Traffic Movements at Tipton Station box, 1964

There's an introduction to Tipton Station box (with a signalling diagram) here.

Tipton Station box Wednesday 7th October 1964

(1) I arrive on the 1.13 p.m. Up Local (late, of course) in time to swing the gates behind my own train and give 'Train out of Section'.
(2) Tipton Curve opens just after Princes End has sent on ‘58’ (this irregularity is not shown in The Book!) and the train creeps gingerly past behind a ‘Black 5’.
(3) Afternoon trade is quite quiet, although there is plenty of road traffic (a moral?) but things liven up when ‘38’ comes past on the Down for Spring Vale.
(4) The Diesel Parcels Unit comes Up as ‘Empty Stock’ from Wolverhampton, to work the Tipton Parcels. The DPU is usually put ‘across the road’ at Watery Lane but today we cross him at Tipton and put him on the Back Road on the Down.
(5) Road traffic has become very heavy by the time ‘38’ returns Up Engine and Brake. Every motorist seems determined not to wait and takes the most outrageous risks. Strictly, once the gates have left the Stops, the road traffic loses right of way. Drivers seem to think they can bluff their way across by refusing to stop but they fail to realise that, even if your reactions are fast enough to stop the gate wheel, the mechanics of the system are such that the gates can still swing and give a hefty clout to a car. I get one driver stuck in the middle and he just manages to creep out, with inches to spare. Another driver comes round the blind corner on the Up side of the crossing, starts to cross and then loses his nerve. I make him reverse.
(6) As the Up Local coasts into the station at 6.4 p.m., we loose the DPU out. When the Up passenger clears the junction, the Parcels departs for Walsall, with 3 vans tail traffic.
(7) At 6.54 p.m., there is just time to clear the “back ‘uns” for the Down Local, then its down to the platform to board him.

Traffic Movements on the Stour Valley, 1964

An evening exploring the Tipton area.

Bloomfield Jn. Friday 2nd October 1964

(1) After an enforced break [ ? ] , I return to Bloomfield at 6.0 p.m. The box is much the same. However, in the Up sidings, there is an old, black Engineer's Coach with a tall stovepipe protruding from the roof at one end. Three or four men who are drilling in the area in connection with the electrification are living here.
(2) The traffic is quite brisk: Billy Cook goes Up with 'T90'.
(3) 'T79' from Monument Lane has a full load and blasts past, in front of the Chester.
(4) The 'Type 4' on the Chester coasts past the box, then we get him the road.

After this short interlude I walk to Tipton.

Tipton Station Friday 2nd October 1964

(1) The Up freight has a surprise - it is hauled by a 'Duck 8'. 'Super Ds' now carry a diagonal yellow band on the cab side (you can almost hear the cries of 'Unclean') and are supposed to be prohibited throughout this area, because of the reduced loading gauge with electrified lines.
(2) The Down Mails at ten o'clock are in the charge of a 'Brit', who sounds his siren as he rumbles over the level crossing and creeps onto the slack in advance of the Down Starter.

At 10.30 p.m., I take a gentle walk up to Dudley Port, where changes have come thick and fast.

Changes at Dudley Port Friday 2nd October 1964

About three months ago, the line between Dudley Port and Sedgeley Junction was closed. I rather believe that Tom and I were the last people to use the line for a scheduled service on 20th June 1964. With the passenger traffic already cancelled, this made the working at Sedgely Jn. rather silly. However, about a fortnight ago, there was a fire at Sedgeley Jn. which caused extensive damage to the box, which has since been closed with the 'pegs' left 'off'. Horsley Fields is now open continuously and it appears likely that Sedgeley Junction will never re-open. It really looks like the end of an era on the Dudley Line.

Of course, the working at Dudley Port, which has been slack for some time, dropped right off and, after the remodelling, the Dudley Port signalman has a boxful of white levers [white levers are 'spare'] to attend! The arrangement shown below was used for some weeks:-

(Click on above image to enlarge)

However, to enable contractors to pull down the old Down platform and build the new, permanent island platform, a new, temporary Down platform has been provided and the existing Up platform has been shortened. The arrangement I found was:-

(Click on above image to enlarge)

The new, temporary Down platform is 300 feet long and accommodates almost five coaches. The platform surface is wood, ashphalted over. Wooden posts and wires fence off the adjacent Up line and various 'DUDLEY PORT' signs from the old station have been provided, together with two station seats. There is a scaffolding and wire mesh footbridge linking the platform to the shortened Up platform. The Down platform has a diminuitive wooden-framed waiting room near the footbridge with walls of semi-opaque 'Perspex'. The 'shack' and the platform is provided with electric lights and there are good views of the under-used signal box.

Dudley Port - Wolverhampton Friday 2nd October 1964

The trip back to Wolverhampton (‘Type 4’ in charge, Sleepers up front) is punctuated by 15 m.p.h. slacks. The thought arises that this may not be the most unpleasant way of getting from Dudley Port to Wolverhampton, but it must be the slowest!

At Wolverhampton, colour light signals (not yet in use) are sprouting everywhere and the station forecourt yard is now being excavated, presumably for an additional down line.[In fact, no additional through line was introduced then – only three platform lines remained and the old Down and Up Goods Lines were lost. It was many years before a fourth through platform was provided and this was on the Up side. But some reversible working of the platforms was introduced].

Traffic Movements at Bloomfield Jn, 1962 (Part 2)

There's an introduction to Bloomfield Jn. (with a signalling diagram) here.

Bloomfield Jn. Saturday 3rd November 1962

(1) Early in the morning, 'T37' toddles onto the Curve with empties, hauled by a 'Class 8' tender first.
(2) Tipton Curve offers 'T34'. He comes towards us with great difficulty, the sky palled by black exhaust. The driver lets the train rumble to a halt with the engine opposite the box. The guard divides off the first eleven wagons and the engine drops them onto the Back Road on the Down. The engine then backs onto the remainder of the train and opens up, making a fine performance up the bank towards the Starter.
(3) Once we have a 'clearance' we accept the Parcels Engine from Tipton. When he reaches the berth track circuit at our Down Home, the annunciator sounds, not for the intended 10 seconds but for about a minute! Once 'T34' has cleared the Starter, we can let the Parcels Engine travel down to the Starter. The engine stands for about 8 or 9 minutes while the preceding 'Class 8' slogs over the hill to Spring Vale. The driver of the Parcels Engine comes on the colour light signal telephone to identify himself - 'Dudleyport-Wolverhampton engine to work Parcels'. The engine stands for eight or nine minutes before we can get him away.
(4) Meanwhile, the Down Crewe Local roars towards us from Tipton. Once the parcels engine has passed the Starter, we can let the Local down to the starter. This morning, the local has not just the usual 'Type 4' but two 'Type 4s' so he passes with a particularly loud roar.
(5) The Parcels Engine reappears on the Up at 7.50 a.m., 2-6-0 tender first and one bogie parcels vehicle, as always, but with a main line Buffet Car bringing up the rear.
(6) '235' (now 'T73') comes down at a quarter past eight and backs his short train onto the Down Front Road, allowing the Diesel Parcels Unit to come down from Tipton, closely followed by the local.
(7) The freight guard on '235' detaches his Brake Van and rolls in downhill to pass the box, stopping clear of the crossover between the Back and Front roads. The engine ducks out onto the main line so as to get onto the Back Road. The driver backs onto the eleven wagons left by T34 and pushes the last three through the crossover onto the Brake. He then draws forward and propels the remaining wagons down to the stop block on the Back Road. The 'Class 5' then gingerly backs onto his short train. After a short pause, standing underneath the box, the train departs smartly along the Front Road.
(8) Meanwhile, on the Up, a grimy 'Sulzer' 'Type 2' whisks the five-coach 1G02 towards Birmingham.
(9) 'T42' rattles southwards with a lengthy mixed freight.
(10) A light engine is signalled on the Up. Despite my premonition that it is destined for 'The Curve', we do not receive 'Special Section' so the 'pegs' are cleared on the Up Main. The engine soon appears under the bridge and majestically coasts to a halt outside the box. 'We'm for Wednesbury!' shouts the driver, so the Porter Bobby is rapidly summoned to open Tipton Curve box.
(11) 'T23' comes down from Tipton with Guard Randle riding the Brake and also stops out side the box. The driver of the light engine on the Up is cautioned to keep his engine where it is and 'T23' is reversed onto the Up line to commence shunting in the Up sidings. Two trains in station limits! The diesel shunter enters No. 1 and picks up a sheeted all-steel open wagon. Randle drops the one and the Brake on Three and the engine then disappears down Two to pick up some Sludge Wagons.
(12) By this time, we have received the 'Shunt' for the engine on the Up. The fireman, who signed the wrong (right!) Train Register whilst making tea in the box, is quickly sent back to his engine and told to shunt it down No. 9, so that we can get the London through. But, needless to say, just as the 'Black 5' 48602 moves forward, Brian opens 'The Curve' so, with a hasty change of plan, the engine is despatched towards Tipton Curve.
(13) The London is handled with very little damage done.
(14) The following freight train on the Up is taken under the Warning (Regulation 5: Section clear but Station or Junction blocked) to allow us to continue shunting '23'. The diesel re-appears from the Canal Basin with Sludge. It picks up six more Sludge wagons off One and backs up on Three.
(15) 'T34' was the freight taken under the 'Warning'. We run him by onto 'The Curve' with coal empties, receiving the 'Shunt' for the following Up Local.
(16) When we 'Knock Out' for T34, we refuse the offered Local, to allow 'T23' to wait its turn at the Up Starter to run onto 'The Curve' with its Sludge for Tipton Curve Tip.
(17) Just in time, 'T23' is despatched and we 'take on' the Local.
(18) At 10.24, an Excursion is offered on the Down, just as Deepfields decides to 'Block Back' on the Down and do a bit of shunting. However, we soon 'get the road' and the 'pegs' come off for two Metro-Cammell 3-sets rushing to Blackpool with happy football enthusiasts.
(19) The Down Local follows the Special.
(20) A 'Type 4' is on the front of the Stockport Parcels, right behind the Local.
(21) The waiting freight is now accepted from Tipton Curve and the driver of 'T40' begins to get the train moving towards Spring Vale. When he sees our Home signal come off, he really opens up, not knowing that the 'Stockport' is still in Deepfields platform. There is some anxious clock-watching in Bloomfield box, as the freight roars past the box and laces into the bank. Fortunately, Deepfields clears for the Parcels before our starter looms into the driver's view, so the freight gets a "Yeller 'un" at our starter and all is well. The driver really makes a noise getting those 29 coal to Spring Vale!
(22) The Auger Train [used during electrification to drill holes and prepare foundations for overhead line masts] is offered from 'The Curve' but, since his destination is Wolverhampton and Penkridge, we delay acceptance to allow the road ahead to clear a little. This is so that, once the train is moving, he can keep going. At 11.15 he comes 'Off the Top', with the 48602 = the engine we had dealings with before 1B08 = on the front. The driver is given the unofficial 'right away' [one hand held upright and rapidly twisted left and right] to indicate our Starter is off. The driver opens up and takes his strange train up the bank - Auger Borer, flat-roofed 'Electrification' coach, tanker for water, concrete mixer, bogie hopper wagons with sand and gravel and various formers on match trucks.
(23) The mid-morning Scottish express '1S61' goes down.
(24) Yet another freight comes off 'The Curve'. 'T61' stops main line and puts off four vehicles at the top of the 'Western' sidings, before departing for Deepfields with 'Eight On'.
(25) On the Up line, after a bit of cancelling and re-offering, the engine off T40 returns, light, to Bescot.
(26) Because the Up Stoke Local is late, '1G12' from Liverpool, with a 'Class 5', precedes along the Stour.
(27) After the Down Manchester, 'T90' rushes past for Catchems' with one and the Brake.