I’ve been on the snow hill line numerous times and I recounted the site of smethwick west station now well overgrown and the signal box that used to be here now been demolished completely
Wow this is insanely good! You'd never believe the line was quite that twisting; you certainly don't feel the curves as a passenger apart from Stourbridge N Jnc obviously! This is awesome, thanks so much for sharing!
I used to live in Stourbridge and every so often we'd take this train and drop in on Dad at work in Birmingham. Travelling after the rush hour you stood a fair chance of sitting right at the front with a view forward through the cab which was great but, if the driver was in a good mood, you could get to sit in the cab. Looks like it hadn't changed much when you filmed it. Last time I travelled this line we changed trains for Durham and I've lived here ever since. Much enjoyed.
I used to do this journey Saturday nights after watching Speedwa\y racing at Cradley Heath. I would get on the train at Cradley and the old 101 units would struggle and vidrate up the bank - sorry, bonk - through Old Hill and Rowley Regis to Langley Green. Then on to New St. where I would get my connection to Lea Hall. Happy days, and please bring Speedway back to Cradley. We have now got Speedway back in Birmingham so you are next I hope!
Wow I saw the block of flats I used to live In... Along with the station Smethwick West.. I remember in the mid 90's someone fired the signalbox there, the station has no been demolished and now trains go from Galton village!!
I really enjoyed that. Good to see the signalboxes at Cradley and Rowley, the old booking office at Langley, and Smethwick West (with its tower blocks looming over) still 6 years away from closure. It looks like the the new stretch of tunnel under the ICC/Symphony Hall was under construction at the time. It wasn't there in 1988.
Ok... This vid is pre Galton bridge, which is split level, so if you look close, you will see a line going off to the left just at Smethwick West. This is where the old Snow Hill line was, and now has been replaced.
I deliberately decided to film the journey because I wanted to record the old semaphore signals (and the old signal lights) which were taken down a week or so afterwards. And of course it is also interesting to see Smethwick West station, the now demolished signal boxes at Cradley Heath, Rowley Regis, Langley Green and Smethwick West, and the single line to the left at Smethwick West which is now the main line to Snow Hill station.
Yes... this was before the new Galton Bridge Station was built. They now turn to the left just after Smethwick West, and run along side the Metro line ( which is the line the steam used to run to Snow Hill). This is very strange because i do not remeber this service stopping at Rolfe St... I lived in the tower block to the left of Smethwick West Station.
Yes I filmed them myself with a VHS camcorder I hired from Radio Rentals in 1990. The Stourbridge to Birmingham video was filmed from the passenger side of the closed sliding door behind the DMU cab, but the Birmingham to Stourbridge one was taken from the cab itself, thanks to a very helpful driver.
Why did they stop putting trains on from Stourbridge to New Street? The line just before Smethwick Galton Bridge that goes to New Street is still in really good condition. Any idea why the stopped it?
The line is still in use for freight trains, and diversions for trains from New Street to Hereford and other areas down that way. However, New Street has little capacity for services as it is, plus a lot of the services from Stourbridge don't terminate at Snow Hill, but run through it to Dorridge etc, which I don't think would be possible if they ran through New Street. Besides, Snow Hill is still in the centre of Birmingham, it's not like you have to walk an hour to get to the shops.
@shaneh87 Not anymore, no. From Stourbridge to Birmingham way you can pretty much only get to Snow Hill and Moor Street, and go from there either by train or by foot to New Street. Or get off at Smethwick G B And train the last little bit of the journey to New Street.
my favourte trains of all time DMU class 117s. riding on them in the 1980s was great but they did look a bit worn but still the best. built in derby between 1959 and 1961. known as class 116s or 118s at the time untill mi 70s when they made walk through ways on them due to higher capcity. then some just became 117s. but not all of them. great video and memories
they had the dmus working on what was then on electrified cross city line before the electrification of 1993 and the introduction of the electric multiple units
brian jesic luckily the front fleet of the class 323s appeared in 1996 and after that goodbye for the class 304 and class 310 units from running on the cross city line
brian jesic as of today no trains ever used smethwick west junction to smethwick Rolfe Street again only electric trains pass by on the approach to smethwick golton bridge
I grew up in Cradley Heath (Timbertree nr Haden Hill Park) but still live close by, its bostin 2see this footage an the stops at Cradley Heath an Old Hill wow al the mems come floodin bak ;-) ..... Pardoe1976 ;-) x
gepree thanks for these incredible videos. did you shoot these yourself? i find it soo fascinating to relive the memories; all the coloured signals with crosses on them, semaphore signals, smethwick west. regional railways, haha. brings a tear to my eye.
I still live in the area and use this line regularly, pity the service no longer goes to new street, now it goes to snow hill and moor street past some dump called the hawthorns. Would mention the Parry People Mover on the Stourbridge Town branch, but I might get into trouble for swearing lol!!!
What is the soundtrack tune please? It sounds brilliant :) Great video too, great to watch it, such a shame they took down all the semaphores and will soon be doing the same between Kidderminster and Worcester :(
wow, yes i used to frequently travel from stourbridge to brum on the trains, and the journey now is nowhere near as exciting with a complete set of coloured signals rather than semaphore, and stourbridge junction signalling from the junction to the hawthorns. the old days are missed. it always made me laugh how semaphore was used on the stourbridge town line when it wasnt really needed! do you have any more of these archived videos gepree?
@shaneh87 It really is a pain in the ass. It'd be a lot easier to just get a train that called at Cradley Heath, Rowley Regis, Smethwick Rolfe Street and then Birmingham New Street. Everytime I go through the old Smethwick West I see the line to New Street in perfectly good condition and I just think "What a waste" I'm going to write to London Midland and ask why services aren't on and if they can resume them.
I’ve been on the snow hill line numerous times and I recounted the site of smethwick west station now well overgrown and the signal box that used to be here now been demolished completely
Wow this is insanely good! You'd never believe the line was quite that twisting; you certainly don't feel the curves as a passenger apart from Stourbridge N Jnc obviously!
This is awesome, thanks so much for sharing!
I used to live in Stourbridge and every so often we'd take this train and drop in on Dad at work in Birmingham. Travelling after the rush hour you stood a fair chance of sitting right at the front with a view forward through the cab which was great but, if the driver was in a good mood, you could get to sit in the cab. Looks like it hadn't changed much when you filmed it.
Last time I travelled this line we changed trains for Durham and I've lived here ever since.
Much enjoyed.
I believe the reason for switching to Snow Hill was due to capacity at New Street, which was getting ridiculously crowded with services.
I'm guessing they were able to free up more paths out of New Street towards Wolverhampton too, as it's a pretty crowded line and only double track.
I used to do this journey Saturday nights after watching Speedwa\y racing at Cradley Heath. I would get on the train at Cradley and the old 101 units would struggle and vidrate up the bank - sorry, bonk - through Old Hill and Rowley Regis to Langley Green. Then on to New St. where I would get my connection to Lea Hall. Happy days, and please bring Speedway back to Cradley. We have now got Speedway back in Birmingham so you are next I hope!
Wow I saw the block of flats I used to live In... Along with the station Smethwick West.. I remember in the mid 90's someone fired the signalbox there, the station has no been demolished and now trains go from Galton village!!
I really enjoyed that. Good to see the signalboxes at Cradley and Rowley, the old booking office at Langley, and Smethwick West (with its tower blocks looming over) still 6 years away from closure.
It looks like the the new stretch of tunnel under the ICC/Symphony Hall was under construction at the time. It wasn't there in 1988.
Ok... This vid is pre Galton bridge, which is split level, so if you look close, you will see a line going off to the left just at Smethwick West. This is where the old Snow Hill line was, and now has been replaced.
I deliberately decided to film the journey because I wanted to record the old semaphore signals (and the old signal lights) which were taken down a week or so afterwards. And of course it is also interesting to see Smethwick West station, the now demolished signal boxes at Cradley Heath, Rowley Regis, Langley Green and Smethwick West, and the single line to the left at Smethwick West which is now the main line to Snow Hill station.
Yes... this was before the new Galton Bridge Station was built. They now turn to the left just after Smethwick West, and run along side the Metro line ( which is the line the steam used to run to Snow Hill). This is very strange because i do not remeber this service stopping at Rolfe St... I lived in the tower block to the left of Smethwick West Station.
Yes I filmed them myself with a VHS camcorder I hired from Radio Rentals in 1990. The Stourbridge to Birmingham video was filmed from the passenger side of the closed sliding door behind the DMU cab, but the Birmingham to Stourbridge one was taken from the cab itself, thanks to a very helpful driver.
Why did they stop putting trains on from Stourbridge to New Street? The line just before Smethwick Galton Bridge that goes to New Street is still in really good condition.
Any idea why the stopped it?
The line is still in use for freight trains, and diversions for trains from New Street to Hereford and other areas down that way. However, New Street has little capacity for services as it is, plus a lot of the services from Stourbridge don't terminate at Snow Hill, but run through it to Dorridge etc, which I don't think would be possible if they ran through New Street. Besides, Snow Hill is still in the centre of Birmingham, it's not like you have to walk an hour to get to the shops.
Wow, i only been catching the train recently after moving jobs, Rowley Regis look so different...and small!
Very interesting!
@shaneh87 Not anymore, no. From Stourbridge to Birmingham way you can pretty much only get to Snow Hill and Moor Street, and go from there either by train or by foot to New Street. Or get off at Smethwick G B And train the last little bit of the journey to New Street.
It's Sweet Talking Woman by ELO (The Electric Light Orchestra)
Is quite fitting to have a Brummie band accompany us on our little choo choo ride from the black country into the centre of Birmingham eh :)
my favourte trains of all time DMU class 117s. riding on them in the 1980s was great but they did look a bit worn but still the best. built in derby between 1959 and 1961. known as class 116s or 118s at the time untill mi 70s when they made walk through ways on them due to higher capcity. then some just became 117s. but not all of them. great video and memories
they had the dmus working on what was then on electrified cross city line before the electrification of 1993 and the introduction of the electric multiple units
yes i know. but when first electfied they had a mixure of DMUs and EMUs. due to teething problems. DMU 116 117 118 108 150. EMU 305 3110 323.
brian jesic luckily the front fleet of the class 323s appeared in 1996 and after that goodbye for the class 304 and class 310 units from running on the cross city line
yes. but they did continue to run 304s 310s between wolverhampton and walsall via new street untill about 1999- 2000
brian jesic as of today no trains ever used smethwick west junction to smethwick Rolfe Street again only electric trains pass by on the approach to smethwick golton bridge
Sadly... there is no chance of that now. The old St Annes has houses on it . But I can still smell the bikes when i go past it.
I grew up in Cradley Heath (Timbertree nr Haden Hill Park) but still live close by, its bostin 2see this footage an the stops at Cradley Heath an Old Hill wow al the mems come floodin bak ;-) ..... Pardoe1976 ;-) x
gepree thanks for these incredible videos. did you shoot these yourself? i find it soo fascinating to relive the memories; all the coloured signals with crosses on them, semaphore signals, smethwick west. regional railways, haha. brings a tear to my eye.
I still live in the area and use this line regularly, pity the service no longer goes to new street, now it goes to snow hill and moor street past some dump called the hawthorns.
Would mention the Parry People Mover on the Stourbridge Town branch, but I might get into trouble for swearing lol!!!
I believe that it used to go to Cooper's Metals (Handsworth), which is still there.
hay nice selection of music i like ELO
Much better when trains went to New St, more central and far easier for onward connections.
and its like "higher and higher baby"
Ah... the way things used to be! bliss
whats the tune accompanying this video?
When you see the line diverting towards where Smethwick Galton Bridge Higher Level is now, what was there before? Was it just a derelict line?
Interesting that it stopped at Smethwick Rolfe Street!
What were the frequencies of trains in 1990?
Stopper to Stourbridge once an hour, semi-fast to Hereford via Kidderminster, Worcester and the Malverns once an hour.
What is the soundtrack tune please? It sounds brilliant :)
Great video too, great to watch it, such a shame they took down all the semaphores and will soon be doing the same between Kidderminster and Worcester :(
wow, yes i used to frequently travel from stourbridge to brum on the trains, and the journey now is nowhere near as exciting with a complete set of coloured signals rather than semaphore, and stourbridge junction signalling from the junction to the hawthorns. the old days are missed. it always made me laugh how semaphore was used on the stourbridge town line when it wasnt really needed! do you have any more of these archived videos gepree?
@shaneh87
It really is a pain in the ass. It'd be a lot easier to just get a train that called at Cradley Heath, Rowley Regis, Smethwick Rolfe Street and then Birmingham New Street. Everytime I go through the old Smethwick West I see the line to New Street in perfectly good condition and I just think "What a waste"
I'm going to write to London Midland and ask why services aren't on and if they can resume them.