DMU Operations: London Midland Region
Birmingham - Redditch
DMUs were introduced to ths service on 25 April 1960. From 1978 it would become a Redditch - Four Oaks service.
Robin Green's memories of the DMU services from introduction to July 1964: "As background, my regular train from Blackwell was the 7.10 from Worcester SH (the 7.52 from Barnt Green). By 1960, the Worcester guard's diagrams had all changed and the ex LMR goods guard link no longer worked this train, so more often than not, I would get off at Barnt Green and join the 8.07 dmu. This was the only working that started at Barnt Green - it was formed from the 7.25 am from New Street, which after arriving in platform 4, ran down the branch line to Barnt Green Single Line Junction, gave the bobby his cans of drinking water and collected the empties and then came back into platform 3. This all had to be completed before the next train from Redditch (8.15am from Barnt Green) needed to enter the single line at Redditch."
"I remember the rather strange Barnt Green to Derby leaflet coming out - even the booking clerk at Barnt Green (a school mate who had joined the railway) was baffled by the logic of it. We came to the conclusion that, as everything south of Barnt Green was Western Region, it didn't exist! With the exception of the one working, above, all the services calling at Barnt Green came from further southwest. No dmu's worked through to Derby - as you say elsewhere the 3-car Cravens units covered the Derby stopping services."
"The Redditch (headcode B5) services initially required 2 x 2-car units - normally Metro Cammell, but we also had the occasional very new Derby units. Following complaints of severe overcrowding, a third unit was provided to strengthen the morning Barnt Green service and the 5.32pm New Street to Redditch and back. In between, this unit stood all day on the centre road between platforms 9 & 10 in New Street. The units provided a basic hourly service in each direction. Additional loco hauled services remained at peak hours - 08.15 at Barnt Green started at Redditch , the 8.40 from Barnt Green came from Ashchurch via Evesham and Redditch. The 5.10pm from New Street to Redditch was loco hauled. The 6.18pm from New Street to Evesham must have been loco hauled, although I never saw it."
"All this changed with the rebuilding of New Street station and the start of electric services to London — Monument Lane and Walsall diesel depots closed, and Tyseley provided the units."
"There were 2 other dmu workings at this time. The 10.21am from Barnt Green was a Tyseley Cross-Country unit, starting back at Malvern Wells, which worked back as the 2.03pm to Worcester Foregate Street. Initially this was worked by one of the final batch of 120s, but when they were moved to the West Country, we got 119s or 116s instead. Both bounced around between Northfield and Barnt Green! The other dmu working came out of King's Norton sidings and formed the 4.50ish pm to New Street and then on to Walsall via Sutton Park 2 x 2-car, usually Gloucester or Park Royal. Don't know how it got to the sidings in the morning though!"
Sample Timetables
1st November 1960 until 11th June 1961
4 3¾" x 6 ½" when folded
Only the Birmingham - Barnt Green section
12th June to 10th September 1961
4 ⅞" x 7 ⅝" when folded.
6 May 1974 to 3 May 1975
2 7/8" x 4 1/8"
Images
January 1960
A two-car Met-Camm DMU in Birmingham New Street station with a Redditch service in January 1960. Michael Mensing.
mid-1960
A Met-Camm twin, M51184 closest, in Birmingham New Street after arriving from Redditch in mid-1960. Michael Mensing.
18th June 1960
A two-car Met-Camm DMU is seen in platform 9 of Birmingham New Street station with a Redditch service on 18 June 1960. Michael Mensing.
17th September 1960
A Met-Camm DMU on a Redditch service awaits departure from platform 11 of Birmingham New Street on 17 September 1960. Michael Mensing.
1961
A two-car Met-Camm DMU with DMBS M51179 closest in platform 8 of Birmingham New Street with a Redditch service in mid-1961. Michael Mensing.
circa early 1960s
A Met-Camm twin in Northfield station circa early 1960s, likely on a Birmingham New Street - Redditch service. Stuart Mackay Collection.
March 1961
A two-car Met-Camm DMU is seen in Birmingham New Street after arriving from Redditch in March 1961. A Cravens DMU is on the left. Michael Mensing.
8th July 1961
M51191 (with Ryecroft shed code 21F on the buffer beam) departs from platform five of Birmingham New Street after arriving with the 3.30pm from Redditch on 8 July 1961. A Park Royal set is stabled in the centre road. Michael Mensing.
8th July 1961
On 8 August 1961 a two-car Met-Camm DMU is seen in platform 8 of Birmingham New Street after terminating with the 1.48pm service from Redditch. It will form the 2.35pm return to Redditch. Michael Mensing.
23rd June 1962
Met-Camm DTC M56342 in Birmingham New Street (platform 8) with the 2.35pm service to Redditch (via the Camp Hill line) on 23 June 1962. Michael Mensing.
4th August 1962
A BRC&W DMU with M50534 leading departs from platform 11 of Birmingham New Street with the 1.40pm to Redditch on 4 August 1962. Michael Mensing.
25th May 1963
This is the Redditch/Ashchurch side of Barnt Green station on 25 May 1963, a Metro-Cammell unit has just arrived from Redditch and Ivatt 4MT 43122 is heading in the opposite direction. The fine footbridge survived, albeit altered, until October 2015 but the electrification to Bromsgrove has finally seen it off. The little waiting room on the far left has gone, did it really need a chimney that big? The main station building has also gone, today we are left with the usual skimpy bus shelters. Image taken by Peter Shoesmith. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.
8th July 1972
Class 122 'bubble car' M55006 seen in Barnt Green station on 8 July 1972. Stuart Mackay Collection.
29th July 1972
Class 122 'Bubble Car' M55009 seen with a busy drivers compartment and Birmingham New Street on the destination blind at Barnt Green on 29 July 1972. A Tyseley vehicle since new, it's first allocation change would be several weeks later when it moved to Bletchley. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa early 1970s
A 3-car Class 101 DMU in Barnt Green station with a Redditch service circa early 1970s. Steve Davies Collection.
summer 1974
Selly Oak Station, Birmingham, Summer 1974. Built by the Midland Railway in 1876 Selly Oak station in the southern surburbs was unmanned & uncared for in 1974. Still served by these dmus from New Street to Redditch the NE-SW expresses hauled by Peaks swept through the station at speed. I had just arrived from King's Norton but not many others alighted. Not long afterwards in 1978 the whole historic lot was swept away & a modern brick & plastic replacement built. No doubt an improvement on the dereliction but not on the original which if renovated instead of demolished would have been very much better. Selly Oak station became part of the Cross City Line from Lichfield to Redditch & was electrified in 1993. The structure in the centre is the roof over the staircase which lead to the subway over to the Down platform. This has been replaced by a footbridge. Pete LG99.
4th January 1975
A Class 122 with Redditch on the destination blind at Barnt Green on 4 January 1975. Phillip Malin.
4th January 1975
A Class 122 with Redditch on the destination blind arrives into Barnt Green station on 4 January 1975. Phillip Malin.
4th January 1975
A Class 122 DMU arrives into Barnt Green station with a service from Redditch on 4 January 1975. Phillip Malin.
August 1975
A Class 122 (which seems to be set TY056 / M55012) attached to a Class 116 at St Andrews Junction, Birmingham, in late August 1975. Redditch is on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.
late August 1975
Class 122 M55012 is seen at Five Ways, Birmingham, in late August 1975. Redditch is on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.
3rd January 1976
The 13:40 Redditch - Birmingham New Street service arrives into Kings Norton station on 3 January 1976 formed of Class 101 DMU set TS412. The leading vehicle is thought to be M50315, the centre car is M59126. Michael Mensing.
3rd January 1976
The 13:40 Redditch - Birmingham New Street service departs from Kings Norton station on 3 January 1976. The centre car is M59126, the DMBS is thought to be M50315, they form set TS412. Michael Mensing.
7th August 1976
Class 122 'bubble car' M55012 arrives into Barnt Green station with the 6.35pm Redditch - Birmingham New Street service on August 7th 1976. Michael Mensing.
7th August 1976
With one engine exhaust smoking badly and no sign of exhaust from the other (is it working on one engine?) Class 122 'bubble car' M55012 departs from Barnt Green station with the 6.35pm Redditch - Birmingham New Street service on August 7th 1976. Michael Mensing.
26th September 1991
On 26 September 1991 a 4 car Tyseley with an unclear set number, possibly T407, a hybrid formed of classes 116, 116 and 127, was turning off the Birmingham to Gloucester line at on its way to Redditch. Behind it on the main line is another hybrid set going towards Birmingham along with 55032 in the turnback siding waiting for a path to cross over and form the next service from Barnt Green back to Worcester Shrub Hill. Peter Tandy.