Handsworth and Smethwick

Handsworth & Smethwick station opened in 1854 on the GWR line from Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level, a project originally mooted by the Birmingham Wolverhampton & Dudley Railway: a company for whom the GWR offered 'guidance' and within a short time, complete absorption.

The BW&D's influence can be seen in the station architecture. Its rigid block-like stylings are very distinctive and almost a carbon copy of their other stations on the line: West Bromwich and Wednesbury Central, for example. The station closed, along with the line, in 1972 after services being gradually run-down for the previous few years.

Andy Doherty

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Select an image below to view the larger version with accompanying text:

Re: gwrhs90 - Anon View of station looking to Wolverhampton

Re: gwrhs90a - Anon Close up showing goods yard

Re: gwrhs90b - Anon Close up of the Wolverhampton end of the station

Ref: gwrhs91 - M Lock A pair of engines passing through station on an up express

Ref: - gwrhs465 - Anon Ex-GWR 2-6-2T Prairie No 6105 on a down local

Ref: - gwrhs803 - J Edgington Unidentified ex-GWR 4-6-0 Castle class locomotive heads an up express

Re: handsworth_&_smethwick_map - Andy Doherty