BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL
13th January 2004

The former GWR station in Birmingham; closed, demolished and finally reopened in 1987. Like New Street, the new station was buried under a concete raft but Snow Hill manages to be less oppressive. A surprising amount of the old station remains although this is not immediately apparent to passengers. Operated by Central Trains from 1996 to 2007, it has now passed to London Midland. It is also served by Chiltern Railways and Midland Metro. CRS code: BSW

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The site of the station hotel on Colmore Row. 24th July 2006.
The site of the station hotel on Colmore Row. 24th July 2006.
 The plaza at the station entrance, created in 2005 to replace the former entrance canopies. 16th October 2005.
The plaza at the station entrance, created in 2005 to replace the former entrance canopies. 16th October 2005.
 The entrance from Colmore Row before the canopies were removed. 7th March 2005. (Photo courtesty of John Sullivan).
The entrance from Colmore Row before the canopies were removed. 7th March 2005. (Photo courtesty of John Sullivan).
 The same entrance on 16th October 2005.
The same entrance on 16th October 2005.
The station entrance 16th October 2005.
The station entrance 16th October 2005.
 The footbridge that connects the entrance to the concourse and runs longitudinally above the tracks. 14th July 2006.
The footbridge that connects the entrance to the concourse and runs longitudinally above the tracks. 14th July 2006.
 The footbridge entrance. 15th October 2007.
The footbridge entrance. 15th October 2007.
 This wrought iron booking office sign is now located at the renovated Moor Street station. It originated however at Snow Hill. 16th October 2003.
This wrought iron booking office sign is now located at the renovated Moor Street station. It originated however at Snow Hill. 16th October 2003.
Booking office windows. 16th October 2005.
Booking office windows. 16th October 2005.
 The concourse. 16th October 2005.
The concourse. 16th October 2005.
 Statue of a commuter which now stands on platform 1&2 after having been on the concourse for many years. 16th October 2005.
Statue of a commuter which now stands on platform 1&2 after having been on the concourse for many years. 16th October 2005.
 Platform 1, looking towards Moor St. 17th February 2004.
Platform 1, looking towards Moor St. 17th February 2004.
Island platform 1&2 showing the great width of the present platforms. 17th February 2004.
Island platform 1&2 showing the great width of the present platforms. 17th February 2004.
 A GWR bench from the old station, now situated on platform 1/2 on the present station. 17th February 2004.
A GWR bench from the old station, now situated on platform 1/2 on the present station. 17th February 2004.
 A BR(W) bench from the old station, now situated on platform 1/2 on the present station. 17th February 2004.
A BR(W) bench from the old station, now situated on platform 1/2 on the present station. 17th February 2004.
 Platform 1 looking in the down direction. 24th July 2006.
Platform 1 looking in the down direction. 24th July 2006.
The entrance to Snow Hill Tunnel. 24th July 2006.
The entrance to Snow Hill Tunnel. 24th July 2006.
 The station and entrance footbridge seen from near the tunnel mouth. 4th April 2008.
The station and entrance footbridge seen from near the tunnel mouth. 4th April 2008.
 Looking north from above the station before the connection to Smethwick was reinstated. 25th March 1990.
Looking north from above the station before the connection to Smethwick was reinstated. 25th March 1990.
 Looking north from above the station. 18th October 1998.
Looking north from above the station. 18th October 1998.
The north end of the station seen on 26th September 2008. The stabling sidings can be seen on the left and the Midland Metro tram stop at St Pauls can be seen back right.
The north end of the station seen on 26th September 2008. The stabling sidings can be seen on the left and the Midland Metro tram stop at St Pauls can be seen back right.
 The Livery Street side of the station looking north towards the carriage sidings. 18th October 1998.
The Livery Street side of the station looking north towards the carriage sidings. 18th October 1998.
 A train on the Great Charles St bridge with the car park in the background. 15th September 2002.
A train on the Great Charles St bridge with the car park in the background. 15th September 2002.
 Looking north from the platforms. 12th February 2000.
Looking north from the platforms. 12th February 2000.
A general view looking north from platform 2. 17th February 2004.
A general view looking north from platform 2. 17th February 2004.
 These bridge girders over Great Charles Street can be seen in many old pictures of Snow Hll. They were located between the through lines on the old station. 12th October 2002.
These bridge girders over Great Charles Street can be seen in many old pictures of Snow Hll. They were located between the through lines on the old station. 12th October 2002.
 The Midland Metro platform. 11th July 2006.
The Midland Metro platform. 11th July 2006.
 Looking along the former platform 4 from the Midland Metro platform. 11th July 2006.
Looking along the former platform 4 from the Midland Metro platform. 11th July 2006.
New passenger exits under construction at the down end of the station. 24th July 2006.
New passenger exits under construction at the down end of the station. 24th July 2006.
 The new exits seen from above on 4th April 2008.
The new exits seen from above on 4th April 2008.
 Steelwork beginning to appear on the new Livery Street entrance. 26th September 2008.
Steelwork beginning to appear on the new Livery Street entrance. 26th September 2008.
 Looking along platform 1 from the down end. 24th July 2006.
Looking along platform 1 from the down end. 24th July 2006.
The eastern side of the station. 12th October 2002.
The eastern side of the station. 12th October 2002.
 The Queensway underbridge looking north. The exposed abutment shows how much narrower the present station is compared to the original. 14th July 2006.
The Queensway underbridge looking north. The exposed abutment shows how much narrower the present station is compared to the original. 14th July 2006.
 The Midland Metro viaduct being built alongside the Snow Hill side of the station. 7th June 2008.
The Midland Metro viaduct being built alongside the Snow Hill side of the station. 7th June 2008.
 Looking south across the Queensway underbridge with the station car park dominant. 14th July 2006.
Looking south across the Queensway underbridge with the station car park dominant. 14th July 2006.
The former doorway on Livery Street. 12th October 2002.
The former doorway on Livery Street. 12th October 2002.
 The decorative upper section of the doorway. 24th July 2006.
The decorative upper section of the doorway. 24th July 2006.
 Former station side wall and doorway on Livery St. 12th October 2002.
Former station side wall and doorway on Livery St. 12th October 2002.
 Detail of the carved stone GWR coat of arms above the former doorway on Livery St. 12th October 2002.
Detail of the carved stone GWR coat of arms above the former doorway on Livery St. 12th October 2002.
Rear of the former doorway on Livery Street seen from the platforms. 12th October 2002.
Rear of the former doorway on Livery Street seen from the platforms. 12th October 2002.
 Station boundary wall on Livery St. 12th October 2002.
Station boundary wall on Livery St. 12th October 2002.
 The surviving screen wall on Livery Street showing the glazed brickwork. This was originally surmounted by steelwork and glass screens. 14th July 2006.
The surviving screen wall on Livery Street showing the glazed brickwork. This was originally surmounted by steelwork and glass screens. 14th July 2006.
 Screen wall detail, Livery Street. 14th July 2006.
Screen wall detail, Livery Street. 14th July 2006.
Car park exit doorway set into a gap in the old screen wall on Livery Street. 14th July 2006.
Car park exit doorway set into a gap in the old screen wall on Livery Street. 14th July 2006.
 The Livery Street elevation of the modern station. 14th July 2006.
The Livery Street elevation of the modern station. 14th July 2006.
 The Livery Street perimeter wall seen from above. 15th October 2007.
The Livery Street perimeter wall seen from above. 15th October 2007.
 The frontage of the former Great Charles Street entrance and booking office. 12th October 2002.
The frontage of the former Great Charles Street entrance and booking office. 12th October 2002.
Cemented-up arches of the former Great Charles Street entrance. 12th October 2002.
Cemented-up arches of the former Great Charles Street entrance. 12th October 2002.
 Another view of the cemented-up arches. Does any of the old entrance and booking office remain behind the concrete or has it been filled up solid? Who knows? 12th October 2002.
Another view of the cemented-up arches. Does any of the old entrance and booking office remain behind the concrete or has it been filled up solid? Who knows? 12th October 2002.
 Detail of the glazed bricks around the Great Charles Street entrance. 12th October 2002.
Detail of the glazed bricks around the Great Charles Street entrance. 12th October 2002.
 On the corner of Great Charles Street and Livery St. 12th October 2002.
On the corner of Great Charles Street and Livery St. 12th October 2002.
Arches on the former Great Charles Street entrance. 7th June 2008.
Arches on the former Great Charles Street entrance. 7th June 2008.
 Work underway on constructing a new station entrance from one of the arches below the northern end of the station. 14th July 2006.
Work underway on constructing a new station entrance from one of the arches below the northern end of the station. 14th July 2006.
 Arches beneath the northern end of the station seen from Livery Street. 14th July 2006.
Arches beneath the northern end of the station seen from Livery Street. 14th July 2006.
 Arches beneath the northern end of the station seen from Livery Street. 24th July 2006.
Arches beneath the northern end of the station seen from Livery Street. 24th July 2006.
Arches beneath the northern end of the station seen from Livery Street. 24th July 2006.
Arches beneath the northern end of the station seen from Livery Street. 24th July 2006.
 The Lionel Street underpass beneath the northern end of the station. 14th July 2006.
The Lionel Street underpass beneath the northern end of the station. 14th July 2006.
 Inside the Lionel Street underpass the underside of the former platforms can still be seen. 14th July 2006.
Inside the Lionel Street underpass the underside of the former platforms can still be seen. 14th July 2006.
 Above Lionel Street a short section of one of the old platforms remains. 24th July 2006.
Above Lionel Street a short section of one of the old platforms remains. 24th July 2006.
Former gents lavatory in the arches beneath the station. 14th July 2006.
Former gents lavatory in the arches beneath the station. 14th July 2006.
 Ironwork detail on the former gents lavatory. 14th July 2006.
Ironwork detail on the former gents lavatory. 14th July 2006.
 The wide arch that carries the station above the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. 24th July 2006.
The wide arch that carries the station above the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. 24th July 2006.
 The arch carrying Water Street below the station. 26th September 2008.
The arch carrying Water Street below the station. 26th September 2008.
Arches beneath the station, some of which are in commercial use. 26th September 2008.
Arches beneath the station, some of which are in commercial use. 26th September 2008.
 Abandoned platform section with the footprint of the former awning girders still visible. 1st April 2007.
Abandoned platform section with the footprint of the former awning girders still visible. 1st April 2007.
 The abandoned section of platform seen from above. 4th April 2008.
The abandoned section of platform seen from above. 4th April 2008.
 A new viaduct for the Midland Metro being constructed along the eastern side of the station. This will allow the line to be extended to New Street and possibly beyond. 4th April 2008.
A new viaduct for the Midland Metro being constructed along the eastern side of the station. This will allow the line to be extended to New Street and possibly beyond. 4th April 2008.
A thumbnail diagram of the station, showing the general layout.
A thumbnail diagram of the station, showing the general layout.
 The booking hall on the old station. (Picture courtesy of John Law).
The booking hall on the old station. (Picture courtesy of John Law).
 A Blue Pullman set in the station. (P.G. Marks).
A Blue Pullman set in the station. (P.G. Marks).
 Looking towards the tunnel portal in 1966. (P.G. Marks).
Looking towards the tunnel portal in 1966. (P.G. Marks).
The entrance to the Great Western Arcade, built over the Snow Hill tunnel. 15th May 2008.
The entrance to the Great Western Arcade, built over the Snow Hill tunnel. 15th May 2008.
 
Related Links: [ Some interesting pictures of the station in the 1970s here: ]
 
© 1998-2008 Roger Marks - All copyrights rest with the Author
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