Black and White

Saturday 27th November 2010 saw the first snowfall of the winter in the West Midlands and was also the day that ex LMS Class 5MT 45305 took 1Z34 The Deva Explorer from Tyseley to Chester. The Black 5 is shown passing Hardwick Woods just after sunrise with a dusting of snow still visible on the track and the trees.

Heavy Weight Freight

A filthy 66039 drags a single wagon on 6D99 08.06 Bescot-Toton departmental freight through Hardwick on Saturday 27th November 2010. The dirty condition of the 66 implies that it has recently been used on RHTT duties somewhere.

Bone Inspection

Class 58 'Bone' loco number 58002 passes Sutton Park old station on 13th June 1988 with a Walsall-bound inspection saloon. Note that the platforms and station buildings were still intact at this time.

Thanks to Richard Coghlan for this excellent photograph.

The Odd Couple

20303 & 37038 worked the Berkeley flasks on Tuesday 16/11/10. They are seen here at Ryecroft coming off the park about 10 minutes after the sun had given up for the day!

More new signals

Another two new signalposts have been installed at Walmley, not far from Penns old station site, along with what looks like a new base for electrical equipment cabinets.

No doubt this in connection with the ongoing West Midlands resignalling scheme, and the eventual closure of Walsall and Saltley Power Signal Boxes within 2 - 3 years.

Photo 1. The new signal on the down line can just be made out under Ashurst Rd bridge, on the right of the tracks. The signal at left is the current SY265 repeater on the up line. Loco 66159 stands at a red on SY265 signal proper, in the distance at Park Lane Jcn.

Photo 2. The new (not-yet commissioned) signal on the up line.

Photo 3. Locomotive 66159 passing the new signal, en route for Washwood Heath.

Photo 4. New base for lineside cabinets ? (on the right, the rail entrance to the former Penns Good Yard also used to be here). On the left can be seen a Termination board for a 20mph emergency speed restriction on the up line which has now been here for a year or more...

Golden Section

A golden autumnal scene belying the rain and gloom yesterday afternoon, as 60073 rushes eastwards with the 6E08 Wolverhampton - Immingham 'pigsheds'.

Resignalling

A new signal post and phone have appeared at the site of the old Sutton Park station, at the western end of the former downside platform. The signal number appears to be WL40/1A, although some graffiti has already been sprayed onto it... Also at the site was some 'roadrailer' machinery of various types. The points levers for the temporarily-dismantled crossover can also be seen.

Tug On The Steel

The 25th October saw 6E08 Wolverhampton-Immingham ST in the hands of 60019, seen here near Sutton Coldfield.