Bridge remains at Birmingham International station

[K.o.R]

I noticed as the train was leaving Birmingham International there is a very prominent set of bridge abutments. Looking on Google Maps, there's nothing left that would indicate these were a former railway (immediately adjacent are industrial units on one side and an airport on the other; no obvious trails that I can see further out). Just a former road bridge, or something more interesting?

 

[zwk500]

Appears to be a former taxiway to Elmdon Works, https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid...45495&lon=-1.73370&layers=193&right=ESRIWorld

Not entirely clear what the works were for, but they may have been assembling Lancasters and Stirlings prefabricated at Longbridge for final test flights and ferrying.

 

[K.o.R]

Ha! Would be quite a sight for a train driver to see a Lancaster trundling over a bridge as the train passed under.

 

[Llanigraham]

Don't think it was a taxiway, more likely just an road access bridge to the factory on the east side of the line

 

[zwk500]

Don't think it was a taxiway, more likely just an road access bridge to the factory on the east side of the line

It's possilbe, but it's much wider than any road in the vicinity, is similar width to the other taxiways and links directly into a taxiway with no obvious road connection. The Factory's main road entrance was on the north side of the line
The aerial photos also strongly suggest taxiway over road: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid...2.45295&lon=-1.74084&layers=9&right=ESRIWorld

 

[william.martin]

Well funnily enough, I am visiting there tomorrow.

Don't think it was a taxiway, more likely just an road access bridge to the factory on the east side of the line

Yes, it was.
Elmdon for those who aren't familiar with the area is where Birmingham airport technically is, the airport only used to play host to light aircraft due to it having a tiny runway.
However, they extended the runway (I know this because my aunt and uncle were onboard the first plane to land on it) so it could cater for airliners, next they built T1 which unless you are flying on a private jet is where you fly from now.
The plan was for the runway to face the opposite direction however this was not possible as the aircraft would plough straight through fort Dunlop.
So, with the runway facing the way it does today it makes the airport the 8th most dangerous in the world because even though its completely normal in good weather, when it gets windy, it is very dangerous (if that has put you off your next holiday, just remember that you will have the best pilots there is!)

 

[Benjwri]

Don't think it was a taxiway, more likely just an road access bridge to the factory on the east side of the line

Almost definitely a taxiway, as mentioned above, and also referenced in this piece:

During the Second World War, the Metropolitan Cammell works in Bickenhill Lane manufactured aircraft. A wide, long runway was constructed in front of Marston Hall to transport the aircraft from the factory to the main runway at Elmdon Airport.

There are a number of factual inaccuracies, but it’s likely that the overall idea of it being used for aircraft is correct.

 

[O L Leigh]

Almost definitely a taxiway, as mentioned above, and also referenced in this piece:

There are a number of factual inaccuracies, but it’s likely that the overall idea of it being used for aircraft is correct.

It was used for aircraft, but not as a taxiway. New Stirlings and, later, Lancasters were constructed at Longbridge and then delivered to the Austin Aero Works in Marston Green on the east side of the railway in kit form for assembly. Once completed, aircraft would be towed across the bridge onto the airfield for test flying ahead of delivery.

The Short Stirling.

Excited chatter suddenly spread through the flight-shed at Elmdon and those who were able downed tools or stopped their work to walk outside onto the tarmac apron to gaze across the aerodrome at the newly constructed assembly sheds on the further side of the main railway line. Their gaze was concentrated on the new bridge which had been specially constructed over the railway, and on the wide new road leading to the grass aerodrome, down which they could see a large tractor, dwarfed by a great four engine aircraft that it was slowly towing. Behind the Stirling bomber walked a man steering the twin tail wheels by means of a long metal arm, hooked on temporarily, for this purpose. Eventually the first four engine aircraft that Austin had ever built, service number W7426, crossed the aerodrome and arrived on the apron in front of the flight shed. It gave the Hurricanes an inferiority complex as all attention was now focused on the Stirling, it's 99 foot wing span making the Hurricane's 40 foot one look puny.

Taken from Memories of Longbridge by Austin Test Pilot Geoffrey Alington. The page also contains an aerial photo showing Elmdon airfield with the road link to the Austin Aero works.