Sutton Coldfield Station (LNWR)

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield

Sutton Coldfield station was opened on 2nd June 1862, as the northern terminus of the branch line from Aston built by the London and North Western Railway. The station is built using red brick and was equipped with elaborate ceilings and pillars. The population increased dramatically and in 1880 an extension to Lichfield City was authorised. This line was opened to goods traffic in September 1884 and to passenger traffic on 15th December 1884. A new passenger station, on a 15 chain radius curve, replaced the original station. The new line was extended north to Lichfield via a 171 yard tunnel built immediately beyond the end of the platforms. After the extension was opened the services serving Lichfield were a combination of trains terminating at Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks - the next station to the north, or Lichfield. After the grouping of railway companies in 1923, the station came under the control of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway which resulted in the rationalisation of the former Midland Railway services at Sutton Town. Goods facilities were withdrawn from Sutton Coldfield on 1st May 1967 and a Motor Rail terminal for services to Scotland and the West Country opened. This facility was closed in 1972, together with Newton-le-Willows, when Crewe was designated to handle the requirements of the West Midlands.

Stephen Lea writes, 'regarding the 1862 LNWR Sutton Coldfield station, the illustrations are from my father's book 'Steaming Up to Sutton' which I see is in the bibliography. The photos and plans in that book were reproduced from originals held in the Local Studies collection at Sutton Coldfield Public Library - my father was at the time regional librarian for North Birmingham, based at Sutton Library. The one exception is the plan (your ref. lnwrsc2606) which was drawn by teenage me! - from a plan in the Local Studies collection that was unsuitable for copying or photography. Some of the reproduction methods were a bit crude for 'Steaming Up to Sutton' - there's a photo of the parliamentary bill or some such (I haven't right now been able to put my hands on my copy of the book) held flat with several library chair legs - the 1970s furniture was inclined to fall apart!

For a number of years now my father has had a weekly local history column in the Sutton Coldfield Observer which has occasionally strayed onto railway subjects - quite recently my collection of LNWR books - including Harry Jack's on Southern Division engines - helped out with the research for an item on the photo of No 734. That photo of (speculatively) the first train is rather controversial in LNWR carriage circles as the livery is quite clearly "plum and spilt milk" some 6 or 7 years before that livery was supposedly introduced. The 'Bloomer' is fascinating. I used to dismiss it as an artistic fantasy but I've become more convinced that the artist accurately reproduced what was before him - especially after reading Harry Jack's Southern Division book where he states that some Small Bloomers working in the West Midlands were given four-wheel tenders. Ramsbottom smokebox door with McConnell handle? Who can know at this distance what actually went on in the works!

The Original 1862 Station

Ref: lnwrsc90 NRM View of Sutton Coldfield's first station when built as the terminus of the line from Birmingham via Aston

Ref: lnwrsc90a NRM Close up showing McConnell's 0-4-2T No 734 ready to haul its train bunker first to Birmingham New Street

Ref: lnwrsc2607 R Lea A circa 1870 view of Sutton Coldfield station's departure platform showing the new refreshment room on the left

Ref: lnwrsc2610 R Lea Painting showing the original Royal Hotel which was opened in May 1865 some three years after the railway

Ref: lnwrsc2610a R Lea Close up showing an unknown LNWR 2-2-2 locomotive being turned on Sutton Coldfield's turntable

Ref: lnwrsc2610b R Lea Close up of one of Sutton Coldfield's citizens leaving the station in their private horse drawn carriage

Ref: lnwrsc2612 R Lea A drawing showing part of the platform elevation to Sutton Coldfield station's 1862 booking office

Ref: lnwrsc2611 R Lea A timetable showing the train times from Sutton Coldfield to New Street for the period of February 1870

Ref: lnwrsc2606 S Lea A map showing the layout of Sutton Coldfield's 1862 station including goods shed and coal yard

The Rebuilt 1884 Station

Ref: lnwrsc96 P Kingston An external view of Sutton Coldfield station's 1884 four room building located on Railway Road

Ref: lnwrsc89 Anon Looking to Sutton Coldfield along the up platform after the accident had demolished much of the platform structure

Ref: lnwrsc97 Anon View of the Birmingham platform showing the lengthy platform canopy and the numerous passenger facilities

Ref: lnwrsc91 Anon Looking towards Lichfield from the Birmingham end of the down platform showing the platform's very long canopy

Ref: lnwrsc93 Anon View of the up platform after being repaired following the horrendous accident which occurred in 1955

Ref: lnwrsc94 Anon Looking towards Lichfield from mid-way along the down platform with the main station building seen on the left

Ref: lnwrsc94a Anon Close up showing the passenger access to the up platform from road level via the incline structure

Ref: lnwrsc2406 S Jones View of the station taken immediately from above Sutton Coldfield Tunnel looking towards the station

Ref: lnwrsc92b LGRP Close up of Stanier 2-6-2T No 40080 in a relatively clean condition, in British Railway's lined black livery

Ref: lnwrsc92 LGRP Ex-LMS 2-6-2T No 40080 stands at the head of a down service from Lichfield to New Street station

Ref: lnwrsc92a LGRP Close up showing the up platform's passenger waiting rooms and above, the bridge to the down platform

Ref: lnwrsc95 Anon View of one of the excavators being used to build the extension to the line from Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield

Ref: lnwrsc4265 National library of Scotland A 1913 25 Inch to the Mile Ordnance Survey Map showing Sutton Coldfield station and goods yard

British Railways Motorail Services

Ref: lnwrsc4513 Anon Vehicles climbing the concrete ramp as they board the rear of the Motorrail train circa 1965

Ref: lnwrsc4275 Derek TP A view of the ramp used to load the cars into the Motorail carriages located at the rear of the train

Ref: lnwrsc4292 Old Classic Cars Bentley S3 Continental MPW drophead coupe is seen being loaded into the motorail rolling stock

Ref: lnwrsc4293 Old Classic Cars A view of a Daimler DR450, Registration Number 510 FGK, being loaded onto a car train at Sutton Coldfield

Ref: lnwrsc4294 Old Classic Cars Another view of a Daimler DR450, Registration Number 510 FGK, being loaded onto a car train at Sutton Coldfield

Ref: lnwrsc2410 R Powell Hendry A schematic plan of Sutton Coldfield station showing passenger and Motor Rail facilities circa 1969

William Rivitt Stationmaster

Ref: lnwrsc544 P Rivitt Mr Rivitt, Sutton Coldfield's stationmaster and a porter pose with a group of policemen on the up platform

Ref: lnwrsc4269 W Rivett Sutton Coldfield's stationmaster, William Rivitt, with his wife and daughter on the footbridge circa 1912

Ref: lnwrsc4270 W Rivett William Rivitt's Daughter in Law, Ruby (nee Lucas) Rivett stands in rose bed adjacent to Sutton Coldfield station

Ref: lnwrsc4271 W Rivett The female side of the Stationmaster's family are seen feeding the chickens at Sutton Coldfield station

Ref: lnwrsc4268 W Rivitt Clarification that William Rivitt's new position at Sutton Coldfield commences on Monday 6th March 1911

Ref: lnwrsc4272 W Rivett Dated 4th March 1991 and sent to William Rivitt at Smethwick. Can you decipher the handwriting?

Ref: lnwrsc4267 W Rivitt Confirmation that William Rivitt moves to take up his new post at Sutton Coldfield on 6th March 1911

Ref: lnwrsc4266 W Rivitt Confirmation that the post William is 'now' filling is 'in class three' - has William challenged his salary?

Ref: lnwrsc4274 W Rivitt Message sent to William arranging for him to meet an Inspector whilst a stand-in has been arranged as cover

Accident at Sutton Coldfield station on 23rd January 1955

On Sunday last, January 23rd, the London Midland Region 12.15 p.m. train from York to Bristol was derailed whilst passing Sutton Cold?eld Station, near Birmingham, at 4.l5 p.m. As a result of this accident seventeen people lost their lives and about forty were injured. It would appear that the train was passing round a left-hand curve when the derailment occurred. Normally this train runs via Tamworth, but on this occasion it had been diverted to a loop line passing through Sutton Cold?eld, as repairs were in hand on the main line near Tamworth. For this reason a pilot driver was also on duty on the footplate with the usual driver and ?reman. As a result of the derailment the locomotive was thrown over on to its side and nine of the ten coaches of the train left the tracks. Reports say that the leading coaches were telescoped, two of them being thrown on top of the locomotive and three others thrown on to their sides. Amongst those killed were the pilot driver and ?reman, whilst the driver of the train was seriously injured. For a more detailed account of the accident please see the Ministry of Transport Report.

Courtesy of The Engineer, January 28th 1955

Ref: lnwrsc2407 Anon View of one of the carriages and its bogie, twisted and distorted following their derailment

Ref: lnwrsc2408 Railways Archive View of the wreck of ex-LMS 5MT 4-6-0 No 45274 which is lying on its side next to the remains of a carriage

Ref: lnwrsc4276 Anon One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4277 Anon One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4278 Anon One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4280 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4281 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4282 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4283 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4284 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4285 BBirmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4286 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4287 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4288 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4289 Birmingham Post & Maill One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4290 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc4291 Birmingham Post & Mail One of fifteen photos showing the rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of the accident

Ref: lnwrsc2339 Birmingham Post & Mail Ex-LMS 2-6-4T No 42421 travels slowly through the accident damaged remains of Sutton Coldfield station

Ref: lnwrsc2409 H Knox Ministry of Transport report into the accident at Sutton Coldfield in 1955 - courtesy of Railways Archive