Disused Stations: Harborne Station

[Source: Terry Callaghan]

The SLS ran a second special along the branch on 30 June 1959 this time hauled by MR Johnson 2F class 0-6-0 locomotive built in 1896. The train is seen here propelling the stock into the platform.
Photo by Derek Harrison

A Birmingham University Railway Society special in 1962 brought what is thought to be the only DMU to visit the branch. Seen here in the station with the passengers exploring the area.
Photo by Derek Harrison

The final passenger service to traverse the branch was on 2 November 1963 and would be one of the final trains to run along the line. Seen here standing on the station approaches with two youngsters having the occasion recorded for posterity.
Photographer unknown

Another view of the final passenger working on 2 November 1963 the honour of hauling the final service was given to an LMS built Ivatt 2-MT class 2-6-0 locomotive seen here with crowds swarming all over the track. The building to the left of the locomotive was the small goods warehouse with some mineral wagons in front of it, no doubt picked up by the final freight working two days later.
Photo by C Thompson

The Stephenson Locomotive Society railtour would be the final passenger train to run along the branch only 1 day before official closure. Seen here on arrival with pasengers spilling out onto the track with LMS built Ivatt 2MT (Mixed traffic) class 2-6-0 number 46429 at the head of the train.
Photo by Geoffrey Head

To avoid running round movements at places such as Harborne which had no turntable the SLS special of 2 November 1963 was top and tailed. Another Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 loco number 46522 was positioned at the Birmingham end of the train.
Photo by Geoffrey Head

A wide shot of the station following the arrival of the SLS special of 2 November 1963. Scrap wood from the toy factory litters the platform and track with good wood stacked under the station canopy. The footbridge is worthy of note as it was provided for passengers to gain access from housing developments to the north of the station. It would remain long after closure and would become the source of a petition when it's removal caused considerable local opposition. The footbridge was removed anyway but has since been replaced by a public footpath running through the housing development which now occupies the site.
Photo by David Pearson

A view of the derelict station building in October 1970 following the Chad Valley toy factory ending its use of the building for storage.
Photo by John Mann

The platforms had become overgrown by the time this view was taken in October 1970 with the station canopy drooping at an alrming angle.
Photo by John Mann

The trackbed had been filled in to platform level directly outside the station building with a storage shed constructed upon it seen here in October 1970.
Photo by John Mann

A direct comparisson with the previous shot is seen here on 14 May 2014 the peak of the roof of the house on the top right is the only thing to tie it in with the previous picture. The whole station site is now given over to housing.
Photo by Terry Callaghan

The site of the turntable seen here on 14 May 2014 the modern development
has the appropriate name 'The Sidings'.
Photo by Terry Callaghan

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[Source: Terry Callaghan]

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