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Today's delays on the Metro in Birmingham were down to an "operational incident" whatever that means. Those that drive the trams in the city perhaps deserve a medal at the moment as they operate along the tracks where Deliveroo and other food carriers' bikes operate, the electric scooter user...

The Dock was a road in Alrewas that led to Church Lane and the canal bridge over the Trent & Mersey Canal as this 1901 edition of the Ordnance Survey shows

It is hard to limit an action to Birmingham Boatmen for 1923. The facts as published in the newspapers do tackle some aspects of the strike which do have some parallels today with one particular group of workers. Working conditions on the boats were highlighted as harsh and the poor education...

Working on the waterways is a subject that is complicated. Taking the example of Fellows, Morton & Clayton and extracting certain elements of the action is also a subject that deserves a balanced reply. Those who worked on the waterways were either employed by the canal companies or those that...

There is a concept of on-demand buses, which is presently on trial in certain parts of the country. And, then there is the autonomous bus which is presently on trial in Scotland. So ways are being looked at to reduce the cost of a timetabled service. But sadly strikes are part of the problem...

There must be a concern amongst regular bus users in Birmingham as to the present bus service standards and the routes that have disappeared. Revision of timetable and mergers of routes seem to have created a poorer service in general. Trade unions have fought to maintain pay levels for their...

The view looking to Broad Street and the Church of the Messiah is one that changed over time. This section of the Birmingham Canal was built at the Paradise Street Branch and terminated at the Old Wharf. It is a view that had changed with time. Built to the recommendations of the chief...

I understand that the plan for the elevated approach to Curzon Street was part of the main plan. I also notice that shuttering has commenced for a couple of the piers in the centre of the site now.

This is a view of a Birmingham Corporation Gas Works Vehicle advertising the byproducts needed for munitions in the First World War.

Apart from express locomotives and local trains there was the New Street Shunter which handled a variety of duties and is often forgotten about. In modern times with no parcels stock it is now longer needed.

Where was the Oak Tree?

The view of Warwick Bar actually does not show it. That image looks along the Digbeth Branch of the BCN the junction canal to Warwick Bar is hidden on the left. It is a view of the Proof House, however.

This year the Motorcycle Show at the NEC has some former local manufacturer names on show till November 27th. Motorcycles made in India have for a long time included Royal Enfield and now the Mahindra Group has a stand in the name of BSA is Back where new Goldstar bikes can be seen as well as...

Yes the chapel moved from King Street to Peck Lane and then had temporary accommodation Odd Fellows Hall until the new place was found in 1851. They had at first asked the LNWR for compensation amounting to £12,000 which was reduced by jury to less than half that amount, but I suppose even that...

Prior to 1868 the Birmingham Canal Navigations Company had a depot that was between Lock 3 & 4 Farmers Bridge Locks which came into existence about 70 years previous. Near there at what was then 22 Summer Row were three canal houses for the staff. These houses being sold in 1868 do not appear to...

Following on from the problems with getting the West Midlands Metro trams repaired, whilst the trams now seem to be in operations, barring traffic light failures at the Royal, there are now days of industrial action. Whilst most staff, if not all, are trained to drive the trams and a part...

As religious establishments, in Birmingham go, does the Non Conformist Lady Huntingdons Chapel hold a record for a short tenure. It was built in the 1840's and demolished in 1850 to make way for the new Queens Drive and New Street Station, also called Grand Central. Whilst the congregation moved...

With the Toll House thread both canal and road toll houses are discussed. The development of the turnpikes in this area appears only in fragmented areas and needs a separate heading. For example the following map at Ten Acres shows the improvements made to the Pershore Road there. The Pershore...

There was a time when the turnpike provided an important transport route. but there is no specific sub group for them

Interesting view of the accident which is detailed by me in the June 2021 post regarding HARDWICKE