Steam Sheds

[Vivienne14]

This steam shed at Saltley was a major feature of the landscape from 1935 until 1969. Viv.
Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Ray T]

So sad. Saltley shed was the Mecca for train spotters of the area back in the 50s-early 60s.

 

[suemalings]

I lived in Ash Road, just up the road from Saltley Sheds. Spent many a time climbing over the wall with my brother to do some train spotting. Used to have "train ref's" in those days.

 

[AnnS]

Used to go there every saturday morning with my friend and his grandfather.

The foreman used to find us a 9F 2-10-0 freight engine to prepare for the days work.

 

[mw0njm.]

my childhood fantasy.
my dads foundry was next to the shed, right by the wall were a row of locos. i would get on board one and we would go off on a excursion to the sea side,first filling it up with water and coal,then off to collect the passengers at the station, watching the country side as we sped by. the fireman loading more coal in to the firebox and me working the controls we was really moving allong now, smoke blowing out the chimney and the steam preasure was high. at this rate we will soon be there .there were some people standing by the track so i blew the whistle and they waved as we passed them then a voice shouted come on pete it time to go home now.it was dad standing by the wall... we never got to the sea side after all that day. . for a few months the locos were there. then one day a diesel come and took some away.and the next day till they all had gone.it upset me it was so sad to see such great beasts that served us proud for years dragged away for scrap.

 

[mw0njm.]

1964 waiting for scrap.
the Luftwaffe's air raids on Birmingham SALTLEY no 3 shed appears to have had little effect on the shed its allowing the smoke to escape..

Saltley Shed 1962​ a train spotters paradise no H&S A panoramic view of Saltley shed, with its coaling tower on the left and motive power on the right, on a Sunday morning in May 1962

 

[Morturn]

Did Aston Shed have a coaling tower like this one too?

 

[mw0njm.]

aston shed

View of Aston shed's relatively unusual coaling plant built by Mitchell Engineering in the early 1930s.

 

[Morturn]

aston shed
View attachment 167162View attachment 167163
View of Aston shed's relatively unusual coaling plant built by Mitchell Engineering in the early 1930s.

Thanks Pete, I did have a wonder over Astn Sheds as a kid. We used to sit on the capstan and spin each other round. I recall there was a turntable there too.

 

[mw0njm.]

see also

aston sheds

I was gonna put this on the Blitz thread but decided to put it here Cutting from the Evening Despatch 1940 Aston Oiling Sheds during the war years when all the rooftops were painted black (the ones that had glass roofs or skylights etc.) Sunshine is streaming through the ventilation shafts...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[farmerdave]

Presumably there were steam sheds at Tyseley. Any photos?

 

[mw0njm.]

Close up showing a GWR 0-6-0 'Dean goods' locomototive standing on one of the approach roads in front of the sheds with the doors to the repair shops on the right. The design with multiple doors on the fron elevation and the extensive use of glass for lightening made this building muchmore modern looking and industrial than was often found on the railway and may well have led to its nickname 'the factory




Three unidentified GWR 0-6-0ST 850 Class locomotives and one GWR 0-6-0 'Dean Goods' tender locomotive are seen at the rear of Tyseley shed. The cleanliness of the building and the undergrowth across the site would indicate that the works and shed are not long open dating the photograph at about 1908. The area at the rear of the shed occupied by the locomotives was reserved for a further two roundhouses but was never required.

 

[AnnS]

Would anyone remember the batch of Royal Scot 4-6-0's that came to Saltley
i believe for storage sometime around 1963,i think there were four or five of them?

 

[mw0njm.]

​

Railway Roundabout 1959 'Saltley Shed​

 

[Monique Woodward]

I recall Sunday trips early 1960s to take in both Aston and Saltley sheds via the canal. Aston had the ‘important engines’ the namers were the favourites until they long stopped being cops and I especially recall the Brits. Saltley had the workhorses - Black 5s, 8Fs, various BR types etc. Two very different sheds, built around a rectangle and ovals respectively but neither took any notice if us spotted. Health and Safety hadn’t been invented but there again neither had the iPad I’m using now!

 

[Richard Dye]

​

Railway Roundabout 1959 'Saltley Shed​

Just watched this Pete, outstanding!

 

[Penns]

1964 waiting for scrap.
View attachment 167148the Luftwaffe's air raids on Birmingham SALTLEY no 3 shed appears to have had little effect on the shed its allowing the smoke to escape..View attachment 167151

Saltley Shed 1962​ a train spotters paradise no H&S A panoramic view of Saltley shed, with its coaling tower on the left and motive power on the right, on a Sunday morning in May 1962

1964 waiting for scrap.
View attachment 167148the Luftwaffe's air raids on Birmingham SALTLEY no 3 shed appears to have had little effect on the shed its allowing the smoke to escape..View attachment 167151

Saltley Shed 1962​ a train spotters paradise no H&S A panoramic view of Saltley shed, with its coaling tower on the left and motive power on the right, on a Sunday morning in May 1962

 

[Penns]

That Duck Six ( great pic) was a regular on the Penns Line daily Pick Up Goods. Anyone know what other workings the sixes where used on?

 

[devonjim]

Presumably there were steam sheds at Tyseley. Any photos?

Recently acquired 2003 book "Heyday of Tyseley & it's Locos" Whitehouse and Hogarth" 1964 print