Railway Hostels

[dwilly]

Not sure if Hostel is the correct title but here goes. Was speaking with an old train driver some years ago who was from Liverpool. He moved o Birmingham to work on the railway. He mentioned in passing that when he first moved here he lived in a railway hostel around Saltley. From what I could gather they were specific for the railway, may even have been railway owned. Seem they would have been mostly single men living in these places so must have had some stories to tell. Have heard of railway hostels in the past but presumed they were just overnight lodges for crews working long distance trains. Anyone have any info or any ideas on these hostels?

Think the one he lived in was over the road from Saltley depot. As you go down the hill from Duddeston station on the left handside. Think it must have backed onto the gas works or in that sort of area.

 

[paula1964]

Hi

I think the hostel was called Somerset House I will have to check with my dad tomorrow if no one can help, my dad moved from Carlisle to Birmingham and he was a train driver and he lived at the hostel for awhile before he married my mom.

Hope this helps Paula

 

[Lloyd]

The building now used as a casino at the Hagley Road end of Portland Road used to be a Railwaymen's hostel, I can remember seeing the nameboard outside it. I always assumed it was for train crews on 'overnight' duties, returning home the next day, but it could have been more permanent accommodation.

Midland Red used to have staff hostels as well, in the 1950s when they had difficulty in recruiting staff, and brought men in from Ireland and further afield.
London Transport actively recruited in the Caribbean, and had hostels for staff and families who moved to the UK to work for them.

 

[Trebor]

Hello dwilly,

I think the hostel you referred to was in Devon Street, if you go to
www.railchat.co.uk and type in railway hostels I think you will find lots of information about them.

Regards trebor