Blackwell Station

Blackwell Station lay on the Midland line north of Bromsgrove and south of Barnt Green.  Sadly the station closed in 1965 although there is occasional talk about opening a new station on the site.

44201 21A Blackwell Box - 20/4/53

Taken from Blackwell signal box and looking north-east, this picture shows some of the sidings that existed close to the station.  The loco is Class 4F 0-6-0 'Fowler' 44201.  Robin pointed out that the loco sat to the left of centre was Big Bertha.

44984 nr Blackwell - 20/4/54

This picture was taken at the far north of Blackwell Station.  The houses seen on the left are located in Linthurst Newtown (that's the name of the road, curiously enough!). 'Black Five' 44984 appears to have a 14B shed code plate which is Kentish Town.  Seems a little odd... I had to go and double check the date for this shot as it was exactly a year after the picture above.  There is no mistake - my father was at Blackwell on the 20th April 1953 and 1954!

46443 17A & Inspector's Coach Blackwell Sdgs - 13/3/55

I like this curious looking loco.  Its bottom looks too big for its top - a bit like a body builder with a small head!  It's a Class 2MT 2-6-0 'Ivatt' from Derby shed.  It was built in 1950 and it survives today, running on the Severn Valley Railway.  Imagine my surprise when I looked through my own photo's and realised I'd taken a picture of this very loco during a 'Santa Special' weekend in 2008! I'd noticed that to the right of the photo there appeared to be a small shed.  I hadn't seen any evidence of this on any other photo's so thanks to Alf for confirming that, "There was indeed a small goods shed to the rear of the Up platform at Blackwell, accessed from the station yard.".  Robin chipped in to say, "The photograph of 46443, as you say, shows the goods shed.  You can see the siding for this on the right - it lay between the very short up platform and the shed.  There was a timber flight of steps between the goods shed and the station building.  Those in the know used these as the shortest route to the stationmaster’s office, to buy their tickets in warmth from behind the counter.". I'd be interested to know more about the history and the role of the 'Inspector's Coach'.  Note Blackwell signal box behind the rear of the coach.

Blackwell Stn - 13/3/55

Here my father is up to his usual tricks, standing in the middle of a main line!  His bad behaviour provides a splendid view of the station looking north from the top of the Lickey Incline.  The cottage on the far left survives today.

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