Curzon St Station & Goods Yard.

Lynn

I've sorted these out for you at your request, I hope you find the interesting. These first three are just a couple of early drawings ans an early OS map that incidentally just shows the Midland Brewery on the top left edge.

Lynn

These photos show the station, the hotel, the walls enclosing the station, the goods yard and sidings and an aerial view.

Thanks Phil, That's a good overall view. Just shows what a massive, big station it was. Lynn.

Lynn

I have to be honest, I think that Curzon Street Station was always doomed to be a failure. It was just too far from the town centre. Today it might be a different thing.

It was realised that the station was a bit far from the centre of town, but the cost of buyin property, and carrying out the earthworks necessary for a station nearer the centre, together with likely oppositjion from those who did not want to be disrupted carried the day. The Curzon st site was the best site relatively neasr the centre, but which did not require earthworks (the town centre being on a hill) and which was not built on. the land was just market gardens and also owned by one owner (Earle Howe) who was willing to sell. Later, of course they had to bite the bullet and build a station nearer whatever the costs and problems.

Do you think the reason they have never built on Curzon St station is not just because its listed, it's for the future? In years to come, Birmingham city centre will out grow itself and New St won't be able to cope with the demand. New St have only got 12 platforms and no space to build any more. Curzon St will be very handy. It may even be before that if HS2 gets the go ahead.

Shard End boy

According to the propaganda at http://www.hs2.org.uk/about-hs2 the Victorian railways of our country are the problem HS2 will solve.
An odd thing to say when the gauge will be the same, the rolling stock will be derived from Victorian designs and the stations will be amongst the oldest on earth.