Perry Barr Station

LMS Route: Birmingham - Soho Road - Perry Barr - Birmingham

Perry Bar Station was opened by the Grand Junction Railway (GJR) on the line from Vauxhall to Stafford and beyond on 4th July 1837. The station didn't receive its modern version of Barr until 29th August 1894 when its name became Perry Barr Station. The station has undergone several rebuilds since 1837. At some point in the early 1890s, possibly when the name was changed, the station's platform buildings were rebuilt using a similar design and layout as seen in Handsworth Woods. At a later time, date unknown but well before the 1961 photographs seen below, these were replaced with a very basic asbestos building. Access to the station was off the Walsall Road with a covered staircase from the road to each platform. The staircases were gated to prevent the public access during periods when the station was closed. The Railway Clearing House Hand Book of Stations indicates that the station only handled passenger and parcel traffic, the closeness of Witton Wharf rendering the need for goods facilities unnecessary. The station remains open today, albeit in a different form, so it can claim to be one of the oldest stations in the county and Midlands.

Ref: lnwrpb3692 Birmingham Library Looking in the direction of Walsall with the station's very simple and unimposing entrances on the left

Ref: lnwrpb3699 Birmingham Library An oblique view of two entrances to Perry Barr station from the Birmingham side of the railway bridge

Ref: lnwrpb3697 Birmingham Library The two entrances to Perry Barr station at road level with the down line on the left and the up line on the right

Ref: lnwrpb3698 M Jee Looking along Perry Barr station's down platform towards Witton and on to New Street station

Ref: lnwrpb2295 DJ Norton View looking to Aston showing the temporary passenger bridge in front of the permanent passenger bridge

Ref: lnwrpb2295a DJ Norton Close up of the temporary up starting signal erected approximately two thirds of the length of the up platform

Ref: lnwrpb2295b DJ Norton Close up showing a corrugated asbestos waiting room on the down platform together with electric lighting

Ref: lnwrpb2293 DJ Norton Looking to Walsall beneath the temporary footbridge constructed as part of the A34 Walsall Rd improvements

Ref: lnwrpb2293a DJ Norton Close up showing the track work at the Walsall end of the down platform and Perry Barr station's signal cabin

Ref: lnwrpb1512b M Mensing Close up showing the access to both platforms from the bridge carrying the Walsall Old Road over the railway

Ref: lnwrpb3695 Birmingham Library Looking towards Witton and the road bridge which crossed the railway to the south of Perry Barr station

Ref: lnwrpb3696 Birmingham Library Looking along the down line through Wellhead Lane bridge towards Perry Barr station on 19th April 1937

Ref: lnwrpb1512 M Mensing Ex-LMS 2-8-0 8F No 48175 has steam lifting from her valves as she passes through the station on a down freight

Ref: lnwrpb1512a M Mensing Close up showing ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 No 48175, the last of the second batch built by Crewe works, working hard

Ref: lnwrpb2294 DJ Norton Ex-LMS 4MT 2-6-4T No 42586 is seen on a down New Street to Walsall local passenger service on 25th April 1955

Ref: lnwrpb3693 Birmingham Mail A press cutting describing the fatal accident which killed a LNWR guard on Sunday 21st December 1895

Ref: lnwrpb3694 Birmingham Post A press cutting describing the failed attempt of two passengers to sue the LNWR company in May 1871

Ref: lnwrpb3688 National Library of Scotland An 1886 twenty-five inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map of Perry Barr Goods Yard and Station

Ref: lnwrpb3689 National Library of Scotland A 1902 twenty-five inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map of Perry Barr Goods Yard and Station

Ref: lnwrpb3690 National Library of Scotland A 1913 twenty-five inch to the mile Ordnance Survey map of Perry Barr Goods Yard and Station

Ref: lnwrpb3691 National Library of Scotland A 1913 six inch to the mile Ordnance Survey route map of Perry Barr to Witton stations

Ref: lnwrpbj2279 John Copsey Map showing the location of Perry Barr North Junction in relation to Handsworth Junction and Station Junction