As per my previous blog entries, I’d decided to see if it was possible to visit ALL THE STATIONS that my older persons’ travel pass would allow – in one go.
I had picked a Saturday for a number of reasons, namely, one station was only open on a Saturday (for one train); I could utilise my pass all day (not just after 09:30) and hopefully, it would be a bit quieter.
I was going to be joined my one of my grandsons but he came down with the lurgy so I was on my own.
So it was out of the warm house and into the chilly morn. The projected fog had not materialised so it was fairly clear – and dark.
A short walk had me waiting at the bus stop ready for the first leg to Chelmsley Wood and from there, on another bus, to the first of many stations, Marston Green.
Strangely, I was not the first on the platform and was joined by another half dozen before the first train arrived and departed bang on time.
My first five stations were visited between here and Birmingham New Street. There wasn’t a great deal to see out of the windows as the sun was not due to rise for another hour or so.
At New Street, I had to change from platform 6B to 5B. Unfortunately, although the numbers are next to each other, the platforms are not but that wasn’t a problem as I had a quarter of an hour to make the transition.
As I was preparing to leave platform 6, I glanced across and spotted these maintenance vehicles ‘parked up’.
The departure board reassuringly informed me that my train was on time and there, sat on the platform, fresh from the train wash, was a very clean vehicle.
The 06:11 departed at 06:15 but managed to catch up a little arriving in Wolverhampton only one minute late.
I had a twenty minute wait (and another platform change) here but the 06:55 back to New Street arrived, and departed, on time.
I didn’t go back to New Street but as this train went a different route, I utilised it to grab the new-ish stations of Willenhall and Darleston, passing through Bescot Junction and alighting at Tame Bridge Parkway (Station 15).
The sun, that was just making an appearance at Wolverhampton was up by the time I’d reached Tame Bridge.
I was somewhat surprised to see quite a few people on the platform. I did notice that a few were wearing what I deduced to be Walsall F.C. football jerseys under there jackets.
Checking later Walsall were away to Colchester, where they were victorious, three-one.
The short trip did stop at Bescot Junction this time through and by the time I got to Walsall my tally was up to 17.
Hednesford is a bit of an oddity. Although it is not in the West Midlands area (which stops at Bloxwich North) it is included in the stations that my concessionary pass allows travel to.
When the network was being set up, Hednesford was paid for by the West Midlands former identity, Centro. In theory, I can’t get on or off at either Landywood or Cannock but can do so at Hednesford. Apparently, although tickets are rarely checked, there are ticket barriers at Cannock.
Talking of ticket checks, this was the first of only two times that I was asked for my pass all day.
As we pulled in onto platform 2, I witnessed the return train arrive and depart from platform 1. This meant that I had a wait of almost thirty minutes whilst my train continued to Rugeley Trent Valley and returned as the 08:28 back to Walsall.
Until the opening of a direct link between Walsall and Wolverhampton, trains between the two had to go via Birmingham New Street (many still do). It was one of these that I took but I would only be going as far as Smethwich Galton Bridge.
This time out of New Street, with the sun above the horizon, I was able to spot the iconic brutalist New Street Signal Box.
At Galton Bridge I had about eight minutes to change, not only platforms but levels, as this station is built on two levels. This acts as a cross-over between those services from New Street and those from Snow Hill.
The 09:56 service to Worcester left platform 1 bang on time whisking me away to the first of two stations bearing the name of Stourbridge.
It was from here that I caught one of my favourite trains – the class 139 Parry People Mover, which would take me along the shortest railway line I the UK all 0.8 miles to Stourbridge Town.
At the other end, everyone else got off but the driver wasn’t too surprised when I said I was going straight back. I’m guessing quite a few people make a special journey just to ride this unique train.
By catching a slightly earlier shuttle than planned, I returned to the auction with a few extra minutes in hand.
Enough time for a leak and a visit to the small on-site cafe for some provisions including a cappuccino of the journey.
As I sat on the platform, I was somewhat amused by the station announcements for the shuttle. It concluded with, “This train consists of one carriage”. Half a carriage might have been more accurate.
Back on board, I retraced my steps to Galton Bridge before continuing on to Dorridge where the service terminated.
My return train was due to leave from the same platform in about seventeen minutes so I deduced that it was probably the same unit that would be going back. I took the chance and changed seat so that I would be facing the right direction.
This section of the network, from Moor Street to Stratford, can go along either of two routes, one through Solihull (and Dorridge) or via Earlswood. The two legs rejoin at Wilmcote.
To visit all the station on both legs required a return to Tysley.
This was one of the few busy trains on which I travelled today with loads of people heading into Birmingham.
The sign for Tyseley barely hides that it used to be the station go alight at for the Birmingham Railway Museum. This later became the engineering hub for Vintage Rail that runs vintage trains (there’s clue in the name) on the mainline.
We have risen on many of Vintage Trains excursions – in fact we’ll be on one tomorrow (watch this space).
Occasionally, Vintage Trains do hold open days of their engine sheds which are well worth a visit.
Around half an hour after arriving, I was leaving, travelling along the leg as far as Earlswood where I’d have swap platforms and wait for a returning train.
One of the reasons for travelling on a Saturday, is that Bordesley station, just outside of Birmingham, only has one train scheduled to stop a week. This one train departs from Whitlock’s End (a few stop back towards Moor Street) so I then had to make a very short hop of two stations.
At Whitlock’s End, I had a wait of around half an hour and as I would still be going in the same direction, treated myself to a sit down in the afternoon sunshine.
As I was sunning myself, a train puled in to the opposite platform and stopped there. A bit odd, I thought.
I had been up since four so perhaps I was starting to flag, a little.
I was slowly thinking (or should have been) there’s a train waiting; my next train starts here; there’s a reason why I got off here.
Before my mind could put all the pieces together, the driver of the train wound down her window and called across, “Are you waiting for the train to Kidderminster?”
I answered in the affirmative.
“This is it!” she called.
“On that platform?”
She answered in the affirmative.
“And you stop at Bordesley?”I further inquired.
“Oh yes!”
I was told that there was no rush so I slowly changed platforms and boarded the train. That situation could have turned out quite differently and would have prevented me from visiting all the stations. When I got off at Moor Street, I made my way to the cab to give her a thumbs up and a big thank you.
Sometime, whilst waiting for one train or another, I looked at my itinerary and notice that I’d allowed a chunk of time to get from Snow Hill station, via the tram, to New Street.
If I got off a stop earlier (Moor Street) New Street was only about ten minutes walk away.
By doing this I could gain thirty minutes and could catch an earlier train for my next leg.
We did stop at Bordesley, which the conductor announced. Oddly, this was the only station that warranted this level of service – I’d like to think that the driver had given him the nod as I’d asked at Whittocks End.
After a short walk through the busy Bull Ring, I arrived at platform 9B where the train to Kings Norton was waiting.
The service out to Longbridge, as of earlier this year, can take one of two routes. The ‘old’ Cross City line or the new, trendy, Camp Hill Line.
I chose to travel the new route first, changing at KingsNorton for onward travel to Longbridge.
At Longbridge, I had six minutes to ascend the ramp up to the road level, cross over and descend the steps to platform one. The train was waiting so I rushed, unnecessarily, as it didn’t leave until it’s allotted time.
I was now on the Cross City Line which I enjoyed of the best part of an hour all the way to Blakes Street.
At this leg’s terminus, I again had to cross (this time under) the tracks to wait on the opposite platform for a train back as far as New Street.
During this leg, which again was a busy one, mainly due to Aston Villa fans travelling to Aston for their game against Fulham (one all draw). As the sun set, I was presented with a sunset over Erdington.
Back at New Street, for the final time, with the extra half an hour I’d gained earlier, I went off script and plumbed for a different train to Coventry.
Initially, I was going to go straight to Coventry, picking up the intermediate stations later. However, the train I picked would be stopping at these stations on the way out leaving only Coventry Arena to finish off the day.
On arriving at platform 7, the train.which would eventually go on to London Euston was waiting so on I got. I managed to find a seat and prepared for the short journey out to Coventry.
This was probably the busiest train of the day but the standing throng had reduced markedly by the time we pulled into Coventry.
Coventry Arena was always a problem in the planning, as after arriving, the return train was until something like forty five minutes later. I checked my timetables (including Trainline) and decided that I could visit Arena then stay on the train to Nuneaton, change trains and go to Coleshill Parkway which is not far from home.
This would mean travelling outside of the WestMidlands Zone but, technically, I’d alread had to do that to get to Wednesbury. Unfortunately, it also meant I had to buy a ticket from Arena to Coleshill.
This still left a bit of a hole in the schedule but it would be at Coventry.
I phoned Sue and ran it past her, including the bit here she picked me up from Coleshill around eight o’clock. She agreed and suggested I spend some of my layover in Coventry to grab something to eat.
A five minute walk from the station was Burger King so I ‘treated’ myself to a Veggie Supreme and Fries which I carried back to the station to consume whilst waiting for the train to my final station.
There were a lot of people waiting on platform 3 but it turns out that most were waiting for the delayed trains to Birmingham New Street.
As I was waiting, listening to the announcements, it appears that the line between Birmingham and Euston was severely affected by signalling problems. Perhaps it was fortuitous that I’d done the International leg earlier than planned.
Although the train to Nuneaton was listed as third for that platform, after the Euston and New Street trains, it was the first to arrive and I was soon on my way to the final destination.
It was well dark as we pulled into Coventry Arena so I had to contend with multiple reflections to grab a shot through the window.
Station 76.
It is possible to visit ALL THE STATIONS in the West Midlands in one day.
I filled in the final entry of my greatly altered plan and sat back as we continued on to Nuneaton.
Now here is a station with some bad memories.
Once, Sue and I were travelling on a charter to Carlisle and were delayed for many hours on a cold wind-swept Nuneaton station.
More recently, I boarded a train from here to Coleshill (same as tonight) but shortly after pulling out of the station it stopped and pulled back in. I had to continue my journey on the bus.
Luckily, even though my final train left four minutes late (probably the most delayed all day) I still made it to Coleshill Parkway.
I was glad to see Sue, in the car waiting, and I was whisked off to The Griffin for a celebratory couple of jars.
In summary …
- Twenty one trains
- Seventy six West Midlands stations visited
- Fifteen and a half hours on the train
- Around two hundred miles travelled
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