Lady Penelope
master brummie
I went past the site of the station yesterday and work seems to be in progress. I was on the bus so couldn't take a picture.
The school was across Stratford Rd from the goods station. I hadn't realised that there were two other Balsall Heath stations, where the line now crosses Brighton Rd and where the line now crosses Highgate Rd.Camp Hill is somewhere on the Highgate side of Highgate Road by Moseley Road. The King Edwards Camp Hill school used to be there before they decided that was the place to put a freight yard/station. The school moved to Kings Heath but never changed its name.
Around that time there was also a passenger station called Balsall Heath Camp Hill. This was on the other side of Highgate Road. As is they are building a new housing development on the Moseley Road side of the line there and the other side is a coach company.
There is a large empty space on the Moseley Road side of the line where the freight yards used to be but there's a road and a row of houses on the opposite side there.
If anyone was to build a station around there, they'd have to clear several properties that are currently in use and probably improve access to both sides of the new station.
The three stations already announced are where there were previous stations and the ground is still open and (often) has at least platforms. Anywhere else they'll need to buy land and build a new station from scratch.
Up until a few months back when the new development started, it might have been easy to put something up where the old Balsall Heath - Camp Hill station was. There were some large rail sheds one side of the line and all they would have had to deal with was the coach yard. Now that's going to be housing, I doubt there's a chance.
And taking a long time to do it!all they've been doing so far is recommission the old stations.
Does anything get done on time or in budget nowadays? I think not.And taking a long time to do it!
Too much scope creep!Does anything get done on time or in budget nowadays? I think not.
Scene of some of Brum's last trams as many were diverted here to the depot just to the right.There is a bridge on this route where the Stratford Road is crossed. It has the look of may be a Birmingham & Gloucester Railway Bridge, but could be later. This was the turnpike and later a street tramway.
A modern view looking from the round about side shows:
View attachment 181493
But a previously posted image on this site shows a tram (705) passing under it.
View attachment 181494
I like the older photo much better!There is a bridge on this route where the Stratford Road is crossed. It has the look of may be a Birmingham & Gloucester Railway Bridge, but could be later. This was the turnpike and later a street tramway.
A modern view looking from the round about side shows:
View attachment 181493
But a previously posted image on this site shows a tram (705) passing under it.
View attachment 181494
There was the occasional single deck tram along here until mid 50's. The tracks were removed around 1956. All viewed from the classroom window.The tram depot was more than that, being a maintenance and engineering works. Connected to the railway yard, at Camp Hill, was a siding with two tracks reserved for new trams when they were delivered to Birmingham using the Midland Railway, subsequently LMS. Street access from the railway yard, was gained at the small roundabout, opposite the Ship Inn, which in true Birmingham fashion with tram tracks cutting through the roundabout. I can remember the track junction to the railway yard, from Stratford Road, which as remained visible until the 1950's.
The last tram services along Stratford Road to Stoney Lane, Hall Green, Acocks Green and Highgate Road tram depot were in January 1937. All other tram movements were for maintenance or breaking up purposes. All services were replaced by motor buses at Highgate Road was converted for bus operation.
The tram shown in the earlier photo looks like it making its last journey in 1953 subsequently to be broken up.
I understand that these sidings were also used in steam tram days for collecting coke (as fuel for the steam tram locos) for delivery to the various depots.Connected to the railway yard, at Camp Hill, was a siding with two tracks reserved for new trams when they were delivered to Birmingham using the Midland Railway, subsequently LMS. Street access from the railway yard, was gained at the small roundabout, opposite the Ship Inn, which in true Birmingham fashion with tram tracks cutting through the roundabout. I can remember the track junction to the railway yard, from Stratford Road, which as remained visible until the 1950's.
St Andrews Junction is the point at which the Camp Hill Line leaves the line from Birmingham to Tyseley and on to Solihull and beyond. So the smoke could be from trains on either of these lines.Is it also the line at the back of the railway end at St. Andrews? Remember the smoke that would envelope the pitch in steam train days!
This refers to steam trams, not railways. The "Kings Heath depot" referred to was in Silver Street, and the building later became the 'International Stock' warehouse.
That is what I understand has always been the case. At one stage I was told that the Hereford/Worcester to Birmingham trains would be used on this route. I misunderstood that these trains would take this route into Birmingham so I queried what would happen to people from beyond Bromsgrove who wanted to go to University for the QE or Birmingham University. I was told no, these trains would go on their existing route into New Street and would then be used to run on the Camp Hill Line to Kings Norton and back before doing their next run to Worcester.There is some chat on social media that trains on this Moseley/Kings Heath line will only "shuttle" between New St and Kings Norton ie no direct links towards onward stations towards Redditch/Bromsgrove etc.