The background to this bashing trip is that while I was finding out information on when the Class 323s would be leaving Manchester to (most likely) head to the West Midlands, and me looking over a rough draft of the WM Day Ranger I recently made up. It was one of those Eureka moments when I heard Billy Idol's “Hot in the City” on the tranny, and thought of doing the West Midlands Class 323s that are mainly exclusive to the Cross City Line (a form of clever wordplay here I've slipped in). I then drew up a plan to get as many of the 26 323s as I could, and with the help (and many thanks) of forum member IrishDave who supplied me the sheet of the diagrams which was appreciated, shown that there are 23 out of 26 in service on Mondays – Fridays. I was then able to readjust my plans slightly, albeit it would mean that I would not be able to take a run out to Redditch, so as to fit in the recent new track of the passing loop at Alvechurch. Furthermore, I first did the Cross City Line back in 1988/89, when it was operated by Class 115 and 116 slam door units, and I first sampled a 323 on this line when they were first introduced back in 1993/94, not long after the line was electrified. The only other section of track I've got not round to completing is the short stretch between Lichfield City and Lichfield TV, so am intending to get that done out of the way.
It was a nice and early rise for me, getting dressed and out of the door at 03:50 for the walk down to to city centre and Glasgow Central station. It was onboard the 04:28 London Euston via Trent Valley Railway to Preston, which was formed by winning 390010 “The Cumbrian Spirit”. On the southbound journey, I was rather surprised that the train went via Motherwell, rather than Bellshill and Wishaw Deviation as it is normally booked to do so. Perhaps this was maybe due to the temporary speed reduction over Lamington Viaduct, overnight engineering works in Bellshill, or a combination of both? Anyway, DRS loco 37402 (which I've previously had for haulage back in November from Barrow in Furness to Carlisle) was spotted at Kingmoor, and Colas Rail 73906 “Panther” was spotted at Penrith.
Upon arrival at Preston, I made my way to the booking office to see if it is possible for them to issue the WM Daytripper, but it was not on their system. However, the WM Day Ranger was, and I explained that it was not that one with the booking clerk immediately knowing which product I was referring to. I explained that I was happy to sort it out at Birmingham, as they would know exactly what codes to input into the ticket issuing system. It was then back down to the platform to await the 07:17 southbound service.
Observations that were made during the 20 minute fester at Preston were that 142070 was on the 07:00 to Colne, 350402 was on the the 06:58 Manchester Airport – Edinburgh Waverley service, and 156455+483 were on the 07:04 Blackpool North/Talbot Road – MIA service. For me, it was onboard the busy and heavily loaded 07:17 EDB – EUS via Birmingham service, which was formed by dud 390155 “X-Men Days of Future Past” as far as Wolverhampton, where I bailed. Of note, 73942 was spotted north of Warrington BQ, while 319379 was spotted in Platform 1 at WBQ, and 67018? was spotted at Acton Grange yard. Additionally, 153379 was spotted which would be working the 08:0x Derby service in Platform 3 at Crewe, while Caledonian Sleeper loco 92010 was spotted at Gresty Bridge yard. Furthermore, on the PRE- WVH leg, my reservation placed me on the left hand side facing direction of travel, rather than my favoured right hand side facing direction of travel, hence the reason why I did not do many observations of oncoming traffic.
At WVH, it was onboard the heavily loaded 08:41 MAN – Bournemouth via BHM and Coventry, which was formed by winning 220017 for the run to BHM. I then made use of the extra time to familiarise myself with the layout of the station, before heading to the additional fares office along the concourse to purchase the WM Daytripper and the add on for Lichfield. I remember back in the late 1980s, the present day WMPTE Daytripper was called Midline Day Ranger, of which I still have this ticket from some point in 1989. Afterwards, I headed out of the station for some fresh air before making my way to Platform 8a, passing the stewards who were marshalling the queue for the Cheltenham Festival, and mentioning that I was heading in the direction of Lichfield, and very kindly let me go down to the platform (the XC Nottingham – Cardiff Central was due soon at Platform 9b) for me to await the delayed 09:25 LTV service. It was announced that there were delays to the CCL services due to animals on the line, meaning that services on the CCL were running haywire for a while.
It was onboard the 15 minutes delayed 09:25 LTV service, which was formed by 323242+214. It was announced that it would be first stop Four Oaks, then normal calling points to LTV so as to get the 10:20 departure (which it would subsequently form) off LTV for the southbound working. It is noted that I have never done a non-stop run from BHM – FOK before, so this was a new experience for me, and my original intention was to alight at Aston and do linear station hops northbound. Arrival at FOK was at 09:47 – 7 minutes behind schedule, with some passengers who immediately went to the southbound platform to head back to whichever of the skipped stations they were requiring. For me, it was back south one stop to Sutton Coldfield on the on time 09:56, formed by 323210. I then picked up the pocket timetable before heading over to the northbound platform with the PIS showing that the 10:05 FOK service had been cancelled. Furthermore, the 09:54 LIC service was showing as running 12 minutes behind schedule and would terminate at Blake Street. It was a short wait before 323218+220 rolled in to take me all the way to Blake Street arriving at 10:14 – it is noted that the last time I did the crossover was back in 1989 on a Longbridge – Blake Street service in a Class 115/116.
I then went down to the booking office and waiting room to look at the screen, and noted that the 10:02 LIC service had been cancelled, so it was then back south to Butlers Lane on the same pair of units that would depart at 10:22, therefore recovered that particular service that would normally have started from LIC at 10:15. At Butlers Lane, it was then up the very steep and evil looking steps and ramp and over the roadbridge and down to the northbound platform (another steep and evil set of steps and ramp) to look at the screen, which had both earlier LIC and LTV services as delayed or cancelled. It was back to the southbound platform for the on time 10:34 Redditch service, which was now dud pair 323214+242 (I was expecting to land at least one dud diagram north of FOK at some point) that I took to Wylde Green. It was down to street level and under the bridge to the northbound platform for the 30 minutes delayed 10:21 LIC service that would be terminating short at FOK, which was formed by 323217. Rather to my surprise, it was Platform 2 instead of the Birmingham facing bay Platform 3 I did the microgrice into, which I did not expect.
Anyway, I was still requiring the Platform 3 microgrice, so went over to see what the next departure would be. It was the delayed 10:46 Longbridge service, which would be 2 units coupled up as I had spotted one already in the platform at the buffer end. A southbound service to Redditch had arrived into Platform 2 after the 11:31 service departed, but was dud from earlier. There was a single 323 that arrived into Platform 3 and coupled up to the other unit already in the platform to form the 25 minutes delayed 10:46, which was formed by 323221+212 and would be terminating at BHM. It was Chester Road where I bailed, and went over to the northbound platform for the 11:31 FOK service, which was formed by 323216 to its terminus and having now done the microgrice in both directions into and out of Platform 3. I then went over to Platform 1 for the 11:47 LTV service to Shenstone which was formed by 323202, before going over the roadbridge to the southbound platform for the 11:59 Longbridge service, formed by 323243.
As I was now running 30 minutes behind my original intended plan, I was working out how to get back on track, and decided to abandon the 11:54 FOK – LIC service to Blake Street and go straight to the 12:12 LTV departure instead. In addition, I was also keeping an eye on the PIS and looking out for passengers on the opposite platform at the stations. At Blake Street, I noticed that the 12:02 northbound service to LIC that I would originally have intended to pick up was delayed, but I could not work out by how much due to the angle of the sunlight shining on the screen. I decided to take a gamble, and bailed at Butlers Lane. My gamble paid off, as the 12:00 was delayed by 9 minutes and waited for 323201 to take me to LIC. It was a short fester for the 12:32 to LTV, which was on time and formed by the return of 323210 for the short run, and me now getting back on my original plan. Also, I have covered this section for the first time (I only need to do the other 12 miles to Burton on Trent on either a PSUL move or a diverted XC service). At LTV, I took a wander down to the Trent Valley Railway platforms and spotted a 390 in each direction passing through on the centre tracks, before going back up to the high level platform to re-board 323210 for the third time today that was on the 12:50 southbound Longbridge service.
During the southbound run, I decided to keep a look out for what would be on the 13:16 FOK – Redditch service, and spotted that it was required. During the journey, I decided to make a five bar gate of the 323s I have landed so far, as there are 23 out of 26 in service at various points during the day. I had decided to bail at Erdington, as I do not ever recall me having scoring that station before (for information, I've definitely done (from north to south) LIC, Blake Street, Sutton Coldfield, Gravelly Hill, Aston, Five Ways, Kings Norton, Northfield, Longbridge, and Redditch at some point between 1988 and 1997, and was unsure about Erdington, Selly Oak, and Bournville, so was intending to do those to make sure). I then got some lunch from a convenience store at the junction of Station Road and Gravelly Lane, before heading back to the station for the 13:27 Redditch service, which was formed by 323241 for the run to Five Ways.
It was then over to the opposite platform, where the delayed 13:38 had just departed, but was dud anyway, so got the slightly delayed 13:48 LTV service for the bus stop bash back to BHM, which was formed by 323206. As I had 30 minutes spare here before my next intended move, I decided to wander over to Platform 11b to see what would be on the slightly delayed 14:02 Redditch service, and was rewarded with 323205 for another run to Five Ways. I then went over to the opposite platform to see if the 14:08 was required, but it was dud, so went back to the southbound platform for the slightly delayed 14:15 LOB service, and was rewarded with winning pair (that I was intentionally looking out for, as I already landed the other 2 pairs that run around all day) 323211+209, which I bailed at Selly Oak (the trains are timetabled to arrive and depart at the same time in both directions here) and making me 10 minutes ahead of my original plan. I went up to the centre of the footbridge (it has glass both sides, so it is easy to see if any required 323s are arriving in both directions) and noticed that the 14:32 FOK service was dud, so went back to the southbound platform for the slightly delayed 14:32 Redditch service, being rewarded with dud 323216 for the short hop to Bournville.
After alighting, I then made my way to the northbound platform while admiring all the purpleness of the station while doing so. As I had originally intended picking up the 14:42 northbound service from Selly Oak (the 14:39 departure from Bournville), I was already on schedule and also had 10 minutes to play with too. The 14:39 arrived and I noticed that it was dud, so let that one go and hung around for the 14:49 LIC service. This turned out to be now duds 323209+211 that I had half an hour or so earlier (I suspected that I would most likely be meeting them again, as it is a 20 minute run from BHM to LOB, plus 10 minutes for the layover at LOB), of which I reluctantly boarded the rearmost doors of 211 to take me back to BHM for my next move, arriving into Platform 8a as expected at 15:02.
This is where I temporarily take a break from Midland Railway metals (and the CCL) and switch to London & North Western Railway metals by walking to the Bristol/Warrington end (the “b” end) and using the bridge to go to Platform 4c for the 15:08 all stations local service to WVH. I boarded 323207 for the short run to Smethwick Galton Bridge, while scoring the microgrice from Platform 4c for the first time in the process (this platform did not exist when I was a frequent spotter/basher in the late 1980s/early 1990s). It was then up to street level, then along Platform 2, then down to Platform 4 for the 15:22 Holyhead – Birmingham International via not the proper route of Wrexham and Shrewsbury (the proper route to me is via Stafford and Crewe between WVH and Chester when going to/from Holyhead), which was formed by 158828+838 for the run back to BHM and arriving into Platform 2a.
This was where I decided to deviate from my original plan, which was to take a run to Marston Green and back, but abandoned that due to spotting a required 323 earlier on when coming back from Bournville. My revised plan was to hop on the 15:42 Redditch service to Bournville and meet the 15:59 LIC service, thus landing the required 323 I had spotted earlier, and thus returning to Midland Railway metals south of BHM. It was onboard dud 323214 to Bournville, and much to my surprise, it was back to BHM on dud 323201. I consulted the timetable again, and realised that I had read the wrong column. Oops. However, I managed to work it out that I could pick it up on a northbound working from University or BHM later on. It is noted that I could have let it go, or bailed at Selly Oak to see if it was the one behind and alight at University, but meant that it would be very risky for my next run if I wanted to avoid the crowds there due to students finishing around that time.
Anyway, it was from Platform 8a to Platform 10b after arriving at 16:12 to board the non-standard pattern 16:19 Great Malvern service, which was formed by 170630 for the run to Bromsgrove, before the station is re-sited. It is noted that the last time I went south of Barnt Green was back in 1990, when I did a run to and from Cheltenham Spa to land an IC 125 with the original Valenta engines southbound, and loco hauled coaching stock (ICXC) hauled by a Class 47, which really screamed loudly ascending the Lickey Incline. I had also done that run in reverse the previous year too – 47 southbound and IC125 northbound. Back to today's trip, my original get out of jail free card was a 30 minute fester for the Hereford service that was behind to continue to Droitwich Spa, but I was lucky in that upon arrival at Bromsgrove, I noticed quite a few passengers on the northbound platform. So it was onboard the slightly delayed 16:43 BHM service back north to University, which was formed by 170502+631, with the engines seemingly tackling the Lickey Incline to Barnt Green with great difficulty.
Upon arrival at University, I had to wrestle my way through the crowds on the platform to an empty area, and decided to take a look at what was on the 17:05 FOK service, but was dud. I then wandered out of the station to take a look at onward connections, with the poster displaying the various bus routes. Of note, the 21 that used to run from Birmingham Colmore Row – Bangham Pit no longer exists (that was the route that ran via Broad Street, Five Ways, Harborne Green Man, Metchley Park Rd, University Station, Mendolson Way for QE Hospital, Metchley Lane, Selly Oak, Weoley Park Road, Kemberton Rd, Castle Square, and Cromwell Lane), and neither does the 448 that ran to West Bromwich. I then went back to the platform for the 17:15 LTV service to BHM, which was formed by dud pair 323212+221, arriving into Platform 8a as anticipated.
As I was almost an hour ahead of myself, I decided to do a Marston Green run that I would have done earlier on. Little was I to know that that plan would backfire spectacularly on me. It was over to Platform 3a for the very heavily loaded 17:33 London Euston via Northampton service, which was formed by 350101. After almost falling onto the platform the moment the doors opened, it was over to the Birmingham platform and noticed that the 17:49 BHM service was delayed by 5 minutes, then 8, then 15, then 10, then 12. It was then I thought to myself that I would not make my next intended move now – the 18:15 BHM – FOK service for the short run to Duddeston and meet the Walsall – WVH 323 working, meaning that I would be hunting for 5 or 6 West Midlands 323s next time. It was 18:00 when a heavily loaded 350368 pulled in to take me back to BHM, calling all stations except Adderley Park, arriving into Platform 3a at 18:13 – 12 minutes behind schedule, and spotted the aforementioned 18:15 in Platform 8a, which was 323219 that I flagged earlier.
Would I make it across in less than 90 seconds? Could I pull off this very tight connection? Should I let it go and attribute it to being unlucky? No, No, and Yes. After doing the hokey-cokey through the sectioned areas at the Derby and London end of the station, I decided to fester around on Platforms 8 and 9 to see what I could have won from Duddeston, it would have been 323213. Here's me thinking that maybe it was not such a good idea to have done the Marston Green run after all, but on the bright side, I landed 2 winning Class 350s out of it anyway (I have previously landed some in October 2014, when I did a circular from EUS – Bedford Midland via the 2 St Albans stations, and the Marston Vale line, and north to Rugby before heading south to EUS).
It was over to Platform 4a for the 18:39 local all stations except Marston Green to Birmingham International, which was formed by 323204 for the run to Lea Hall. It was over to the Birmingham platform for the 18:52 BHM service, which was formed by 350255 and arriving back at BHM in Platform 3a. I am unsure if I have ever done this station before in the 1980s/90s. However, I do remember taking the 16 bus to Lea Hall station around 1989, when it used to run from Hamstead Green Lane to Lea Hall Station, and its sister route the 17 ran from Hamstead Station (or extensions to/from Great Barr, Scott Arms Mon-Fri peaks) to Garrets Green, The Radleys. Also, I remember picking up the 99 bus that ran between Small Heath and Chelmsley Wood near Lea Hall station. Furthermore, I remember doing Adderley Park and Stechford years ago, as that is where the Inner Circle 8 and the Outer Circle 11 pass respectively.
It was over to Platform 5b for the 19:08 local all stations WVH service to Sandwell & Dudley, which was formed by 323222 and making this my twentieth WM Class 323 I've landed today, with me missing out on the other 3 that were out in service. At SAD, it was a five minute fester before hopping on the 19:24 GLC service that was formed by dud 390156 “Stockport 170” for the run back to Glasgow Central, and with me moving into a different coach of the train as there were a group of merry guys of the type that liked the sound of their own voices, while making sure everybody else within earshot knew about it. Arrival at GLC was on time at 23:17, and I decided to walk over to Queen Street for the short ride on the bus back up the hill.
Overall, it was an enjoyable day, despite the not too good a start when the CCL timetable fell apart. It was at this point that I would be happy with landing 15 out of the 23 Class 323s that were in service today, and surprised myself that I managed 20. I would have landed an additional 2 if I had not made the decision to do the run to Marston Green, but was rewarded with 2 winning Class 350s. I was able to rescue my original plans somehow (which I've posted below so as to put it into context) around the midday mark, and credit must go to the controllers and signallers for their efforts in recovering the service. Also, many thanks must go out to forum member IrishDave, who compiled a list of the Class 323 diagrams, and was very helpful. It was also good to do the CCL as it is almost 20 years since I last travelled this route. I have finally got the LIC – LTV section of track in, of which I've been meaning to do for a good number of years. I have now visited all of the stations on the CCL with the exception of Barnt Green and Alvechurch, but will save that for a future trip and also fit in the passing loop at Alvechurch too. I managed to visit Bromsgrove before it is re-sited, as I remember it was a sporadic shuttle service between Barnt Green and Worcester Shrub Hill in the late 1980s/early 1990s. My next bashing trip in the West Midlands will most likely be Great Western Railway metals, and in particular, a revisit of the Stourbridge Railway which was my local line when I used to reside in the West Midlands, and where my track bashing began all those years ago.
For information, here is my original plan below:
Glasgow Central 0428 Preston 0653
Preston 0717 Wolverhampton 0831
Wolverhampton 0841 Birmingham NS 0858
Birmingham NS 0925 Aston 0930 6 car
Aston 0940 Gravelly Hill 0944 6 car
Gravelly Hill 0956 Erdington 0959 6 car
Erdington 1007 Chester Road 1009
Chester Road 1019 Wylde Green 1021
Wylde Green 1033 Sutton Coldfield 1036
Sutton Coldfield 1044 Butlers Lane 1050
Butlers Lane 1054 Sutton Coldfield 1100
Sutton Coldfield 1106 Four Oaks 1111 6 car
Four Oaks 1117 Shenstone 1126
Shenstone 1129 Four Oaks 1136
Four Oaks 1147 Blake Street 1152
Blake Street 1202 Lichfield City 1211
Lichfield City 1232 Lichfield TV 1237 Same
Lichfield TV 1250 Four Oaks 1306 train
Four Oaks 1316 Five Ways 1345
Five Ways 1348 Birmingham NS 1352
Birmingham NS 1422 Selly Oak 1432
Selly Oak 1442 Birmingham NS 1452
Birmingham NS 1508 Smethwick Galton Bridge 1516 To WVH. Plat 4c
Smethwick Galton Bridge 1522 Birmingham NS 1530 From HHD. Arr Plat 2a BHM
Birmingham NS 1533 Marston Green 1542 Plat 3a
Marston Green 1549 Birmingham NS 1601 Arr Plat 5a
Birmingham NS 1619 Bromsgrove 1639 UNI 1625. BHM Plat 12b
Bromsgrove 1710 Droitwich Spa 1719
Droitwich Spa 1733 University 1800 BHM 1810 Plat 10b
University 1805 Duddeston 1819 BHM 1815 Plat 8a
Duddeston 1822 Birmingham NS 1829 From WSL. Plat 9b BHM
Birmingham NS 1839 Lea Hall 1850 Plat 4a. SCF 1847
Lea Hall 1852 Birmingham NS 1901 Plat 3a. SCF 1855
Birmingham NS 1908 Sandwell & Dudley 1919 Plat 5b
Sandwell & Dudley 1924 Glasgow Central 2317 BHM 1915
Glasgow Queen Street 2356 Springburn 0001
