Blue Afternoon

Tuesday 22nd February 2011 was certainly a blue afternoon at Streetly Gate with a procession of blue locos passing the location.

Firstly, GBRf class 20's 20301/2/4/5 passed on 0Z20 Crewe to Derby loco move. These are the locos that do the new London Underground Tube Stock moves from Derby and had been to Gresty Bridge for maintenance.

Then came Freightliner's Bardon Aggregate liveried class 66 66623 Bill Bolsover hauling 6M49 12:44 Barrow Hill-Rugeley Power Station loaded coal

Next came DRS class 47 47712 Pride of Carlisle double heading class 57 57009 on 5Z50 09.52 Plymouth-Crewe. This was the return move of the security coaches off the previous days flask move to Devonport Docks.

Finally, following close behind, was 6M56 12:41 Berkeley-Crewe flasks hauled by DRS class 66's 66423 and 66421.

Double Yellows

Here's another shot of 97302 + 97303 a little further down the line.

Yellow Return

Tuesday 15th February 2011 saw 97302 and 97303 pass Streetly Gate on 6Z97 12.05 Shrewsbury-Toton empty wagon return after they had spent the weekend on the Cambrian on test.

DRS Crewe on a Mission

Three great shots taken from East View Road, Wylde Green, recently.

47712 passes with a coach for Crewe on 3rd Feb 2011 (note new signal post).

37423 & 20308 with 6M56 nuclear flask, also for Crewe, on 1st November 2010.

What looks to be a stoneblower on the down, 12th November 2010.

Thanks Richard for these three photo's, I think you were the only one to bag the 47 !

Sutton Park DMU

Thanks to Phill for this self-explanatory cutting.

Wagons Off The Road !

In July 1988 a derailment occurred on the Sutton Park line leading to five HEA-type domestic coal wagons going down the embankment near the Chester Road between Streetly and Aldridge. The train involved was 6J43, a Saturday-only Washwood Heath to Gobowen service loaded with 7 coal hoppers, and thought to have been worked by loco 37218. Shortly after passing the Hardwick Wood foot crossing the track changed from jointed to long welded rail back then, and a strong lurching was felt at that point with the train brakes coming on. The loco and the first two HEA's remained on the rails but the next five trucks had gone down the embankment with coal spilling out everywhere. Fortunately no other trains were passing at the time, and the train stopped before the Chester Road bridge was reached.

Eventually the 5 condemned trucks were removed to the old station site at Aldridge, where they were cut up in situ within a couple of weeks.

Many thanks to Lee Sutton for supplying these great shots, and to Phill B. for additional information.

Wagons off the Road 2

These shots show the hoppers awaiting cutting. Three of the wagon numbers were 360232, 360926 and 361141.

Wagons off the Road 3

These views show the hoppers after cutting, which took place at the upside of the old Aldridge Station site.