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Marston Green & Tile Cross

Jmadone I bet these photos are taking you back, it seems just like yesterday, great days jim with some long gone friends.
 
thanks again gary for taking the time to share your photographs with us they will stir peoples memories and get them talking about the old days:)

lyn
 
Film 039: HIi Lyn, and here are some more. Hopefully, I won't duplicate these! These are off one of the lanes from Elmdon Lane, possibly Newlands Lane again? I remember these stables quite well. Probably taken mid-70's A740r.jpgA742.jpgA739.jpg
 
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lovely photo gary again the clarity is really good...please keep them coming as they are one offs

lyn
 
Film 039: A view from the very end of Elmdon lane. Originally, this looked right upon the short runway. I always remember, in winter, there would be lots of diversions from Heathrow and they would park all of the planes on the short runway. An amazing sight for a plane spotter, with lots of unusual jets (which were a rarity in those days).A732-Shrunk.jpg
 

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Film 039: I can't place this but I think it might be Elmdon Lane to the left? So the runway would be off to the right, in that case.A736.jpg
 
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Film 039: Views of the bridge at Marston Green Station. Includes the old bridge no longer there :( Circa mid-70'sA743.jpgA744.jpgA745.jpg
 
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Film 066: More assorted Marston Green stations. I think this is *really* early as it is old 126 film so I would say late 1960's.B627.jpgB622.jpgon Green station views.
 
Thanks Lyn for highlighting this thread for me.
Lovely photos Gary, you were a very good photographer, impressively sharp.
Because I lived on the other side of the airport by the Wheatsheaf I tended to do my aircraft spotting from the Coventry road, the airport terminal and the public enclosure.
I never ventured over to Elmdon Lane side. Wish I had done now, would have seen the airport from a different perspective. I would have been further away from the aircraft though.
I do have memories of Marston Green station though as I tried train spotting before aircraft. I walked there through King Georges park from Sheldon, through the golf course, and up the hill to the station. I guess some of your photos are along that way.
I remember standing on the footbridge as the steam trains passed by underneath, with your head hanging over the side, making sure to keep your eyes firmly shut to prevent soot and clinkers entering. I'm sure our faces looked a mess. Great fun.
Distinctly remember the City of London roaring through whilst on the platform, going on to New Street know doubt. Looking south from the bridge was some sidings with a water tower for the steam engines wasn't there? This would have been around 1959-60.
 
Elmdon Boy, you are quite right about the sidings. There were a few coal wagons there and possibly a coal merchants depot as well, I can't remember the water tower but I'm sure you are right about it.
 
Hi Elmdon Boy, Many thanks for your kind reply. I'm just glad that I now have somewhere decent to put these images (in full resolution). I will be uploading some more over the next few weeks. It's interesting looking at them again, almost like peering through a window to the past. I'm trying to date them and I wish I had been more careful about that at the time. I'm linking to my original film reference so I know where they came from and, if I get any more info, I can cross-reference. Of course, if you can place these (or date them) more accurately, I would be very grateful. They were pretty much all taken early to late 70's as I was active at that time doing my own B&W processing.

Do you remember the person manning the signals at Marston Green Station? He'd control the gates as you could get into Elmdon Lane via the shops? You could see him operating the levers. I wish I had some of the signal box :(

We used to cycle along the line all the way to Baginton airfield. Amazing to think of that. Used to be fascinated by Baginton as you could walk by all of the offices and peer through the windows. There used to be loads of model planes hanging from the ceiling - amazing to me as I was a big Airfix modeller back then. Of course, no security in those days as people were pretty decent by and large (unlike now, sadly).

Happy days.

All the best
 
Gary, are you sure the railway line went to Baginton airport! I'm not aware of any railway line near the airfield. It was some 15 miles from Elmdon, surely easier and safer to use the roads anyway.
 
Hi Elmdon Boy, yes, many times! We'd cycle to Coventry and cut across country. We were only 15 or so and we didn't drive. In those days, it was mainly commuter trains with the odd express but I recall a path along side the line that we'd use - at least for some of the way. We did it frequently! And we were young and fit!
 
The Birmingham Rugby main line runs not far from Baginton island, just a mile or so from the airport.not to far for young legs to travel.
 
Hi all I worked at Griffins garage 1960 -1963 I thought Marston Green was a lovely village. Three brothers owned the garage George Eddy and Frank (I think that was there names) and I loved working there. I was only a kid so it was my job to fetch the sandwiches from the little cottage shop almost next to the garage, there was a little old lady who served me and we got to know each other and would have a good chit chat together. I remember my lunch breaks I would ride my bike into the blue bell woods and sit by the stream and eat my lunch. At the time I thought Marston Green was a little heaven on earth.
 
I seem to recall tales of a murder in the bluebell woods, Marston Green- Chemsley around late 50s or early 60s, seemed to remember it putting me off going there.
Am I correct, or is my imagination and memory playing up.
 
podgery said:
Hi all I worked at Griffins garage 1960 -1963 I thought Marston Green was a lovely village. Three brothers owned the garage George Eddy and Frank (I think that was there names) and I loved working there. I was only a kid so it was my job to fetch the sandwiches from the little cottage shop almost next to the garage, there was a little old lady who served me and we got to know each other and would have a good chit chat together. I remember my lunch breaks I would ride my bike into the blue bell woods and sit by the stream and eat my lunch. At the time I thought Marston Green was a little heaven on earth.
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Was that the small garage 50 yards past the Marston Green Tavern ? about 1963, I came off my motorbike at that little island. Fortunately the bike was all okay. Ripped my jeans-but that didn't matter. For the record it was a NORTON JUBILEE 250cc !
Colin Stark
 
Brilliant set of photos ... I can pick out a 1-11 and a Viscount, both types of which I flew on from the old terminal ..:)
gary_m_walton said:
Odds And Sods Page 2: I think this is another view at the very end of Elmdon Lane looking to Birmingham airport. Circa 1976
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COLINSTARK said:
Was that the small garage 50 yards past the Marston Green Tavern ? about 1963, I came off my motorbike at that little island. Fortunately the bike was all okay. Ripped my jeans-but that didn't matter. For the record it was a NORTON JUBILEE 250cc !
Colin Stark
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Yes the small garage had been there for years, it was very old and dated. When I started working there a new garage had been built opposite with all the mod cons. I believe the new part was built in about 1958.
 
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