
R Conway
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6985 'Parwick Hall' returns to Gloucester Horton Road on a freight in the 1960s
Ex-Midland Railway 0-6-4T 'Flatiron' No 2029 and ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3492 are seen standing on the down goods line alongside Saltley station
Ref: mrsalt76
L Hanson
Ex-MR 0-6-4T No 2029 and ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3492 stand on the down goods line alongside Saltley station
Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No 44745 passes the signal box at Saltley junction on a cross country service from Bristol
Ref: mrsalt958
BW Brooksbank
Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black Five No 44745 passes the signal box at Saltley junction on a cross country service from Bristol
Ex-Midland Railway 2F 0-6-0 No 3527 is seen passing through Saltley station at the head of a down class K local trip service to one of Birmingham's goods yards
Ref: mrsalt646
rail-online
Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 3527 passes through Saltley station at the head of a down class K local trip service

LMS 5P/4F 2-6-0 'Crab' No 2903 is seen passing Saltley Sidings Signal Box as it approaches Saltley station at the head of local passenger service
Ref: mrsalt428
FW Shuttleworth
LMS 5P4F 2-6-0 'Crab' No 2903 is seen passing Saltley Sidings Signal Box as it approaches Saltley station
Ex-LMS 4-6-0 'Black Five' No 44814 is seen on a class 'D' freight approaching Saltley station on the up goods line
Ref: mrsalt427
BWL Brooksbank
Ex-LMS 4-6-0 'Black Five' No 44814 is seen on a class 'D' freight approaching Saltley station on the up goods line
British Railways built 5MT 4-6-0 No 44659 passes on a down freight being banked by Johnson 3F 0-6-0 No 43693
Ref: mrsalt955
M Mensing
British Railways built 5MT 4-6-0 No 44659 passes on a down freight being banked by Johnson 3F 0-6-0 No 43693
Ex-MR 4-4-0 2P No 40511 pilots British Railways built 2-6-0 4MT No 43017 running tender first through the station
Ref: mrsalt956
M Mensing
Ex-MR 4-4-0 2P No 40511 pilots BR built 2-6-0 4MT No 43017 running tender first through the station
Ex-LMS 5XP Jubilee Class No 45572 Eire passes Saltley on 12:32 pm York to Bristol service on 26th April 1958
Ref: mrsalt957
M Mensing
Ex-LMS 5XP Jubilee Class No 45572 Eire passes Saltley on 12:32 pm York to Bristol service on 26th April 1958

Ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F No 44272 is seen working hard on a down freight service on 28th October 1951
Ref: mrsalt966
DJ Norton
Ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F No 44272 is seen working hard on a down freight service on 28th October 1951
Ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F No 44138 runs tender first past Saltley station on an up working to Washwood Heath sidings
Ref: mrsalt967
DJ Norton
Ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F No 44138 runs tender first past Saltley station on an up working to Washwood Heath sidings
Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44538 heads a down express freight on the down passenger line on 8th August 1955
Ref: mrsalt992
DJ Norton
Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44538 heads a down express freight on the down passenger line on 8th August 1955
British Railways built 4MT 2-6-0 No 43049 drawing empty stock from the carriage sidings onto the down passenger line
Ref: mrsalt993
DJ Norton
BR built 4MT 2-6-0 No 43049 drawing empty stock from the carriage sidings onto the down passenger line
Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 58167 heads a freight working on the Lawley Street down goods line on 8th August 1955
Ref: mrsalt991
DJ Norton
Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 58167 heads a freight working on the Lawley Street down goods line on 8th August 1955

Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44129 is seen on the Camp Hill line at the head of a down Class J mineral train
Ref: mrsalt990
DJ Norton
Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44129 is seen on the Camp Hill line at the head of a down Class J mineral train
Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48339 is seen working hard climbing towards Camp Hill on 26th April 1958
Ref: mrsalt1464
M Mensing
Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48339 is seen working hard climbing towards Camp Hill on 26th April 1958
Ex-MR 3F 0-6-0 No 43693 is banking the freight train headed by ex-LMS No 44659 bound for Bordesley Junction
Ref: mrsalt994
M Mensing
Ex-MR 3F 0-6-0 No 43693 is banking the freight train headed by ex-LMS No 44659 bound for Bordesley Junction
Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44211 at the head of a down freight is held at signals on a grey day in March 1963
Ref: mrsalt1228
P Cotterell
Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 No 44211 at the head of a down freight is held at signals on a grey day in March 1963
An unidentified ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 locomotive passes by Saltley Gas Works on westbound train in 1962
Ref: mrsalt1473
A Brooks
An unidentified ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0 locomotive passes by Saltley Gas Works on westbound train in 1962

Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48273 is working hard as it passes through Saltley on a cold 7th December 1962
Ref: mrsalt1631
P Shoesmith
Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48273 is working hard as it passes through Saltley on a cold 7th December 1962
British Railways Type 4 Diesel Locomotive D109 is seen on an express passing through Saltley in 1960
Ref: mrsalt1475
A Brooks
British Railways Type 4 Diesel Locomotive D109 is seen on an express passing through Saltley in 1960
British Railways Diesel shunter 12044 is seen passing through Saltley station in 1960
Ref: mrsalt1465
A Brookes
British Railways Diesel shunter 12044 is seen passing through Saltley station in 1960
Aerial photograph of the Saltley area with Saltley LMS steam engine shed and the new coaling tower
Ref: mrsalt1630
English Heritage
Aerial photograph of the Saltley area with Saltley LMS steam engine shed and the new coaling tower

Ordnance Survey Maps of Saltley Station

Location plan showing Saltley shed on the left and Saltley Viaduct in the centre with Saltley station to the right of the viaduct
Ref: mrsalt968
Ordance Survey
A 1912 OS map showing Saltley shed on the left and Saltley Viaduct in the centre with Saltley station to the right
A 1912 Ordnance Survey map showing the junction between the LNWR line between Aston and Stechford and the MR main Derby to Birmingham line
Ref: mrsalt969
Ordance Survey
A 1912 OS map of the junction between the Aston and Stechford line & the main Derby to Birmingham line
Map showing the location of Saltley station in relationship to the former Grand Junction Railway on the left and the Birmingham and Warwick Canal
Ref: saltletmap
Andy Doherty
Map showing the juxtaposition of Saltley station to the GJR and the Birmingham and Warwick Canal
An undated Ordnance Survey Map showing Saltley station and the canal passing beneath the railway
Ref: mrsalt1472
RJ Essery
An undated Ordnance Survey Map showing Saltley station and the canal passing beneath the railway

Saltley Station (50) Saltley Shed (245) Alan Pratt's Saltley Recollections Brian Murphy's Saltley Recollections