Above-left we are looking through the Pershore Road bridge towards Kings Norton
with the wharf site directly ahead. Above-right is a plaque on the 'Bournville side' of the bridge
stating the bridge was widened in 1903, although how exactly it was 'widened' I cannot discern at the
site.
Above-left we are at the side of the site of the goods shed with the Pershore Road to our
rear looking towards Kings Norton and the site of Lifford station. Above-right we have rounded the curve
shown ahead in the previous photograph and have arrived at the point where the BWSR passed under the viaduct carrying
the B&G Camp Hill line. Interestingly, as shall be shown below, the first and third incarnations of
Lifford station are to the right of this shot on the B&G.
Above-left we are still on the trackbed but this time looking up to the viaduct carrying the
B&G with Kings Norton to our right and the City centre to our left. Dead ahead, and unfortunately blocking the course
of the trackbed, is a Portakabin for a motorcycle training school and beyond that some development work
seems to be taking shape. Above-right we are looking up to the site of the final incarnation of Lifford station. The rather
odd-shaped brick 'cylinder' is of interest but it is not possible to get close to see what it's purpose may have
been: a stairwell linking the BSWR with the B&G station perhaps? If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
Above-left we are on the canal towpath and looking at the site beyond the motorcycle training school. I couldn't
discern what building work was being undertaken but it is on the trackbed itself. The line here begins a steep
climb away from the level of the canal on a sharp curve off to the right to get up to the level of the B&G line. The
original Lifford station stood beyond where the large building now stands across the trackbed the other side
of Lifford Lane which is just to its rear.
Above-right we are in the same spot but looking back to the B&G viaduct with the odd brick 'cylinder' centre-shot and
the site of the final Lifford station top-left. The canal branch closed 1962 and all trace has now gone.
Interestingly, those who remember Kings Norton Business Park when it was Kings Norton Factory Centre -
filled with rather grim heavy industry - will remember that Melchett Road had a dog's leg kink in it towards Lifford Lane: this
was due to the railway skewing the line of factories at that end of the site as it looped around to the B&G line which it joined roughly
adjacent to the end of Cotteridge Road. The 'canal wharf' line crossed Lifford Lane on a bridge which, for those
whoc know the area, demonstrates the incline that was required to get from the level of the canal to above road
height over a relatively short distance.
It is an interesting site and one worthy of further investigation when I have the
time as I didn't get around to walking to the spot on Lifford Lane where the line once crossed it - although looking
beyond the industrial units on Melchett Road towards the B&G line, there does appear to be an embankment heading
towards, but truncated before reaching, the spot on Lifford Lane where the BSWR would have crossed it.
