Curzon Street Goods Station

LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton
LMS Route: Birmingham - Soho Road - Perry Barr - Birmingham
LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield

CURZON STREET STATION IN 1842

by Francis Wishaw

BIRMINGHAM GOODS DEPOT

The goods depot at Birmingham is separated from the station by Curzon Street: the communication from the station and main line to the depot is by means of a double way altogether 55 feet wide, passing between the Birmingham and Grand Junction stations, and crossing Curzon Street on a level and at a very acute angle, so that the gates on each side of this street, which are hung so as to close either the railway or street as may be required, are of the extraordinary width of seventy-six feet. The average length of this depot is about 490 feet and the average depth 382 feet. The goods warehouse is a rectangular building situated between the railway and Curzon Street, it is 250 feet in length and 78 feet in depth, with 5 doorways in front, and as many turntables without, and on the line of way nearest to the building. From these turntables short lines run into docks, properly constructed within the warehouse, for the loading and unloading of goods. The common road wagons are loaded and unloaded by means of loop holes at the back of the warehouse. There are four lines of way in front of the warehouse, and eleven cross lines at right angles to the main lines. The turntables are of 8 feet and 9 feet 2 inches diameter respectively and about 35 in number. At a distance of SO feet from the end of the warehouse the engineers and other offices are situate, being at the extreme end of the railway. This building is 88 feet in front and the centre portion is 45 feet deep. There is also a row of small offices near the entrance gates for the use of carriers. A range of stables occupies the angle of the depot immediately opposite to the entrance. On the right line of way entering the depot there is a weighbridge and office, the size of the platform of which is 9 feet 3 inches by 5 feet 2 inches. There is also a gauge for regulating the height of loaded wagons; this gauge is 6 inches lower than the lowest arch under which the wagons have to pass.

If you are interested in knowing more about Curzon Street Goods Station you can do no better than to read Richard Foster's series of books on Birmingham New Street - The Story of a Great Station including Curzon Street published by Wild Swan Publications Ltd of Didcot. I would like to take this opportunity of crediting Richard Foster as being the source for much of the rich information provided in the captions to the photographs.

Ref: lnwrcs1502 Public Records Office View of Hardwick's structure and the main entrances to the cartage yard with the main goods shed behind

Ref: lnwrcs3860 FE Box The main building in New Canal Street 100 years to the day since the first through passenger train arrived

Ref: lnwrcs2132 TJ Edgington View of the rear of Hardwick's building on the left and the 1840 hotel extension seen from Curzon Street

Ref: lnwrcs2151 B Matthews View of the grand doorway to Hardwick's main building with the L & B coat of arms sited on top of the borrowed light

Ref: lnwrcs2134 DP Rowland View of one of Franklin's gates in the screen wall built for the Grand Junction station from across the yard

Ref: lnwrcs3865 Historic England A 1966 view of the rear of the Hardwick's original station building, clearly showing the 1841 hotel addition

Ref: lnwrcs3867 Historic England View of Hardwick's original station building, in use as goods offices with the 1841 hotel addition to its left

Ref: lnwrcs3866 Historic England The central part of the GJR station screen wall, showing the series of linked neo-Roman triumphal arches.

Ref: lnwrcs3868 Historic England Looking east along Curzon St with the screen wall of the GJR station and the accumulator tower on left

Ref: lnwrcs3861 Historical England The level crossing over Curzon Street with the tracks leading to the original L&BR goods depot in 1966

Ref: lnwrcs2147 RS Carpenter Notice board erected on the former hotel extension on the corner of Canal Street and Curzon Street in the 1950s

Ref: lnwrcs2106 NRM View of the former hotel's dining room which was subsequently converted as the forwarding office

Ref: lnwrcs1501 Public Records Office A view of the interior of Curzon Street Goods Station's goods forwarding office taken in 1913

Ref: lnwrcs2155 N Howell View of Curzon Street's goods forwarding office on the ground floor in the former dining room of the hotel

Ref: lnwrcs2123 NRM The LMS office situated inside Birmingham Corporation's Smithfield wholesale fruit and vegetable market

Ref: lnwrcs2173 Birmingham Libraries An Ackerman perspective of Birmingham in 1845 showing the L & B and GJ stations at Curzon Street

Ref: lnwrcs2173a Birmingham Libraries Close up showing the two stations in the Ackerman perspective of Birmingham in 1845 with Proof House

Ref: lnwrcs4506 Marian Schofield Curzon Street Goods Station with the original L&BR sheds to the immediate right of Hardwick's grand structure

Ref: lnwrcs4506 Marian Schofield Close up of Hardwick's L&BR building showing the L&BR's coat of arms above the entrance

Ref: lnwrcs4506 Marian Schofield The excursion train sheds are on the right & in the distance, Proof House Junction signal cabin

Views of the yard

Ref: lnwrcs1278 Anon Looking towards the road entrance to the depot via Canal Street with the Grain Warehouse on the right

Ref: lnwrcs2316 DJ Norton A panoramic elevated view of Curzon Street Goods Station from Vauxhall viaduct seen on 25th July 1955

Ref: lnwrcs2316a DJ Norton Close up showing Proof House junction alongside Curzon Street's former Excursion Station buildings

Ref: lnwrcs2316b DJ Norton Close up showing Curzon Street No 1 signal cabin in company with two unidentified ex-LMS 2-6-0 'Stanier Crabs'

Ref: lnwrcs2316c DJ Norton Close up showing sidings Nos 21 to 36 with an ex-LMS 0-6-0 Diesel shunter working adjacent to the former GJR station

Ref: lnwrcs1503 Public Records Office Looking towards Curzon Street No 1 signal cabin and the 'overhead' lines with the grain warehouse on the left in 1912

Ref: lnwrcs1503a Public Records Office Close up showing Curzon Street No 1 signal cabin and a LNWR train standing on Vauxhall viaduct

Ref: lnwrcs1498 Public Records Office View of a wagon being shunted by capstan power on one of Curzon Street's cross lines and turntables

Ref: lnwrcs1498a Public Records Office Close up showing one of the powered capstans being operated by a capstanman in order to pull the van

Ref: lnwrcs2109 LMS Magazine One of the LMS' wagons being turned on the cross line and turntables located in front of the warehouse

Ref: lnwrcs2144 J Strange View showing some of the turntables, capstans and warehouses in the top yard at Curzon Street station

Ref: lnwrcs2111 J Strange View of two wagon turntables demonstrating how wagons could be directed along tracks at oblique angles

Ref: lnwrcs2120 J Strange The east end of Top Yard viewed from Curzon Street with the two-storey infirmary stable block at the far end

Ref: lnwrcs2117 M Christensen A 1966 view looking towards the former GJR arrival platform now home to Curzon Street's fruit wharf

Ref: lnwrcs2146 J Strange Looking to the far end of Top Yard from Curzon Street level crossing gates with the weighbridge in the left

Ref: lnwrcs2108 AH Baker An aerial view showing part of Top Yard, Curzon Street level crossing and the former L & B departure train shed

Ref: lnwrcs2121 Network Rail View taken on 10th January 1966 of the original L & B trainshed to the arrival platform being demolished

Ref: lnwrcs2131 LMS Magazine A special cargo of glass-lined metal tanks each weighing 4½ tons is being unloaded by Banbury Street's mobile crane

Ref: lnwrcs2124 NRM A LMS Container being off-loaded by a travelling crane in Banbury Street goods yard on 3rd February 1932

Ref: lnwrcs2125 NRM A special order of wire rope being loaded direct from Wrights Ropes' factory on to MR railway wagons

Ref: lnwrcs3863 CE Steele A Signal Lineman's Trackside cabin is seen on the left, with other cabins on the right, at Curzon Street in 1967

Ref: lnwrcs1496 Public Records Office Cattle landing in Banbury St looking towards the GJ station with the MR down home signal just above the shed

Ref: lnwrcs2158 Public Records Office Birmingham Corporation's cattle market from Lawley Street viaduct with Montague Street on the left

Ref: lnwrcs2158a Public Records Office Close up of the holding pens at Birmingham Corporation's Banbury Street cattle market as seen in 1912

Inside the Warehouses

Ref: lnwrcs1279 NRM Interior view of the warehouse at Curzon Street's showing different types of general goods being unloaded

Ref: lnwrcs1280 NRM An internal view of Curzon Street warehouse's departure platform with various goods being exported

Ref: lnwrcs2107 NRM A view of a gang in the process of transferring merchandise from a LMS electrical trolley to a van

Ref: lnwrcs1500 Public Records Office A LNWR electric trolley being demonstrated on the loading deck at Curzon Street Goods Station in 1913

Ref: lnwrcs2156 NRM A Curzon Street deck gang transferring merchandise from the road vehicle unloading dock into a van

Ref: lnwrcs2110 NRM A LNWR electric trolley being used to transfer packing cases of seed potatoes on 25th September 1928

Ref: lnwrcs2112 NRM View of the main landing deck at the New Canal Street end of Curzon Street's warehouse on 25th September 1938

Ref: lnwrcs2154 N Howell From the New Canal Street end of the warehouse looking towards the sidings on 25th September 1938

Ref: lnwrcs2154a N Howell Close up showing the deck on a Sunday devoid of the frenetic activity that was the rule for six days each week

Ref: lnwrcs2113 N Howell A second view from the New Canal Street end of the warehouse looking towards the sidings

Ref: lnwrcs2129 J Strange View of part of the former cab area to the Grand Junction Railway's arrival platform showing the ad-hoc extension

Ref: lnwrcs2127 N Howell Another view of the fruit shed stacked with produce seen on Sunday 25th September 1938 ready for distribution

Ref: lnwrcs2114 Birmingham Post & Mail A view looking towards the buffer stops of the former GJR arrival platform now converted to handling fruit

Ref: lnwrcs2128 B Matthews Interior view of the Fruit shed looking towards the main line in 1966 together with the new parcels concentration depot

Ref: lnwrcs2153 FE Box Another view of the former GJR arrival platform being used as the fruit wharf on 17th February 1938

Ref: lnwrcs2153a FE Box Close up showing the floor mounted scales used for weighing the produce capable of being manhandled

Ref: lnwrcs2137 J Strange An internal view of inside the grain warehouse which was located on the first floor of the GJR departure platform

Ref: lnwrcs2152 LMS Magazine View of one of former GJR station's waiting rooms now being used as a store for high value metals

Ref: lnwrcs1499 Public Records Office The cellars below the L & B Curzon Street station which were built taking advantage of the sloping site

Ref: lnwrcs2126 LMS Magazine The new paper warehouse built to accommodate the requirements of the Post, Mail Gazette and Despatch

Ref: lnwrcs3864 NRM The London, Midland & Scottish Railway's Birmingham Curzon Street goods depot, about 1935

Cartage services

Ref: lnwrcs2105 LMS Magazine Stableman Jones with 'The Colonel', his prize winning bay horse from Curzon Street winner of the 1932 Show

Ref: lnwrcs2142 Anon First interior view of the top floor of the infirmary stable block at the back of Top Yard 30 yrs after the last horse left

Ref: lnwrcs2139 Anon Second interior view of the top floor of the infirmary stable block at the back of Top Yard 30 yrs after the last horse left

Ref: lnwrcs2140 Anon Third interior view of the top floor of the infirmary stable block at the back of Top Yard 30 yrs after the last horse left

Ref: lnwrcs2141 Anon Fourth interior view of the top floor of the infirmary stable block at the back of Top Yard 30 yrs after the last horse left

Ref: lnwrcs2160 CC Green A cart load of hay being weighed at Smithfield Market prior to being sold at the corn and fodder markets

Ref: lnwrcs1497 Public Records Office Curzon Street's motorised road transport fleet displayed in the fomer GJR yard for the photographer in 1912

Ref: lnwrcs1497a Public Records Office Close up showing the fleet of primarily light motor lorries together with a sole example of a lorry for medium loads

Ref: lnwrcs1497b Public Records Office Close up showing Curzon Street's steam powered lorry for transporting very heavy loads throughout the city

Ref: lnwrcs2133 AH Baker An aerial view of motor tractor units parked on the site of the former paper warehouse located in the Top Yard

Ref: lnwrcs4296 Birmingham Post An unidentified motorised L&NWR lorry carrying coils of steel seen at Curzon Street circa 1920

People

Ref: lnwrcs2159 A Parks View of female staff employed at the Curzon Street District Goods Manager's Office in the 1890s

Ref: lnwrcs2122 Mrs W Brunton A photograph of Curzon Street District Goods Manager's office staff taken on September 1938

Ref: lnwrcs2130 Mrs W Brunton A photograph of Curzon Street District Goods Accounts Department (Abstracts) office staff in September 1938

A 'Win the War' procession to recruit women into the railway service in September 1918

Ref: lnwrcs3850 LNWR Society Rte042 Part of the L&NWR's 'Win the War' campaign to recruit women into the railway service in September 1918

Ref: lnwrcs3851 LNWR Society Rte042 A close up of the Foden steam lorry bearing the fleet No 8A and the registration number M9699

Ref: lnwrcs3852 LNWR Society Rte042 Leyland S 30 T motor lorry Fleet No 52B, Reg No LE 9568 built originally as a double decker bus

Ref: lnwrcs3853 LNWR Society Rte042 Leyland S 30 T lorry Fleet No 33B, registration number LF 9199, also built originally as a double decker bus

Ref: lnwrcs3854 LNWR Society Rte042 A Commer motor lorry heads a steam lorry and an electric powered lorry in the parade in September 1918

Ref: lnwrcs3855 LNWR Society Rte042 L&NWR officials from the different part of the railway, including a lady supervisor, stand in front of the parade

Ref: lnwrcs3856 LNWR Society Rte042 Commor motor lorry Fleet No 43B, registration number BM 2622, was originally built in 1913 as a bus

Ref: lnwrcs3857 LNWR Society Rte042 Foden three-ton steam lorry, Fleet No 7A Reg No M 9698, built in June 1918 joins the parade in September 1918

Ref: lnwrcs3858 LNWR Society Rte042 An Edison battery powered electric three-ton goods lorry, Fleet No 65BE Reg No 6828 in September 1918

Ref: lnwrcs3859 LNWR Society Rte042 Opposite side of the Edison battery powered electric 3-ton goods lorry but with the same message on its banners

Ordnance Survey Maps and Schematic Drawings

Ref: lnwrcs2174 R Foster Map showing Birmingham's three principal stations in 1845 serving London, Derby, Manchester and Liverpool

Ref: lnwrcs2165 R Foster An over all plan showing the routes into Curzon Street Goods Station's sidings and warehouses in 1864

Ref: lnwrcs2165a R Foster Close up of the 1864 plan showing the interchange of lines between the former L & B, GJR and B & G lines

Ref: lnwrcs2165b R Foster Close up of the 1864 plan showing the original Banbury Street cattle sidings and Curzon Street's main warehouse

Ref: lnwrcs2165c R Foster Close up of the 1864 plan showing the expanded facilities of Top Yard at Curzon Street Goods Station

Ref: lnwrcs2162 R Foster An 1888 diagrammatic plan of Curzon Street showing Lawley Street Junction and Curzon Street Wharf sidings

Ref: lnwrcs2162a R Foster Part of an 1888 diagrammatic plan of Curzon Street showing Lawley Street Junction and Curzon Street Wharf sidings

Ref: lnwrcs2162b R Foster Part of an 1888 diagrammatic plan of Curzon Street showing the carriage shed and Proof House Junction

Ref: lnwrcs2162c R Foster Part of an 1888 diagrammatic plan of Curzon Street Goods Station showing the sidings and warehouses

Ref: lnwrcs2164 R Foster Plan of the development of Curzon Street's Top Yard and its facilities between 1865 and 1890

Ref: lnwrcs2161 R Foster Plan showing the throat of Curzon Street Goods Station including the buildings erected to service the yard

Ref: lnwrcs2315 J Copsey Schematic showing the May 1896 routes to New Street station from Aston, Coventry and Gloucester

Ref: lnwrcs3869 Historic England The relationship between the existing lines and the routes of the L&BR, New Street station line and B&OJR

1887 Ordnance Survey Maps

Ref: lnwrcs3870 National Library of Scotland An 1887 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Shed and Yard

Ref: lnwrcs3871 National Library of Scotland An 1887 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Banbury Street Wharf and Carriage Shed

Ref: lnwrcs3872 National Library of Scotland An 1887 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Top Yard and Level Crossing

Ref: lnwrcs3873 National Library of Scotland An 1887 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station and all sidings

1902 Ordnance Survey Maps

Ref: lnwrcs3874 National Library of Scotland A 1902 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station and approach roads

Ref: lnwrcs3875 National Library of Scotland A 1902 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station and all sidings

Ref: lnwrcs3876 National Library of Scotland A 1902 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station's Top Yard and Wharf

Ref: lnwrcs3877 National Library of Scotland A 1902 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station's Banbury Street Wharf

1913 Ordnance Survey Maps

Ref: lnwrcs3882 National Library of Scotland A 1913 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station and all sidings

Ref: lnwrcs3879 National Library of Scotland A 1913 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station's Banbury Street Wharf

Ref: lnwrcs3880 National Library of Scotland A 1913 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street and Lawley Street Wharfs

Ref: lnwrcs3881 National Library of Scotland A 1913 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station and approach roads

Ref: lnwrcs3878 National Library of Scotland A 1913 25 inch to the mile Ordnance Survey Map of Curzon Street Goods Station's Top Yard

Miscellaneous

Ref: lnwrcs2175 Anon Copy of drawing of the covered landing provided at the Curzon Street Canal Wharf for the L&B Railway

Ref: lnwrcs3862 R Foster List of names of potato salesmen based at Curzon Street top or potato yard from 1870 to 1900

Ref: lnwrcs3883 R Foster The LNWR's Rules & Regulations of 1852 covering both Birmingham and general operations on the line