Local railway company crests

Rail Around Birmingham
& the West Midlands

The City of Birmingham Coat of Arms
Home Site Updates Railway News Regional Map Midland Metro Severn Valley Chasewater
Train Photos Research Tips Miscellaneous Memorabilia Postcards Reader Galleries Publications
Other Regions Newsletter Contact Links Guestbook

Bescot Stadium Station

1847 - Present
Bescot entrance from car park

Bescot Station opened as Bescot Bridge station on the Grand Junction Railway in 1847 billed as the first station to serve Walsall . . . some two miles away! However, later in 1847 the South Staffordshire Railway opened a branch from the GJR at Bescot to a temporary terminus at Bridgeman Place in the centre of Walsall. Under the LNWR, who absorbed the SSR and GJR, extensive goods facilities were developed at Bescot from 1881 onwards that are still in use today, although somewhat scaled-down partly as the result of a rebuilding of the yard unveiled in 1966, under EWS. Above we see the less-than-inviting entrance to Bescot Stadium station from the car park on Bescot Crescent in the shadow of the M6. To enter the station requires walking under the M6 ahead and once beyond that, the walkway crosses the River Tame after which point you have to climb the footbridge that provides access to the two platforms.

Station from footbridge Station from Walsall platform

Above-left we are on the station footbridge looking in the direction of Birmingham across the yard. The current station is of a very modest size and seems somewhat of an after-thought tucked out of the way in a bit of space the designers had left over when planning the goods facilities. Above-right we are on the Walsall platform looking along the length of the station towards the footbridge. On the Birmingham platform is the small station building and waiting room which, whilst a little more interesting than the ubiquitous bus shelters provided at many contemporary stations, hardly serves to excite when entering the station.

Assorted wagons Wagons and signal box

Above-left we are still on the Walsall platform but this time looking across the yards and can see some flat-bed wagons at rest and beyond that the imposing structure of the EWS Traction Maintenance Depot. Above-right we are in the same spot but this time looking in the direction of Birmingham to see some of the range of wagons that pass through the yard and beyond them the signal box can just be made-out.

Decommissioning graveyard from footbridge Footbridge towards Walsall

Above-left we are back on the footbridge looking across the yard with the station to our left. Above-right we are on the footbridge watching the track head-off to Walsall to the right, and Wolverhampton to the left ahead. Whilst the station itself at Bescot is of little if any interest to observe, the site itself is well-worth a visit for the rolling stock and locos on display. I have included some of the photos of the vehicles themselves on the Train Pics page.



Google
 
Web www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk



This web site and all images, video clips and text contained therein are ©Andrew Doherty 2003 - 2008 (except where another photographer is cited in which case the copyright rests with that photographer or organisation). If you wish to use any of the images for your own non-profit website, feel free to do so but I would appreciate being credited and an e-mail to let me know their new home would be nice. Use of photographs for publication in print is permissable only by obtaining written consent prior to publication. Thanks. Andy Doherty