As the promoters were unable to raise the funds to build the viaduct, the terminus was cut back to Granville Street station on the southern side of the canal, further away from the centre of Birmingham.

The original line then followed the route of the canal east under the Pershore Road to what was effectively a joint dual-level station at Lifford.

They obtained powers in 1881 to upgrade the line by doubling the track throughout, straightening out the winding route, and building a new connection at the northern end to New Street station.

[1] At the northern end, the project completed works connecting Birmingham New Street (which was extended as part of the development) to the BWSR via tunnels under both Gloucester and Bath Rows and then via a new station at Five Ways.

In 1878, the company acquired the Bournbrook estate, comprising 14.5 acres (5.9 ha) of countryside 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the outskirts of Birmingham, right next to the new Stirchley Street station.

In 1893, George Cadbury bought 120 acres (49 ha) of land close to the works and planned, at his own expense, a model village which would 'alleviate the evils of modern more cramped living conditions'.

When the railway track was doubled along its entire length in 1885, this necessitated the construction of a southbound platform between the line and the Worcester to Birmingham Canal, resulting even today in a narrow concourse.

In light of increasing production, railway sidings were first laid into the Bournville factory in 1884, resulting in the purchase of a single steam locomotive.

The wheelbase limit meant that the ideal locomotive was an 0-4-0, which were steam fired by coke due to its cleaner burning capabilities, highly important in a food factory.

[13] The company owned up to six private locomotives, initially steam powered and finally replaced by diesel, which marshalled three outbound trains every day except Sundays.

1, an 0-4-0T locomotive made by the Avonside Engine Company in 1925, was donated to the Birmingham Railway Museum in Tyseley where it is presently stored awaiting an overhaul to operational condition.

Although a sub-shed to Saltley by being given the code 21B, in anticipation of the traffic levels, it was a standard scale Midland Railway roundhouse, equipped with a 50 feet (15 m) turntable, water tank and sand oven.

In the yard to replenish and maintain the initial allocation of 25 locomotives, there was a coal stage, two water cranes and ash disposal facilities.

As a result, Bournville was often allocated end of life locomotives, which when needing major services were then stored pending disposal on the many empty lines.

In 1956, an engine fell into the turntable pit, resulting in temporary closure of the roundhouse and making the shed dependent on Saltley and Bromsgrove for boiler washouts.