·  LMS  ·  GWR  ·  LNER  ·  Misc  ·  Stations  ·  What's New  ·  Video  ·  Guestbook  ·  About

Lifford Station and Junction

LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

The history of Lifford Station Junction is unusual insofar there were three stations named Lifford prior to 1940 when passenger services finally ceased as a wartime emergency measure. The first station, located on the Birmingham & Gloucester Railway (B&GR) line, had a very short operational life opening on 17th December 1840 and closing on 1st December 1844. It was not until 1st June 1876 that the second was opened but this time it was on the new Birmingham West Suburban Railway line some half a mile from the first station. This station was the terminus of the single line branch worked by the Midland Railway to central Birmingham. This too had a short operational life being closed on 28th September 1885 when the Midland Railway upgraded the Birmingham West Suburban Railway by doubling the line and building at a tunnel at New Street station.

The third station was located on the Birmingham & Gloucester Railway very close to the site of the original station that had first opened in 1840. This station was a substantial affair even though it only initially served passenger services running from New Street via Camp Hill. Later when the Lifford Curve was opened on 16th May 1892 (for goods) and 1st July 1892 (for passenger services) some passenger services were then looped to start and finish at New Street running via the Lifford Curve and Camp Hill. The installation of Lifford Curve resulted in a rearrangement of the entrance to Lifford goods yard with the original goods shed losing its rail connection in the process. The third station was opened on 28th September 1885 and officially closed to passengers on 27th November 1946.

Looking towards Camp Hill and Birmingham with Lifford goods yard on the left behind the station's up platform
Ref: mr_lif494
RS Carpenter
Looking towards Camp Hill and Birmingham with Lifford goods yard on the left behind the station's up platform
Close up showing Lifford station's goods yard and the three separate platform structures
Ref: mr_lif494a
RS Carpenter
Close up showing Lifford station's goods yard and the three stand alone platform structures
Close up showing Lifford's third and last station and its main passenger building located on the down platform
Ref: mr_lif494b
RS Carpenter
Close up showing Lifford's third and last station and its main passenger building located on the down platform
Looking from the up platform towards Kings Norton with Lifford Station Junction signal box in the distance on the left
Ref: mr_lif810
Postcard
Looking from the up platform towards Kings Norton with Lifford Station Junction signal box in the distance on the left
View of the long abandoned second Lifford station building which closed on 28th September 1885
Ref: mr_lif496
DJ Norton
View of the long abandoned second Lifford station building which closed on 28th September 1885

Another view of Lifford station's long abandoned second building which closed on after a relatively short life
Ref: mr_lif811
Anon
Another view of Lifford station's long abandoned second building which closed on after a relatively short life
Looking towards Birmingham with the junction on the left and Lifford Station Junction signal box on the right
Ref: mr_lif497
DJ Norton
Looking towards Birmingham with the junction on the left and Lifford Station Junction signal box on the right
Three-quarter view of Lifford Station Junction signal box on 3rd August 1969 shortly before it closed in September
Ref: mr_lif815
W Wright
Three-quarter view of Lifford Station Junction signal box on 3rd August 1969 shortly before it closed in September
An unidentified ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F locomotive passes Lifford Station Junction signal box with an up goods train
Ref: mr_lif812
UK Stations
An unidentified ex-LMS 0-6-0 4F locomotive passes Lifford Station Junction signal box with an up goods train
An interior night time view of Lifford Station Junction ex-Midland signal box taken on 28th September 1959
Ref: mr_lif816
DJ Norton
An interior night time view of Lifford Station Junction ex-Midland signal box taken on 28th September 1959

View of a Midland Railway gas lamp used within Lifford Station Junction signal box on 28th September 1959
Ref: mr_lif814
DJ Norton
View of a Midland Railway gas lamp used within Lifford Station Junction signal box on 28th September 1959
View of the side elevation of Lifford Station's good shed which was erected by the BWSR in 1876
Ref: mr_lif830
DJ Norton
View of the side elevation of Lifford Station's good shed which was erected by the BWSR in 1876
End view of Lifford Station Junction goods shed showing the bricked-up rail entrance and cycle shed
Ref: mr_lif820
DJ Norton
End view of Lifford Station Junction goods shed showing the bricked-up rail entrance and cycle shed
View looking towards Camp Hill showing an unidentified ex-MR 0-6-0 3F shunting in Lifford goods yard
Ref: mr_lif818
DJ Norton
View looking towards Camp Hill showing an unidentified ex-MR 0-6-0 3F shunting in Lifford goods yard
Close up showing Lifford goods yard and the assorted covered and open wagons standing in the yard
Ref: mr_lif818a
DJ Norton
Close up showing Lifford goods yard and the assorted covered and open wagons standing in the yard

Close up showing Lifford goods yard's replacement shed on the left and an assortment of wagons
Ref: mr_lif819a
DJ Norton
Close up showing Lifford goods yard's replacement shed on the left and an assortment of wagons
An unidentified ex-LMS 4-6-0 'Black 5' is seen coming off Lifford West Junction with empty stock from New Street
Ref: mr_lif813
TJ Edgington
An unidentified ex-LMS 4-6-0 'Black 5' is seen coming off Lifford West Junction with empty stock from New Street
Looking towards Kings Norton with Lifford Station signal box on the left and Lifford Curve on the right on 29th July 1957
Ref: mr_lif821
DJ Norton
Looking towards Kings Norton with Lifford Station signal box on the left and Lifford Curve on the right on 29th July 1957
View of Lifford Curve facing towards Lifford Station Junction signal box and the main line to Camp Hill
Ref: mr_lif822
DJ Norton
View of Lifford Curve facing towards Lifford Station Junction signal box and the main line to Camp Hill
Another view of Lifford Station Junction signal box showing an 0-6-0 Diesel shunter being held by signals
Ref: mr_lif823
DJ Norton
Another view of Lifford Station Junction signal box showing an 0-6-0 Diesel shunter being held by signals

An unidentified ex-MR 0-6-0 3F locomotive is seen running tender first at the head of a goods train on 3rd May 1953
Ref: mr_lif829
DJ Norton
An unidentified ex-MR 0-6-0 3F locomotive is seen running tender first at the head of a goods train on 3rd May 1953
Looking towards Lifford with the junction of the original Birmingham West Suburban Railway on the right
Ref: mr_lif824
DJ Norton
Looking towards Lifford with the junction of the original Birmingham West Suburban Railway on the right
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Hall class No 5984 'Linden Hall' is seen on a class D semi-fitted freight on 10th June 1963
Ref: mr_lif827
DJ Norton
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 Hall class No 5984 'Linden Hall' is seen on a class D semi-fitted freight on 10th June 1963
Ex-MR 0-6-0 3F No 43812 is seen at the head of a westbound Class J mineral train on 7th March 1950
Ref: mr_lif819
DJ Norton
Ex-MR 0-6-0 3F No 43812 is seen at the head of a westbound Class J mineral train on 7th March 1950
Ex-MR 0-6-0 2F No 58138 is seen leaving Lifford goods yard with two LMS guard vans behind its tender in 1961
Ref: mr_lif828
DJ Norton
Ex-MR 0-6-0 2F No 58138 is seen leaving Lifford goods yard with two LMS guard vans behind its tender in 1961

View of the original BWSR's route which ran parallel to the Worcester Canal on 31st August 1955
Ref: mr_lif495
DJ Norton
View of the original BWSR's route which ran parallel to the Worcester Canal on 31st August 1955
View from the bridge carrying the B&GR over the original Birmingham West Suburban Railway's line in 1963
Ref: mr_lif825
DJ Norton
View from the bridge carrying the B&GR over the original Birmingham West Suburban Railway's line in 1963
View of the canal branch line with the B&GR Camp Hill to Kings Norton line in the distance in September 1954
Ref: mr_lif826
DJ Norton
View of the canal branch line with the B&GR Camp Hill to Kings Norton line in the distance in September 1954
Looking towards Kings Norton showing the original Birmingham West Suburban Railway route on the left
Ref: mr_lif838
DJ Norton
Looking towards Kings Norton showing the original Birmingham West Suburban Railway route on the left
View of an unidentified ex-MR 0-6-0 locomotive at the head of a rake of open wagons as it traverses the canal branch
Ref: mr_lif839
DJ Norton
View of an unidentified ex-MR 0-6-0 locomotive at the head of a rake of open wagons as it traverses the canal branch

Looking along the Canal branch towards Bournville with the junction signal box seen in the middle distance
Ref: mr_lif840
DJ Norton
Looking along the Canal branch towards Bournville with the junction signal box seen in the middle distance
Lifford Coal Company Wagon No 1 built by Gloucester RC&W Company
Ref: kt348
Gloucester RC&WCo
Lifford Coal Company Wagon No 1 built by Gloucester RC&W Company

Maps and Diagrams

View of the gradient post near Proof House Junction showing the change in the descent towards New Street station
Ref: mr_generic1430b
Midland Railway
Part of MR Distance Diagram dated 1913 showing the two routes south from New Street to Kings Norton
Schematic diagram showing the various railway lines around Bournville, Lifford and Kings Norton
Ref: mr_lif817
J Copsey
Schematic diagram showing the various railway lines around Bournville, Lifford and Kings Norton
Map showing the main railway lines around Lifford Station, the long through siding and the surrounding roads
Ref: lifford_map
A Doherty
Map showing the main railway lines around Lifford Station, the long through siding and the surrounding roads