As described in Part 1, you can find the passenger timings here and the freight timings here. The notes are intended to go with a copy of the Train Register Book which is missing so, forty seven years later, the meaning of some of the original notes is not very clear. The original notes appear in italics with minimal editing, sometimes followed by my recent comments attempting clarification. The numbers in brackets have been added to assist in locating entries.
Sedgeley Jn. Easter Monday 15th April 1963
(1) The Up 'Western' at 8.00 a.m. is Set 315, a 3-set coupled to a twin, with no passengers.
(2) The 'Western' returns on the down at 8.20 a.m., displaying Set 303 on the twin.
(3) The 'Walsall' DMU goes up to Dudley and returns on the down a little later.
(4) The Down 'Western' at 9.00 a.m. is three single units coupled together marked Set 105.
(5) The Up Walsall at 9.05 a.m. is formed of two twins. Soon, it's heading back to Walsall.
(6) The 10.00 a.m. Down Western is a 3-car set marked '325'.
(7) The three single units (Set 105) return on the Up at 10.20 a.m.
(8) There's an Up Special from Snow Hill - a 3-car set absolutely packed.
(9) At 11.00 a.m. the down is Set 105.
(10) The 11.23 a.m. Up is Set 105.[This is surely wrong]
(11) A 'Western' 3-car set passes on the Up at 11.41 a.m.
Now it gets interesting!
(12) Dudleyport sends 1X71 for Dudley. 5398 with the reporting number board on the buffer beam and ten non-corridors coasts past with a well-loaded train. We get the message that a Conductor from Aston is not required.
(13) The 12 o'clock Down Western is the 3-car set marked '325'.
(14) We take on 1X69 on the Up. He stops in Dudleyport Low Level and finally heads up the bank making a lot of smoke.
(15) Light engine 5398 off 1X71 clanks by on the down, presumably 'Rightaway Bescot MPD'.
(16) The Up 'Western' at 12.27 p.m. is Set 325 (?), standing room only.
(17) There's an Up Relief following at 12.37 p.m. and this is packed.
(18) We get Empty Stock on the Down for Snow Hill. This is 'Prairie' 4137 with 3 LNER coaches, 4 LMS coaches and one BR(ER) coach, having worked a Malvern - Dudley excursion.
(19) The Western at 1.00 p.m. is Set 105.
(20) Set 325, the 3-set, passes on the up at 1.20 p.m., with the Guard giving a friendly thumbs up.
(21) Excursion 1X39 is taken on on the Up. The train engine is 45641 (carrying the reporting number). But he's '12 on' and 46527 has been hooked on the front as a pilot. Both engines were working well as they came by the box.
Sadly, that's the end of my period of observation, although I saw one more steam-hauled excursion, from Derby I think, with 45611 'Hong Kong' in charge.
