LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

Kings Norton Station:

Opening 1849, Kings Norton is one of the oldest stations on the Cross City Line on what was originally the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway's line from the South to Curzon Street via the Camp Hill route. With the coming of the BWSR's Kings Norton Extension in 1892 the station was expanded to three platforms and a level crossing that carried Station Road across the tracks was replaced by a footbridge, a large coal and goods yard was built with sidings for the adjacent Triplex Works and the station became a significant site in the region's railways.

Accident at Kings Norton on 12th October 1852

The report of the collision of an express train with a goods train at King's Norton, Birmingham. This document was published on 29th October 1852 by Board of Trade. It was written by Capt. Douglas Galton (R. E.).

"In reply to the station master's observation as to the necessity of clearing the line, the goods guard immediately said they would shunt the train, and having told the station master to turn on the signal, he checked the train with his break, and signalled to the engine-driver to back the train whilst the second guard went to the points. When the train was shunted on to the up line, the station master, who was still at the handle of the wire signal (which is on the opposite side of the platform to the station signal), exclaimed, that the express train had not passed. The under-guard immediately left the points and van to tell the first guard, who had ridden back in the van, and then ran forward with his lamp to meet the expected train. He had not proceeded much more than half way between the station and the wire signal when the express train passed him. He heard the collision take place, and went on again for some distance, and stopped a special goods train, which is not mentioned in the Company's time table, and then remained till he was relieved."

Ref: mrkn522 Lens of Sutton A pre-quadrupling view of the station looking towards Birmingham with Pershore Road bridge in the distance

Ref: mrkn522a Lens of Sutton Close up of the structures on the up platform which were demolished at the time the line was quadrupled

Ref: mrkn522b Lens of Sutton Close up showing the main station building on the down platform built by the B & G Railway in 1849

Ref: mrkn531 Postcard An Edwardian view of the station taken from the down platform looking across to the up platform

Ref: mrkn531a Postcard Close up of showing two of the three passenger structures which were located on the down platform

Ref: mrkn531b Postcard Close up showing the up platform and the signals controlling the junction with the West Suburban Railway

Ref: mrkn782 Anon Looking towards Camp Hill along the original down line towards Lifford with Pershore Road bridge in the distance

Ref: mrkn782a Anon Station staff pose for the camera on Norton station's up platform whilst moving milk churns

Ref: mrkn277 WL Good Looking towards Northfield as MR 4-4-0 No 426 passes through the station on an up local train to New Street

Ref: mrkn277c WL Good Close up showing the up platform's passenger facilities which by 1920 had gained a newsagents stall

Ref: mrkn277a WL Good Close up showing the Northfield end of the down platform and the timber open framed barrier & milk churns

Ref: mrknpreg283a WL Good Close up showing the elevated signal box controlling the north end of the station and the junction

Ref: mrkn525 DJ Norton Looking towards Northfield with the goods yard and signal box in the distance under Station Road bridge

Ref: mrkn527 DJ Norton Looking towards Lifford from the Northfield end of the West Suburban lines with the up platform on the left

Ref: mrkn523 J Moss An elevated view of the enlarged station's West Suburban platforms showing the substantive buildings

Ref: mrkn523a Moss Close up showing the passenger waiting rooms provided for the up slow and fast lines to Birmingham

Ref: mrkn523b J Moss Close up showing the building located on the island platform and the bracket signal controlling the right of way

Ref: mrkn524 J Moss Looking across the island platforms towards the station buildings sited on the down Camp Hill platform

Ref: mrkn524a J Moss Close up showing the main enterance to Kings Norton station and its late Victorian features

Ref: mrkn524b J Moss Close up showing the Northfield end of the station and further architectural features of the building

Ref: mrkn528 DJ Norton Looking across the island platform from the up slow to the down slow where the main station building was sited

Ref: mrkn780 DJ Norton Looking towards Lifford with a two-car Metro-Cammell DMU standing at Platform 1 ready to depart for New Street

Ref: mrkn781 DJ Norton View of the booking office erected in March 1926 on Station Road and adjacent to Platform 1

Ref: mrkn785 DJ Norton View of Pershore Road South looking towards Cotteridge Village with the entrance to the station on the right

Ref: mrkn526 DJ Norton View showing the approach from Northfield to Kings Norton station and the goods yard and carriage sidings

Ref: mrkn790 DJ Norton View of Kings Norton timber clad goods shed and cattle dock on the left and the carriage sidings behind

Ref: mrkn790a DJ Norton Close up showing the signal box located to the West of the station which controlled access to the sidings

Ref: mrkn796 DJ Norton View of the western approach to Kings Norton carriage sidings showing the four running lines into the station

Ref: mrkn796a DJ Norton Close up showing the carriage sidings adjacent to the signal box and coal wagons stabled on the sidings on the right

Ref: mrkn797 DJ Norton View of the track layout at the station where Camp Hill and West Suburban lines merged with the quadrupled lines

Ref: mrkn530 RS Carpenter View of a new footbridge being installed in early 1926 at the Northfield end of Kings Norton station

Ref: mrkn794 DJ Norton View of a goods train carrying three army tanks on a special train hauled by ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F No 44171

Ref: mrkn801 DJ Norton View of Kings Norton station's timber goods shed and the yard's emergency locomotive coal stack

Ref: mrkn800 DJ Norton View of Kings Norton signal box with the snow having been cleared from the point rodding under the tracks

Maps and Diagrams

Ref: mr_generic1430b Midland Railway Part of MR Distance Diagram dated 1913 showing the two routes south from New Street to Kings Norton

Ref: kings_norton_map A Doherty Map showing Station Road which ran from Camp Lane and crossed the railway via a level crossing