Ken Jones recently went on another day out on London Midland Trains - here's his account.
London Midland have been offering freedom of their network for just £10 again during half term holidays under the banner of "The Great Escape".
For my two earlier escapes see on this website
HERE
(London Midland day out) and
HERE
(trains in West Midlands).
This time I wanted to do two branch lines that I had never done before, the Bletchley to Bedford line and Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey.
Back in Birmingham I decided to finish the day with the branch line to Redditch which I had done many years ago in a first generation DMU.
So my trains were:
1] Birmingham International to Northampton for a coffee break as LM no longer offer trolley service on their trains
2] Northampton to Bletchley
3] and 4] Bletchley to Bedford and back - note 1
5] Bletchley to Watford Junction
6] and 7] Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey and back - note 2
8] Watford Junction to Wolverton - note 3
9] Wolverton to Birmingham New Street
10] and 11] Birmingham New Street to Redditch and back - note 4
12] Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International
Notes:
1] Twin track for most of the branch line - except single track at each end - about 16 miles total. Operated by 2 units,
on the day I was there a class 153 which I used and a class 150 still in Centro livery with LM decals. It has several staggered stations,
many level crossings and large railway yard at Stewartby which used to serve the London Brick Company site which is now mainly demolished,
except for the listed chimneys. The line also has unique mile post signs every 110 yards. The old railway mile posts also remain in situ.
2] Single electrified track throughout - like one long siding - little to see except houses and trees. Operates from dedicated
platform at Watford Junction on the other side of the buildings and supermarket to the main station. Used one class 421 unit during my visit,
known locally as the Abbey Line and the Abbey Flyer. Celebrated 150 years in 2008, speculation for years that this would be taken over by
local authority as a light railway - perhaps hope rather than speculation. The line is about 8 miles. There are sidings and pointwork in
the undergrowth near Watford North station.
3] I was going to photograph the black and white murals depicting railway engines by the canal at Wolverton, but the timetable showed
next train in 4 minutes then nothing for at least an hour, so I gave the canal a miss.
4] Operated as an extension to The Cross City line from Lichfield. Most trains terminate at Longbridge but 2 per hour go onto
Redditch. Uses class 323 EMU built by Hunslet. At Barnt Green the main line heads towards the Lickey Incline and the SW, whilst the electrified
branch line turns left giving the station an unusual v shape characteristic. From here it is a single line to Redditch with an intermediate
station at Alvechurch. The line terminates at milestone 56 and 3/4.
1. Unit 350 263 at Northampton after the journey from Birmingham.
2. Departure board at Northampton showing delay due to trespassers {on line in Harrow area}. Much better than delayed "due to
technical reasons". LM also made audible public address announcements updating passengers on the station.
3. Poster advertising this Great Escape.
4. Unit 153 371 at Bletchley on the service to Bedford.
5. LM Poster at Bletchley advising customers about platforms.
6. Bedford is an East Midlands station but used by several TOC including FCC with their 377 units and the Bletchley LM service.
7. Unit 319 215 in unique advertising livery about to come off Bedford stabling sidings.
8. Part of the disused railway yard at Stewartby.
9. Milepost 2m 110yards by BBM - such mileposts are every 110 yards along the branch line.
10. Abandoned carriage near Wolverton old depot - now used by track machines. The depot used to have first generation DMU working the
branch line and an 08 shunter in special livery.
11. Unit 321 416 waits at platform 11 at Watford Junction on the Abbey Line service.
12. Unit 323 416 at St Albans Abbey - a long drop to the platform - so notice the rubber extra matting to reduce this height
near front of train.
13. Latest Pendolino 390 054 in Almstom livery arriving at Birmingham New Street.
14. Brand new unit 172 335 at New Street on Hereford service - it had just arrived from Worcester and you could smell the paint - I was
tempted to try it out but next time.
15. Unit 323 214 also at New Street station on the Redditch service.
16. Milepost at end of Redditch branch. Anyone know where they measure this from?
17. Unit 323 214 at Redditch waiting to depart back to Birmingham.