DBS 37....

Looking very smart following it's surprise repaint into DB Schenker livery at Toton, 37670 St Blazey T&RS Depot was unusual traction on 6O12 out of Bescot this morning, seen here at Pleck.

Big Blue DRS Machine

"Are there any trains due?" said the young lady on the crossing. "Nothing for a while as far as I know" I replied.

No sooner had she continued on her way than 57012 appeared light engine from around the corner, wearing her smart blue "compass" livery. I expect she was returning to Crewe from who-knows-where, and for all I know so was the engine...

Hardwick Wood, Friday 24th July.

Sutton Town (downside)

The main station buildings along the Sutton Park line were all pretty much of the same 1879 Midland Railway design, resembling two gable-end cottages joined by a central structure.

Those at Aldridge were demolished in 1972, with Penns following shortly afterwards.

Streetly and Sutton Park survived in private use until the 1990s, when they too were reduced to rubble.

The real surprise is at Sutton Town, which was the first station along the route to close as long ago as 1925, where both up and down-side buildings remain !

Here we see

1 The gate at High Street across the pathway leading to the Town station (actually on the upside of the railway).

2 The railway below High Street bridge (no.32) looking towards the Sutton Town site.

3 Looking back towards bridge 32 from rail level.

4 37603 + 37601 passing the downside building with 6M56 Berkeley - Crewe flask.

5 Another view of the buildings, looking towards the Sutton Park and Walsall direction, which are now used as solicitors offices and are fenced off from the railway.

No trace of any platforms remain on either side...

Sutton Town (upside)

Inspired by an article (see Sutton Town - A Recent Visit, on the right hand side) I went to have a look at the derelict upside station building at Sutton Town. The pathway has recently been cleared of brambles etc and so was quite easy to negotiate. Passing over the electrified Cross City north route below we passed the remains of an old railway gate and came out at the building, which seemed quite substantial for such a small station. Although windows and doors have been bricked up the local kids have knocked out large holes in them so entry was easy.

1. The overgrown and derelict upside platform building, which almost mirrors the downside one in style and size. The platforms have long been removed, and the railway corridor blocked off with nasty pallisade fencing.

2. Exposed girders and surviving chimney at the east end.

3. Close up of ornate brickwork detail.

4. Inside the tall room at the eastern end of the building block, presumably the waiting room area. It's quite eerie in here as the outside world is instantly shut out, the darlness adding to the effect. A great place for a kids den, though I wonder how sturdy the structure is...

5. Amazingly these seem to be original Midland Railway benches, and there are more along the walls in the west end waiting room ! Also note the brick tile patterned floor...

I can't see this old building lasting much longer, I assume it's been virtually derelict since disuse as storage rooms for railway items in the 1970s, and would cost a fortune to renovate, and what purpose could it serve nowadays ?

Sutton Town (more photo's)

1. End-wall of the deteriorating upside building.

2. Bricked-up waiting room fireplace.

3. Locally made bricks.

4. The desolate upside building before the trees took over. Photo taken by R.Paddison around the 1970s. According to John Bassett ("Cross City Connections") the building was bought by two conservation-minded couples in the 1970s. A number of railway relics stored in the building were sold off in 1977. Plans to use the rooms as a sort of railway museum came to nothing, and the buildings were abandoned after local youths set fire to them. Who owns the site now I have no idea.

5. Detail of the downside building, now in use as an office. Note the windows added to the roof since becoming offices.

It's odd to think that although this station was the first to close back in January 1925 - exactly 40 years before the other 4 stations along the Sutton Park line finally came to end - Sutton Town is the only one with practically all buildings intact !

37422 Dead In Transit....

Tuesday 21 July's 6D44 Bescot ES to Toton had 66086 and 37422 in the consist, the train engine was 66055. The service is seen here at Pleck Junction.

Park stock

47245 storms across Sutton Park with WCRC empty stock bound for Carnforth on Monday 20th July 2009. This stock had formed the Hogwarts Express tour of 18th July.

Hog Wash

While expectations have been raised a notch or two recently regarding the re-instatement of regular passenger trains, charter excursions continue to run across the Sutton Park line almost every other week. Here the empty stock known as the Hogwarts Express is seen blasting past Branton Hill on the dark evening of Thursday 16th July.

The ex-GWR engine is 5972 Olton Hall, aka "Hogwarts Castle" as seen in the Harry Potter films...

The train was getting a free wash in the heavy rain that had begun falling an hour earlier.

1997 at Walsall

Seen passing through the middle road at Walsall station in 1970 is Brush Type 4 loco 1997. Although the loco has full yellow ends she is finished in the old BR two-tone green colours. The train is 6Z61, a special tank service possibly from Rowley Regis to Teesport. Note the barrier wagon immediately behind the loco.
The photo was taken from platform one, which still retained it's buildings and roof canopy at that time. The middle road was eventually lifted, BR deeming it superfluous to requirements...

Photo copyright PP Newell

Caroline at Water Orton

DRS loco 37423 is seen providing power for the engineers saloon 975025 "Caroline" (with red nameplate), being propelled through Water Orton en route Nuneaton, 27th April 2009. The saloon has driving controls at the front of the coach.

Aldridge from above

A terrific aerial photo dating from the 1920s and showing a very rural looking Aldridge town, station and signalbox. The station is located centre of picture with the railway running from the Water Orton direction (middle right) towards Walsall (bottom left), where the junction for Walsall Wood can be seen. A goods train appears to be standing along the downside platform with the tail end under Anchor Road bridge.

St Mary's church is located at the top of the photograph, with a clearly-seen pathway leading across the Croft towards it (the diagonal white line). Cows graze the Croft meadow and a large pond (now part of a car park !) can be made out left of the path.

The town shops and buildings have yet to spread along Anchor Road, and there is no sign either of the Avion cinema (apparently opened by George Formby in the 1930s).

Photo Aerofilms (copyright).