The Earl moves to Carnforth

5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' is seen passing Aldridge old station site yesterday morning en route Carnforth from Tyseley.

Class 40's

A couple of black and white shots showing Class 40's (Whistlers or Tats) working express trains through Sutton Park station fifty years ago in 1964.

All Steamed Up

A Birmingham New Street to Walsall push-pull auto service stands in the down platform of Sutton Park during August 1957, while another passenger train stands on the upside. Ivatt 2MT-A engine 41220 is providing the power on the Walsall-bound service. This was the time of the World Scout Jamboree at Sutton Park, when many engines rare to the area arrived with trains from all points of the compass. The second photo shows Stanier Black 5 number 45422 shunting vans into the Post Office sidings at Sutton Park sometime during 1964. Two years later this locomotive was cut up at Cashmores, Great Bridge. Hornby have since produced a model of this very engine.

Peak D15 At Sutton Park

Peak locomotive (possibly D15) passes through Sutton Park station with express 1O95 on this uncredited photo from the mid 1960s. Practically everything in the photograph has now gone, except the upside island platform which is very overgrown. The downside platform remains (left) were recently cleared away and the area fenced off in connection with a new development, possibly part of the nearby post office depot expansion.

With regards to the loco, Mel Holley writes: "Great picture - and brilliant trackwork - that single slip! I don’t wish to be a party-pooper, or a pedant, but it cannot be D15, as this was one of the four built with centre doors and split headcode boxes. From D16 onwards, they were split box, but built without doors. D15 survived long enough in this form (at least until 1967 when it was pictured at Bristol Temple Meads) with its centre doors, so it was converted to flush doors after it had been painted blue. Perhaps this is D25?”

Compass Tours Charter Train

Double-headed express tour 1Z20 with 37419 & 20312 pass through Aldridge with the Jolly Fisherman tour on the morning of Saturday 20/07/2013. The charter was running from Hooton to Skegness.

P Way Hut

This decrepit shack is one of only two Permanent Way / Fogman's buildings left standing (just) along the Sutton Park line, located near to the old Sutton Town station.

Sunset over Aldridge

Slightly blurry shots of 56302 passing Aldridge Junction at dusk on Sunday 17th February. The Colas-owned engine was running light from Crewe to Cardiff, a re-run of its trip on Thursday as 6Z56.

The Scarborough Flyer

46233 'Duchess of Sutherland' is seen coasting through Water Orton station on 30th June 2012 with 'The Scarborough Flyer'.

New Signals Go Live

A quick peek over the bridges at Sutton Park confirms that the newly installed signals are working, and the (almost) forty four year-old SY signals are being removed.

Not the best of images but they'll do for now !

Saturday 6th April 2012.

Crossover removed

Although it's a distant shot, it can be seen that the recent work at Sutton Park old station has involved removing the crossover and points, plain lining the rails through here.

Streetly Station

An excellent early photographic postcard portraying Streetly station as it appeared probably during the 1920s/30s, kindly supplied by Richard C. An almost busy scene !

The picture is taken from the Thornhill Road bridge looking towards Walsall. The train is at the up platform with the steamer running tender-first, and what looks like four clerestory coaches in tow.

Penns Station

A superb postcard full of detail, showing the neat little station at Penns (for Walmley) as it appeared around 100 years ago. The photo was taken from Penns Lane bridge looking towards Sutton Park and Walsall. A barrow crossing can be seen running across the railway nearest the camera, and bridge 22 known as the Big Span in the distance, with the New Hall Valley beyond. The last station master at Penns was Les Hollins, who served until closure in January 1965.

Today the site is shrouded by trees and all traces of the station have gone, except for some remnants of the upside (right) platform.

The Devonian

55022 'Royal Scots Grey' passes Water Orton on Saturday morning. 47804 brings up the rear.

1Z32 Doncaster - Paignton..

Steam Supreme

Close-up of the Llandudno Steam Festival tour blasting through the former Aldridge station site on 30th April 2011 behind Tyseley steam loco's 4965 + 5043.

Photo copyright P P Newell.

Colas PGA Move

47739 moved 10 PGAs from Stoke Marcroft down to Long Marston on 24th March 2011. Alas the shot at the old Sutton Park station is somewhat compromised by that new signal, but thankfully this telephoto shot is still possible!

T In The Park

Battle of Britain Class No. 34067 Tangmere is seen passing Sutton Park old station while working 5Z37 Carnforth to Southall.

Sutton Park DMU

Thanks to Phill for this self-explanatory cutting.

Wagons Off The Road !

In July 1988 a derailment occurred on the Sutton Park line leading to five HEA-type domestic coal wagons going down the embankment near the Chester Road between Streetly and Aldridge. The train involved was 6J43, a Saturday-only Washwood Heath to Gobowen service loaded with 7 coal hoppers, and thought to have been worked by loco 37218. Shortly after passing the Hardwick Wood foot crossing the track changed from jointed to long welded rail back then, and a strong lurching was felt at that point with the train brakes coming on. The loco and the first two HEA's remained on the rails but the next five trucks had gone down the embankment with coal spilling out everywhere. Fortunately no other trains were passing at the time, and the train stopped before the Chester Road bridge was reached.

Eventually the 5 condemned trucks were removed to the old station site at Aldridge, where they were cut up in situ within a couple of weeks.

Many thanks to Lee Sutton for supplying these great shots, and to Phill B. for additional information.

Wagons off the Road 2

These shots show the hoppers awaiting cutting. Three of the wagon numbers were 360232, 360926 and 361141.

Wagons off the Road 3

These views show the hoppers after cutting, which took place at the upside of the old Aldridge Station site.