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The ex-GWR suburban services terminus at Moor Street, Birmingham, was for several years the terminus of the former main line - the line through the tunnel to Snow Hill closed soon after through Paddington - Birkenhead services ended in 1967. Snow Hill itself lost its few remaining services in 1972 and closed completely.

Twenty years after the through route closed, Snow Hill reopened. It was now the turn of Moor Street terminus to face closure (through platforms having been built on the lines running into the tunnel) - which came on 26th September. To celebrate the end, steam-hauled specials would operate, hauled by 7029 "Clun Castle" - and ex-LMS 46443... The locomotives bore the headboards "Farewell to old Moor Street"

I decided to take the car to Small Heath - it would be easier to park, and I could travel to and from the terminus on its last day.

The new Snow Hill has since flourished - through services to London now operate down the old GWR main line via High Wycombe, and extent beyond Birmingham - to Kidderminster rather than Birkenhead. In the meantime, Snow Hill also sees services to Wolverhampton, in the shape of the Midland Metro, which follows the old main line trackbed most of the way - before climbing up off the main line and onto the streets for the last mile or so!

Moor Street in the meantime quietly decayed - until, on the heels of the Bullring redevelopment, the buildings were restored to former glory, with the intention that it may once again see use as a railway station serving the steam-operated "Shakespeare Express" services operated by Vintage Trains.

Links:

• Vintage Trains
• and specifically, their page on Moor Street restoration
• Moor Street to Marylebone - Moor Street revival (Feb '06)

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