2. West Midlands-10.01.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 2. West Midlands-10.01.18

A trip with my friend Andy around part of the West Midlands. We went up the 'dark side' ending up towards Wolverhampton. We travelled in his blue Micra.

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Images 1-19 of 19 displayed.

221136, XC 06.37 Nottingham-Bournmouth-(1O06, 36L), Banbury station
This was my first visit to Banbury since the wonderful GW semaphores and signalboxes were swept away in 2016. Somehow, I did not want to see what had been done in the name of progress, but technology marches on I suppose! With the new multi-storey carpark in the background 221136 leaves Banbury with the Cross Country 1O06 06.37 Nottingham to Bournemouth working.
Keywords: 221136 Banbury

221119, XC 06.30 Bournemouth-Manchester P (1M26, Cancelled-from-BNS, 61L), Banbury station
Underneath Banbury's 1958 canopies and footbridge 221119 pauses with the 06.30 Bournemouth to Manchester. Unfortunately, this train was severely delayed, so much so that it was cancelled from Birmingham New Street.

66567, 07.21 Lawley Street-Southampton (4O15), Banbury station
66567 speeds through Banbury station with the 07.21 Lawley Street to Southampton Freightliner working. Even though photography in winter can be challenging, I love the quality of light when the sun is out. The low angle of the sun means that there are often less darker areas of shadow on the subject that you get in the summer months when the sun is more overhead.
Keywords: 66567 0721 Lawley Street to Southampton 4O15 Banbury

Signals, Droitwich Spa
Some lower quadrant Western Region signals sit in the fog at Droitwich. In this view, taken from Acre Lane Bridge, the out of use sidings can be seen to the left. Behind the home signal to the right was the old coal yard, this was a site that has featured in many pictures taken from this bridge. The signal box cannot be seen in this image because of the fog, it's behind the down bracket signal.
Keywords: Droitwich Spa semaphores

172211, LN 11.25 Kidderminster Whitlocks End (2S34), Kidderminster station
Even with a sophisticated and modern digital camera the extreme contrast in Winter light cannot be managed particularly well. As illustrated in this image the sky and background is very burnt out in order to ensure that the subject is more or less correctly exposed. 172211 is seen leaving Kidderminster station with the 11.25 working to Whitlocks End.

172331, LN 11.55 Kidderminster Dorridge (2C32, 2L), Blakedown station
A slightly off-centre picture but for a reason. Through the trees in the background the old signal box can seen. Churchill and Blakedown box closed in 2012 when the line was resignalled. However, the signal box lives on after it was donated to the Parish Council. It was dismantled and moved to it present location from the original one just the other side of the level crossing. It is now used as a village community centre. 172331 is arriving with the West Midlands Railway 11.55 Kidderminster to Dorridge working.

172343, LN-11.09 Whitlocks End-Worcester-SH (2V22, 1E), Hagley station
172343 is seen leaving Hagley Station with the 11.09 Whitlocks End to Worcester Shrub Hill working. To rail enthusiasts, Hagley is synonymous with the GWR 4-6-0 Hall number 4930 'Hagley Hall'. At the time of writing 4930 is undergoing a full overhaul and it is hoped it will return to service soon.
Keywords: 172243 11.09 Whitlocks End WorcesterShrub Hill 2V22 Hagley

172332, LN 12.25 Kidderminster-Whitlocks End (2S40, RT), Stourbridge Junction station
172332 leaves Stourbridge Junction station with the 2S40 12.25 Kidderminster to Whitlocks End working. The former GWR Stourbridge Junction signal box (GW, 1901) still stands despite the area being resignalled in 2012. It appeared, judging by the staff comings and goings, that it was being used as a drivers' mess room or even a signing-on point....help anybody?
Keywords: 172332, 2S40 Stourbridge Junction signal box

172217, LN 11.46 Dorridge-Great Malvern (2V24, RT), Stourbridge Junction station
The sun causes an unfortunate reflection off the windscreen of 172217 forming the 11.46 Dorridge to Great Malvern working as it arrives at Stourbridge Junction station. This station still has many of its classic GWR characteristics and has a nice feel about it.
Keywords: 172217 2V24 Stourbridge Junction station

172237, LN 13.27 Stourbridge Junction-Stratford on Avon (2D40, RT), Old Hill station
172237 arrives at Old Hill station forming the 13.27 Stourbridge Junction to Stratford-on-Avon working. It is just passing the 1968 built station building on the Birmingham bound platform. This building was built following a fire that destroyed the original GW structure a year earlier.
Keywords: 172237 13.27 Stourbridge Junction-Stratford on Avon 2D40 Old Hill station

172339, LN 12.26 Stratford-on-Avon-Stourbridge Junction (2J43,1L), Old Hill station
This colour scheme looks like a horror show! Who on earth at West Midlands Trains thought that this colour scheme looks good needs their head examining! 172339 arrives at Old Hill station on the 'Dark Side' line with the 12.26 Stratford-on-Avon-Kidderminster Junction. working.
Keywords: 172339 2J43 Old Hill station

172341, LN 13.37 Stourbridge Junction-Whitlocks End (2S46, RT), Old Hill station
Te offset platform arrangement at Old Hill Station is clear to see in this picture. 172341 arrived with the 13.37 Stourbridge Junction to Whitlocks End working.
Keywords: 172341 2S46 Old Hill Station.

172342, LN 13.46 Dorridge-Worcester Shrub Hill (2V32, 2E), Langley Green station
With the late afternoon sun reflecting awkwardly off the windscreen of 172342 as it arrives at Langley Green station. It was forming the 13.46 Dorridge to Worcester Shrub Hill working. Langley Green station was originally opened by the GWR in 1846.
Keywords: 172342 2V32 Langley Green station.

350369, LN 14.20 Wolverhampton-Walsall (2A33, 2E), Smethwick Rolfe Street station
350369 arrives at Smethwick Rolfe Street station forming the 2A33 14.20 Wolverhampton to Walsall working. This is one of two (or technically three?) stations in Smethwick just four miles north of Central Birmingham. There is also Smethwick Galton Bridge but this is split into two with the High-Level and Low-Level parts. My good friend Andy, who is an avid station collector, would count Galton Bridge as two separate entities so I am going with him!
Keywords: 350369 2A33 Smethwick Rolfe Street station

350240, LN- 14.01 Walsall-Wolverhampton (2W34, 2L), Smethwick Rolfe Street station
London North Western/West Midlands Trains 350240 rolls into Smethwick Rolfe Street station with the 14.01 Walsall-Wolverhampton working. Whilst not the most dynamic and exciting EMUs, theses class 350 are almost the most reliable units on the national network. At the time of writing, in mid 2018, it a slightly bizarre prospect that the 350/2s have an uncertain future when they come of lease soon with the very real possibility that they will go into store.
Keywords: 350240 2W34 Smethwick Rolfe Street station

221102, VT 13.43 London Euston-Glasgow-C (9S77, terminated at Preston, 1E), Sandwell & Dudley station
Super Voyager 221102 'John Cabot' leads into Sandwell and Dudley station forming the 13.43 London Euston to Glasgow central. Unfortunately, this service was terminated at Preston so passengers for Scotland would have had to make alternative arrangements. The unit is named after the 15th century explorer who set of form Bristol with a fleet of ships and was the first to discover the coast of what we now know as North America.
Keywords: 221102, 9S77 Sandwell & Dudley station

221102, VT 13.43 London-Euston-Glasgow-C (9S77) & class 22X, XC 14.07 Manchester P-Paignton (1V59, 4L), Sandwell & Dudley station
As Virgin Trains' 221102 leaves Sandwell and Dudley station forming the 13.43 London Euston to Glasgow Central (9S77) an unidentified class 22X arrives forming the Crosscountry 14.07 Manchester Piccadilly to Paignton (1V59). I find it a bit bizarre that services like this call at a station like Sandwell and Dudley which many would consider a Birmingham commuter station (tin hat anybody!)
Keywords: 221102 9S77 class 22X 1V59 Sandwell & Dudley station

350232, LN 15.57 Walsall-Wolverhampton (2W38, RT), Tipton station
With the winter daylight fading, I have had to ramp the camera's ISO up a bit to get a decent shot. Here, 350232 pauses at Tipton Station forming the 15.57 Walsall to Wolverhampton (2W38) service. Tipton station was opened in 1852 and closed in 2009. This closure allowed for a thorough redevelopment and lengthening of the platforms to accommodate extended commuter trains. This appears to have been a success and passenger usage number have continued to grow at a healthy rate since the station reopened in 2010.
Keywords: 350232 2W3 Tipton station

323208, LN 15.01 Wolverhampton-Walsall (2A39, 2E), Tipton station
323201 arrives at Tipton station in the dying rays of winter sunshine forming the 15.01 Wolverhampton to Walsall working (2A39). The class 323s have been a familiar site on the Birmingham commuter lines for over twenty years now. However, at the time of writing in 2018, their future is uncertain beyond 2020. They are very reliable, fast accelerating and comfortable units. Also, since refurbishment was relatively recent, they are in good condition.
Keywords: 323208 2A39 Tipton station

Images 1-19 of 19 displayed.