| In the
early 1950's, Birmingham New Street was a mecca for Rail enthusiasts.
Bushbury sheds 8 Unrebuilt Royal Scots worked the services to and from
Euston, though in 1953 they were replaced by Jubilees. And there were
also Jubilees, Patriots, and Black 5's a plenty on the workings via
Crewe. On the Midland side of the station, Jubilees reigned supreme, and
there was a daily working of a 40B Eastern class B1 from and to Cleethorpes. And there were regular excursions with large round
headboards bound for Cadburys at Bournville. Then there was
"Chipper", the ancient LNWR 0-6-2T, the Station pilot, which
occasionally did a little shunting.
But the highlight of the day was the "Glassy", the arrival at 4.50pm (later 5.10pm) of the morning service from Glasgow Central. A Stanier pacific worked the train as far as Crewe, where a Crewe North Engine, usually a Royal Scot, took over for the run to Birmingham. But 5A shed also had the habit of turning out newly overhauled locos for the turn. And this meant, in theory anyway, the possibility of rare Scots, newly built Britannias, and possibly even a Clan. So at about 4.15pm in the afternoon, large numbers of young, and not so young, lads descended on New Street station. In the next hour, there was much on offer. At 4.20pm, a Euston to Wolverhampton, a Bushbury working.The 4.30pm to Euston, another Bushbury working. A Bristol to York at 4.40pm, the Cleethorpes at 4.50pm, a B1, the 5.00pm to Euston, a Black 5, and the Glasgow arrival at 4.50pm (subsequently 5.10pm) |
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My New Street Track Diagram scanned from my 1954 log book |
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| So for
me, a typical New Street afternoon would conclude with (1) Note the loco
on the Euston to Wolverhampton at 4.20pm, (2) Note the loco on the
Wolverhampton to Euston at 4.30pm, (3) Over to Platform 7 to cab the
Bristol to York at 4.35pm, then (4) Over to Platform 8 to cab the B1 on
the 4.50pm Cleethorpes (5) Back over to Platform 3 for the arrival of
the Glasgow to Birmingham. Join the queue and cab the loco.
I never saw a Clan on the Glassy, but there were a couple of Brits. But mostly it was Royal Scots, or sometimes a Patriot rebuild. Fabulous times. |
