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Tag Archives: Station
A feast of wire
Local rail buff Simon Swain has been busy of late covering the momentous and important Chase Line Electrification Project, which is seeing the rail line between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley electrified for hopefully faster and more reliable services.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railways, Derelict, Disused Railways, Facebook, John Whitehouse, Junction, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pelsall, Ryecroft, Si Swain, Simon Swain, Staffordshire, Station, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Up the Ryecroft Junction
Local rail buff Simon Swain has once again been busy with the camera and maps, tracing out the history of the South Staffordshire railway line that used to run from Wychnor near Alrewas to Dudley, but called at Lichfield, Brownhills and Walsall on the way.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railways, Derelict, Disused Railways, Facebook, John Whitehouse, Junction, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pelsall, Ryecroft, Si Swain, Simon Swain, Staffordshire, Station, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
The death throes of the local line
Local rail buff Simon Swain last week sent in the above image of one of the last freight workings on the South Staffordshire Line through central Brownhills – and there was a large amount of interest in this remarkably evocative photo.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railways, Derelict, Disused Railways, Facebook, John Whitehouse, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pelsall, Si Swain, Simon Swain, Staffordshire, Station, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
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One of the final few
Local rail buff Simon Swain has been in touch with a remarkable image of Brownhills recording the very last days of the railway here – just before construction of the Miner Island in 1984.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railways, Derelict, Disused Railways, Facebook, John Whitehouse, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pelsall, Si Swain, Simon Swain, Staffordshire, Station, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
A found connection
Way back last year, Patricia Cotton sent in the above photo of her brother Tony, family friends Dora Rathbone and her son Bob enjoying a picnic and a paddle in 1955 by the canal in Brownhills, aroundabout where the banks of the old clay pit are today.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1955, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chris Pattison, Clayhanger, Company, Cotton, Dave Moore, Derelict, Dora, Gerald Reece, Hemming, Jolly Collier, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, New Photos, Old maps, Patricia Cotton, Pedro, Pumping, Rathbone, Reservoir, Sandfields, Shire Oak, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
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Caught short on the Pelsall Road
I’ve received via Facebook from very generous reader Patricia Cotton who’s send a very interesting picture, not just because it’s a wonderful period photo, but because lurking on the skyline is an indication of something being present several people dispute.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1955, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chris Pattison, Clayhanger, Company, Cotton, Dave Moore, Derelict, Dora, Gerald Reece, Hemming, Jolly Collier, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, New Photos, Old maps, Patricia Cotton, Pedro, Pumping, Rathbone, Reservoir, Sandfields, Shire Oak, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
4 Comments
Looking for traces
The wonderful Simon Swain has been in touch with an interesting article Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railways, Derelict, Disused Railways, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pelsall, Si Swain, Simon Swain, Staffordshire, Station, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
11 Comments
Troy, the Chasewater Station cat is missing – can you help?
An important and somewhat sad appeal reaches me from Chasewater Railway, the hidden gem at our favourite local country park – it seems that Troy, the Brownhills West Station cat has gone AWOL and volunteers are desperate to see if he’s OK.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged appeal, Brownhills, cat, Chasewater, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Railway, Station, Things to do, Troy
3 Comments
A cheap trip!
Spotted last Friday on everyone’s favourite tat bazaar, FleaBay – this wonderful handbill from the dying years on local rail.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared memories
Tagged 1959, 2015, Brownhillls, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, charter, Crewe Alexandra, ebay, excursion, handbill, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Rail, rail ticket, Saddlers, Special, Staffordshire, Station, ticket, train, Walsall WOod FC, WMC, working
1 Comment
Action stations
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.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills common, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railways, Brownhills West, brownhills West Station, Derelict, Disused Railways, DJ Norton, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Midland Railway, New Photos, Old maps, Pelsall, Si Swain, Staffordshire, Station, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
A summer long since passed
Readers may well remember the photo of the Brigade football team from the 1960s – the young David Evans, himself a former member of the local Brigade has been in contact with local chap John Genders, who’s dug out some lovely … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Boys Brigade, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, D Evans, David Evans, Ebenezer Boys Brigade, Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church, football, John Genders, Local History, new organ, New Photos, reunion, sixties, Staffordshire, Station, team, team photo, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Truncated
I’m going to share here an absolutely astounding image donated by Brownhills Local History researcher in exile Gerald Reece, which is sure to create some debate – I’m going to be brief, as I feel it’s best.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chris Pattison, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Gerald Reece, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, New Photos, Old maps, Pedro, Pumping, Reservoir, Sandfields, Shire Oak, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
6 Comments
When Mom wasn’t pleased to see me
Here’s another great instalment from the series I started a couple of months ago, chronicling the memories of Walsall Wood lady Audrey Proffitt, carefully and faithfully transcribed by reader and Walsall Wood correspondent David Evans.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Audrey, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Road, childhood, David Evans, Dickie, doll, Lakin, Lichfield Road, Local History, milk, milkman, minnow, New Photos, Proffitt, rag, Railway, Salters Road, Sheila, Shire Oak, Shire Oak Hill, Spring, Staffordshire, Station, Street's Corner, tea bottle, Vigo, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
Get another glimpse into Brownhills Past
Regular readers will remember that last Autumn, there was an exhibition at Walsall Local History Centre featuring a whole tranche of of historic Brownhills photos and ephemera from the civic collection – this had proven to be so successful, that the top operatives at the town archives have decided to set many of the exhibits up on show in Brownhills Library, at the Parkview Centre, from now until the end of February 2014.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged A taste of Historic Brownhills, Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills past & Present, Canal, Carnival 1938, Clayhanger, Essex Street, Events, Exhibition, Hussey Arms, Library, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, photos, plan, Pubs, Queen, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
The disappearing fish
Here’s another great instalment from the series I started a couple of months ago, chronicling the memories of Walsall Wood lady Audrey Proffitt, carefully and faithfully transcribed by reader and Walsall Wood correspondent David Evans. Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Audrey, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Road, childhood, David Evans, Dickie, doll, Lakin, Lichfield Road, Local History, milk, milkman, minnow, New Photos, Proffitt, rag, Railway, Salters Road, Sheila, Shire Oak, Shire Oak Hill, Spring, Staffordshire, Station, Street's Corner, tea bottle, Vigo, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Following the engine
Yesterday, I featured a fascinating analysis of a great picture of steam locomotive at Brownhills Station in the early part of last century, sent in by reader Ian Pell = the picture originated in a press release for the upcoming Walsall Local History Centre exhibition entitled Brownhills Past & Present.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Dasher, Dodger, Dudley, Events, Exhibition, Francis Webb, Ian Pell, LNWR, local blogs, Local History, Locomotive, New Photos, Samson Class, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Thomas Hinckley, train, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history
4 Comments
Now departed
Yesterday, I posted about a new exhibition coming to the Walsall Local History Centre on the subject of Brownhills Past & Present – Stuart Williams had supplied some really great images with the exhibition press release, one of them being of a steam locomotive at Brownhills Station from ‘the early 1900s’.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Dasher, Dodger, Dudley, Events, Exhibition, Francis Webb, Ian Pell, LNWR, local blogs, Local History, Locomotive, New Photos, Samson Class, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Thomas Hinckley, train, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history
2 Comments
Brownhills Past & Present: new exhibition coming soon
Stuart Williams of the Walsall Local History Centre has been in touch regarding a soon-to-start new exhibition of Brownhills photos and ephemera at the town archives.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Carnival 1938, Clayhanger, Essex Street, Events, Exhibition, Hussey Arms, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, plan, Pubs, Queen, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Following tracks
The wonderful local rail historian and Brownhills Choral Society chronicler Ian Pell has been in touch to tell me that the book he mentioned, ‘Walsall Routes’ is now available to order from the publisher, as well as from Amazon.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Black Country, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Derelict, history, Ian Pell, Lichfield, Local History, Middleton Press, Midland Main Lines, midlands, Old maps, Railway, Railways, South Staffordshire Line, Staffordshire, Station, Vic Mitchell, Walsall, Walsall Routes, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Mind the Gap
The enquiry about the local Watford Gap sparked way more interest than I expected, to be honest, so this morning, I decided to test the theory postulated by Andy Dennis that the area really was in a ‘gap’ between the hills of north Sutton.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Carisbroke, Chesterfield, Cross City, Cycle rides, cycling, Four Oaks, Hill Hook, Linda Mason, Little Aston, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Railway, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Station, Sutton, Things to do, Tin Tabernacle, Twitter, Wall, Warwickshire, Watford Gap, West Midlands
11 Comments
Surging forward
I should have known, really. No sooner had I delved into the fascinating world of the Brownhills surge stack, then Ian Pell, railway historian extraordinaire, had written to me with a whole bunch of new information, clarifications and even a few questions.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Captain, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Morturn, New Photos, NIMBY, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
11 Comments
Hiding in plain sight?
It seems like we’re in a period for odd historical tangents and discoveries. It all started with Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler’s classic bit of gentrified nimbyism from ‘Captain’ Harrison at Aldershaw(e). From there, we alighted at Sandfields Pumping Station at Lichfield, and found a wonderful, but neglected steam engine. We’ve found since, via Peter’s further diligent research, and that of Dave Moore, a chap clearly expert on the matter, that there was a long forgotten water tower in Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Captain, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Morturn, New Photos, NIMBY, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
24 Comments
Not in MY backyard (1896 style)…
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has been in touch with a lovely quick snippet he spotted in the excellent History of the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company, which is available online for free. It really is an excellent read and deserves wider exposure.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Captain, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, New Photos, NIMBY, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, smoke, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Things to do, Water, Waterwoks
25 Comments
Call the fire brigade!
Thanks to a tipoff from top local history sort Clive Roberts, I’m able to share some wonderful videos that have just appeared on YouTube. They’re uploaded by user BulldogDave303, and although not Brownhills, they’re in and around Walsall and are really rather good…
Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1965, Bescot, Brigade, Bulldog303, Cine, Events, Film, Fire, fire engine, fire men, Local History, Middlemore Lane, reserve, Rushall, Shunting, Station, Trains, w, Window cleaner, Youtube
7 Comments