30th September 1957

Sc50342 (on loan from the ScR) is at the front of a two-car GRC&W / two-car Cravens / possibly a BG formation in Birmingham New Street. They are working the 1.05pm service to Wolverhampton on September 30, 1957 Michael Mensing.

16th December 1957

A Class 104 set in Birmingham New Street beside a Derby Lightweight on December 16, 1957. M50458, at the front, was just a few weeks old and allocated to 5D (Stoke). Michael Mensing.

22nd August 1959

A three-car BRCW set enters Spon Lane station with a Birmingham New Street service on August 22, 1959, led by M50505. Michael Mensing.

13th January 1962

A Class 100 and Class 101 sit in Birmingham New Street on the 13th January 1962, they form the 4.5pm to Wolverhampton High Level. Michael Mensing.

2nd August 1962

This was the wooden platform and building that was Ettingshall Road and Bilston. This station was situated between Monmore Green and Bilston on the Birmingham to Wolverhampton line, it was closed 15th June 1964. A Birmingham bound train is arriving, formed of a two car Park Royal unit. Taken by Peter Shoesmith on 02/08/1962. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.

17th May 1963

Spon Lane Station on May 17th 1963. A Metro-Cammell 2 car dmu calls at the ramshackle station with a Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton HL service. The station opened in 1852 and closed in 1964, no trace remains today. Taken by Peter Shoesmith. A version of this picture appears on Page 20, B.R. Past & Present 62 Black Country & S.E.Staffordshire. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.

18th September 1964

With a cloud of exhaust a class 101 dmu leaves Smethwick Rolfe Street behind as it departs for Wolverhampton High Level. The station has changed considerably since the 18th September 1964 when Peter Shoesmith took this photograph, the canopy, footbridge and up side buildings have gone, a casualty of electrification. Sad though it is to loose the footbridge at least some light falls on the drab platforms now. The station is built in a difficult position on a tight curve and close to Rolfe Street bridge, the rail cant means a big step out of trains on the down side. The station was built in 1852 and is now the first station on the line north from Birmingham New Street. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.

3rd September 1966

This is Oldbury Station on the old LNWR line to Wolverhampton, today the modernised station is called Sandwell & Dudley. In this somewhat depressing scene from 1966 the canopy has been crudely hacked off to allow for electrification leaving the passenger no weather protection as they stood outside the run down wooded buildings. Heading towards Wolverhampton High level is a Metro-Cammell DMU. Image taken by Peter Shoesmith. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.

25th September 1966

Watched by a member of the station staff, a Metro-Cammell DMU calls at Coseley (Deepfields) with a Birmingham bound service from Wolverhampton. In this 1966 photograph the overhead wires are in place but surprisingly so is the canopy. The old station building is intact with quite a collection of sturdy barrows sheltering between the benches under shade of that canopy. In the platform are a comprehensive crop of wild flowers including lupins, I say "in the platform" because they seem to have escaped from what I assume was a flower bed on the right. A glance at the end wall reveals a poster of a young lady looking passionately up at her male companion, it would seem her hero has painted their house with 'Snowcem' a white cement paint made by The Portland Cement Company, how very romantic. Image taken by Peter Shoesmith, 25/09/1966. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.