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Snow Hill Station

Have you seen the bearded homeless man on the footbridge with his dog? Always there.

Colmore Business District always busy on weekday lunchtimes.

Even past One and Two Snowhill. Lots of people down there.

no ell ive not seen him but i dont go into town as much as you do..only when i really have to now....however i do have to go there the week after next so may force myself to have a look around for myself at what is going on...no doubt i will come back muttering under my breath that i just do not like what is obviously a blatant ongoing attempt to rid birmingham of its historical buildings...i really shudder to think what digbeth will look like once its been raised to the ground and i think that its an area that all of us photographers should concentrate on taking photos of..i intend to do this as soon as we get better weather..hopfully we are safe until then :rolleyes: ok moan over :D

lyn
 
That derelict building at the bottom of Ludgate Hill had scaffolding on it I noticed yesterday. But only on the half to the right. Not sure what's happening there.

Town does get busy, especially on a Saturday afternoon. But glad the Xmas season is finally over.
 
Anyone remember CYRIL HALL who worked in the Signal & Telegraphic Office at Snow Hill Station and also had a green grocers shop opposite the College Arms public House on the Stafford Road.
 
no ell ive not seen him but i dont go into town as much as you do..only when i really have to now....however i do have to go there the week after next so may force myself to have a look around for myself at what is going on...no doubt i will come back muttering under my breath that i just do not like what is obviously a blatant ongoing attempt to rid birmingham of its historical buildings...i really shudder to think what digbeth will look like once its been raised to the ground and i think that its an area that all of us photographers should concentrate on taking photos of..i intend to do this as soon as we get better weather..hopfully we are safe until then :rolleyes: ok moan over

lyn
1579421566973.png:D
 
Great photo PMC.
Sheri, Snow Hill has been redeveloped as a VERY poor substitute of the original, with only four platforms[three operational for trains and one for the METRO a tram that is more akin to a train and struggles to climb hills which restricts its development as a proper tram! But at least you can still get a train to London, albeit to Marylebone instead of the great Paddington station. The jealosies of the LMS/LNER and the GWR still sadly survive to this day!
I can remember delivering milk to the refreshment rooms on platform 7 when I was a lad helping a milkman on Sundays and school holidays, driving into the delivery area and having to go down in the goods lift and search the station for a barrow[peculier to the GWR or Western Region as it was then] to trundle the milk crates along the platform and trying to get through all the holiday crowds in the summer!:cool: Happy, happy days!!:)
 
Sorry- hit the wrong button!

I've just joined the Birmingham History Forum and I'm just finding my way around. Snow Hill station, along with the Museum of Science and Industry had a profound effect on me as a child. Probably a lot of the following has been said already- but I hope it's of interest and not too inaccurate! I wrote this a year or so back, just wanting to try and bash out some thoughts. It's a big chunk of text- hope not too much is sentimental drivel!

For me, the highlight of all my childhood explorations of the city was Snow Hill station. This wonderful building, the pride of the GWR in the West Midlands when the rebuilt station was opened in 1912 and equipped with every modern facility, became something of a legend in its latter years due to its long decline and lingering death. Magnificent in scale and Gothic in its decay the place had an immense impact on me and I believe it did in many other people. Nicholas Whittaker describes a similar encounter with Snow Hill to one of my own, in his profound and treasured book “Platform Souls”. Like him, I “just wanted to look”.

I have difficulty remembering my first encounter but I must have been eight or nine, which would have put the date at about 1971-2, not long after final closure but long enough for dereliction to have set in. I never knew the station in use so had no yardstick to measure it against, having no memories of Kings, Castles, Warships, Blue Pullman or DMU’s or any fond recollection of former glory. I never once tried to imagine the past- the crowded platforms, holiday-makers, departing Great War soldiers or even the last commuters. The nostalgia, profound and deeply ingrained at an impressionable age all comes from the awe which the sepulchral and massive place inspired and the absolute freedom to explore it.

How we first encountered the place I can’t recall but I remember sitting with my legs dangling over the platform and listening to my mum read to me from “The Model Railway Men” by Ray Pope. There were rails in front of me- there was track in-situ in both bay platform roads and the road which ran around the western side of the station- pretty weed-grown but intact. The main lines through the middle had gone and this area was partially infilled and the haunt of Allegros, Mk III Cortinas and other workhorses of the time. Much of the infrastructure was there- running-in boards, water cranes, tannoys, all the ironwork including the concertina gates to the subway- partially ajar (I think I only went down there the once). The hotel had gone by this time, although the row of Carrara marble booking windows were there, later to be broken up. I suspect that we were drawn into the station out of curiosity whilst in town.

This was the start of many visits over the next three years or so- accompanied at first and then solo or with a chum from school. This was at a time when Health and Safety had not yet become part of British culture and the huge building, labyrinthine, mouldering and inhabited only by pigeons and the homeless was totally unloved and one could wander about freely. This was also a time when child safety was still not obsessively pursued and I’m amazed at the freedom I had. After school- primary school, don’t forget- I could catch the bus from Rednal nine miles into town, cross the city through the museum quarter and into vast tracts of dereliction, through underpasses that must have been pretty scary places and enter a huge and rotting structure full of a wide variety of hazards. Death by falling, impalement, being trapped underground, Weil’s disease, rape and murder all perfectly possible and if anything had happened then, in the spirit of the time, it would have just been “unfortunate” and no parental blame would have fallen. Not that my parents weren’t caring- my mum would have been heart-broken if anything had happened- it was just how things were. But nothing did happen. I walked the platforms, scrunched through broken glass and waded through debris of all kinds in the refreshment rooms and offices. From memory there was so much for the taking- ironmongery, furniture and light fittings. I wish I’d been light-fingered and tooled up. Totems- well, possibly but I don’t remember them, although I do remember “Way out to Great Charles Street” and some of the lesser signs so they may have still been there. I believe the Snow Hill ones were a unique design. Challenged only once by authority- a constable confiscated the only souvenir I ever tried to pinch- an aluminium switch housing with big round green and red buttons that I’d taken from the North signal box- and let me go on my way!

I always felt fairly safe whilst exploring- although I never ventured into the tunnel to Moor Street or, strangely, explored the South signal box (a large and imposing, although soot-blackened and glass-less GWR one- the North box was very modern and on legs with a ladder up into its belly)- I just don’t think access to the South box was possible. I only had one incident there and that was when a mate and I set off along the track towards the tunnels to Hockley and as we approached the North box a gang of lads came down the ladder and surrounded us. These guys, from memory aged about 15 or so, looked hard and poor. The head honcho demanded inspection of the Beatties bags that we carried, having called in at the station after a visit to the New Street store and, positively pleading for a thorough bashing, I explained the contents (from memory some cardboard building kits and bags of lichen or some such) and our presence on his turf in words such as “We’re Railway Enthusiasts. It’s our hobby”. This cheery scamp repeated “Rail..way En…thoooo…siasts” and explained that we’d better be jolly careful as HIS hobby was mugging little boys. They had a splendid laugh at our obvious discomfort and turned and headed for the station and, much relieved, my chum and I continued towards the cutting and tunnels. I think I got the traditional clip around the ear the policeman failed to administer. We made our way eventually to Hockley (just platforms by then), found our way off railway premises via some torn chain-link fence or other and back to town through the Soho backstreets.

I remember Snow Hill for its silence. There must have been a roar of traffic- possibly muted- but it has to have been there, along with parking cars and shoppers coming and going- but I don’t recall it. The silence especially noticeable in the cuttings heading north, where there were also the scents of Wormwood and Rosebay-Willowherb. These still trigger the old memories, especially when walking the dogs in the Napoleonic brick canyons of Dover’s Western Heights that, apart from the absence of rails, resemble the urban railway cuttings of Birmingham. I dream of the place occasionally still.

The new station, which sits on the old footprint, is truly awful.
 
Sorry- hit the wrong button!

I've just joined the Birmingham History Forum and I'm just finding my way around. Snow Hill station, along with the Museum of Science and Industry had a profound effect on me as a child. Probably a lot of the following has been said already- but I hope it's of interest and not too inaccurate! I wrote this a year or so back, just wanting to try and bash out some thoughts. It's a big chunk of text- hope not too much is sentimental drivel!

For me, the highlight of all my childhood explorations of the city was Snow Hill station. This wonderful building, the pride of the GWR in the West Midlands when the rebuilt station was opened in 1912 and equipped with every modern facility, became something of a legend in its latter years due to its long decline and lingering death. Magnificent in scale and Gothic in its decay the place had an immense impact on me and I believe it did in many other people. Nicholas Whittaker describes a similar encounter with Snow Hill to one of my own, in his profound and treasured book “Platform Souls”. Like him, I “just wanted to look”.

I have difficulty remembering my first encounter but I must have been eight or nine, which would have put the date at about 1971-2, not long after final closure but long enough for dereliction to have set in. I never knew the station in use so had no yardstick to measure it against, having no memories of Kings, Castles, Warships, Blue Pullman or DMU’s or any fond recollection of former glory. I never once tried to imagine the past- the crowded platforms, holiday-makers, departing Great War soldiers or even the last commuters. The nostalgia, profound and deeply ingrained at an impressionable age all comes from the awe which the sepulchral and massive place inspired and the absolute freedom to explore it.

How we first encountered the place I can’t recall but I remember sitting with my legs dangling over the platform and listening to my mum read to me from “The Model Railway Men” by Ray Pope. There were rails in front of me- there was track in-situ in both bay platform roads and the road which ran around the western side of the station- pretty weed-grown but intact. The main lines through the middle had gone and this area was partially infilled and the haunt of Allegros, Mk III Cortinas and other workhorses of the time. Much of the infrastructure was there- running-in boards, water cranes, tannoys, all the ironwork including the concertina gates to the subway- partially ajar (I think I only went down there the once). The hotel had gone by this time, although the row of Carrara marble booking windows were there, later to be broken up. I suspect that we were drawn into the station out of curiosity whilst in town.

This was the start of many visits over the next three years or so- accompanied at first and then solo or with a chum from school. This was at a time when Health and Safety had not yet become part of British culture and the huge building, labyrinthine, mouldering and inhabited only by pigeons and the homeless was totally unloved and one could wander about freely. This was also a time when child safety was still not obsessively pursued and I’m amazed at the freedom I had. After school- primary school, don’t forget- I could catch the bus from Rednal nine miles into town, cross the city through the museum quarter and into vast tracts of dereliction, through underpasses that must have been pretty scary places and enter a huge and rotting structure full of a wide variety of hazards. Death by falling, impalement, being trapped underground, Weil’s disease, rape and murder all perfectly possible and if anything had happened then, in the spirit of the time, it would have just been “unfortunate” and no parental blame would have fallen. Not that my parents weren’t caring- my mum would have been heart-broken if anything had happened- it was just how things were. But nothing did happen. I walked the platforms, scrunched through broken glass and waded through debris of all kinds in the refreshment rooms and offices. From memory there was so much for the taking- ironmongery, furniture and light fittings. I wish I’d been light-fingered and tooled up. Totems- well, possibly but I don’t remember them, although I do remember “Way out to Great Charles Street” and some of the lesser signs so they may have still been there. I believe the Snow Hill ones were a unique design. Challenged only once by authority- a constable confiscated the only souvenir I ever tried to pinch- an aluminium switch housing with big round green and red buttons that I’d taken from the North signal box- and let me go on my way!

I always felt fairly safe whilst exploring- although I never ventured into the tunnel to Moor Street or, strangely, explored the South signal box (a large and imposing, although soot-blackened and glass-less GWR one- the North box was very modern and on legs with a ladder up into its belly)- I just don’t think access to the South box was possible. I only had one incident there and that was when a mate and I set off along the track towards the tunnels to Hockley and as we approached the North box a gang of lads came down the ladder and surrounded us. These guys, from memory aged about 15 or so, looked hard and poor. The head honcho demanded inspection of the Beatties bags that we carried, having called in at the station after a visit to the New Street store and, positively pleading for a thorough bashing, I explained the contents (from memory some cardboard building kits and bags of lichen or some such) and our presence on his turf in words such as “We’re Railway Enthusiasts. It’s our hobby”. This cheery scamp repeated “Rail..way En…thoooo…siasts” and explained that we’d better be jolly careful as HIS hobby was mugging little boys. They had a splendid laugh at our obvious discomfort and turned and headed for the station and, much relieved, my chum and I continued towards the cutting and tunnels. I think I got the traditional clip around the ear the policeman failed to administer. We made our way eventually to Hockley (just platforms by then), found our way off railway premises via some torn chain-link fence or other and back to town through the Soho backstreets.

I remember Snow Hill for its silence. There must have been a roar of traffic- possibly muted- but it has to have been there, along with parking cars and shoppers coming and going- but I don’t recall it. The silence especially noticeable in the cuttings heading north, where there were also the scents of Wormwood and Rosebay-Willowherb. These still trigger the old memories, especially when walking the dogs in the Napoleonic brick canyons of Dover’s Western Heights that, apart from the absence of rails, resemble the urban railway cuttings of Birmingham. I dream of the place occasionally still.

The new station, which sits on the old footprint, is truly awful.
what a great story. i too remember it like that,I also remember it as it was in its heyday. my brother worked there,and i had a free hand too mooch about the places.....off limits to passengers.
 
The old booking hall sign is looking very sorry now on Moor st. station, I gilded and painted it when the station closed, and it was put in the entrance hall of Arthur Young accountants before it went to Moor st.
 
Will we be seeing the NEW Midland Blue Pullman coming into Snow Hill like it used to ??? very doubtful as it has M numbers on it so....I guess New Street will be it's call.... or Maybe Curzon Street when it's finished......
 
Will we be seeing the NEW Midland Blue Pullman coming into Snow Hill like it used to ??? very doubtful as it has M numbers on it so....I guess New Street will be it's call.... or Maybe Curzon Street when it's finished......
nice.video thanks for posting
 
The first tour that I can see for this train that will be calling at Birmingham stations will be Saturday 23rd January 2021. This will start at Birmingham International, next stop Tame Bridge Parkway which means that it will take the Stetchford-Aston Line avoiding Birmingham city centre stations.
 
Will we be seeing the NEW Midland Blue Pullman coming into Snow Hill like it used to ??? very doubtful as it has M numbers on it so....I guess New Street will be it's call.... or Maybe Curzon Street when it's finished......
You will be able to see the Blue Pullman on Platform 5 at Nuneaton tomorrow (12th December) arr 14.57 dep 14.59. It is running from St Pancras to Crewe and returning via a different route.

EDIT Since writing the above i have come across filmed two days ago. I have not yet watched it.
 
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Just read all of this thread.Thanks to all of you who contributed. My memories of Snow Hill was in the 60s when my Aunt used to take me and my brother there,always on a Friday afternoon in the school holidays. It was never too busy but still a memorable time. We always sat on platform 7. I dont know how many of you know this but , the platform 7 sign now hangs in The Engine House visitors centre, at Highley station on the Severn Valley Railway. Regarding Snow Hill Tunnel, i did the walkthrough in 1987, and being nosey, i discovered the horse stables and the blacksmiths shop in the tunnel sidings. Another great day was had.
 
When you did the tunnel walkthrough perhaps you might have seen this queue at the Moor Street end ....:)
In October 1987 a long queue stood by the Inner Ring Road near Moor Street Station. People had been offered the chance to walk though the reopened tunnel between Moor Street and Snow Hill stations and hundreds turned up.
index.php


The nearest Streetview could get to the location of the queue. The building marked is in the original photo looking newly built in 1987. It has recently been demolished.
index.php
 
Oldmohawk, i do remember that queue, i couldnt believe the length of it. When we walked through the tunnel, on Snow Hill Station there were guys with buckets collecting donations for the Birmingham Christmas tree fund. They must have collected a forune. Afew days before the tunnel walk, people could pay and have a meal inside the tunnel, i believe it was a sell out.
 
I did the walk but I do not remember that queue. Perhaps I was there either early or late and fortunately missed that.

I also did the later walk to Handsworth and a few months ago came across my ticket for Snow Hill to New Street. The only time they have ever issued such a ticket. For that walk I was first off the end of the platform at Snow Hill and got on the first train at Handsworth to take us back to New Street.
 
I never did the walk to Handsworth David, a guy i worked with did it, but it never attracted the same crowds as the Snow Hill tunnel did.
 
I never did the walk to Handsworth David, a guy i worked with did it, but it never attracted the same crowds as the Snow Hill tunnel did.
My interest in doing that walk was that if I spent a Sunday afternoon on Snow Hill as a boy, then I would get a train to Smethwick West and a bus home from there as I have always preferred circular journeys rather than out and back so I knew the line before it closed. After several house moves I am back on the Stourbridge Line so now I do it again on the train.
 
Just read all of this thread.Thanks to all of you who contributed. My memories of Snow Hill was in the 60s when my Aunt used to take me and my brother there,always on a Friday afternoon in the school holidays. It was never too busy but still a memorable time. We always sat on platform 7. I dont know how many of you know this but , the platform 7 sign now hangs in The Engine House visitors centre, at Highley station on the Severn Valley Railway. Regarding Snow Hill Tunnel, i did the walkthrough in 1987, and being nosey, i discovered the horse stables and the blacksmiths shop in the tunnel sidings. Another great day was had.
thanks for the info about the platform 7 sign...been to severn valley many times must look out for it next time i visit and how wonderful to have walked through the snow hill tunnel...not being up on stations much i take it we can no longer do that walk?.

lyn
 
Just read all of this thread.Thanks to all of you who contributed. My memories of Snow Hill was in the 60s when my Aunt used to take me and my brother there,always on a Friday afternoon in the school holidays. It was never too busy but still a memorable time. We always sat on platform 7. I dont know how many of you know this but , the platform 7 sign now hangs in The Engine House visitors centre, at Highley station on the Severn Valley Railway. Regarding Snow Hill Tunnel, i did the walkthrough in 1987, and being nosey, i discovered the horse stables and the blacksmiths shop in the tunnel sidings. Another great day was had.
1615018340665.png
 
great map pete ive never seen it before i shall have a good look at it later when i have more time.....cheers

lyn
 
To further this thread, i remember the Evening Mail doing a pull-out supplement on Snow Hill Station, i think it was about the same time as the tunnel walk. The supplement mentioned that Snow Hill tunnel was haunted by the ghost of a shunter driver called Billy Richards. He was killed in the tunnel when a light engine hit him. It was said that some folk had seen an image of a man walking out of the tunnel on several occasions dressed in a 30s railway uniform during the night time. Has anyone else heard about this ?
 
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