DMU Operations: Western Region
Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town
DMUs were introduced to the short branch on 17 June 1957 along with other Western Region local services in the Birmingham area.
Vehicles were allocated to Tyseley depot and initially Derby suburban triples (Class 116s) were used. When the Gloucester RC&W single cars were delivered they became the main traction on the route for many years, sometimes with a driving trailers.
In January 1963 the route became part of the London Midland Region.
An article by Andrew Cope looks at passenger and parcels workings on the Stourbridge Line in 1963.
Sample Timetables
The covered all the Western Region Birmingham area diesel services, the Stourbridge service was a small portion of a page after the main timetable pages.
17th June to 15th September, 1957
Download PDF (13mb)
9th June to 14th September, 1958
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15th September 1958 to 14th June 1959
Download PDF (12mb)
15th June to 13th September, 1959
2nd November 1959 to 12th June 1960
Download PDF (11mb)
13th June to 11th September, 1960
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12th September 1960 to 11th June 1961
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12th June to 10th September 1961
11th September 1961 to 17th June 1962
18th June to 9th September, 1962
10th September 1962 to 16th June 1963
Download PDF (9mb)
Images
Unknown date
A Derby suburban triple DMU arrives at Stourbridge Town circa early 1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
11th June 1962
GRC&W 'double-ender' M55006 with the 2.58pm Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town service 11 June 1962. Note the tail lamp and driver at this end. Michael Mensing.
11th June 1962
M55006 departs Stourbridge Town on the short journey to Stourbridge Junction station on 11 June 1962. Note the tail lamp at this end! Michael Mensing.
1969
A class 122 single car waits to leave Stourbridge Town for Stourbridge Junction in 1969. This station was systematically vandalised over the years, with the canopy first to be removed. Then a new bus shelter and portakabin ticket office were erected where the running in board is. This enabled demolition of the remaining building. Since then the station has been relocated and a new transport interchange opened. The line used to be double here, with a nearby Signalbox controlling it and eventually they were converted to 2 single lines with the right hand one continuing down a fearsome gradient to a goods depot. Notoriety was gained during the 70s with the unit running through the stop blocks, the most serious being in 1977 when the front bogies dropped into Foster street. Fortunately it was Grand National Day and most of the good people of Stourbridge were backing their ggs! Stephen Burdett.
1969
A vintage view of Stourbridge Junction station in 1969. The shuttle to Stourbridge Town in the form of a class 122 single unit is in platform 1. Of note are the number of platform trolleys under the canopy. A class 119 can be seen on the right. Stephen Burdett.
1969
A vintage view of the class 122 Stourbridge shuttle entering Stourbridge Junction in 1969. Stephen Burdett.
circa July 1971
A Class 122 DMU in Stourbridge Town. With set number TY056 in the cab window this is presumably 55012. The slide process date was July 1971. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Unknown date
A Class 122 sits at Stourbridge Junction. Steve Davies Collection.
10th October 1974
A Class 122 in Stourbridge Town station on 10/10/1974. The ongoing vandalism of the terminus continues with the loss of the superb canopy. Stephen Burdett.
27th February 1976
A class 122 offloads its passengers at Stourbridge Junction after the 3 minute trip from Stourbridge Town on 27/2/1976. Carrying set number TY051, this is presumably M55004. Stephen Burdett.
27th February 1976
A class 122 (TY051, presumably M55004) waits to leave Stourbridge Town for one of the worlds great rail journeys to Stourbridge Junction!! 27/2/1976. Stephen Burdett.
1977
M55003 - one of Tyseley's class 122 bubble cars - waits to leave Stourbridge Town for the 3 minute trip to Stourbridge Junction in 1977. Stephen Burdett.
Unknown date
Stourbridge station sometime in the early / mid-1970s, with the usual Class 122 on the shuttle to Stourbridge Junction. Ian Dinmore/railarchive.org.uk.
2nd April 1977
M55012 after a brake failure at Stourbridge Town on 2 April 1977. Walter Burt Collection.
2nd April 1977
Next stop Stourbridge High Street. This rather unfortunate event took place on 2nd April 1977. The driver of single car Class 122 M55012 unit overshot the buffers at Stourbridge town and went through the wall. The rather nice BMC Fire brigade incident unit is registered OEA 999F also in attendance is a new fire engine and the local panda car. I wonder how much would be left of a Parry people mover if one of those overshot! Geoff Dowling.
9th April 1977
Refurbished Class 101 set TS412, with 59115 and 50317 visible, at Stourbridge Junction on 9 April 1977. Michael Mensing.
9th April 1977
Refurbished Class 101 DMU set TS412 comes of the Stourbridge Town branch at Stourbridge Junction on 9 April 1977. The two furthest vehicles are 59115 and 50317. Michael Mensing.
9th April 1977
Class 101 DMU set TS412 in Stourbridge Junction station on 9 April 1977. The closest two vehicles are 50317 and 59115. Michael Mensing.
9th April 1977
Refurbished Met-Camm set TS412 (presumably 50327 + 59115 + 50317) in Stourbridge Junction station on 9 April 1977. Note the closest vehicle has the BR logo on the side and not the WM logo. Michael Mensing.
5th July 1977
Evening shadows at the original GWR station at Stourbridge Town on July 5th 1977, as Class 122 Single Unit M55012 was against the block awaiting the return journey along the steeply-graded 0.8 mile branch to Stourbridge Junction. The station still retained its BR 1950's enamel Western Region platform nameboard. Martyn Hilbert.