Trainspotting

The Birmingham to Coventry line
 
Since I have lived, for the past 35 years, within a few minutes drive from either Hampton in Arden or Berkswell stations, I have tended to "pop out" for an hour or two (or more), quite frequently. Particularly on West Coast Main Line diversion days, or when additional services have been running in connection with events at the National Exhibition Centre.

So I have chosen a "Motor Show" day in 1980, and a "West Coast Main Line diversion day" 21 years later, in 2001, to illustrate the line operating at maximum capacity. 

Sadly, my days of trainspotting along the line have now finished. Who wants to watch Voyagers and Pendolinos. Not me, for sure. Fortunately, my other local line, the Tyseley to Leamington line, sees a reasonable amount of freight, even if it is mostly hauled by "Sheds" or "Freds" (EWS or Freightliner class 66's). And Charter trains appear quite regularly, both Diesel and Steam hauled. Then Leamington Spa is only a 20 minute train ride away, where I can take the wife, and send her off shopping. So all is not lost.  
 
   SATURDAY 18th OCTOBER 1980: BERKSWELL 
 
This was the second day of the 1980 MOTOR SHOW at the National Exhibition Centre. As can be seen below, many additional trains ran, both from London, and from various locations in the North. The practice in each direction was to unload at Birmingham International, then dispatch the empty stock forward (though I am not quite sure where to). No attempt was made to reverse the trains. It is interesting to compare the workings in 1980 with those of 20 years or so later. In recent years there have been virtually no special workings, though it must be said that visitor numbers to the  Motor Show are nowhere near their earlier levels. 
 
 DOWN TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
10.17 pass 47125  on 6.38 Poole-Liverpool (9)..1 late
10.29 pass 86206  on special Euston-Birmingham International no 265 (10) 
10.38 pass 47530  on special to Birmingham International (12)
10.41 pass 86249  on 9.10 Euston-Birmingham New St  (11)..18 late
10.48 pass 86216  on special to Birmingham International no 273 (12)
10.51 pass 85028  Light engine (see 10.25 Up)
10.57 pass 87032  on 9.35 Euston-Inverness (13) The Clansman..9 late
11.10 pass 86329  on special Euston-Birmingham International no 264 (10) 
11.17 pass 86257  on special Euston-Birmingham International no 266 (12) 
11.37 pass 86253  on 10.10 Euston-Birmingham New St (11)..8 late
11.51 pass 81004  on special Euston-Birmingham International no CIR 564 (11) 
12.00 pass 86219  on 10.40 Euston-Wolverhampton (11)..5 late
12.18 pass 85029  on special Euston-Birmingham International no 321 (9) 
12.22 pass 86207  Light engine
12.33 pass 86230  on 11.10 Euston-Birmingham New St (12)..4 late
12.37 pass 47056  on special to Birmingham International (8)
 
In addition to the above 8 semi-fast or stopping service  EMU's passed , together with 4 further 8 car EMU's and 2 DMU's on specials to Birmingham International.  
 
 
 UP TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
10.12 pass 86236  on 9.30 Wolverhampton-Euston (12)..8 late
10.15 pass 31158  Light engine
10.17 pass 85004  on Empty stock 1L38 (11)
10.21 pass 47526  on Empty stock 1L39 (9)
10.25 pass 85028  on 8.22 Liverpool-Paddington (8)..12 late
10.37 pass 87013  on 10.18 Birmingham New St-Euston (12)..3 late
10.40 pass 86234  on Empty Stock 1L40 
11.12 pass 86227  on 10.30 Wolverhampton-Euston (11)..8 late
11.16 pass 47444  on Empty stock 1L42 (12)
11.19 pass 86328  on Empty stock 1L41 (13)
11.37 pass 31261  on 9.24 Manchester-Poole (9)..13 late
11.45 pass 85037  on Empty stock 1L43
11.53 pass 86249  on 11.18 Birmingham New St-Euston (11)..20 late
11.58 pass 81020  on Empty stock 1L44 (11)
12.01 pass 47166  on Empty stock 1L45 (CIR 565)
12.09 pass 47555  on Empty stock 1L46 (268) (10)
12.13 pass 86010  on Up Parcels (16v)
12.24 pass 86209  on 11.30 Wolverhampton-Euston (12)..21 late
12.46 pass 84003  on Empty stock 1L47 (561) (11)
12.56 pass 47522  on Empty stock 1L48 (250) (11)
1.01 pass 47708  on Empty stock 1L49 (562) (9)
 
In addition to the above 11 semi-fast or stopping service  EMU's passed .  
 
In total therefore, in a three hour period from 10.05am to 1.05pm, there were 37 locomotive hauled trains or movements, and 23 EMU/DMU's. 60 trains in 3 hours, or 20 trains per hour. Intense for a two track main line.
  
 
   SATURDAY 8th DECEMBER 2001: BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL 
 
A 6 hour spell at International on a West Coast Main Line diversion day. Signal problems in the Birmingham area (according to the Hampton in Arden booking clerk) got things off to a bad start. The Centro Wolverhampton to Coventry stopping service ran 50 minutes late and never recovered despite many trains missing out several of their intermediate stops.

The West Coast services ran reasonably well, with the Euston to Wolverhampton and Euston to Liverpool services combined in both directions. Only the Euston to Glasgow service, due at 10.15am, was seriously late, by 101 minutes. Since 86416 was tucked inside 90003, it had probably failed.

Cross Country was a different matter. The 5.50am Bournemouth to Glasgow suffered a loco failure (47826 at Bramley..bogie fire), and was 131 late with 66159. The 6.40 Poole to Liverpool behind it was 85 late. Thereafter things improved. Southbound, the 7.35 Blackpool to Portsmouth, with a 4 coach Voyager, was 31 late, and left a thick black layer of smoke across International station. The following Bournemouth service (2 Voyagers) was 40 late into International, and spent another 32 minutes awaiting the train crew off the northbound Glasgow. Subsequent southbound XC services continued run late, by up to 53 minutes.
   
 DOWN TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
 9.37 pass 86632+86620 (+57001) Freightliner: Ipswich-Trafford Park (see 14.12 SB)
 9.47/9.49 87018 on 7.55 Euston-Birmingham New St (8+T)..13 late
10.24 dep 86256 on 10.11 Birmingham International-Manchester (7)..13 late 
10.32/10.36 86205 on 8.45 Euston-Birmingham-Liverpool (9+T)..10 late
10.38 pass 87026 on 8.50 Euston-Manchester (9+T)
10.48/10.50 87010 (+90004) on 8.50 Euston-Birmingham New St (7)..12 late
10.54 dep 86231 on 10.42 Birmingham International-Edinburgh (7)..12 late
11.09 pass 90014 on 9.30 Euston-Carlisle (8+T)
11.11 pass 66534 Light engine
11.24/11.27 66159 on 5.50 Bournemouth-Glasgow (7) failed 47826 on rear..131 late
11.34/11.35 47839 on 9.05 Paddington-Manchester (7)..22 late
11.38/11.40 87030 on 9.25 Euston-Birmingham-Liverpool (7+T)..39 late
11.42 pass 87015 on 9.50 Euston-Manchester (10+T)
11.45/11.49 90006 on 9.55 Euston-Birmingham New St (8+T)..14 late
11.48/11.50 87009 on 9.45 Euston-Blackpool (8+T)..23 late
11.50/11.51 47806 on 6.40 Poole-Liverpool (7)..85 late.
11.54/11.56 90003 (+86416) on 8.30 Euston-Glasgow (8)..101 late
12.11/12.12 87011 on 10.25 Euston-Birmingham-Liverpool (8+T)..6 late
12.19/12.24 87017 on 10.30 Euston-Carlisle (9+T)..R time
12.27 pass 87031 on 10.50am Euston-Manchester (8+T)
12.30/12.31 HST 43193/43122 on 9.05 Poole-Newcastle (7)..3 late
12.34/12.38 87033 on 10.55 Euston-Birmingham New St (8+T)..R time
13.01/13.03 87013 on 11.25 Euston-Birmingham-Liverpool (8+T)..2 late 
13.10/13.11 87021 on 11.30 Euston-Glasgow (7+T)..5 late 
13.14/13.16 Voyagers 220017+220022 on 9.20 Brighton-Edinburgh (8)..4 late
13.18 pass 92013 Light engine (see 12.02 Southbound)
13.42 pass  87027 on 11.50 Euston-Manchester (7+T)
13.45/13.47 86229 on 11.55 Euston-Birmingham New St (7+T)..10 late
14.07/14.09 90012 on 11.55 Euston-Birmingham-Liverpool (9+T)..1 late
14.18/14.23 87019 on 12.30 Euston-Preston (8+T)..R time
14.34/14.36 HST 43088/43166 on 11.20 Bournemouth-Edinburgh (7)..9 late
14.39 pass  87032 on 12.50 Euston-Manchester (7+T)
14.42/14.44 87018 on 12.55 Euston-Birmingham New St (9+T)..5 late
15.00/15.01 87022 on 13.25 Euston-Birmingham-Liverpool (8+T)..R time
15.05 pass 87029 on 13.30 Euston-Preston (7+T)
15.15 dep 47812 on Stock for 15.34 Birmingham New St-Manchester (7)
15.24 pass 87024 on 13.50 Euston-Manchester (7+T)
 
 UP TRAINS   Locomotive hauled services only:
 
 9.42/9.44 86229 on 9.15 Birmingham New St-Euston (T+()..19 late
 9.45/9.47 Voyagers 22013/22024 on 7.08 Manchester-Brighton (8)..31 late
 9.54 pass 90143 on Freightliner (Trafford Park-Ipswich) (21)
10.10 arr 86256 on 8.10 Liverpool-Birmingham International (7)..3 late
10.16/10.18 90012 on 7.45 Liverpool-Birmingham-Euston (T+9)..23 late
10.22 pass 87032 on 8.26 Manchester-Euston (T+7)
10.25/10.32 87018 on 10.15 Birmingham New St-Euston (T+9)..R time
10.31 arr 86231 on Unidentified service (7) (formed 10.52 Edinburgh)
10.36 pass 87029 on 7.00 Carlisle-Euston (T+7)
10.55/11.32 Voyagers 22021/22011 on 8.09 Manchester-8ournemouth (8)..72 late
10.58/11.00 87022 on 8.45 Liverpool-Birmingham-Euston (T+8)..5 late
11.02/11.05 Voyager 22002 on 7.35 Blackpool-Portsmouth (4)..51 late
11.11 pass 87024 on 9.26 Manchester-Euston (T+7)
11.22 pass 90011 on 6.36 Glasgow-Euston (T+8)
11.32/11.35 90004 (+87010) on 11.15am Birmingham New St-Euston (7)..10 late
11.36/11.37 58020 on Departmental working (Track panels) (5)
12.02 pass 92013 on Ferrywagons (?Mossend-Daventry) (5)
12.05 pass 90008 on 10.26 Manchester-Euston (T+8)
12.11 pass 87001 on 7.40 Glasgow-Euston (T+7)
12.14 pass 66159 Light engine (see 11.27 Northbound)
12.18/12.21 87012 on 9.45 Liverpool-Birmingham-Euston (T+7)..26 late
12.39/12.41 90006 on 12.15 Birmingham New St-Euston (T+8)..16 late
13.01/13.05 92018 on Intermodal (Trafford Park-Wembley) (30)
13.03 pass 87035 on 9.19 Holyhead-Euston (T+9)
13.08/13.09 HST 43093/43078 on 6.20 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..53 late
13.12/13.14 87006 on 10.45 Liverpool-Birmingham-Euston (T+7)..19 late
13.24 pass 90007 on 11.26 Manchester-Euston (8+T)
13.28/13.35 90001 on 11.20 Preston-Euston (T+7) (Pathing stop)
13.31/13.33 87033 on 13.15 Birmingham New St-Euston (T+8)..8 late
13.35 arr 47812 on 11.16 Manchester-Birmingham International (7)..5 early
13.37/13.38 47814 on 6.50 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..22 late
13.58/14.00 90146 on 11.45 Liverpool-Birmingham-Euston (T+6)..5 late
14.12 pass 57001 on Freightliner (Trafford Park-Southampton) (14) (see 9.37 NB)
14.15 pass 66017 Light engine.
14.25/14.27 86229 on 14.15 Birmingham New St-Euston (T+9)..2 late
14.32 pass 87005 on 9.36 Glasgow-Euston (T+7)
14.54/14.55 86205 on 12.45 Liverpool-Birmingham-Euston (T+9)..R time
15.01/15.03 47849 on 9.10 Edinburgh-Bournemouth (7)..47 late.
15.16/15.18 HST 43194/43094 on 11.08 Newcastle-Bournemouth (7)..2 late
15.22 arr 86236 on 13.16 Manchester-Birmingham International (7)..9 late
15.26 pass 87016 on 13.26 Manchester-Euston (T+9)
15.31/15.34 87018 on 15.15 Birmingham New St-Euston (T+9)..9 late
 
In addition to the above, Electric Multiple units ran, in theory, at 30 minute intervals in both directions. Silverlink services to and from Euston also ran at hourly intervals. So for long periods, the line was operating at maximum capacity.
 

In 2002 and 2003, I carried out further Rail Traffic Surveys at Birmingham International. Two of the days I chose included additional diversions, caused by the Leamington, Solihull, Tyseley route being closed for upgrading. Noticeably more freight traffic was seen at International as a result. But the downside was the gradual withdrawal of the class 47's and HST's from Cross Country services, and their replacement by the wretched Voyagers. One regular XC passenger has now become an ex XC passenger. (or 2 including the wife)