Thanks to Twitter cycling whizz and all round top guy @WolvesOnWheels who tipped me off last week, there’s a Facebook group that’s been featuring a lot of Brownhills, Walsall Wood and Pelsall railway photographs lately, posted by Si Swain.
Disused Railways features great stuff from all over the UK, and unlike a lot of these sorts of groups, the drive to credit photographers and original material seems genuine and positive.
With that in mind, I’ve grabbed a few of the images here; do go have a look and also check out the ‘Photography by DJ Norton‘ site, a real treasury that’s been featured here before.
I especially like the DMU at Brownhills, and the flat-fronted Class 20 coming over Ryders Hayes. A fascinating group and thanks to Si Swain for posting the images.
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘Walsall Wood station in 1957 after closure to passenger services. Taken from Lichfield Road looking towards Brownhills.’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘This view dates from April 1957 and shows the station buildings and bridge well. The large building in the top right was Brownhills town hall. Through the bridge can be seen the goods yard which closed on 10th April 1964 and the signal box which closed on 23rd January 1967. Copyright H.C Casserley’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘Last day of passenger services at Brownhills Midland on March 29th 1930. A Johnson 3F, No.3277, with two coaches of compartment stock including a clerestory probably dating from the period 1897 to 1916 has arrived with a service from Aldridge.’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘Walsall Wood station in 1912 looking towards Aldridge. A splendid little station that never saw more than 3 passenger trains per weekday each direction. Copyright John Alsop Collection.’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘Walsall Wood station in 1947 some 17 years after the withdrawal of passenger services and by which time the line had been singled.’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘The scene of dereliction at Brownhills (LNWR) station in 1967. Passenger services had ended 2 years earlier but freight traffic was still running at this time. The station yard has lost it’s track and the signal box is devoid of nameboards and windows. Through the High Street overbridge the canopy of the Up station buildings and weed strewn platform can be seen. View looking towards Hammerwich and Lichfield. Copyright unknown.’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘On a gloomy 2nd December 1963 a green liveried BRCW class 104 dmu makes it’s call at Brownhills Station, the train is a working from Burton upon Trent to Wolverhampton. The station closed to passengers on 18th January 1965. Copyright Peter Shoesmith’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘Ryder Hayes Crossing on the South Staffordshire line between Brownhills and Pelsall. A station had been opened here with the opening of the line in 1849 but had been closed as early as 1858. It is highly likely that the station was situated to the south of the crossing. Copyright unknown.’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘On 2nd December 1963 a Gloucester RCW Unit departs Pelsall station with a service for Lichfield. Pelsall was situated on the South Staffordshire line from Walsall to Wychnor Junction. This line lost its passenger service in 1965. I now live less than a mile from the trackbed of this route and will be the subject of my first exploration of 2015 on Saturday. Before that I need to do my homework smile emoticon Copyright Geoff Dowling/John Whitehouse.’
Posted by Si Swain on Facebook who says ‘Further to my recent post on Brownhills Midland. Here is a further selection of images of the station. The station was located immediately after the line had crossed Chester Road North (the present day A452) and along with Walsall Wood was the only other station on the branch from Aldridge.’ Suspect this is a DJ Norton image – Bob