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Olton

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Olton station opened in 1869 on the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway which by that time had been absorbed into the Great Western Railway. It was never seen as a station of significant importance and never warranted a goods yard. Its principle function was as a suburban passenger station for Birmingham commuters, which explained why the booking office was located on the down platform. Olton station had for some sixty-three years a two platform configuration with basic facilities, but taking advantage of the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Act of 1929, the Great Western Railway continued to quadruple the Birmingham Main Line as far as Lapworth, rebuilding five stations including Olton with two wide island platforms.

Olton had two signal boxes, the first of which only had 10 levers. It was built by McKenzie and Holland and located at the Leamington end of the up platform. This signal box was replaced in June 1913, when the quadrupled track, which had been installed as loops as far as Tyseley in 1907, was extended to Small Heath North and remodelled to form main and relief running lines. The new signal box, located at the northern end of the station to oversee the junction, was a classic Great Western Railway design (type 7D), equipped with 31 levers. In December 1931, an interlocked ground frame was provided to control the switches associated with a siding that was connected to the up line at the southern end of the station. When the station was remodelled in 1933 and the quadrupled line was extended to Lapworth, the Signal Box was closed with control passing to the adjacent signal boxes.

Two transcribed articles, one on the tests undertaken on the bridges located between Olton and Solihull and the other on the quadrupling of the Birmingham main line, are available via Olton to Lapworth - Quadrupling the Birmingham Main Line.

Robert Ferris

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

Views of the original station

View of Olton's original station looking towards Birmingham from the Leamington end of the up platform
Ref: gwro258
P Hopkins
View of Olton's original station looking towards Birmingham from the Leamington end of the up platform
Close up view of the brick built down platform building which accommodated the booking office, general waiting room and toilets
Ref: gwro258a
P Hopkins
Close up of the down platform building which accommodated the booking office, general waiting room and toilets
Close up of Olton station's original up platform building and the second signal box which was swept away by quadrupling
Ref: gwro258b
P Hopkins
Close up of the station's original up platform building and second signal box both swept away by quadrupling
Looking towards Birmingham Snow Hill with the down platform on the left and the up platform on the right with a barrow crossing in the foreground
Ref: gwro1021
Postcard
Looking towards Birmingham Snow Hill with the down platform on the left and the up platform on the right
Photograph of Olton Station's 1906 award winning best garden which won the prize in the Birmingham Division
Ref: gwro2304
Great Western Railway
Photograph of Olton Station's 1906 award winning best garden which won the prize in the Birmingham Division

Olton Signal Box in 1906 when the Station was awarded the Birmingham Division best garden prize
Ref: gwro2696
F Biddle
Olton Signal Box in 1906 when the Station was awarded the Birmingham Division best garden prize

Views of the rebuilt station

Looking from Ulverley Green Road along Station Drive towards Olton's new station's booking office with the two island platforms above
Ref: gwro1019
J Moss
Looking from Ulverley Green Road along Station Drive towards Olton's new station's booking office
A 1950s view of the exterior view of Olton's 1930s rebuilt station showing the booking office and the new approach 'Station Drive'
Ref: gwro257
Anon
A 1950s view of the exterior view of Olton's 1930s rebuilt station showing the booking office and 'Station Drive'
Looking towards Birmingham from the Solihull end of the relief island platform in British Railways days
Ref: gwro2154
Stations UK
Looking towards Birmingham from the Solihull end of the relief island platform in British Railways days
Looking towards Birmingham from the Up Relief platform across to the Down Main platform and station buildings
Ref: gwro1025
A Harvey
Looking towards Birmingham from the Up Relief platform across to the Down Main platform and station buildings
Close up showing the station building on platforms one and two on the island platform which served the Main line
Ref: gwro1025a
A Harvey
Close up showing the two station buildings on the island platform which served the Main line

Close up showing where passenger gained access to platforms 1 and 2 and the iron railings which protected passengers
Ref: gwro1025b
A Harvey
Close up of where passenger gained access to platforms 1 and 2 and the iron railings which protected passengers
Looking towards Snow Hill along platform 4 showing the platform buildings housing the passenger facilities
Ref: gwro1020
Lens of Sutton
Looking towards Snow Hill along platform 4 showing the platform buildings housing the passenger facilities
Close up showing the relief island platform and the rear of the booking office situated at road level
Ref: gwro1580a
A Harvey
Close up showing the relief island platform and the rear of the booking office situated at road level

Olton Sports Ground

To facilitate the construction of the Birmingham & Oxford Junction Railway land was purchased at Olton in 1854. One of these parcels of land was retained and from 1923 was used as a Sports Ground. The sports ground proved to be very popular and in 1926 a sports pavilion was provided. This building survived the quadrupling of the railway line in 1933, but use of the ground appears to have gradually waned. In 1938 the Great Western Railway sold the sports ground and the pavilion was recorded as being taken down in 1939. The land was developed as housing.

Our thanks go to Keith Staples for sharing his research.

Plan of the GWR Pavilion was drawn by Mr AT Daniels, a local builder, and submitted to Solihull Council in 1926
Ref: gwro3985
Solihull Heritage Gateway
Plan of the GWR Pavilion was drawn by Mr AT Daniels, a local builder, and submitted to Solihull Council
Tennis Players at the Great Western Railway's Birmingham Branch Tournamont in 1925
Ref: gwro3983
GWR Magazine
Tennis Players at the Great Western Railway's Birmingham Branch Tournamont in 1925
Close up showing the station building on platforms one and two on the island platform which served the Main line
Ref: gwro3984
Solihull Heritage Gateway
Two letters from local builder AT Daniels to Solihull Council regarding the inspection of the sewage works
Close up showing the wooden single storey Pavilion on the Sports Ground at the bottom of the embankment
Ref: gwro1025c
A Harvey
Close up showing the wooden single storey Pavilion on the Sports Ground at the bottom of the embankment
An article in the GWR magazine of 1923 describing the opening of the new Sports Ground at Olton that summer
Ref: gwro3982
GWR
Article in the GWR magazine of 1923 describing the opening of the new Sports Ground at Olton that summer

Details of the Sports Pavilion specification were submitted to Solihull Council with the Planning Application
Ref: gwro3988
Solihull Heritage Gateway
Details of the Sports Pavilion specification were submitted to Solihull Council with the Planning Application

Locomotives and trains seen at Olton Station

Great Western Railway 2-2-2 No 55 'Queen' hauls the Royal Train through Olton station in March 1887
Ref: gwro2247
C Lines Collection
Great Western Railway 2-2-2 No 55 'Queen' hauls the Royal Train through Olton station in March 1887
An unidentified GWR 4-4-0 Badminton class locomotive passes Olton's now redundant signal box
Ref: gwro1022
Lens of Sutton
An unidentified GWR 4-4-0 Badminton class locomotive passes Olton's now redundant signal box
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Large Prairie' No 5185 stands waiting to depart with local passenger service to Leamington
Ref: gwro256
NE Stead
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Large Prairie' No 5185 stands waiting to depart with local passenger service to Leamington
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6020 'King Henry IV' enters Olton station at the head of the 5:10pm Paddington to Birkenhead
Ref: gwro1579
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6020 'King Henry IV' enters Olton station at the head of the 5:10pm Paddington to Birkenhead
Ex-Great Western Railway 2-6-2T 5101 class No 5192 arrives at the Down Main platform of Olton Station on Monday 17th  August 1959
Ref: gwro1583
A Harvey
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 5101 class No 5192 arrives at the Down Main platform of Olton Station on Monday 17th August 1959

Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6953 'Leighton Hall', modified to burn oil, passes through the station on the up main line
Ref: gwro2153
RS Carpenter
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6953 'Leighton Hall', modified to burn oil, passes through the station on the up main line
British Railways 4-6-0 40xx ‘Castle’ class No 7008 ‘Swansea Castle’ steams away from the Down Relief platform at Olton station
Ref: gwro1585
A Harvey
BR built 4-6-0 40xx class No 7008 ‘Swansea Castle’ steams away from the Down Relief platform at Olton station
Ex-Great Western Railway 4-4-0 City Class No 3440 ‘City of Truro’ on a SLS Special passing a deserted Olton Station on the Up Main line
Ref: gwro1580
A Harvey
Ex-GWR 4-4-0 City Class No 3440 ‘City of Truro’ on a SLS Special passes through a deserted Olton Station
GWR 4-6-0 '4073 class' No 4096 'Highclere Castle' is seen heading a train of Southern Region coaching stock in August 1962
Ref: gwro1018
J Moss
GWR 4-6-0 '4073 class' No 4096 'Highclere Castle' heads a train of Southern Region coaching stock in August 1962
Ex-Great Western Railway 4-6-0 49xx ‘Hall’ Class No 5985 ‘Mostyn Hall’ with a clear route north and prepares to leave the Down Main platform
Ref: gwro1582
A Harvey
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 49xx Class No 5985 ‘Mostyn Hall’ with a clear route north and prepares to leave the Down Main platform

Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Large Prairie' No 4158 stands at platform four on a Solihull to Handsworth service
Ref: gwro2152
A Harvey
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Large Prairie' No 4158 stands at platform four on a Solihull to Handsworth service
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 4158 crosses Richmond Road plate girder bridge as it leaves the Relief Down platform
Ref: gwro1584
A Harvey
Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 4158 crosses Richmond Road plate girder bridge as it leaves the Relief Down platform
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 4073 No 5026 'Criccieth Castle' on the up main line south of Olton on Wednesday 29th August 1962
Ref: gwro2305
M Mensing
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 4073 No 5026 'Criccieth Castle' on the up main line south of Olton on Wednesday 29th August 1962

Diesel Dawn

Warship D817 'Foxhound' is seen between Olton and Solihull on the 7:30am Shrewsbury to Paddington service on 27th August 1962
Ref: gwro1581
M Mensing
Warship D817 'Foxhound' is seen near Olton on the 7:30am Shrewsbury to Paddington service
An original Derby built three-car Western Region Diesel Multiple Unit is seen leaving Olton station on 1.00pm Stratford upon Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill service
Ref: gwro1026
A Harvey Collection
An original Western Region DMU is seen leaving Olton station on 1.00pm Stratford upon Avon to Snow Hill service

Miscellaneous

An official photograph of the four road braced framework girder bridge built to carry the GWR's new widened lines over the main Birmingham Road
Ref: gwro1559
GWR Publicity Photo
An official photograph of the girder bridge built to carry the GWR's new widened lines over the main Birmingham Road
Four Great Western Railway 4-6-0 'Kings' carry out bridge tests on the newly quadrupelled track between Olton and Lapworth
Ref: gwro1578
GWR Publicity Photo
Four GWR 4-6-0 'Kings' carry out bridge tests on the newly quadrupelled track between Olton and Lapworth
'Express Train in Danger' was the title of this photograph, in the Birmingham Post on 3rd February 1930
Ref: gwro2490
Birmingham Post
'Express Train in Danger' was the title of this photograph, in the Birmingham Post on 3rd February 1930
Drawing showing strengthening to be carried out on Brunel’s wrought iron bowed balloon-top bridge
Ref: gwro2692
National Archives
Drawing showing strengthening to be carried out on Brunel’s wrought iron bowed balloon-top bridge
Drawing showing the strengthening required on Brunel’s wrought iron bowed balloon-top bridge at Olton
Ref: gwro2693
Great Western Railway
Drawing showing the strengthening required on Brunel’s wrought iron bowed balloon-top bridge at Olton

A useful illustration of typical construction details involved in Brunel’s wrought iron balloon–top plate girder bridge beams
Ref: gwro2694
British Rail (Western Region)
An Illustration of typical construction details involved in Brunel’s wrought iron balloon–top plate bridge
Engraving showing the two bridges at Olton, a simple plate girder bridge and a balloon-top bridge
Ref: gwro2695
Illustrated London News
Engraving showing the two bridges at Olton, a simple plate girder bridge and a balloon-top bridge
Engraving showing the two bridges at Olton, a simple plate girder bridge and a balloon-top bridge
Ref: gwro2697
C Walker
Ex-GWR 2-6-0 No 6385 about to cross the four road lattice girder bridge over the old turnpike road at Olton
List of Season Ticket Returns for all three classes from Olton to Snow Hill from 1900 to 1906
Ref: gwro3991
Great Western Railway
List of Season Ticket Returns for all three classes from Olton to Snow Hill from 1900 to 1906
Brunel's bowed balloon-top wrought iron plate girder bridge crossing the Warwick to Birmingham turnpike road
Ref: gwro2698
F Biddle
Brunel's bowed balloon-top wrought iron plate girder bridge crossing the Warwick to Birmingham turnpike road

An official photograph of the four road braced framework girder bridge built to carry the GWR's new widened lines over the main Birmingham Road
Ref: gwro4007
Birmingham Library
Photograph showing the reconstruction of the line between Olton & Acocks Green stations in 1933

Maps

A survey map of the Birmingham & Oxford Junction railway dated 1878 shows the land purchased by the railway shaded pink
Ref: gwro3987
GWR Official Document
A survey map of the Birmingham & Oxford Junction railway dated 1878 shows the land purchased by the railway
Layout of Olton's original station showing the up platform at the top and the down platform at the bottom
Ref: old_olton_map
Anon
Layout of Olton's original station showing the up platform at the top and the down platform at the bottom
Layout of Olton's 1937 rebuilt station now comprising two island platforms and driveway to the ground floor station building
Ref: new_olton_map
Anon
Layout of Olton station following the quadrupling of the track to Lapworth and station rebuild of 1933