Derailment on the Walsall Wood

I was recently loaned these two excellent cuttings showing a locomotive "down the bank" along the Walsall Wood branch just past Leighswood Road, Aldridge, in late August 1960. The loco number was 44333, a 1926-built Kerr, Stuart &Co. Fowler class 4F engine, allocated to Saltley shed at that time. It looks as though the loco was pointing towards Aldridge (or at least it was before becoming derailed !). The driver and fireman can be seen standing near the train in the photographs. The cause of the derailment was thought to have been due to vandals placing objects across the line.

The locomotive was rescued by the Saltley breakdown crane and towed to Aldridge yard on 28th August. A few days later a class 9F loco towed 44333 away for repair (at Derby?). The 4F was returned to service and lasted until May 1964 before withdrawal. The loco was scrapped at Rotherham by the end of that year.

The houses visible in the background are on Leighswood Avenue, and the white rooftops to the right belonged to what was the Musgrove and Green factory in Leighswood Grove.

Surprisingly this railway embankment still exists, although the tracks were lifted circa 1969 and the open aspect has now gone with factory units and light industry lining the foot of the bank on both sides. A reasonable view of it can be had from the end of Merchants Way (just past the council tip), the embankment then runs roughly parallel to Brickyard Road before coming to an abrupt end opposite the now-closed Amtrak depot on Northgate Way.

The Walsall Wood branch line closed completely circa 1965, but a few hundred yards of track at the Aldridge end was retained as a shunt neck until around 1969.

Thanks to Pete for additional details regarding the locomotive.