West Midlands Day Ranger

On a windy but mild day 9 Members attended this fixture. The party met at Crewe travelling aboard 221113/221117 on [9M48 07.54 Blackpool – Euston]

We changed at Wolverhampton to join a very full 221131 on [1O10 08.27 Man Piccadilly – Reading] arriving at New St at 09.59. There was then a quick dash to 350265 [2H39 09.41 Birmingham Int’l – Rugeley Trent Valley] on which we travelled to Walsall. Bescot Yard contained D4157 [08922] / 66030 / 59 / 65 / 148, 66744/51.

We returned from Walsall aboard 350101 [2L42 10.18 Rugeley T V – Birmingham Int’l] as far as New St. We then travelled to Redditch on 323206/323202 [2B24 11.16 Four Oaks – Redditch] returning to Longbridge aboard the same units forming [2U28 12.32 to Four Oaks].

From Longbridge we headed South on board 323221/323217 [2O27 11.50 Lichfield T V – Bromsgrove]. A quick connection saw the party travel to Worcester Foregate St with 170506/170513 [1V27 12.50 New St – Hereford] and we then travelled on 172339 [2C44 13.42 to Dorridge] as far as Stourbridge Jnc. 139002 took us to & from Stourbridge Town whilst 139001 was stationed just outside its stabling point at Stourbridge Junction.

The party then returned North aboard 172101/172338 [2D46 14.14 Kidderminster – Stratford upon Avon] to Smethwick Galton Bridge connecting into [1F48 15.04 New St – Liverpool] as far as Crewe.

One member continued on the Stratford-bound service to Birmingham Moor St and then walked to New St to join 390039 [9P77 13.36 Euston – Blackpool] to make the return to Crewe. This latter variation meant a total of over 206 miles travelled on 13 different services. A bargain at £19 for a railcard holder and an enjoyable day for all.

PPM60 unit 139001 is about to move into its stabling point at Stourbridge Junction: Image Credit - Peter Young.
PPM60 unit 139001 is about to move into its stabling point at Stourbridge Junction: Image Credit - Peter Young.