Night scene

Loco 31233 stands at Saltley on a test train from Derby.
In the second pic loco 57012 prepares to depart Lawley St terminal on freightliner service 4L73 last night. Again, not a Sutton Park line location but i thought it might be of interest as it's fairly close ! In the background can be seen the now-disused Saltley loco shed (left), and the mountain of scrap at Dunns Metal Processing plant (centre).
This locomotive was converted to a "57" from Brush class 47 47204 (D1854) in 2000 at Loughborough Falcon Works, and named "Freightliner Envoy".

Black day at Water Orton

Ben Cruachan sent me this amazing photo-cutting showing "Bone" loco 58041 having "difficulties" at Water Orton in September 2000 !! The loco was working 6M40 Bescot - Chaddesden spoil. Two red light aspects on the down lines can just be made out through the smoke at left.
Many thanks for this great pic. The loco went to Spain on hire in 2003, presumably in a better state of repair...

Out of the mist

...comes Royal loco 67005 Queen's Messenger this morning, on a somewhat less than Royal working - 6G36 to Birch Coppice ! Also included is a shot (above) of the return working, passing the Aldridge quarry site at about 1230...

1Z38 passes Saltley

...on Pathfinder's tour from Bristol to Birch Coppice yesterday. Agreed, this location isn't on the 'Park line, but the train did pass through Water Orton shortly afterwards ! The loco's were re-instated for this tour after standing unused for months, and are 37425 (Large-logo blue) and 37411 (BR green).

Cement Tank Empties

...returning to Tunstead yesterday, from Walsall, behind rumbling "Tug" 60068.

Reappearance

Type 3 "Tractor" 37401 made a surprise run over the 'Park yesterday, to fetch some loaded concrete sleeper wagons from Washwood Heath to Bescot. The light-loco move was photographed during a downpour, the return journey captured at Streetly when almost dark !

Another snow scene

...from last week. 66548 brings coal empties up the bank towards Aldridge. The train is from Rugeley, having run-round at Bescot.

Pandora's Box

Glimpsed through the trees yesterday was Network Rail's "bubblecar" test unit 960011 PANDORA on it's way back to Derby. The unit displays it's name in the old headcode box rather than on a proper nameplate affixed to the side !

Tank action

47703 heads a train of 11 60-tonne discharged fuel-oil tanks past Aldridge yesterday. These were en route from Gloucester to Stoke, presumably for light repairs at Marcroft's depot. Quite unusual motive power for a train of tanks these days...

End of the line (Walsall)

After coming to the end of the snow bound Park line
37059 & 20313 prepare to battle the Grand line on bomb duties
0n 08.02.07

More snow

56303 passing Aldridge yesterday afternoon on the usual service to Grain, 4O90.... For today's steamer pic follow the link to the Newton Road blogsite at base of page.

Snowstorm

37059 + 20313 on a flask to Crewe, and 66575 on a freightliner from Southampton, pass Aldridge in the snow.

Cement at Walsall

Todays train being discharged with 60061 Alexander James Watt at the head (left). The empties returned to Tunstead some 5 hours late due to unspecified wagon problems.

Frozen Rushall

67003 begins the descent to Ryecroft just below the winter sun-line, with the return Birch Coppice trip this afternoon.

Elford Loop

Shot showing Elford Loop looking towards Burton

DY5 Signal

This shot was taken near Elford Loop between Burton-Kingsbury. The signal is Derby DY5 , The Voyager is going around 90 mph at this point. Elford Loop is on the down side. April 21st 2005.

Bamba

Streetly "banana"

Derby track testing unit 950001 (formerly a Sprinter class 150 DMU) passing Streetly Gate this morning en route North Wales.

Electrics at Ryecroft !

Freshly painted into Scotrail livery, 90019 + 90024 are hauled from Toton to Wembley by 66114 in the evening sunshine, August 2006.

Water Orton

Gary sent me this April 2005 pic of Nottingham-bound semi-fast DMU 158858 at Water Orton station, with the comment that the station buildings are shortly to be demolished and replaced, and that nearby Coleshill Parkway station is nearing completion. Cheers Gaz...

Chasewater Railway

Although this old colliery line was disconnected from the national system in the late 1960s, it goes from strength to strength as a "Heritage" railway, and has a good collection of steam and diesel industrial locomotives, and 3 ex-BR mainline loco's on it's fleet. One of these, Co-Co Type 3 Class 37, 37219, was out and about on Saturday last, boasting a new coat of paint, but as yet un-numbered !