Rotton Park Road Station

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Harborne

Rotton Park Road station opened on the Harborne Railway in 1874 as the last of the route's four stations before it joined the main line, often stopping at Monument Lane station, before proceeding on to New Street. Post World War One the line suffered heavily with time tabling problems due to its trains being given secondary consideration to late running main line traffic and many trains were held at Rotton Park until a path was made available. This problem, and the ageing rolling stock and locos used, led to the service being dubbed 'the Harborne Express' as what was a short journey could take over 30 minutes to complete. Competition from bus and tram operators was a much speedier option and effectively killed-off the passenger side of the railway resulting in the closure of Rotton Park Road, and the other stations, to passengers in 1934. Whilst the line lived-on until 1963 for goods traffic, Rotton Park was quickly demolished and all that remained was the passing loop, the only one on the railway, and the remains of the island platform.

Andy Doherty

Ref: lnwrrp88 WA Camwell View of Rotton Park Road station showing the additional platform created when the passing loop was installed

Ref: lnwrrp88a WA Camwell Close up showing the station's ground frame which controlled both the pointwork to the loop line and the signals

Ref: lnwrrp88b WA Camwell Close up showing part of the main station building and the gas lighting suspended from the canopy

Ref: lnwrrp84 WA Camwell Looking towards Icknield View looking towards Icknield Port Road station showing the timber passenger footbridge

Ref: lnwrrp84a WA Camwell Close up showing ex-LNWR 2P 0-6-2 Watford Tank No 6924 blowing off steam as it waits for the right of way

Ref: lnwrrp84b WA Camwell Close up showing details of Rotton Park Road station's footbridge, platform and the passenger building

Ref: lnwrrp85 Anon View looking towards Icknield Port Road which provides a good perspective of the station's layout

Ref: lnwrrp85a Anon Close up showing the catch point and sand drag which protected the section of track to Harborne Junction

Ref: lnwrrp86 C Gilbert View showing the station from the elevated timber walk way and passenger footbridge on 7th May 1929

Ref: lnwrrp86a C Gilbert Close up showing the sand drag running the full length of the down platform, the starter signal and the catch points

Ref: lnwrrp87 WA Camwell A November 1934 view of Rotton Park Road station sign sited at the Birmingham end of the island platform

Ref: lnwrrp1526 PB Whitehouse View of the electric train staff apparatus holding a set of staffs for either Harborne and Rotton Park Road

Ref: lnwrrp1524 DJ Norton View of the site of the former Rotton Park Road station on 9th July 1956 looking towards Selwyn Road

Ref: lnwrrp2179 PB Whitehouse A pair of LMS locomotives being used to assist Mitchell & Butler Brewery in the transportation of their beer

Ref: lnwrrp2179a PB Whitehouse Close up showing the former L & Y 0-4-0ST Class 1153 No 11221 locomotive marshalling vans in M&B's sidings in 1949

Ref: lnwrrp2179a PB Whitehouse Close up showing ex-Midland Railway Class 2F 0-6-0 No 23006 standing along side an LMS guards van in 1949

Ref: lnwrrp2180 TJ Edgington Looking towards Rotton Park Road bridge with the timber walkway on the left and brewery sidings beneath

Ref: lnwrrp2185 PB Whitehouse View of one of the two connections between the Harborne branch and Mitchell & Butler's Brewery sidings

Ref: lnwrrp2186 D Powell View of Mitchell & Butler's diminutive locomotive 0-4-0ST 'John Barleycorn' seen standing outside its shed

Ref: lnwrrp2220 PB Whitehouse View of part of the site of the former station with Selwyn Road overbridge in the middle distance in 1949

Ref: lnwrrp2215 PB Whitehouse Ex-MR 0-6-0 2F No 23006 emerges from beneath Selwyn Road overbridge with a train for Mitchell & Butler's brewery

Ref: lnwrrp2216 PB Whtehouse Looking beneath Rotton Park Road overbridge towards Harborne junction in 1949 with M & B's sidings on the left

Ref: lnwrrp2217 PB Whitehouse Ex-MR 2F 0-6-0 No 23006 is seen on the branch facing towards Harborne as it runs around the guards van

Ref: lnwrrp2218 PB Whitehouse A 1949 view of Portland Road bridge looking towards Rotton Park Road station and M & B's brewery sidings

Ref: lnwrrp2219 WA Camwell Ex-LNWR 2P 0-6-2T No 6927 passes the site of Rotton Park Road station whilst at the head of a short goods train

Ref: rotton_park_road_map Andy Doherty View of map showing Rotton Park Road station's juxtaposition with the surrounding area