Thirty people have been behind the scenes at Birmingham New Street to celebrate the city’s heritage and the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.
The lucky visitors, who won tickets as part of a Birmingham Heritage Week ballot, were able to walk the 400-metre-long tunnel, connecting the Mailbox to the station.
The tunnel holds significant value to Birmingham’s heritage as it was used to move post between the former Royal Mail sorting office and station platforms before being transported by rail across Britain.
Adam Turner, leading the tours for Network Rail, said: “We’re proud to be working with Birmingham Heritage week and Mailbox on these tunnel tours. It’s been wonderful to share the history of mail by rail in Birmingham with the thirty lucky participants in this special year of Railway 200, celebrating 200 years of railway heritage across the nation.”
Due to its fascinating history, more than 1,500 people applied for the tours, over five times the amount received when the tour was last offered in 2021.
Jeffrey Hughes, a visitor on the tour, said: “It’s my 65th Birthday today and I’ve been fortunate enough to join Network Rail for their hidden tunnels tour. It’s been fascinating and the structures beneath New Street are a credit to our railway ancestors. I’d recommend the tour to anyone who gets the opportunity in the future. Thank you Network Rail.”
When it opened in 1970, the sorting office was the largest building in Birmingham, boasting a vast floor area of 81,000m². It also housed the largest mechanised letters and parcels sorting machinery in the country.
Special electric vehicles known as ‘Brutes’ transported mail sacks through underground tunnels, linking directly to mail trains at Birmingham New Street station.
A spokesperson for Mailbox, said: “We are delighted to open our historic tunnels to the public as part of Birmingham Heritage Week. As a landmark destination that bridges the city’s rich past with its future, we’re proud to offer visitors this unique opportunity to explore hidden spaces that have remained largely unseen for decades.
“This collaboration with Network Rail allows us to share an important piece of Birmingham’s railway history while celebrating the heritage that makes our city so special.”
Image credit: Network Rail