GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

Bordesley Junction - Exchange Branch: gwrbj2671

D1051 Western Ambassador rounds the curve at Bordesley Junction hauling 1V38, the 12.25 Birmingham to Paddington train. As one might expect this view has changed since 26th April 1975. The railway bridge over the street to the left is now part of the Small Heath by-pass, the scrapyard that contains a Ford Zephyr and a split screen Morris Minor is now a Citroen main dealership. The skyline is still dominated by Holy Trinity Church on Camp Hill although it looks a lot more grubby and faded now and, as ever, the railway is disappearing behind a wall of unkempt shrubs and trees. D1051 was built by Swindon works and put into service on 21st January 1963 and remained in service until 2nd September 1976 when it was withdrawn from 84A Laira shed to be scrapped by Swindon works.

Geoff Dowling

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