74. A south Birmingham forray-30.10.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 74. A south Birmingham forray-30.10.19

A work day-trip to Birmingham in my Combo van with Andy to collect a bonnet for a customer's car. We managed to combine the collection from central Birmingham with a leisurely run south of the city following the Chiltern line ending the day at a very busy Leamington Spa.

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Images 1-30 of 30 displayed.

Frontage, Small Heath station
The Small Heath station building is seen looking a little down on its luck on Golden Hillock Road. The station was opened in 1863 by the Great Western Railway with the station expanded in 1906 when the Birkenhead to Paddington route was quadrupled south of Birmingham. The only access to the station is via the entrance to the left of this view with one island platform still in use. The other entrance is boarded up and the platform out of use. However, the station has seen a steady rise in patronage over recent years so is there a possibilty that the closed pltaform will reopen in the future I wonder?
Keywords: Frontage Small Heath station

153354, class 153 & 170507, LN 11.09 Dorridge-Kidderminster (2K20, 6L), Small Heath station
A cobbled-together train forming the 11.09 Dorridge to Kidderminster cross-Birmingham working passes through Small Heath station. The train is made up of two London Midland liveried class 153 single car units, with 153354 leading. Attached to the rear is two-car 170507 in its West Midlands Railway livery. In this view, the somewhat desolate nature of Small Heath station can be seen.
Keywords: 153354 170507 11.09 Dorridge-Kidderminster 2K20 Small Heath station

170510 & 170502, LN 11.19 Whitlocks End-Worcester Shrub Hill (2V22, 2L), Small Heath station
A far more uniform train being operated by West Midlands Trains than in the previous image, see... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/28045586004/x153354-170507-11-09-dorridge-kidderminster This time, 170510 and 170502 come to halt at Small Heath station working the 11.19 2V22 Whitlocks End to Worcester Shrub Hill service. It's still a shame, however, that with no connecting doors, these class 1705XX units effectively operate as two trains in one.
Keywords: 170510 170502 11.19 Whitlocks End-Worcester Shrub Hill 2V22 Small Heath station

172337 & class 172, LN 11.40 Whitlocks End-Kidderminster (2K23, RT), Tyseley station
With the skyscape of Birmingham city centre in full view, 172337 and a classmate pass slowly through Tyseley station forming the 11.40 Whitlocks End to Kidderminster service. Tyseley station has been preserved as a traditional Great Western station but is now looking a little tired and in need of a lick of paint. The extensive yards that make up Tyseley depot can be seen to the left of this picture where many units are maintained and serviced.
Keywords: 172337 11.40 Whitlocks End-Kidderminster 2K23 Tyseley station

220003, XC 07.00 Edinburgh Waverley-Reading (1V85, 5L), Tyseley station
Cross Country's 220003 has just left Birmingham New Street and is climbing away from the city with the 07.00 Edinburgh to Reading service. Notice the minaret of the Central Jamia Mosque in Small Heath rising above the second coach of the train.
Keywords: 220003 07.00 Edinburgh Waverley-Reading1V85 Tyseley station

172345 & 172214, LN 11.46 Dorridge-Great Malvern (2V24, 1E), Tyseley station
172345 and 172214 have just paused at Tyseley station and are getting underway again with the 11.46 Dorridge to Great Malvern train. The train is just passing a reproduction GWR style running-in sign that is just one feature of the this nicely preserved station.
Keywords: 172345 172214 11.46 Dorridge-Great Malvern 2V24 Tyseley station

168113, CH 12.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone (1H45, RT), Widney Manor station
168113 has just passed through Widney Manor station located just to the south of Solihull. The Chiltern service left Birmingham Moor Street at 12.55 working through to London Marylebone as 1H45. I am standing at the far end of Widney Manor's station car park leaning over the fence. As can be seen, the earlier clear blue skies have now been covered with a veil of grey but some of the sun's rays are still penertraiting adding a little extra light to the image.
Keywords: 168113 12.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 1H45 Widney Manor station

172335, LN 13.09 Dorridge-Kidderminster (2K37, 7L), Widney Manor station
172335 has just left its start point at Dorridge a couple of miles south of where I am standing in Widney Manor station's car park. The unit is working the 13.09 Dorridge to Kidderminster service that is slowing for its stop at Widney Manor station just behind me. Whilst this scene looks rural and quiet the incessant noise from the M42 motorway did spoil things. It passes under the line from left to right just beyond the rear of the train.
Keywords: 172335 13.09 Dorridge-Kidderminster 2K37 Widney Manor station

168002, CH 11.40 London Marylebone-Birmingham Snow Hill (1G27, 4L), Widney Manor station
168002 is passing at speed through Widney Manor station working the 11.40 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill service. These units form the backbone of services on what is colloquially known as the Chiltern Line but they are now supplemented by some 'fast' loco.-hauled workings that appear to be prooving popular with customers.
Keywords: 168002 11.40 London Marylebone-Birmingham Snow Hill 1G27 Widney Manor station

DR98919, 08.49 King`s Norton Depot-King`s Norton Depot, Widney Manor station
Over the years that the railhead treatment trains have been running I have secured precious few images of them, they seem to elude me running at short notice. I had spotted this working on Realtime Trains and realised that it could be an RHT train despite it not having an identifiable headcode. DR98919 is one of a number of MPVs that were ordered by Railtrack in the early 2000s. They were constructed in Germany by Windhoff and have proved to be successful on the network including the high output wiring train units used on the WCML during the early 2000s, however, these units are now stored. DR98919 and DR98969 work the 08.49 King's Norton out and back working that went as far as Lemington Spa working via Worcester and the so-called Dark Side route into Birmingham via Stourbridge.
Keywords: DR98919 08.49 King`s Norton Depot Widney Manor station

172332, LN 13.03 Stratford-on-Avon-Stourbridge Junction (2W78, RT), Bentley Heath level crossing
172332 approaches Bentley Heath level crossing just to the north of Dorridge with the 13.03 Stratford-on-Avon to Stourbridge Junction service. The gravelled area in the foreground used to be where the other two tracks ran following the GWR quadrupling their route south of Birmingham in the early 1930s only for British Railways to remove them in the 1960s as they down graded the route for possible closure.
Keywords: 172332 13.03 Stratford-on-Avon-Stourbridge Junction 2W78 Bentley Heath level crossing

168111, CH 13.12 Birmingham Snow Hill-London Marylebone (1H47, RT), Bentley Heath level crossing
Chiltern's 168111 is about to cross Bentley Heath level crossing north of Dorridge. The three-car unit is working the 13.12 Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone service. Until 2008, there was a grand type 28b Great Western signal box that was installed when the route was quadrupled in 1932. It was located on the other side of the tracks just over my right shoulder as I take this photograph.
Keywords: 168111 13.12 Birmingham Snow Hill-London Marylebone 1H47 Bentley Heath level crossing

Frontage, Dorridge station
Dorridge station is seen from Station Approach. The station was opened in 1852 by the Great Western Railway. It had a very nice GW feel and had a very impressive and beautifully restored waiting room. The only thing that was missing were the station canopies that were probably removed by British Railways in the 1960s. Despite it not even being November, notice that the frontage is adorned with Christmas decorations!
Keywords: Frontage Dorridge station

66090, 09.47 Southampton Western Docks-Birch Coppice (4M71), Lapworth station
Striking quite a pose as it passes Lapworth station is 66090 'Maritime Intermodal Six' leading the 09.47 Southampton Western Docks to Birch Coppice Freightliner. In this view, it looks as though I need to straighten the photograph up in Photoshop but, as can be seen, it is level against the datum points of the lamp and fence posts. This illustrates the camber that the track is at through Lapworth station, a delightfully quiet spot between Dorridge and Hatton.
Keywords: 66090 09.47 Southampton Western Docks-Birch Coppice 4M71 Lapworth station

165008, CH 13.34 Birmingham Moor Street-Leamington Spa (2L48, 3L), Lapworth station
An unusual picture of 165008 leaving Lapworth station working the 13.34 Birmingham Moor Street to Leamington Spa stopper service. I am standing on the replacement footbridge erected in the 1980s that, as well as spanning the two existing running lines, also spans the abandoned trackbed that can be seen below complete with the old platform still visible. One wonders if the fact that the replacement bridge was built with the extra length at considerable cost that there is a future for the abandoned trackbed? Notice the original GWR railings still marking the boundary between railway property and the public right of way.
Keywords: 165008 13.34 Birmingham Moor Street-Leamington Spa 2L48 Lapworth station

68015, CH 13.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone (1H48, 1L), Lapworth station
68015 powers the rear of the 13.55 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone 'Mainline' service. The train is seen passing through Lapworth station just south of Dorridge. These locomotives are particularly noisy and we could here it for sometime after it had passed heading south towards Hatton North Junction.
Keywords: 68015 13.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 1H48 Lapworth station

66701, 13.22 Hams Hall-Southampton Western Docks (4O69), Lapworth station
66701 speeds southwards through Lapworth station with the lightly loaded 13.22 Hams Hall to Southampton Western Docks Freightliner. There are some lovely colours in the trees meaning that it can only be autumn that helps create some nice images, but, a bit more sun would have helped in this particular case!
Keywords: 66701 13.22 Hams Hall-Southampton Western Docks 4O69 Lapworth station

DR98969, 08.49 King's Norton Depot-King's Norton Depot, Lapworth station
Having seen the outward RHT service earlier at Widney Manor, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/28045587804/dr98919-08-49-king-s-norton-depot it is seen here on its return at Lapworth station. With DR98919 now at the rear, DR98969 leads the 08.49 King's Norton Depot to King's Norton Depot RHT train having reversed at Leamington Spa.
Keywords: DR98969 08.49 King's Norton Depot-King's Norton Depot Lapworth station

Frontage, Warwick station
Warwick station was opened by the GWR in 1852. It's a relatively simple station building with a pedestrian tunnel, seen in the centre of the frontage, giving access to the up platform. I took a very similar photograph to this in December 1985 with the building looking very almost the same apart from some different paint colours. Then, there was a 'B' registered Talbot Solara parked where the bins are in this image!
Keywords: Frontage Warwick station

70813, 11.56 Westbury TC-Cliffe Hill Stud Farm (6M40), Warwick station
Colas liveried 70813 shatters the peace and quiet at Warwick station on an autumn afternnon as it passes with the 11.56 Westbury to Cliffe Hill empty stone train. This will be going to the quarry deep in the Leicestershire countryside near to Coalville to pick up ballast.
Keywords: 70813 11.56 Westbury TC-Cliffe Hill Stud Farm 6M40 Warwick station

Andy & 165014, CH 14.40 Stratford-on-Avon-London Marylebone (1H55, 11L), Warwick station
Andy walks along Warwick station's platform two (the up platform) as the 14.40 Stratford-on-Avon to Marylebone departs the station. The guard of the Chiltern service is also seen grinning whilst leaning from the trailing cab window no doubt wondering why two old fellas are on the platform taking notes and photographs!
Keywords: 165014 14.40 Stratford-on-Avon-London Marylebone 1H55 Warwick station

168324, CH 14.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone (1H53, 23L), Leamington Spa station
Chiltern's 168324 pauses at Leamington Spa station with the late running 14.55 Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone. As the train departed it was absolutely full with some of the passengers seen on the platform asked to wait for the following service. Andy and I were not quite sure why the train was so busy as the peak period had not quite begun yet and also why so many other passengers were gathering on the up platform...all was soon to become clear.
Keywords: 168324 14.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 1H53 Leamington Spa station

Broken windscreen, 168324, CH 14.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone (1H53, 23L), Leamington Spa station
It is clear from the mess on the front of 168324 that some large and unfortunate creature has met its death but in doing so inflicted some considerable damage to the front of the cab with a badly broken secondman's windscreen. The 14.55 Moor Street to Marylebone service was running almost to time as far as Hatton where it suddenly lost a lot of minutes. I suspect that after the incident, the driver inspected the damage, contacted control and then proceeded at a reduced speed to London where it arrived nearly half an hour late. Unfortunately for the passengers, it was absolutely packed due to the closure of the WCML with Chiltern accepting Virgin and London Northwestern tickets from Birmingham.
Keywords: Broken windscreen 168324 14.55 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone 1H53Leamington Spa station

66589, 13.00 Southampton MCT-Trafford Park (4M61), Leamington Spa station
After a bright and sunny start to the day, it clouded up but as we were about to head for home from Leamington Spa the autumn sun put in a late appearance again! 66589 catches some of the welcome late sun as it takes the down centre road through the station leading the 4M61 13.00 Southampton Docks to Trafford Park Freightliner. The train had slowed to a walking pace at this point as it had an adverse signal but just as I pressed the shutter the signal cleared and it headed off up the section of single track towards Kenilworth and Coventry.
Keywords: 66589 13.00 Southampton MCT-Trafford Park 4M61 Freightliner Leamington Spa station

220009, XC 13.47 Southampton-Edinburgh Waverley (1S52, 11L), Leamington Spa station
With the station lights now illuminated and the sun is doing its best to give a little additional very late additional light at Leamington Spa it must be getting late. 220009 accelerates rapidly away from the station with the 13.47 Southampton Central to Edinburgh Waverley. This 1S52 Crosscountry service traverses the length of England from the south coast to the Scottish capital, a journey of four hundred and sixty-eight miles, and should arrive at 21.30, on this day it was some eleven minutes late.
Keywords: 220009 13.47 Southampton-Edinburgh Waverley 1S52 Leamington Spa station

220004, XC 13.27 Manchester Piccadilly-Bournemouth (1020, 9L), Leamington Spa station
It is not clear in this view at Leamington Spa station but the platform to the right was absolutely packed with passengers waiting to get a train south. Unfortunately for them, the 13.27 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth service, being worked by 220004, was full and standing on arrival. Indeed, the station announcer was passing this bad news on to the hapless passengers waiting on the platform. The reason for this chaos was that the WCML was closed in the Northampton area with a complete power failure with no Virgin or London Northwestern trains operating north or south. Customers were advised to use their tickets on CrossCountry and Chiltern services but they could not cope with chronic overcrowding ensuing.
Keywords: 220004 13.27 Manchester Piccadilly-Bournemouth 1020 Leamington Spa station

168215, CH 14.40 London Marylebone-Birmingham Snow Hill (1G39, 3L), Leamington Spa station
In the dying afternoon light, added to by some welcome late sunshine, 168215 arrives at Leamington Spa station forming the 14.40 Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill service. The radical and smart silver livery applied to the Chiltern stock a few years ago is looking a little jaded, at least on the front of this particular unit. Also, notice the superbly well-kept garden to the right of this image. Leamington is a lovely station that is very well kept; if only all stations were like this!
Keywords: 168215 14.40 London Marylebone-Birmingham Snow Hill 1G39 Leamington Spa station

$168108, CH 15.12 Birmingham Snow Hill-London Marylebone (1H56, 33L), Leamington Spa station Just a fraction of the passengers patiently waiting on Leamington Spa's up platform would have been able to board 168108. The 15.12 Snow Hill to Marylebone was already packed to the gunwales due to the closure of the WCML and passengers with Virgin and London Northwestern tickets being advised and permitted to use the Chiltern line services. I am not sure how long passengers took to get to London on this route, this service arrived thirty-three minutes down and what the conditions were like for them in what is, at the end of a day, a three-car DMU! Keywords: 168108 15.12 Birmingham Snow Hill-London Marylebone 1H56 Leamington Spa station$

Frontage, Leamington Spa station
The present-day station at Leamington Spa stands on the site of the original GWR one opened in 1852. The replacement was opened in 1932 with the original station proving to be inadequate and when the GWR quadrupled the track on much of the Paddington to Birkenhead route. The building is uapologetically art-deco in its styling being designed by the GWR's chief architect Percy Emerson Culverhouse (1871-1953) who was responsible for a number of its other famous stations such as Bath Spa and Cardiff Central. The building is now grade II listed and is notable for its steel frame construction sheathed with brick and cloaked in polished Portland stone. It still retains its sans serif lettering above the three central bays made out of individual metal pieces. The station has been tastefully restored and is a smashing place to spend some time watching trains apart from its gateline barriers that were installed in 2007.
Keywords: Leamington Spa station

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