31 Returning To Nature.....

The cab of one of the several dozen Class 31 locos in Bescot Storage Sidings gently rots away in January 2001. It took a few years to dispose of the withdrawn engines that were stored here.

Class 31 machines were never a favourite of mine but it is was still sad to see them like this.

The beast explodes

Wait for it... thar she blows !

Train Control

The LNWR Bescot Train Control as seen circa 1912, The controllers would be in constant contact with the 60-odd signalboxes on the route, and manually mark the positions of trains on the 20-foot diagram using brass pegs placed in sockets at the relevant locations, similar to what a power box displays electronically these days.
Bescot Yards comprised 52 "roads" back then and can be seen in the centre of the diagram with Walsall above it. New St is at lower right (between the desks).
From a photo by W E Hall.

Open Day Western.

D1062 Western Courier from the Severn Valley Railway was one of the exhibits at the Bescot Open Day in 1992. Here the diesel-hydraulic stands in the holding sidings, with a Class 31 for company.

Beasts along the Grand

Pictured passing the up line protecting signal for Darlaston Junction this afternoon were handsome blue and green loco's 37425+37411 on their way from Warrington to Bescot, possibly for a weekend ballast working tonight ?

Wells Fargo Express

...otherwise known as the "Queen of Scots" set, passing Perry Barr South Jn today with a charter from Kensington to Worcester, and then on to Derby ! A nice mix of old stock (including one GWR coach).
31452 was the lead locomotive with 31454 tucked inside, and 31128 on the rear.
The train travelled along the Grand Line for a short distance from Aston to Perry Barr, and then turned left and "up the bank" to Soho East Jn, Galton Jn, Stourbridge and Worcester. Returning from Worcester the train ran up the Lickey Incline then past Saltley en route to Derby.

The Lakeland Express

37410 & 37417 pass through Tame Bridge while working Pathfinder Tours 'The Lakeland Express' on Saturday 29th September.

Bescot Fog!

A quartet of Class 56s stir up a few clouds of exhaust fumes in Bescot Local sidings sometime in 2001, thus continuing the tradition started by the smoking Class of 31! Presumably the driver of the Class 90 on the down grand was grateful for the sealed cab!

The Cathedrals Express

4965 Rood Ashton Hall and 4936 Kinlet Hall storm past the Railway Inn while working Steam Dreams 'The Cathedrals Express' on Saturday 18th August. This tour ran from London Victoria to Chester and back with the steamers taking over at Bescot.

New DRS Sheds

DRS recently took delivery of another batch of Class 66/4's. On the 10th September 66404 leads 66427, 66423 and 66422 past the Railway Inn, Darlaston on their maiden voyage to Carlisle.