A few from the West Midlands
3rd May 2008
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A day out station bashing in the West Midlands, shots include a multitude of 323's, Turbostars and a few other units.
323218 at Redditch, the souther terminus of Birmingham's Cross City Services. The former Central Trains inherited a fleet of 26 units from British Rail, comprised of sets 323201-222 and 323240-243. In November 2007, these were passed on to London Midland and are currently being internally refreshed and reliveried.
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 Class 323 at Redditch, the town taking it's name from the red clay found in the nearby River Arrow.
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 The Birmingham Cross City line came into being in the late 1970s, and was formed out of the former Midland Railway line between Redditch and Birmingham via Selly Oak and the London and North Western Railway Line between Birmingham and Lichfield. It was opened on the 8 May 1978 and included the re-opening of Five Ways station and a new station to serve the University of Birmingham.
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The class 323 EMUs were built by Hunslet TPL (Leeds) and were the last built by this manufacturer. Delivery was completed in 1994 although initial reliability problems meant full entry into service was delayed until 1995.
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 Alvechurch station on Birmingham Cross City line is unstaffed and has a bus stop style shelter. This shot was taken from a foot crossing at the southern end of the platform.
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 323214 at Barnt Green, May 2008. These units were built in 1992 – 1993 as Regional Railways’ answer to the Networker. They are 3 car units, but each vehicle is just over 23 metres long, so the unit length is almost 70 Metres, only 10 metres shorter than a 4-car Networker. Two GTO-Thyristor drive packages drive four Holec DMKT 52/24 motors, each delivering 146 kW. Good acceleration and top speed give the ability to operate commuter and long distance services, although currently 3 +2 seating is fitted for high density working. The centre vehicle is unpowered, being used for the transformer, pantograph, control equipment and the retention toilet.
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Retaining Central Trains green livery, debranded 170630 rushes through Barnt Green, May 2008.
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 Unidentified Pendolino heading south through Tipton.
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 323210 approaching Tipton, May 2008. The gate turn off (GTO) thyristor control of these units gives them their distinctive gear changing sound, shared with 'networker' EMUs and some London Underground stock.
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Entrance to the northbound platform of Tipton station. The level crossing here is due to be replaced when the relief road opens in 2010, averting the frustration of local motorists who often have to wait at least 10 minutes at the crossing!
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 London Midland liveried 170504 heading south through a rather murky Tipton, May 2008. The engineer James Watt built his first steam engine in or very near Tipton in the 1770s, which was used to pump water from the mines.
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 Cross Country and debranded Virign liveried Voayger DEMU's head south throough Tipton. The town has retained a traditional horse-keeping culture; private horses are kept freely on public land, dDespite persistent council attempts to clear horses off public land, horses still appear in parks and on canal banks from time to time.
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retaining the now defunct Central Trains green livery, 170632 rolls into Telford Central station. Telford was designated a new town in the 1960's and was originally served by Oakengates and Wellington stations. The latter was known as 'Wellington - Telford West'. Central station was opened in 1986.
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 The Turbostar was the first new train type to be introduced after the privatisation of British Rail, and is the most common type of post-privatisation diesel multiple unit. Two examples, 170632 and 170504 pass at Telford Central, May 2008.
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 The recently introduced Marylebone - Wrexham service commenced on 28th April 2008. Carrying the WSMR livery, 67013 departs Telford Central with a short rake of Cargo-D mark III's in tow.
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The recently started WSMR service provides a direct link between Wrexham, Shropshire and London Marylebone and in May 2008 was pictured departing Telford with 67028 on the rear of a short formation of Mark 3's with 67013 at the head.
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 Looking south from Telford Central. Although the station was built to accommodate inter-city trains to London Euston, these services no longer operate; British Rail services ceased in the early 1990s, and Virgin Trains withdrew a short-lived, trial, daily service between Shrewsbury and London in 2000. However a new company, Wrexham & Shropshire,has reintroduced express services but to London Marylebone on 28th April 2008.
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 VWC thuderbird 57302 'Virgil Tracy' idles at Stafford, May 2008
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Class 323 interior - awaiting refresh by London Midland, this (unrecorded) unit shows evidence of upgrades started by previous operator Central Trains.
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© 1998-2009 Dennis Lance - All copyrights rest with the Author
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