Class 103 Park Royal 2-car DMUs
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4th July 1981
The date was 4th July 1981, a typical North Wales bash. We would start around Chester and work towards Llandudno Junction timing the moves to catch the class 40s and miss the dreaded duffs, on this overcast day we had reached Llandudno Junction in mid afternoon. I took this under the concrete bridge that carries the Holyhead Road, a 24mm lens on an Olympus OM1. The train is a Llandudno to Manchester with a mixture of types, a 103 and a 108, on Summer Saturdays anything that could stagger out and back would be used to move the crowds. The cars are typical of the sort that gricers used, cheap and tatty but still with life in them. They would be thrashed from one end of the country to the other until they broke, their insides were always full of food remains, cigarette packets and empty bottles. These cars were often seen at photo stops, their doors left open either because time was tight or to save time getting inside for the blast to the next location. Happy Days. Geoff Dowling.
circa 1964
Peter took two views of this scene at Kings Norton, this is the second. Looking at the beehive hair styles and clothing of the ladies I would think around 1964, it is certainly winter time. The Park Royal DMU seems to be causing some interest the two lads are pointing at it and the stationmaster is also interested, his regulation hat at a jaunty angle. Stanier Black Five 44775 is standing tender first in the Birmingham platform. On the building end to the right of the DMU cab is a poster with a Derby Lightweight at passing Bassenthwaite Lake.
Image taken by Peter Shoesmith. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.
circa 1964
Peter took two views of this scene at Kings Norton circa 1964, this is the first, with the Park Royal DMU gliding into the platform, many doors already open. Stanier Black Five 44775 is standing tender first at the Birmingham platform, carrying the correct 'light engine' lamp code.
Image taken by Peter Shoesmith. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.
50397
17th May 1963
Park Royal class 103 DMBS M50397 is at work on a Walsall to Dudley service seen at Great Bridge North. This was the LNWR station at Great Bridge, the GWR station (Great Bridge South) was situated on the line from Swan Village to Horsleyfield Junction. The background is one of heavy industry with Evered's Works and Cashmore's, a firm that would be responsible for cutting many redundant railway vehicles.
In 2010 nothing, apart from an overgrown segment of the station path, was visible.
Taken by Peter Shoesmith on 17/05/1963. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.
2nd August 1962
This was the wooden platform and building that was Ettingshall Road and Bilston. This station was situated between Monmore Green and Bilston on the Birmingham to Wolverhampton line, it was closed 15th June 1964. A Birmingham bound train is arriving, formed of a two car Park Royal unit.
Taken by Peter Shoesmith on 02/08/1962. Geoff Dowling and John Whitehouse Collection.