Picnics beside the Lickey in the 1970's


		During the summer months of the years 1970 to 1972, I frequently took my young son Michael, then aged 5 to 7 years, on Saturday afternoon picnics. This enabled my wife some free time of her own. The locations that I chose for the picnics were all close to the railway line in the vicinity of the Lickey Incline. In fact, the most favoured location was the field close to the Pikes Pool Lane rail overbridge. The other location was south of Barnt Green station, where the railway line runs through a cutting. From the highest point of the cutting, directly opposite the lineside notice showing the boundary between Western and London Midland Regions, there were excellent views of the line in both directions. This location, known as the Linthurst Advance Section, also had a bonus in the late summer. Blackberries!

		On Summer Saturdays, there was plenty of activity on the line. The usual North East to South West passenger services, two Car Carrier services from the West of England, a few Freights, a Penzance to Liverpool service, often hauled by a Western Diesel Hydraulic, which was the highlight of the afternoon. There was also an interesting northbound empty stock working involving a rake of Southern coaches in green livery, usually class 47 hauled.

		The North East to South West services were mainly in the hands of the BR Sulzer type 4 (Classes 45/46) and Brush type 4 (Class 47), the main exception being the Penzance to Liverpool service already mentioned. Other locomotives seen were:
		WESTERN CLASS 52: D1022 Western Sentinel (6/6/1970 & 26/9/1970),D1005 Western Venturer (1/8/1970), D1021 Western Cavalier (19/6/1971). None were seen in 1972.
		HYMEK CLASS 35: D7021, D7024, D7022, D7023.
		CLASS 31: D5845.
		CLASSES 24 & 25: D7649+D7526, D7508+D7564, D7617, D5268, D5238, D7522
		CLASS 20: D8173+D8096, D8111+D8192, D8167+D8112, D8009+D8099.


		Above: Class 45 locomotive.

		THE LINE IN 2008:
		Apart from the occasional special working, Passenger services are worked by Cross Country Voyagers and Class 170 or 150 units. Freights are hauled mainly by EWS Class 60 and 66 Diesels, the Class 60's on the Steel Workings to and from South Wales. There are a few DRS Nuclear workings which bring in Blue Liveried 66's, 37's, and 20's. Where necessary, freights are banked by a EWS class 66.

		The field and the immediate surroundings at Pikes Pool Lane have hardly altered. But the Linthurst Advance section is unrecognizable from the 1970's. The M42 Motorway dominates the location, and the railway cutting is overgrown with bushes and scrub. Not a place to spend any time. Probably the best location to view trains is Barnt Green station, which has good views in each direction.