The line of Birch trees diverging on the left of this photo mark the northbound route of the former South Staffs line, which ran via Rushall,Pelsall and Brownhills to a junction at Lichfield City, then on to Wychnor Jn and Derby etc. The SS Line was closed from Walsall to Brownhills in 1984, and from Brownhills to Lichfield in 2001 (i think !) completing closure of this Northern section. The Brownhills bit was left open after 1984 to connect the Charringtons oil depot with tank trains from Immingham, but Charringtons itself closed in about 2001, making the rail connection superflous and ending the history of the South Staffs Railway..... hope this makes sense !
also.... on the South Staffs route between Pelsall and Brownhills was a substantial yard known as Norton Junction (aka Bescot Down Empty Sidings), a busy yard with about 15 roads and two signalboxes ! It was effectively an overspill shunt yard for Bescot. Amazingly Norton Jn was open as late as 1976/77, when finally closed. There was also a connection to the Park line, via the Walsall Wood branch to Aldridge. Norton Jn yard is now a housing development....
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shortie
The line of Birch trees diverging on the left of this photo mark the northbound route of the former South Staffs line, which ran via Rushall,Pelsall and Brownhills to a junction at Lichfield City, then on to Wychnor Jn and Derby etc. The SS Line was closed from Walsall to Brownhills in 1984, and from Brownhills to Lichfield in 2001 (i think !) completing closure of this Northern section. The Brownhills bit was left open after 1984 to connect the Charringtons oil depot with tank trains from Immingham, but Charringtons itself closed in about 2001, making the rail connection superflous and ending the history of the South Staffs Railway..... hope this makes sense !
also.... on the South Staffs route between Pelsall and Brownhills was a substantial yard known as Norton Junction (aka Bescot Down Empty Sidings), a busy yard with about 15 roads and two signalboxes ! It was effectively an overspill shunt yard for Bescot. Amazingly Norton Jn was open as late as 1976/77, when finally closed. There was also a connection to the Park line, via the Walsall Wood branch to Aldridge. Norton Jn yard is now a housing development....
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