Driver Training

DRS loco 37038 passes Aldridge on a driver training run to Berkeley (Glos) this morning.

The Oxfordshire Express

Not at all on the Sutton Park line but included as a local photo for the steam buffs, 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" coasts through a gloomy Saltley this evening on the return Didcot-Derby leg of the Oxfordshire Express. Ah, the authentic smell of LMS/BR steam...

Convoy

This convoy of loco's was caught running light through the Blue Hole cutting this afternoon, from Washwood Heath to Bescot. They are 66086+055+059+162.

Double Grid

Two in one afternoon - 56303 approaches Aldridge with 4O90 for Grain (Kent), then a couple of hours later 56302 is pictured at Daw End with 6Z56 Crewe-Doncaster empty flats.

Boxes

As freightliner 4M70 runs down behind 66002 this morning, 67021 heads up light for Birch Coppice, through Daw End.

Rumblings at Ryecroft

37410 gets a tow back to Bescot behind 66086 this evening, on 6G45 from Toton.

Yet more engineering work

For the 3rd successive weekend the Sutton Park line has been closed for re-ballasting and fitting of new concrete sleepers. The photo's below show -

1. Road/railer at work Ryecroft Junction.

2. 60026 with engine switched off below Albert St bridge, whilst 66203 finds itself parked on a ballast train below Park Street tunnel, Walsall.

3. 60034 "Carnedd Llewelyn" standing at Sutton Park.

4. Another road/railer, this one at work unloading ballast in the rain, on the up line near Streetly, while 66035, 60091 and 60034 stand silent lined up on 3 ballast workings.

Streetly Skip

67030 at Streetly Gate, Wednesday 16th May 2007.

Euro Star

Loco's 66118 + 66209 roll past under the pylons at the Aldridge quarry site this evening, on a train of empties from Toton to Bescot (6G45). The hoped-for class 60 obviously didn't appear, but at least 66209 is a European-modified loco with different branding to the EWS norm, also showing painted bogies and stripey snowploughs. The service ran about 10 minutes late, following a down Freightliner/Heavy Haul coal train which was occupying 6G45's booked path...

Stoned

60027 on the approach to Aldridge this afternoon with a train of stone from Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, to Bescot (6G47).

Flask

At Aldridge today. 37229 "Jonty Jarvis" plus 20302. Large.

Sparking Grid

Grid 56302 throws off a few sparks from it's leading bogie under braking at Aldridge this afternoon.

Triple Sheds !

3 class 66s head 6D44 Bescot - Toton in the rain over Rushall this afternoon. The third loco is 66071 which has been modified for European use, but is still in service in the UK...

Return Steel

60034 passing through Rushall this morning with 6E08 Wolverhampton - Doncaster steel empties (including "pigsheds" !).

Bank Holiday Engineering work

5 spoil/concrete sleeper trains lined up nose-to-tail on the down line at Sutton Park last Monday were joined by a tamper on the up line which promptly shut down, leaving all trains standing silent and un-moving strung out across the Park, with no railstaff in sight !

Hoovering Up At Walsall

Hoover 50006 Neptune waits to depart Walsall with an unknown charter working on 10.06.1984.

Photo taken by D Jennings

Snow Rat

25310 passing a snowy Ryecroft Jnc on 11.01.1982.

Photo taken by D Jennings

6Z37 At Streetly Gate

DRS tractor 37087 working 6Z37 Doncaster to Bescot through Streetly Gate on Monday 12th March 2007.

The Rutland Renegade

20306 + 20309 + 20314 at the Lime Pits, Rushall while working Pathfinder Tours 'The Rutland Renegade' on Saturday 26th August 2006.

Sutton Park Rat

25224 inside the G.P.O. sidings at Sutton Park on 14th August 1981

Photo taken by D Jennings

The 406 & 422 show continues...

as 37406 heads for home with a massive train from Birch Coppice today.