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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21. Clocking off
Bert Roberts, of Pontesford Hill, retired from British Rail in 1979 after 43 years’ service. Among his duties was the winding of the Shrewsbury station clock, which he did for 20 years. The winding was done by a handwheel inside the tower. Made by Joyce of Whitchurch, the clock was maintained by the firm. | Shropshire Star archive
22. Off the rails
This 2750 H.P. Brush Sulzer diesel electric locomotive was derailed at Shrewsbury in April 1964 and blocked the lines from the loco sheds. Later a crane was brought from Crewe to lift the locomotive back on the rails. | Shropshire Star archive
23. Being Frank
The late Frank Leath was a well known public figure in Shrewsbury and is seen here as a young man outside the station with his Royal Enfield motorcycle. He was born in January 1921 so based on his apparent age the picture is perhaps late 1940s or early 1950s. As a young man he joined the telegraph office staff on Shrewsbury station. His father was a signalman at the signal box in Abbey Foregate and later became a railway inspector and then chief district inspector. Among Frank's many roles was becoming chairman of Shropshire Health Authority. | Frank Leath
24. Let's flag this up
A photographer gets a vantage point for the arrival of the steam loco Clun Castle for end-of-steam events at the station in March 1967. The photographer is very likely Peter Hayward, a newspaper photographer who was a railways buff, as this picture was among his things. | Peter Hayward