Wednesday October 17th ~ A trip to Birmingham

Got the tube from Manor House to Euston (Piccadilly then Victoria line). Got me a coffee from AMT then onto new 11-car Pendolino 390 154 on the 10.43 to Birmingham New Street. It was a nice Autumn day. At Birmingham I bought m' Daytripper then did two return trips to Wolverhampton. First 158 840 (with 158 834) on the 1224 to Pwllheli, returning on Cross Country Voyager 220 007 on the 12.45 to Bournemouth. Then Virgin Voyager 221 114 (no name plates) with the 13.20 to Glasgow Central, returning on 390 124 'Virgin Venturer' on the 13.45 to London Euston.

158 840 (and 158 834) depart Wolverhampton

with the 12.24 Birmingham to Pwllheli

The aim then was to get some Chiltern class 67 haulage. I walked across to Birmingham Snow Hill and got on my first 172/3 172 344 on the 14.37 to Dorridge, which I took to Solihull. The 172/3s are visually very different from the London Overground 172/0s, and they do have beautiful peppermint green seat covers. At Solihull the 15.05 (13.37 from London Marylebone) to Birmingham Moor Street arrived, with 67 013 'Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte' pushing on the rear (to my slight consternation as I had moved to the north end of the platform expecting it to be on the front!). As a bonus it was announced on the train that it would be running through to Snow Hill. At Snow Hill the 67  with the unpronounceable name and it's train formed the 15.50 to London Marylebone (with the 67 now on the front of course), which I took back to Solihull. From there it was 172 339 back to Snow Hill with the 16.17 to Kidderminster.

67013 'Dyfrbont Pontcysyllte' at Solihull with the

15.50 Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone

172 339 calls at Solihull with the 16.17 to Kidderminster

172 220 at Birmingham Snow Hill

with a southbound train

A little break from the trains and some bus observation. The main double decker bus type in Birmingham seems to be the ALX400, with plenty of Gemini's and Enviro's as well. Single deck wise there is lots of variety, including OmniLinks which I don't see in London. Some of these were in an articulated (ie bendy-bus) version.

An ALX400 in Birmingham

A Birmingham Gemini

...and a Birmingham Enviro400

I was interested to see that the three accomodation towers at Aston University were being pulled down and replaced with brand new accomodation. Stafford Tower was still standing but Laurence Tower and the other one were going and gone!

Back on the trains it was 172 334 from Snow Hill to Dorridge with the 1735 to Leamington Spa. I was hoping that the 18.18 back to Moor Street (16.46 ex London Marylebone) would be a class 67 but it turned out to be a DMU - 168 003! Nevertheless I took it back to Moor Street.

168 003 after arrival at Birmingham Moor Street

with the 16.46 from London Marylebone

It was now dark and across from Moor Street I spent some time watching the evening buses and the city lights. Some routes I recognised from past times - the 50 to Druids Heath via Moseley, the 6 to Solihull, the 60 to Cranes Park... I meditated and reflected for a while, feeling nicely peaceful. Went for a stroll around Birmingham city centre, I am impressed by the improvements made - the pedestrianisation, the fountain and it's coloured lights, it's quite pleasant. Got a coffee from Starbucks. Unfortunately had one of my panic attacks on the way back to New Street station though. Feeling under attack from people, they want to hurt and humiliate me... I have to defend myself and I kick the back of a womans boot.... sigh....

Onto New Street station to try and calm myself... anyway time to head back to London. 390 038 'City of London' doing the honours with the 20.10 to Euston (19.45 ex Wolverhampton). At Euston filthy 66's 66138 and 66232 are parked tnt'ing an RHTT train. My final move of the evening is Gemini DW446 on the 253 to Manor House.