Recent content by Laurie_B

I saved this cutting from the Sutton Coldfield News (October 1980) which recorded the closure of the signal box.

I can just about remember the Coronation street party that was held at the end of Cranes Park Road,near the junction with Whitecroft and Mapledene Roads,Sheldon.The tables were set up in front of the shops.From what I remember,it wasn't a very warm day! The photos were taken by my father.

I remember having one many years ago,after my parents opened an account for me at the Sheldon branch. There is an interesting web page about these boxes which were called 'Home Safes'.See link below. Home Safes

Great photograph. I was in Miss Hay's class the following academic year,1957/8.According to my copy of the Mapledene School Magazine for 1958,Miss Hay left at Christmas 1957 and was (if I rememeber correctly) replaced by Miss A.Boaden.Two names that I rememeber from my time in Class 1/1 were Ann...

A bit more about Mr.R.A.Chattock,who was the City Electrical Engineer. Mr.Chattock was born in Solihull in 1863,studied engineering at University College London,and joined the staff of the Metropolitan Electric Supply Co.,in about 1890.He then went on to become engineer-in-charge at Bankside...

A few photos of the 'Prince's Power Station' at Nechells being built. Richard Alexander Chattock was the City's Electrical Engineer from 1903,and was responsible for the designs of Summer Lane,Nechells (Temporary and Permanent) and Hams Hall (A) power stations.

I remember seeing 7808 Cookham Manor at Snow Hill in 1966,on a railtour to Taplow. https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/660917gw.html

I think the buildings may have had camouflage applied,not sure about the cooling towers though. Nechells Power Station was on the Luftwaffe's list of targets,as the reconnaissance photo shows.

Back in the summer of 1970,demolition contractors were dismantling the old wooden cooling towers at Nechells A Power Station.They had been using gas cutting equipment to remove some iron piping.A fire was later noticed and the alarm raised.A report into the fire appeared in the 'Fire'...

A very interesting photo.Would you have any more photos of Nechells Power Station,as I'm doing some research into the history of the power station? As a trainee at Nechells I can remember the A station control room,and how antiquated it looked. Below is another photo of control room and the...

I can just about remember the locos from when I was an apprentice at the power station.The loco fitter was Harry Meakin.Attached is a photo of one of the Pecketts.

Hi Mike. I don't know where the first picture was. But the second picture is Nechells Power Station.The wooden cooling towers on the extreme right of the picture belonged to the power station.The bank of cooling towers in the distance,just to the right of the gasometers belonged to the Temporary...

Murder on the Orient Express.I think there was a remake of the original black and white film.

The other day I found a cutting (no railway pun intended!) that I had saved from the Birmingham Mail many years ago,probably from the early 60's. The article in 'Uncle Len's Corner' featured one of the old shunting/pilot locos that were used at New Street at one time.The loco was based at the...

It might be worth contacting either the National Railway Museum at York,or the National Archives/Public Record Office at Kew,as both hold considerable railway records.