-
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
They Were Caught In Our Old Street Pics...
- Thread starter oldMohawk
- Start date
- Status
Radiorails
master brummie
There is a photo, from Lyn, on the Needless Alley thread which shows the building without the cladding. I wonder whether the 'cladding' was something put there as protection to employees (flying glass?) during WW2.
Last edited:
Radiorails
master brummie
I have deleted my suggestion OM.
Lady Penelope
master brummie
oM, the picture in your post #2502 would make a smashing jigsaw!
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
As it is the Post a and Mail, bearing in mind the date, the tall roller shutter door would have been required to get the printing presses in once the building was completed and also for delivery of rolls of newsprint. To Instal the presses probably had a small Jones or Coles crane which was located inside the building took the presses off did a bit of pick and carry work, no stabilisers in those days and I doubt that they had a forklift. A four axle would have got down Cannon Street, again mostly rigids at that time probably had to reverse out. All supposition of course but once again the forum members produce a superb photo, solve the location and of couse find the pub.
Bob
Bob
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
And all because Lyn spotted a 1950s lady telling her husband to 'hurry up' ....
Radiorails
master brummie
Still plenty of crabs there, though much is exported. However as there is no 'R' in this month many folk would not eat one.
Radiorails
master brummie
The masked headlight, white buffer beam and lady clippie confirm that this is WW2. Actually the tram was in the city fleet at the time of WW1 but unlikely had a top cover (roof).
The reason for the 'blinds' is that they are most likely temporary 'windows'. Eleven of this class of twenty trams were destroyed in April 1941 when Miller Street was bombed. It would appear that this car escaped serioes damage just having windows blown out.
Eric Gibson
master brummie
The blinds were required for the blackout Alan if trams were to run after dark, "Put that light out!"
Radiorails
master brummie
I believe it was essential for the transport department to have to resort to temporary measures like this, after all the were responsible in getting everyone to their workplaces each day. 9th. April,1941 was on a Wednesday when Miller Street was hit. I have seen it suggested as the worst raid on the city.
Miller Street lost 24 cars that night,18 being destroyed and six burned out so badly they are written off. A further three are withdrawn. Twenty other cars are also badly damaged (presumably the one in the photo was one of them). Washwood Heath also had a visit from the Luftwaffe in the same raid having four cars damaged.
Miller Street was a large depot serving the Perry Barr and Aston Road routes and probably others. The routes served some of the cities vital industries and to loose that number of trams was a headache to say the least. After that it was considered safer to leave the trams outside in areas less vulnerable and less likely to suffer such large numbers of wrecks.
Miller Street lost 24 cars that night,18 being destroyed and six burned out so badly they are written off. A further three are withdrawn. Twenty other cars are also badly damaged (presumably the one in the photo was one of them). Washwood Heath also had a visit from the Luftwaffe in the same raid having four cars damaged.
Miller Street was a large depot serving the Perry Barr and Aston Road routes and probably others. The routes served some of the cities vital industries and to loose that number of trams was a headache to say the least. After that it was considered safer to leave the trams outside in areas less vulnerable and less likely to suffer such large numbers of wrecks.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
It is a pic of a tram in Park Road Aston, but a young girl was caught in the pic as she stopped in her tracks outside the wallpaper shop suddenly realising that her little brother had run across the road and was running into an entry on the left. The lady in the turquoise coat has noticed him.
Click the 'up-arrow' in the quote title bar below to see the black and white original pic and posts about it. The colour pic has been widened to show more of the girl.
Click the 'up-arrow' in the quote title bar below to see the black and white original pic and posts about it. The colour pic has been widened to show more of the girl.
And one of Park Road.....
Last edited:
I notice that the bus stop sign is attached to the lamppost. Don't recall seeing any like that. Interesting how colour brings out so much detail. Viv.
Radiorails
master brummie
The interesting thing about the bus stop positioning could suggest the time when the 3X tram route became the 39 bus route in January 1950. A new bus stop sign is temporarily affixed to the lamppost to eventually be fixed in the ubiquitous BCT style bus stop post. Notable, although there is a track crossover to be seen suggesting the short working of trams to that point, is the lack of tram stop signs.
DavidGrain
master brummie
A cross over did not necessarily indicate a short working but could just be for emergency use if there was work or a blockage on the one track. I have read that in the snow the first trams out of the depot in the morning would run 'wrong road' down the hills to clear the tracks to make it easier for the trams travelling up the hill.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Six Ways Aston in the late 1940s. It looks mid to late afternoon and the bank has closed for the day allowing a lady to take over the entrance with stuff scattered on the steps. Cycling over Six Ways could be tricky at times with traffic from all directions but the man in the pic seems unconcerned. The bank building is not the best design I've ever seen.
Lady Penelope
master brummie
Not sure which way these trams are going but who would have the right of way if they were all converging? We used the 78 when I was little but I know nothing about them and there don't seem to be any traffic lights.
adap2it
master brummie
You can see the Belisha Beacon for the crossing but no stripes...also you can just see the roof of the Orient Cinema on the top right, what a wonderful sight!
Dave A
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
The No 6 is going towards Perry Barr and the No 5 towards Lozells Rd and perhaps the rule for trams was 'give way to a tram on the right' ... but I doubt it. I cycled over the crossing keeping my front wheel out of the tracks, then later rode a motor bike over it and later still a car. We just seemed to slow down and somehow get over the crossing ... there were no rules as far as I can remember ...
adap2it
master brummie
I think the rule for trams was to have the driver at the front...The No 6 is going towards Perry Barr and the No 5 towards Lozells Rd and perhaps the rule for trams was 'give way to a tram on the right' ... but I doubt it. I cycled over the crossing keeping my front wheel out of the tracks, then later rode a motor bike over it and later still a car. We just seemed to slow down and somehow get over the crossing ... the re were no rules as far as I can remember ...
Dave A
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
In my experience the existence of traffic lights causes more accidents because people try to jump them. When there aren't any at a multi-junction, people seems to approach the junction with much more caution. We have a six way junction built on top of a flyover and without lights. It can get very busy at peak times, but drivers are generally very courteous to each other and I'm not aware of any serious accidents there so far.
Maurice
Maurice
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Hi Maurice,
In the late 1950s as traffic density increased I remember they often had a policeman standing in the middle controlling the traffic as can be seen in many forum pics of other junctions. Perhaps a policeman was given the job of traffic control at Six Ways if he was out of favour with the station sergeant !
Phil
In the late 1950s as traffic density increased I remember they often had a policeman standing in the middle controlling the traffic as can be seen in many forum pics of other junctions. Perhaps a policeman was given the job of traffic control at Six Ways if he was out of favour with the station sergeant !
Phil
Eric Gibson
master brummie
In California at crossroads all vehicles from all directions must stop, they do tend to be mostly courteous but even that can be a problem at times, you get the "You go", "No you go." situation then they both go and …..bump.
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Phil,
I remember the one at the bottom Hill Street/John Bright Street/Station Approach junction. Whether you got the job because you'd been a bad boy or whether it was a job given to all sprogs, I don't know.
Eric,
True, there is such a thing as being too courteous. We get the same problem at roundabouts because many Greeks don't accept the UK approach that if you're already on a roundabout you have the right of way. Tourists, foreigners, and some Greeks do think the same way as us, but many just charge onto a roundabout and think you should stop to let them on. It's no good trying to follow what police vehicles do, because they don't seem to know either!
Maurice
I remember the one at the bottom Hill Street/John Bright Street/Station Approach junction. Whether you got the job because you'd been a bad boy or whether it was a job given to all sprogs, I don't know.
Eric,
True, there is such a thing as being too courteous. We get the same problem at roundabouts because many Greeks don't accept the UK approach that if you're already on a roundabout you have the right of way. Tourists, foreigners, and some Greeks do think the same way as us, but many just charge onto a roundabout and think you should stop to let them on. It's no good trying to follow what police vehicles do, because they don't seem to know either!
Maurice
DavidGrain
master brummie
When I took my driving test back in the late 1960s the examiner instructed me to turn left at one point. I knew what was coming as my instructor had warned me about it. We would be crossing an unmarked crossroads. This was in a residential area and both the side roads were cul-de-sacs. That junction is still there unmarked today but no body stops on the through road. Nevertheless the rule still applies. On your driving test, failing to slow there would have been a fail.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Last year I installed a Dashcam in my car and soon realised it was recording my driving as well as others. It showed that I was a bit of an ‘amber gambler’ so I’ve corrected that. It was also recording my loud comments about other drivers so now I whisper them ...
I'm in the 75% of drivers who are in the group of being above average.
To my surprise I was recently fined $317.00 and incurred 3 demerit points for driving at 53 kph in a 40 kph zone.
As it was during an off peak time and I feel there was either no other traffic or I was going with the general traffic flow I feel that I was unlucky.
My grandson felt that I should have challenged this but as this is my only infringement in 10 years or so I think it may have been a friendly warning from a dearly departed.
Cheers Old Leadfoot.
To my surprise I was recently fined $317.00 and incurred 3 demerit points for driving at 53 kph in a 40 kph zone.
As it was during an off peak time and I feel there was either no other traffic or I was going with the general traffic flow I feel that I was unlucky.
My grandson felt that I should have challenged this but as this is my only infringement in 10 years or so I think it may have been a friendly warning from a dearly departed.
Cheers Old Leadfoot.
- Status
