Over a span of three centuries Shrewsbury Railway Station has sent countless travellers on their way and welcomed untold numbers to the county town.
In popular imagination the golden era of rail travel was some time in the distant past and, whether or not that is true, it was certainly different with the huffing, puffing, snorting steam locomotives, the smell of smoke, the distinctive clickety-clack of trains moving over the tracks, platform tickets (remember those?), and plentiful staff.
Shrewsbury, it should be remembered, was a major railway town. Not so much now though. But it does have one of Britain’s most striking railway station buildings, dating back to 1848, its architecture meriting it Grade II listed status.
It’s all a fascinating past. Hop on, and let us take you there.
- Did you see our gallery of 49 pictures showing a very different Shropshire in 1978? Take a trip back in time and see the pictures here.
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37. The joy of trainspotting
A clutch of boy trainspotters is gathered at the end of a platform as another loco approaches to be added to their notebooks. It's another from Russell Mulford's collection, perhaps from the 1950s and, although the location is not stated, is probably Shrewsbury as it was among other photos taken there. | Russell Mulford collection
38. Treated like cattle
These three calves were being packaged up to be sent by train from the station on a 1961 journey to Scotland. | Express & Star
39. Out of steam
The last scheduled steam-hauled passenger train prepares to leave Shrewsbury in the evening of March 5, 1967. The driver was Jim Davies of Oswestry, and the fireman was Barry Nightingale of Shrewsbury. | Shropshire Star
40. Last of the many
Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T No. 41207 with driver Bell (of Salop) in charge stands at Shrewsbury station with the last ordinary passenger train from Bridgnorth, the 19.27, on September 9, 1963. | Keith Beddoes