UK Train & Locomotive Observations 1956..Page 1 of 3
 
 
BIRMINGHAM & GLOUCESTER: 5th January 1956: 9.40am-2.15pm:
 
Hauled by 5088 Birmingham Snow Hill to Gloucester Eastgate on the Cornishman.
13025 was in Tyseley yards, & 6116 at Bearley Junction. At Gloucester, 5018 left on the 12.07pm to Paddington, & 5951 was shunting stock. Hauled by 5929 from Gloucester Central to Birmingham Snow Hill on the 9.35am from Swansea (5). 44661 was seen at Cheltenham. Severe Fog conditions prevailed.
 
BIRMINGHAM & GLOUCESTER: 9th January 1956: 9.40am-2.15pm:
 
A repeat of the 5th January trip in better weather conditions.
Hauled by 5088 Birmingham Snow Hill to Gloucester Eastgate on the Cornishman.
 
45662 departed Gloucester Eastgate 11.21am (R time) on 10.20am Bristol to Newcastle, and 45509 was held for the Cornishman to precede  on the Nottingham to Bristol (8)..depart 11.30am (30 late). 5017 was on Gloucester Shed, to work the 12.07pm Paddington. 5078 was also on shed. 
 
Hauled by 9438 Gloucester Central to Cheltenham Malvern Road on the 9.05am Paddington to Cheltenham. 31636 was being coaled at Malvern Road shed. 4124 departed Cheltenham on 12.34pm to Cardiff (5). Hauled by 5955 Cheltenham Malvern Road to Birmingham Snow Hill on the 9.35am Swansea to Birmingham (5)..3 late.
 
BIRMINGHAM & LEAMINGTON: 25th January 1956: 3.00pm-4.40pm:
 
Hauled by 46254 Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington on 11.45am Birkenhead to Paddington (11)..16 late. Hauled by 6006 Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill on 2.10pm Paddington to Birkenhead (10)..4 Early.
 
49112 was in Leamington Spa Avenue yard at 3.40pm. 40078 was in Avenue station.
 
Earlier, at BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET, 45669 left 2.30pm on 1.55pm Wolverhampton to Euston, and 45553 left 2.33pm on the Northbound Pines Express.
 
BIRMINGHAM & LEAMINGTON: 28th January 1956: 2.55pm-4.45pm:
 
Hauled by 46254 Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington on 11.45am Birkenhead to Paddington (11)..10 late. Hauled by 6006 Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill on 2.10pm Paddington to Birkenhead (10)..10 late. At Snow Hill, 6910 was on the Didcot parcels, and 73020 arrived on an additional service from Shrewsbury at 2.56pm.
 
BIRMINGHAM & LEAMINGTON: 8th February 1956: 3.10pm-4.35pm:
 
Hauled by 46210 Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington on 11.45am Birkenhead to Paddington (11)..10 late. Hauled by 5097 & 6934 (double heading) Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill on 2.10pm Paddington to Birkenhead (10)..2 late (Snow Hill). At Snow Hill, 4994 was on the Didcot parcels. At Leamington Spa, 49433 passed on dowm Freight (Bricks) at 3.51pm, and 90544 arrived centre road on a down Iron Ore train at 4.03pm.
 
BIRMINGHAM & LEAMINGTON: 18th February 1956: 9.45am-4.35pm:
 
Three Birmingham to Leamington return trips were made. Haulage was as follows:
4076 Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington on 6.30am Birkenhead-Paddington (10)..12 late.
46210 Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill on 9.10am Paddington-Birkenhead (9)..11 late.
5045 & 5047 Birmingham SH to Leamington on 8.55am Birkenhead-Paddington (12)..6 late.
5036 Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill on 11.10am Paddington-Birkenhead (10)..15 late.
46210 Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington on 11.45am Birkenhead-Paddington (11)..22 late.
6014 Leamington to Birmingham Snow Hill on 2.10am Paddington-Birkenhead (10)..1 early
 
Also seen were 5935 at Snow Hill on the 7.02am Didcot to Birmingham at 9.50am. 5070 on the Southbound Cornishman 9.49/9.52am. 82021 left Leamington Spa Avenue on 10.37am to Rugby. 90010 arrived Leamington Spa, and transferred to the Avenue line at approx 11.00am. other locos seen during the day include 13004 in Tyseley yards, 9319 at Snow Hill, 6851 at Leamington (11.42am to Evesham), Railcar W29 at Leamington on a Stratford service, and Parcels Railcar no 17, also at Leamington. And 42827 in Small Heath yard. 
 
A short visit was made to BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET, where 41121 & 45058 worked the 11.30am Euston to Wolverhampton, seen at 1.54pm. 45740 worked 1.55pm Wolverhampton to Euston, 2.30pm. 45618 left on the Northbound Pines Express at 2.33pm. 46490 and 42054 were on New Street pilot duties.
 
BIRMINGHAM & EUSTON: WATERLOO & WOKING: Sat 25th February 1956:
 
Hauled by 45742 Birmingham New Street to Euston on 6.40am Wolverhampton to Euston (13). Locos seen were 80082, 80085, 75038 at Bletchley, 31924 at Willesden Junction, 46129, 46253, 46126, 45532, 45653, 46247, 45703, and 46226 outside Camden Shed. 46242 was on the 10.00am Royal Scot from Euston. 
 
At WATERLOO, 34017 was a recent arrival, 32550 & 30248 were on Empty Stock workings, 30850 was working the 10.54am to Salisbury, and 35016 the 11.00am Atlantic Coast Express. Hauled by 30850 Waterloo to Woking on the 10.54am Waterloo to Salisbury. 31621 and 33021 were in Woking yards. Hauled by 35013 Woking to Waterloo on 9.03am from Templecombe. 30501 was seen on a down Freight at West Byfleet. 30451 was at Nine Elms, and 33038 & 32562 at Vauxhall. At Waterloo, 30244 had brought in the Bournemouth Belle stock, 34095 was at the buffer stops (probably on the 8.35am from Bournemouth West. 35025 worked the 12.30pm Bournemouth Belle. The stock for the 12.35pm Bournemouth was brought in by 30755. 73119 worked the 12.39pm to Basingstoke, and 34055 arrived 12.45pm (5 early) on the 10.30am from Bournemouth Central. 32329 was on Stock duty, and 34101 was the loco for the 1.00pm Waterloo to the West of England.
 
Hauled by 45625 from Euston to Birmingham New Street on the 9.35pm service. The journey, booked 2 hrs 41 mins, actually took 4 hrs 5 mins. The loco dropped 4 minutes to Willesden, further signal checks out to Watford Junction cost a further 18 minutes, then signals approaching Northampton and station overtime at Rugby and Coventry meant we were approaching New Street 35 minutes down. But then we lost a further 40 minutes outside New Street whilst a section of rail was replaced. We finally arrived at 1.42am.
 
BIRMINGHAM & RUGBY: 10th March 1956: 2.30pm-4.20pm:
 
Hauled by 45709 Birmingham New Street to Rugby on 1.55pm Wolverhampton to Euston (13)
Hauled by 2x3 car DMU set Rugby to Birmingham New Street on 1.45pm ex Peterborough.
 
No further information is available.
 
BIRMINGHAM & RUGBY: 14th March 1956: 2.30pm-4.20pm:
 
Hauled by 45647 Birmingham New Street to Rugby on 1.55pm Wolverhampton to Euston (10)
Hauled by 2x3 car DMU set Rugby to Birmingham New Street on 1.45pm ex Peterborough.
 
No further information is available.