• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
  • HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
    Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
    im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
    we are now using a backup solution

New Street Station From1854

That "wagon train" in photo 2 is really interesting, the leading "vehicle" is obviously battery electric operated with a platform for the driver and a tiller to steer. As it's carrying number 9 it's probably safe to assume there were at least 8 others. It would be interesting to know more of its history.

Simon
 
Two fantastic photos Ragga! Makes you realise how time's moved on. Milk churns and the horse drawn milk float, packages tied with string, steam trains, signals that moved up and down and made a clanking noise ...... the photo with the schoolboy looks quite wistful. I wonder if he was arriving or departing for boarding school? Enjoyed these two photos very much. Thanks Ragga. Viv.
 
Would be interesting if anyone has photos of the Mail being moved along the platforms, there was an underground tunnel from the Sorting Office and the amount of Mail must have colossal. Bernard
 
6918 said:
That "wagon train" in photo 2 is really interesting, the leading "vehicle" is obviously battery electric operated with a platform for the driver and a tiller to steer. As it's carrying number 9 it's probably safe to assume there were at least 8 others. It would be interesting to know more of its history.

Simon
Click to expand...
no one mentioned the bikes in transit, our early GPO bikes were made by the Coop, Bernard
 
Yes Dave, I believe thats where they were made, didnt do any cycle
duties in Brum but when I transfered to Burton on Trent in 1957 all
the second deliveries were done on bikes, I must have been fit in those faroff days, Bernard
 
Hi

Great Pictures from the Famous Michael Mensing of New Street Platform 7.
I would hurtle down or up from Platform 2 (stechford) along the Bridge to 7 and down the Steps. In those days a Seperate Ticket Office for the old Midland Railway operated. It was situated on the edge of Queens Drive and Platform 7. I got my Ticket to Tamworth around 7/- for the Day.
I can still smell the Old Midland Railway. Wonderful days.

Mike Jenks
 

Attachments

  • scan0011 - Copy.jpg
    scan0011 - Copy.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 67
  • scan0011.jpg
    scan0011.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 64
We went fishing to Tamworth a couple of times. It would be an early morning train caught at Saltley Stn. Two or three old coaches with no inter compartment connection and pulled by a Duck six I think...well a six anyway just three connected wheels on each side and no bogies.
 
Two fabulus photo's Mike, takes me back, as you say they invoke the unique smells, and tastes, of steam days, "The old blood and custard" of our youth.
paul
 
Takes me back too. I remember the excitement as the train rolled in to New St as I came home on leave.
(And the gloom going back to camp !).
 
Here are a few photo's of New Street & Northfield stations taken with my 'Box Brownie' in the 1950's.Sorry for the poor quality but they may be of interest.s.jpg
 
Re: The (new ) New Street Station

The roof was damaged and shaken in wartime bombing, but after the war it was found to be unsafe and was dismantled in 1947. (from Century of Railways around birmingham vol 1)
 
Hi

This went past my eyes the other day. Its the closing down of a Cafe.
I cant remember much of the facilities.
I will keep trying interesting isn't it.

Mike Jenks
 

Attachments

  • 1451386_1048607868488796_3905037627390615635_n.jpg
    1451386_1048607868488796_3905037627390615635_n.jpg
    30.2 KB · Views: 76
In Mike's photo the sign above the door is " ......... and waiting room". Definitely looks like a former railway service. And the light in the photo looks like it's an interior shot, like it could be inside a covered station. And there are cups on the windowsill outside the cafe. So someone must have had a quick cuppa in the shelter of the station and dashed for their train. Viv.
 
Do the litter bins tell us anything? The style of writing on the bin (right in the photo) might match other bins on the railway line perhaps? Viv.
 
mike jenks said:
Hi

This went past my eyes the other day. Its the closing down of a Cafe.
I cant remember much of the facilities.
I will keep trying interesting isn't it.

Mike Jenks
Click to expand...

It is the late '50s about the turn of the sixties, so let me take you for a short walk along New Street past where they have begun letting the new shops on the "big top" site and clearing the ground for the Rotunda opposite Times Furnishing.

Now turn right down along Worcester Street past the Midland Red booking office and it's wonderful relief map of their territory in the window and along past the back entrance to the Odeon.

Pass the bus stands for the 147 to Redditch, the 144 to Worcester and Bromsgrove with their brass chocks under the back wheels then over the railway bridges with New Street station on your right. Across the road is the old Market Hall where through the open doors you can see the pigeons flying through the sky where the roof once was.

Turn right along Queen's Drive and walk downhill toward the taxi ranks past the British Railway offices, passing cars rumble over the cobble sets. Overhead in front of you is the elevated footpath crossing Queens Drive which joined the two halves of the station together. This map should help get your bearings but the smell from the nearby Fish platforms on the Midland side will help on a foggy night.

New_Street_plan_Circa_1960.jpg

Just before the footbridge turn right and walk onto platform 6, then left along the platform.

After a few yards the "restaurant" is on your left though I suspect it has now closed for good as this is all about to be demolished for the new modern station above.

In a few months time you will be able to walk into John Lewis and stand above the old cafe.
 
The Cafeteria - Waiting Room was where it is indicated on this photo, both my grandmother and mother worked there. In fact my grandmother worked there until the day it closed. I have the same photo that Mike Jenks posted and the first time I saw it I though the woman in the photo might in fact be my grandmother, but on closer study I see that it is not her hair is much darker and she always wore a hairnet and hat whilst serving in the cafeteria.
 

Attachments

  • City Queens Drive (2).JPG
    City Queens Drive (2).JPG
    154.8 KB · Views: 67
Late '50s is the tail end of the Victorian station!


Noticed some old brick work today from the current platform 1.
 
The steam locomotive pictured......73031...built December 1953, and scrapped December 1965, also nearly 50 years ago. Never a London, Midland, Scottish Railway locomotive, when New Street Station, became LMS, and a part of the 'big four' amalgamation.

Could they not find an appropriate LMS steam engine photograph? There are thousands around. Typical of 'modern thinking'.

"Just put up a photograph of a steam engine, lads. That will do".

Eddie
 
You mean like the Birmingham picture in the brocure about Birmingham (England), which was of Birmingham Alabama. The problem is that, in the same way as politicians have, in most cases, got little knowledge of actual people, many arty film makers have little knowledge of anything other than how it looks and the effect of a film - the truth is of little importance
 
mikejee said:
You mean like the Birmingham picture in the brocure about Birmingham (England), which was of Birmingham Alabama. The problem is that, in the same way as politicians have, in most cases, got little knowledge of actual people, many arty film makers have little knowledge of anything other than how it looks and the effect of a film - the truth is of little importance
Click to expand...

Beautifully put, Mike
 
mikejee said:
You mean like the Birmingham picture in the brocure about Birmingham (England), which was of Birmingham Alabama. The problem is that, in the same way as politicians have, in most cases, got little knowledge of actual people, many arty film makers have little knowledge of anything other than how it looks and the effect of a film - the truth is of little importance
Click to expand...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/25...tyscape-of-Birmingham-Alabama-on-leaflet.html
This one here?
 
Hi Folks.

Found this interesting picture of the old New St. Station Street entrance.

Ray
 

Attachments

  • 002.jpg
    002.jpg
    860.8 KB · Views: 97
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top