Bromsgrove 1957

The first few months of the year were noticeably  uneventful in terms of the  motive power on  show. The Fowler tanks, Ivatt 2-6 -0's and 2P and compound 4-4-0's were all working local services and stopping trains. Stanier Black '5's and   8F's were in profusion, and the lone Derby Patriot, 45509, worked down to Bristol  and back, usually on the 0735 Nottingham to Bristol (as it  certainly did on Tuesday 23rd  April).However, this  predictable pattern was interrupted by the first recorded visit of a Caprotti Standard Class 4-6-0 73142 (15C Leicester) on Wednesday 9th January when  it worked the 1238 Worcester to Birmingham, New Street double-heading a class 2P 4-4-0. Then on Tuesday 8th January, when Ivatt class 43036 failed at Droitwich whilst  heading the 0924 Malvern to Birmingham New  Street, the only replacement  available was Worcester based former GWR 2-6-2 tank locomotive 4571, which worked the 8-coach train through to Birmingham, New Street, thereafter  returning light to Worcester. This was the first know this locomotive class to Birmingham New Street, let alone up the Lickey Incline.

Bromsgrove locomotives in the works   

Some of the banking engines were  absent  in  the  early  part  of the year. On 19th May 8400 and 8401 were both at Swindon Shed, the former had just been overhauled at Swindon,  the latter about  to enter the works. Jinties 47276 and 47565 were stored at Bourneville through April to July at least.  Other Bromsgrove engines away at works during the year were 43186 (Derby Works erecting shopi n  mid-January), 43762 (also Derby Works) in August, and of course 92079 to Crewe  Works being noted in the erecting shop in mid-September. In May and June,  with the approach of the summer services, more unusual  locomotive workings  gradually  developed.  On Saturday 18th May Jubilee 45613 'Kenya' (12A  Carlisle Upperby)  worked a pigeon special to Mangotsfield, while on Saturday  25th May 45688 'Polyphemus' (3B Bushbury) was put on a Birmingham to Weston-Super-Mare excursion. The  railway  authorities revealed that former LNER B1 4-6-0  engines had been  passed  to work through to Bristol and Bath, although at this  time no one realised the significance this was to have for the remaining years of steam. To  the considerable chagrin of local enthusiasts in the Miidlands, local steam  services had been steadily taken over by the new diesel multiple units. On Sunday 2nd June two sets joined into a 8-car train were used on a Birmingham to Weston-Super-Mare excursion, the  first  occasion this had happened on the route to Bristol.

Interesting summer train locomotives   

Subsequent events  and workings of interest through the summer months  were as follows

During August Standard Class 4  2-6-0  types 76085/6/7 were  transferred for the  first time to 21A Saltley and subsequently used on local services, including  the  Redditch branch

9F's on passenger services   

However, a  particular memory of  the summer services  was the use of the  normally  freight-only engines, Class 9F 2-10-0  types on passenger services,   some of the example that were recorded being :

Unusual locomotives   

During  the  remainder  of  the  year  ex-LNER  2-8-0  63686 (39A Gorton) was an  unusual visitor to Gloucester Midland shed on Wednesday 30th October having arrived  the  previous  day on  a  special freight from Sealand (near Wrexham) to Ashchurch,  whilst in November 76085 was seen on the 0924 Great Malvern to Birmingham line on various  dates. Two other events worth recording were the visit of  Wellingborough Crosti-type 9F 92027 (possibly the first visit of this type)  observed pulling  a Bristol bound freight through Churchdown on Wednesday 20th November,  and clearance tests on the Camp  Hill  line on Sunday 10th November with former GWR Hall 5912 'Queens Hall' (84E Tyseley).