The first station at Longbridge was part of The Halesowen Railway and was important in providing a station right in the middle of the Longbridge car factory for use by workers at the factory. The station was opened in February 1915 to serve the factory. Workers special trains continued to call here until 1st January 1960.
This impressive building was still standing in 2002 and is situated on top of the Halesowen Railway lines. Note the BR style totems that were presumably affixed in the 1963/4 period when the station was still use as a parcels office. Part of the car factory is on the right hand side of this photograph.
This is class 66 diesel locomotive No.66046 awaiting to depart with returning empty vans. The railway worker is standing approximately on the site of the platforms of the original Longbridge station.
Another survivor is this signal box at Longbridge. These tracks that extend from Longbridge Junction for about 800 yards towards Rubery are all that remains in use of the Halesowen Railway.
All photographs taken by Andrew Smith on 3rd September 2001.
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