Today's trip

from Birch Coppice heads down to Ryecroft Jn behind loco 67030 (the last new diesel loco received by EWS), as immaculate 31190 in retro green livery with white stripes, heads out across the Park running light.

The last "Peds"

 31465 and 31203 (now at Chasewater) are seen on the Bescot 90 trip to Washwood Heath RMC at East View Road, Wylde Green on 27.01.99. This was the last time I saw a pair of 31s working off Bescot. 31308 and 31554 were also working off Bescot that day but it was very soon after that the remaining few moved down south to work from Hither Green depot.

Staffordshire Newsletter 100

Another named express on the Sutton Park line with GWR engine 4936 Kinlet Hall at the helm, July 2006.

more Ryecroft Junction

Ryecroft Jn, just north of Walsall, was once the only one-into-four junction on British Rail (as far as I know). Right in the middle of these diverging lines was located a steam shed as well ! These days only two routes are left, and the shed closed long ago (see Jack Haddock's excellent recently published book - "Walsall's Engine Shed"). This view shows "Grid" loco 56301 coming off the Sutton Park line with a handful of containers destined for Grain docks in Kent. The Cannock line to Bloxwich, Hednesford and Rugeley can be seen curving away to the left.

Something else

Whilst waiting for trains to pass along the Sutton Park line, there is ample scope for other photo opportunities... this Moorhen was captured doing the "duck walk" at the Park Lime Pits last Friday, and the Magpies were congregating in a nearby tree.

Three from Aldridge -

DRS loco 37602 runs light to Crewe, probably a driver-training move, May 2006.

2. Rare Turn

Fragonset-Merlin's loco 31128 was commissioned to work some empty flats from Hams Hall to Peterborough last June on a Saturday afternoon ! The train was routed in a circular move via Saltley, New St, Bescot, the Sutton Park line, Water Orton then Nuneaton to Peterborough, providing the only loco of real interest that day.

3. Fastline Freight

A rare pic of the then uncommonly-seen Jarvis Grid loco 56303, passing Aldridge in August last year.

Heading for the Park...

but not yet on it ! DRS 37's 37069+37612 storm away from Landor St Jn (Saltley), with the Berkeley - Crewe return flask service 6M56, February 2006.

5690 Leander

...steaming through Aldridge with "The Irish Mail" charter express, May 2006.

37411 With ECS

being worked past Streetly Gate foot crossing, summer 2006, by retro-liveried Type 3 37411.

Egg timer on the steels

 58s were never regular on steels, but the 6Z60 Wolverhampton - Hoo Junction used to drop one occasionally as seen here behind 58013 on 21.08.98. Not sure now whether it used to work throughout. Think it used to change traction at Didcot, changed to a 33 on one occasion I believe in 1998 or 1999, got the date upstairs somewhere...

Blackpool Tower visits the Park

 Not my best shot ever! But it was very unusual to see 37407 Blackpool Tower trolling through the Park on 21.08.98. Probably heading for Washwood Heath to work concrete or Enterprise trip back to Bescot.  Megalomaniac..

Stormin through the Gate

 As much as I love 37s I still found some of them a bit boring. This was one of them, 37380. That said from when the headlight first appeared on the horizon it must have taken it 5 minutes to storm up past there on the 7G63 Stud Farm to Bescot loaded Autoballaster on 01.04.98, and it was music to the ears!!

Streetly Gate Mainline

My scanner doesn't scan any of the 37 pictures I have taken here properly. They come out all out of proportion and seem zoomed in. Never mind this is 37293 on the 6G67 Coleshill/Washwood Heath to Bescot 'Enterprise' trip on 01.04.98.

Ryecroft Junction

 A few years after the next picture, 37406 The Saltire Society, rolls through Ryecroft on 30.10.06 on the Birch Coppice to Bescot trip. By this time of course I was being tipped off with the gen by Gaz and Phill. Many thanks for that lads........

Ryecroft Junction again

 Not strictly Park Line but here is 37051 Merehead strolling off the Cannock Line on 19.09.01 with the 6G55 Bloxwich to Bescot...

Royal loco 67006

'Royal Sovereign' was in charge of the return Birch Coppice trip last May. Seen at Aldridge.

Whilst waiting...

for 6G36 to come through, this pair of jets streaked thru to the east. Si tells me they are RAF VC10 refuellers...

Birch Coppice trip

...bursts under the canal bridge at Daw End with 67011 this morning, as a HeavyHaul coal passes on the down.