GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

LMS Route: Evesham to Birmingham

Bordesley Junction - Exchange Branch: gwrbj1336

View of Exchange Branch at Bordesley as a pair of three car Derby Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) descends to join the ex-GWR line with a southbound service. In the opposite direction a freight service has just left the ex-GWR Bordesley Yard in order to continue to Washwood Heath Sidings, whilst on the former Midland Railway line from Washwood Heath to Camp Hill another freight train traverses the ex-GWR main line to Snow Hill.

The DMU is fresh from Derby works as is evident by the fresh white painted tyres and is therefore probably being delivered to the new Diesel Motive Power Depot (MPD). This had been constructed following the demolition of part of the Repair Shop at Tyseley shed. The Tyseley Diesel MPD opened on 1st July 1958 following the introduction the previous year of these DMUs to operate the British Railways (western region) suburban services into Birmingham. These early DMUs were painted green with white ‘cats whiskers’ on the front.

The curve connecting the former MR's Camp Hill to Saltley line and the ex-GWR's Snow Hill line was doubled and resignalled in July 1941. Prior to that date this Exchange Branch had been a single line worked by Electric Key Token Instruments. The Token Instrument at the Great Western end was housed in a lineside box named ‘LMS Key Token Box’ and it is believed to be the lineside box in this photograph.

To Bordesley station (GWR)

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