Saturday, April 2, 2011

Peak on the Park


The classic view from Blackroot Bridge, taken fifty years ago in March 1961 and depicting 'Peak' Class 45 loco D21 (later 45026) approaching from the Streetly direction on the up line with a short rake of stock.

The loco was temporarily based at Saltley depot at that time for driver training purposes.

The view is pretty much the same today except that the tall semaphore signal and telegraph posts were removed long ago (1969). A new signal has been installed about 100 yards further back from the old semaphore position and will be commissioned in April 2012.

The loco remained in service until 1986 when withdrawn, being cut up at MC Metals in Glasgow around November 1988.

3 comments:

paul said...

Green loco's...great! If only if was a 'tat' with a bit more angle to the view :)

mini guru said...

Great stuff . A fresh layer of ballast has been applied.

GWR55 said...

The stock may actually have been parcels vans. Note the raised-roof clerestory-type vehicle second back from the loco.