Birmingham New Street Station - Part Two

Mick Bramich writes "Before the rebuilding of the early ‘sixties, New Street was a dirty, smelly place. Gas lamps prevailed on both sides of the carriage road which divided the tracks of the former Midland and LNWR companies. It was dark and oppressive but sometimes threw up great surprises. I spent little time there but I did see a Southern West Country pacific, ‘City of Wells’, hauling a special in the latter days of steam.All the regular traffic is covered by your excellent ‘photo site. I do remember the frantic rush across the city after the Inter City at Snow Hill had departed to see what was hauling the up evening Scot. A Scot, yes, but from which distant location?"

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

Ref: lnwrbns_str412 L&GRP Looking from the East end of the South Staffordshire bay across New Street station towards the South end of the passenger footbridge

Ref: lnwrbns_str412a L&GRP Close up of the unidentified LNWR 2-4-2T locomotive at the head of a local passenger service with a flat truck behind the bunker loaded with a road cart

Ref: lnwrbns_str413 Postcard View looking towards Wolverhampton from the spare carriage sidings located on the East side of the station with Platform Two seen immediately ahead

Ref: lnwrbns_str413a Postcard Close up of the parcels dock and carriage landing showing two ventilated vans used for milk transportation and a standard van used for perishables

Ref: lnwrbns_str1865 LNWR Society View of the passenger footbridge in the original portion of New Street with building work is still evident on Platform 3 next to Queens Drive

Ref: lnwrbns_str1865a LNWR Society Close up of the passenger footbridge showing the departure indicator board suspended over head and in between the steps to Platform One

Ref: lnwrbns_str1866 LNWR Society View from one of the windows in the Queens Hotel across the footbridge towards the section of Queens Drive covered by the canopy

Ref: lnwrbns_str1866a LNWR Society Close up showing the top of the steps to Western section of Platform 1 with a signalman standing on duty at New Street No 3 Signal Cabin

Ref: lnwrbns_str432 NRM View looking from one of the Queens Hotel's windows above the passenger footbridge looking towards the station building on Platform 3

Ref: lnwrbns_str1857a British Railways Close up of the Western face of New Street No 3 signal cabin showing the 17 levers controlling the points and signals to the Western half of the station

Ref: lnwrbns_str1780 M Newman View of New Street No 3 Signal Cabin showing the addition of the four-sided clock prior to the erection of the new sides and tarpaulin roof

Ref: lnwrbns_str1311 British Railways View of New Street No 3 Signal Cabin showing a new semaphore signal and bell over one of Platform 2's roads as well as the removal of the arches

Ref: lnwrbns_str1848 British Railways View of New Street station's No 3 Signal Cabin under the LMS' ownership showing various modifications including the erection of a clock above the cabin

Ref: lnwrbns_str1866b LNWR Society Close up showing the Stour Valley Bay sign and some six-wheel coaching stock standing on the Western portion of Platform One

Ref: lnwrbns_str1863 R Foster View from the Queens Hotel looking across to the West end of Platform 3 showing the signals controlling access to the tunnel to Wolverhampton

Ref: lnwrbns_str1856 HJ Whitlock & Son Looking West along Platform 3 with on the right a rake of LNWR 57 ft lavatory stock coaches built during the First World War period

Ref: lnwrbns_str1858 British Railways View taken from the Queens Hotel from above the South Staffordshire bay showing the entrance to the LNWR's parcel offices on Platform 3 to the left of the footbridge

Ref: lnwrbns_str1859 P Lewis View looking from the offices in Queens Hotel from the Stour Valley bay across to to the entrance for passengers to the right of the building on Platform 3

Ref: lnwrbns_str1859a P Lewis Close up showing a LNWR up express train standing at Platform 1's through platform with New Street No 3 signal cabin perched above

Ref: lnwrbns_str423 Postcard Looking towards Wolverhampton along New Street station's Platform 3 with on the right train indicator boards and clocks standing on Platform 2

Ref: lnwrbns_str1859b P Lewis Close up showing the enlarged station building on Platform 3 which was expanded to include an additional booking office on the ground floor

Ref: lnwrbns_str1859c P Lewis Close up showing the pick up and dropping off point in Queens Drive for passengers using for the LNWR portion of New Street station

Ref: lnwrbns_str1857 British Railways Looking from the Queens Hotel across the Stour Valley bay towards the building on Platform showing a typical afternoon scene at New Street

Ref: lnwrbns_str1857b British Railways Close up of the passenger footbridge as passes through Platform 3's station structure showing the large station sign and the clock above the walkway

Ref: lnwrbns_str1889 Mile Post 2½ Looking towards the West end of Platform 3 from the parcels sidings with LMS 2-6-2T No 143 standing at the head of a Class B stopping passenger service

Ref: lnwrbns_str1882 Postcard Looking towards Worcester Street tunnel with an unidentified ex-LNWR 0-6-2T locomotive passing New Street No 1 Signal Box and a gang of Permanent Way workers

Ref: lnwrbns_str404 NRM An early view of Platform 4 looking East with the entrance off Queens Drive to the left and with a MR train for Kings Norton standing in the platform

Ref: lnwrbns_str1868 LNWR Society View from the Midland Railway's Parcels Offices looking West towards New Street No 2 Signal Box with Platform 6 on the left

Ref: lnwrbns_str1868a LNWR Society Close up showing both Platform 6 on the left and Platform 5 with a rake of Midland Railway coaching stock standing on the central storage road

Ref: lnwrbns_str1868b LNWR Society Close up of New Street No 2 Signal Box which was built and operated by the LNWR even though after 1889 it only served Midland trains

Ref: lnwrbns_str1870 LNWR Society View of New Street's newly opened extension showing Platforms 6 on the left and a set of LNWR carriages standing at Platform 5's up platform

Ref: lnwrbns_str1870a LNWR Society Close up showing the new extension's main station building which housed the offices and the principal passenger facilities on Platform Six