GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Birmingham Snow Hill Station: gwrbsh78

Looking from the top of the steps towards Platform 5 in the foreground and towards Platform 6 in the distance circa 1912. There are at least nine carriages in view standing at Platform 7, with probably another two or three to the right of the photographer, which was typical of the length of the main line express trains in the days of steam. Snow Hill was an exciting place to visit for young boys. One recollection of visiting Snow Hill is as follows. "As a very young child, my mother asked me what I wanted to do on my birthday. I am talking pre-school now. I said that I wanted to watch trains at Snow Hill. My early years memory is good and I recall seeing a locomotive with a Saint nameplate. It may have been the Hall prototype ‘Saint Martin’ as, by that time, the class had almost disappeared."

"I watched the tunnel mouth, awaiting the arrival of two great aunts from South Africa. At that time, boat trains from Southampton were served by all the regions via the Southern's interchange network. The train arrived behind a green engine with a bell on the front buffer beam - my first contact with 6000 'King George V'. When a little older, I was led to believe that a Lord Nelson had run in with a similar boat train service but I did not see it. Some of the oddest turns on the middle through line to the south, were the regular deliveries of new diesel locos from the Birmingham Railway and Carriage and Wagon Works in Handsworth. They were usually hauled dead by 2-8-0 or 2-8-2 tanks but very soon, they were being towed by classmates. The centre roads were also the domain of long goods trains and some of the remaining local goods traffic, Pannier hauled in the main. Most of this traffic emanated from Hockley Yard."

"The bay platforms on the up side of the station were the arrival point for several football specials on home Saturdays at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion's ground with its own halt. They were usually hauled by large prairies having a rest from their weekday suburban traffic. These tank engines were responsible for my early years trips to Leamington. In those days, Leamington boasted an ‘Illumination’. Perhaps it still does? Evening special trains were run to the illuminations and I went on several occasions as I also did to Stratford Mop Fair on October 12th, another reason for catching a train from this majestic station. The pioneer GWR diesel railcars were often in use and I travelled to Worcester in them to visit relatives on several occasions. Another regular on the rather convoluted route to Worcester was the 4-6-0 ‘Queens Hall’. I stress convoluted as the route went to the north from Snow Hill and Worcester is south west of Birmingham. The trip did allow the enthusiast to look at Stourbridge Junction and Kidderminster sheds on the way however!"

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