Sutton Coldfield Station (LNWR)

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield

Sutton Coldfield station was opened on 2nd June 1862, as the northern terminus of the branch line from Aston built by the London and North Western Railway. The station is built using red brick and was equipped with elaborate ceilings and pillars. The population increased dramatically and in 1880 an extension to Lichfield City was authorised. This line was opened to goods traffic in September 1884 and to passenger traffic on 15th December 1884. A new passenger station, on a 15 chain radius curve, replaced the original station. The new line was extended north to Lichfield via a 171 yard tunnel built immediately beyond the end of the platforms. After the extension was opened the services serving Lichfield were a combination of trains terminating at Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks - the next station to the north, or Lichfield. After the grouping of railway companies in 1923, the station came under the control of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway which resulted in the rationalisation of the former Midland Railway services at Sutton Town. Goods facilities were withdrawn from Sutton Coldfield on 1st May 1967 and a Motor Rail terminal for services to Scotland and the West Country opened. This facility was closed in 1972, together with Newton-le-Willows, when Crewe was designated to handle the requirements of the West Midlands.

The Original 1862 Station

Ref: lnwrsc90 NRM View of Sutton Coldfield's first station when built as the terminus of the line from Birmingham via Aston

Ref: lnwrsc90a NRM Close up showing McConnell's 0-4-2T No 734 ready to haul its train bunker first to Birmingham New Street

Ref: lnwrsc2607 R Lea A circa 1870 view of Sutton Coldfield station's departure platform showing the new refreshment room on the left

Ref: lnwrsc2610 R Lea Painting showing the original Royal Hotel which was opened in May 1865 some three years after the railway

Ref: lnwrsc2610a R Lea Close up showing an unknown LNWR 2-2-2 locomotive being turned on Sutton Coldfield's turntable

Ref: lnwrsc2610b R Lea Close up of one of Sutton Coldfield's citizens leaving the station in their private horse drawn carriage

Ref: lnwrsc2612 R Lea A drawing showing part of the platform elevation to Sutton Coldfield station's 1862 booking office

Ref: lnwrsc2611 R Lea A timetable showing the train times from Sutton Coldfield to New Street for the period of February 1870

Ref: lnwrsc2606 R Lea A map showing the layout of Sutton Coldfield's 1862 station including goods shed and coal yard

The Rebuilt 1884 Station

Ref: lnwrsc96 P Kingston An external view of Sutton Coldfield station's 1884 four room building located on Railway Road

Ref: lnwrsc89 Anon Looking to Sutton Coldfield along the up platform after the accident had demolished much of the platform structure

Ref: lnwrsc97 Anon View of the Birmingham platform showing the lengthy platform canopy and the numerous passenger facilities

Ref: lnwrsc91 Anon Looking towards Lichfield from the Birmingham end of the down platform showing the platform's very long canopy

Ref: lnwrsc93 Anon View of the up platform after being repaired following the horrendous accident which occurred in 1955

Ref: lnwrsc94 Anon Looking towards Lichfield from mid-way along the down platform with the main station building seen on the left

Ref: lnwrsc94a Anon Close up showing the passenger access to the up platform from road level via the incline structure

Ref: lnwrsc2406 S Jones View of the station taken immediately from above Sutton Coldfield Tunnel looking towards the station

Ref: lnwrsc92b LGRP Close up of Stanier 2-6-2T No 40080 in a relatively clean condition, in British Railway's lined black livery

Ref: lnwrsc92 LGRP Ex-LMS 2-6-2T No 40080 stands at the head of a down service from Lichfield to New Street station

Ref: lnwrsc92a LGRP Close up showing the up platform's passenger waiting rooms and above, the bridge to the down platform

Ref: lnwrsc95 Anon View of one of the excavators being used to build the extension to the line from Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield

Ref: lnwrsc544 P Rivitt Mr Rivitt, Sutton Coldfield's stationmaster and a porter pose with a group of policemen on the up platform

Ref: lnwrsc2410 R Powell Hendry A schematic plan of Sutton Coldfield station showing passenger and Motor Rail facilities circa 1969

Accident at Sutton Coldfield station on 23rd January 1955

Ref: lnwrsc2339 Birmingham Post & Mail Ex-LMS 2-6-4T No 42421 travels slowly through the accident damaged remains of Sutton Coldfield station

Ref: lnwrsc2407 Anon View of one of the carriages and its bogie, twisted and distorted following their derailment

Ref: lnwrsc2408 Railways Archive View of the wreck of ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 No 45274 which is lying on its side next to the remains of a carriage

Ref: lnwrsc2409 H Knox Ministry of Transport report into the accident at Sutton Coldfield in 1955 - courtesy of Railways Archive