Overload

60026 at Branton Hill today with an engineers "train" for Crewe. Another waste of Type 5 power...

Glofa Twr

60052 stands at Walsall Cement Depot today, ready to draw forward and then attach the empty cement tanks to form it's train back to Tunstead (Peak Forest).

Off to War

Conscripts and volunteer Battalion soldiers leave Sutton Park station on a special troop train, on 26th June 1915, watched by a large crowd of relatives. Many of the soldiers were barely out of their childhood and were destined never to return.

Photo Terry Carter collection, Channel 4 History.

New Street cement

A poor shot looking through the overhead wiring at the Walsall cement train (6M09), running 95 minutes late through Birmingham New St behind loco 60013 "Robert Boyle" on Thursday.
The loco is still in the old grey livery with a striking red nameplate and an EWS sticker.
The train doesn't normally run via here but was diverted due to engineering work around Derby.
After passing through New St the train was routed via Saltley and the Sutton Park line to Walsall.

Double corrugation

67026 + 67014 appeared on the Bescot - Toton engineers working (6D44) on Wednesday this week, seen here at Penns (Walmley).
The bridge in the distance takes Penns Lane over the railway, beyond that was the site of the old Penns station.

Proper Beasts On The China

Having already seen 37263 and 37264 storm through Stafford on the 6V70 Cliffe Vale to Bescot leg of the China Clay on 31.03.99 on time, I was surprised to arrive at Walsall off a train from Stafford and see them again, by now an hour late. But I was very pleased!

Heading for the Park

Not strictly a Park shot but I thought I would include this shot on here of 66023 hauling 90022 on a southbound liner out of Bescot. I dont remember why now but at this time all southbound services from Bescot had to go via the Park, and as the Park isnt electrified, yet!, it had to be diesel hauled.

Grubby Grid

A filthy 56303 comes thundering up past the big span at Walmley and on towards Wylde Green this afternoon with the regular freightliner service to Grain.

A Brush with the Chocolate Charter

Today's Valentine special (the "Stobart Pullman"), runs through a gloomy cold Aldridge en route Cadbury's Bournville, headed by DRS loco 47712 with 47802 bringing up the rear. Note the non-original oval buffers fitted to 47802.
A while later I caught 47812 (D1916) running light through Walsall on a route-learner returning to Derby via the Cannock Line and Stoke.

Quick Visit To Streetly Gate

56303 on 4O90, 66580 on the diverted 4E44 and 60021 Star of the East are all seen working through Streetly Gate.

Loadhaul at Walsall

56077 heads towards Bescot with an MGR on 13.10.98 while on 29.10.01 60038 heads for Sutton Park with the 6V70 Cliffe Vale - Bescot - St Blazey china clay empties.

37/0s at Walsall

On 10.03.98 37012 heads through Walsall with concrete sleeper empties while 37074 waits for the road into Bescot with the Bloxwich trip during some nice weather.

More Ramblings at Streetly Gate

31201 and 31554 work the Bescot to Washwood Heath sleeper empties on 18.03.98 while on 06.03.98 58002 works an MGR towards Bescot. 002 still retains its Worksop Aberdonian headboard on the front from a tour it had worked from Worksop to, erm Aberdeen in recent times.

Steeling the Chinas

60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster is seen away from its normal duties on 26.04.00, heading for Sutton Park at Walsall on the 6V70 Cliffe Vale to St Blazey china clay empties. I thought this blue livery was much nicer than the silver garb they gained later on.

Ten Years of the Sheds

It is ten years this year since the start of the Red Death. 66001/3 and 4 appeared at the Toton Open Day in August 1998, after which they began driver training. 66003 was at Bescot and on 21.10.98, it is seen at Walsall on a crew training run, heading for the Park Line.

The Lass On Tour

37692 'The Lass O'Ballochmyle' passes East View Road on 27.01.99 with a heavy load which I recall may have been the Bescot to Roundwood Rotherham steel.

Coal 60 on the coal

Streetly Gate Crossing on 06.03.98 and 60060 bearing Coal sub sector decals, which didnt mean anything by this time, it could turn up on any freight, is seen on MGR hoppers heading for Bescot.

31163 at Streetly Gate

31163 staggers upgrade through Streetly Gate on 17.06.98 on the 6G36 Burton on Trent to Bescot steel empties.

Back to the Sixties

By chance I happened to see two Class 60s pass through Walmley today. First up was 60500 on what I think was 6G21 from Stud Farm to Bescot Engineers Sdgs, followed 10 minutes later by 60075 on the Burton - Bescot steel "pigsheds", 6G77. Hazy shots screened from the sun by huge conifers on the right. 3 hours later there was a massive downpour here !

View from the goods

66116 about to pass bridge 20 at Walmley this morning with a heavy Bescot-bound down coal train. My vantage point was the former spur into Penns Goods yard which closed in 1965 and is now a small housing estate. This entrance line to the yard passed under the left-hand arch of the bridge (which is obscured by the ivy leaves in the photo).

Grey blur

56303 working hard up the incline from Park Lane Jn to Walmley today with it's freightliner train on the down line, just before an almighty downpour !
A poor shot with insufficient shutter speed, but at least the loco can be seen earning it's keep !

Beast on the prowl

Also seen on Friday afternoon was DRS 37038 running light from Bristol to Crewe (i'm not sure if the loco had worked a flask to Bridgwater earlier in the day, or was off some other move to the West Country).

Sun shines on Streetly!

Sunshine streaming through the branches today creates an almost-autumnal effect as 56303 passes through Sutton Park at Streetly.
Also seen was 66951 returning to Crewe with some autoballaster's.
Despite appearances however the wind was freezing !