Sutton Coldfield Station

[Mark Tooze]

Sutton Coldfield Station was opened in 1862. Originally a terminus, it was "moved slightly to the right" when the through line to Lichfield was opened in 1884. The original station site became a goods yard to the main station, then a Motorail terminal, then finally a car park.
This was the original terminus station layout from 1862 (from the Warwickshire Railways website - which has full history of the station):-

This was how it looked when it had 3 platforms and a goods yard:-

And finally the layout when it was a Motorail terminal:-


The station must be one of the oldest in Birmingham and mostly survives intact from the early days, although the up-platform roof was destroyed in the terrible rail crash in the station in 1955 - a poignant memorial to this is in the bookings office:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

This is how the original station site looks today as a car park - the original walls have been retained, as has some of the platform edge:-






An original manufacturer-branded brick can be found close to the main station entrance:-


The walls themselves have become something of a garden.......... but the wall will not be moved!

 

[Mark Tooze]

However - many relics from its former days can still be found if you "hunt around a bit":-

A metal bracket protrudes from the retaining wall - not sure what it was for:-


Old (I think....) electrical isolators can still be seen on the wall of the main station:-



The cattle dock platform and steps at the south end of the site are still intact:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

In the station itself, several well preserved items are on view:-



A signal pulley can still be seen on the side of platform 1:-

Possibly the one that worked this signal (photo from 1979 from Steve Jones):-


The colouring of the station brickwork is magnificent:-


This is the corridor from the platform up to the booking hall:-


And - in the booking hall - what may well be an original LMS bench:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

The corridor down from the bridge to the southbound platform has not changed much since the 1880s:-


And the magnificent iron railings still survive at the Station Pub entrance:-



The Station Pub still looks pretty good too!


There is an advert on the platform for visiting Totnes - compare to a previous version dating from the 1930s:-



And a similar now/then pair for Kenilworth Castle:-

 

[Morturn]

A super set of images, thanks

 

[Astoness]

great information and great photos mark...so nice to see a lot of the stations original features retained

lyn

 

[Eric Gibson]

My brother Douglas, sadly no longer with us, worked there as a porter shunter, from memory it seems his main work was for Royal Mail trains and I assumed they had a separate yard on site although I've never been to the station.

 

[mikejee]

Was that at that station though Eric? The 1950s map below shows that there was a big postal depot at Sutton Park Station

 

[Eric Gibson]

As I said Mick I've never been to where he worked all I know is that it was Sutton and he worked for BR.

 

[Mark Tooze]

Almost certainly Sutton Park station then - they are only a few minutes walk from each other.

 

[Clive F]

I'm a retired postal worker from Sutton Coldfield delivery office and I have no recollection of mail being dropped off at Sutton Park Station. It was all shunted in off the main line alongside the deck of the Postal Customs depot, unloaded and the train went off into the main line again. The only person involved in the shunting, and I've consulted former colleagues before posting this, was Charlie Curtis and that is as far back as 1964.

The large building further along with the single word "depot" is the building that was used by US forces mail during WW2. There was a Motor Transport workshop between the main two buildings.

Not much evidence left now as it's all houses built around the sorting/delivery office.

 

[Eric Gibson]

My brother would have been sixteen when he started there as porter shunter in 1961, once shown the ropes he was often left on his own while the main man went off...........to the betting shop?
I now he was paid well and spent most of his pay in the camera shop in Sutton on his way home.

 

[Clive F]

I should have said in my previous post, great photos Mark.

I think the station retains an aura of bygone days and, hopefully, it will be left as it is with its redundant features in place for posterity.

 

[Astoness]

I'm a retired postal worker from Sutton Coldfield delivery office and I have no recollection of mail being dropped off at Sutton Park Station. It was all shunted in off the main line alongside the deck of the Postal Customs depot, unloaded and the train went off into the main line again. The only person involved in the shunting, and I've consulted former colleagues before posting this, was Charlie Curtis and that is as far back as 1964.

The large building further along with the single word "depot" is the building that was used by US forces mail during WW2. There was a Motor Transport workshop between the main two buildings.

Not much evidence left now as it's all houses built around the sorting/delivery office.

thanks clive...its good to have your inside knowledge

lyn

 

[Mark Tooze]

Sorry folks! I was that busy posting the new photos of Sutton Coldfield station that I forgot to post the vintage ones! All taken on a vile grey day in the early 1980s (probably the same day I took the colour set of Sutton Park station previously posted). Only a few I'm afraid:-

A DMU arrives and departs from platform 1 - note the signal box at the south end of the platform is already gone:-




To be fair - the roof supports on platform 2 look better now painted in West Midlands Railway colours than they did here - they have done a nice job on these - here is an similar modern view:-


And a nice vintage sign on the door of the gents - needless to say this is no longer there!

 

[madeofcheese]

I never knew that step was the remains of an old platform. That's amazing, thank you. I shall look again next time i catch the train to Sutton!

 

[Heartland]

There was also a signal box there:

 

[Mark Tooze]

Took a few more on Saturday:-

More old Electrical / telephony connectors on the side of the ticket office:-


Corridor between the booking hall and the bridge over the platforms - note the wonderful ceiling still intact:-



A couple of close up views of the signal pulley - the track next to it is "painted for replacement" - possibly next weekend - so it may not be there much longer:-



And finally a another "now and then poster pair" - Stratford Upon Avon this time:-

 

[Heartland]

The rooms under the booking office were once occupied by CHESS as seen in this view beside the original platform

 

[Mark Tooze]

A closeup from a different angle of the signal pulley wheel mentioned in post #19 above:-


Now I have looked at this wheel on a number of occasions - and until today never noticed that 6 ft to the right of it is another one:-


Just goes to show there is always something else to find - and usually it is staring you right in the face............ like this vintage street sign on the side of the Station Pub next door:-

 

[Richard Dye]

A closeup from a different angle of the signal pulley wheel mentioned in post #19 above:-
View attachment 188634

Now I have looked at this wheel on a number of occasions - and until today never noticed that 6 ft to the right of it is another one:-
View attachment 188635
View attachment 188636
Just goes to show there is always something else to find - and usually it is staring you right in the face............ like this vintage street sign on the side of the Station Pub next door:-
View attachment 188637

Great photos!

 

[Paulo76]

The rooms under the booking office were once occupied by CHESS as seen in this view beside the original platform
View attachment 179142

Thank you for posting this picture of the Chess store. I have memories of going there with my Dad in the mid to late 1980's. He was a headmaster and I went with him a couple of times to buy replacement chess pieces for the school team. From memory, it was quite small inside and packed with chess related equipment and books. I wonder what's in there these days?
Although the photo appears to predate my visits, I'm glad it confirmed that it wasn't a figment of my imagination, though I think I read that some sort of chess based publication was produced there too.