1960s Wolverhampton Low Level To Stourbridge Junction

All Credits for this video must go to Michael Clemens of B&R Videos, and his father Jim Clemens who did such a marvellous job of recording the scenes of this long gone and forgotten railway. So enjoy the ride from Wolverhampton Low Level to Stourbridge Junction as it was in the 1960s.

[@iainclark5964]

Before my time but this is the area I grew up in and have a lot of love for.

[@fathertoson1974]

I was born in Bilston in 1962 by Bilston Central station and can still remember the railway bridge in Coseley Road by the steel works. My Grandad was chief shunter at Stafford Road yard until his death in 1957 and his brother in law was a driver from there also

[@wordsleydave]

Oh my Lord ..... What I'd give to do that journey again ... visit family in Tipton/Princes End or even a day in Wolvo ....instead of pain in the arse driving! ... Brilliant film!!!!

[@WordsleyBaggies]

Excellent film. I live near Stourbridge and all I can say is how silly it was to close the line from Stourbridge to Wolverhampton via Dudley. With the congested roads around here now it would be excellent to have an alternative way of getting around the Black Country. My Great Grandad was station master at Stourbridge Junction in the early 1900's his pocket watch was passed to me by my late Grandad,still keeps perfect time.!

[@84asrd84boxy]

Many thanks for taking the time to view and for your very kind comment, glad you enjoyed watching this slice of history. Unfortunately this line and many more throughout the country were deemed as non profit making and fell foul of the " Beeching" axe. It's nice to know you have a momento left to you regarding your Great Grandads watch, which I would imagine would be a service watch from the former Great Western Railway, cheers...Bill

[@cosmicmaniac1886]

AMAZING.

[@feline1104]

Dear Bill - This is an absolute gem, a real taste of recent history that should be our treasured heritage.... It reconnects me to my roots and makes one realize just how much we have lost over a few decades! The Womborne line is of particular interest to me coming from Penn, remember hearing the trains from where we lived near Lower Penn. More recently have walked along this route before the track was lifted and after, from Compton as far as the Crooked House Pub at Himley... I remember travelling with parents from Low Level c 1957, the smell of the engine smoke mingled with the sweetness of pipe smoke form our fellow pipe smoking travellers, then having a large bag of hot jacket potatoes to eat on the return from Birmingham. Oh for the days when these idiosyncratic place names featured in the film, through the black country truely represented their local almost rural communities....... Now - gone, gone, gone except in name and memory and this fantastic footage that will endure for years to come! Thanks for the memory plus so much more.....

[@84asrd84boxy]

Jayne, many thanks for looking/commenting, it's nice to know that this bought back so many happy memories for you, unfortunately all of this is now lost, but thanks to Jim Clemens these scenes of yesteryear will live on forever. Regarding the Wombourn Branch there is a DVD called Steam Byeways filmed by Geoffrey Bannister a former Headmaster in Tettenhall I believe, this DVD shows part of the Wombourn Branch in the late 50s early 60s, the quality is average, but the content is superb, take care...Bill

[@Biigfish559]

Knew that line or at least the walk so well living near it in the 70's-80's , to have heard and more so travelled on it, just genuinely mind blowing.

[@billybeck]

Brilliant video. Thanks for sharing ☺️👍

[@SpoonyMcSpoonface]

All those lovely totems.

[@l.m.railuk7908]

Thankyou so much for uploading this wonderfull footage, the section of line from Daisy Bank, to Princes end and Coseley is at the bottom of my garden, and thanks to yourself I can now see what It looked like in it's day, Bostin !! Regard's Lee.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Lee, glad you enjoyed watching, as you say now you can see what it looked like some 50 odd years ago, thanks for looking/commenting, cheers...Bill

[@patrickdunning9820]

Amazing period piece, being actually filmed with synced sound (not as easy as it sounds) really makes it! Well done.

[@peterilsley3217]

What a find. Congratulations to all concerned. I agree with all the other comments these films are gems of recent history. Thank you for making this site so much more pleasure to visit. I used to travel each day from Tipton to Snow Hill to work in the city. Happy days.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Peter, unfortunately those days have long since gone but will never be forgotten. Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated. Regards... Bill

[@ramonwilliams5721]

Just found your video, as a ex steam fireman/driver at Stourbridge really enjoyed a look back..Thanks

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Ramon, nice to know that this short video bought back some fond memories for you. I was also a fireman at Stafford Rd and Oxley many years ago. Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated...Bill

[@TrevorLedgeway]

Another Gem from the past this is Bill,Love the old stuff....Trevor.''

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Trevor, like you I really enjoy watching material from this era, I think it's priceless, a great reminder for everyone of something from the past and long since gone, thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed it...Bill

[@mickb4255]

Once again thank you so much for putting up this film. Train spotters childhood on film.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Mick B Cheers once again Mick, these scenes are now just memories for someone of my age, sadly the likes of these clips can no longer be seen, it's to people like Jim Clemens recording what we used to have now gives us the opportunity to take a look back all those many years ago, thanks for looking/commenting...Bill

[@jammiebeasts]

Fantastic video. Good old railway days.........

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Jamie, glad you enjoyed watching this blast from the past...Bill

[@Domdeone1]

Awesome. Next best thing to a time machine. Hardly anything left to explore these days industrially..

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers, looking back all those years ago along this line from Low Level to Stourbridge Jnc heavy industry was lost at Bilston steel works- Round Oak steel works and also the wagon repair depot at Princes End & Coseley. I find that this video is a reminder of what has been lost forever. Thanks for looking/commenting. Regards...Bill

[@nelsoncifuentes575]

This is all well before my time but travels through many areas that I've grown up around and know well. I've sometimes wondered what it'd have been like 50 or 60 years ago, a couple of generations back (i.e. how my grandparent's generation would have seen the world as they moved through it). Fascinating, thank you!

[@nickshuttleworth8389]

Love it! Grew up next to Daisy Bank and Bradley in the 1980s well after it had closed and have dreamt what this line must have been like to ride on, thanks for posting!

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Nick, It's nice to know that you enjoyed watching this blast from the past, and that it gave you an insight of what things were like in the area in the 60s. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment much appreciated. Regards...Bill

[@andywood7784]

Great film. Surprised at how degraded those stations were by that point

[@amaruf2008]

Just wow!!! Loved the video for taking me back to 1960... I like English history. I have been to this West Midlands area and in the UK for last 6 years only.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Maruf, thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed watching this short video of days gone by...Bill

[@owenevans83]

Another great video that I haven't seen before, thanks!

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Owen, thanks for looking, nice to know you enjoyed watching this short blast from the past...Bill

[@DownGrand1967]

Brilliant upload Bill, wish it was still like this !

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Gaz, it's a great reminder of what we used to have, but no longer do unfortunately, thanks for looking, much appreciated...Bill

[@herbypumpkin1256]

A wonderful film. I moved to a new house built on the Hill behind the Junction in 1973 deliberately so I could have an aerial view of the railways, and be able to catch my train to New Street every day. Of course in 1973 it was Western Hydraulic territory with Clay Trains from Cornwall. I managed to ride in the Cab of the Stourbridge Town train on occassions and led a fight to keep the line open when the West Midlands County Council wanted to drop funding for it.

[@84asrd84boxy]

HerbyPumpkin Many thanks for taking the time to view and comment, much appreciated, glad it bought back some great memories for you, cheers...Bill

[@herbypumpkin1256]

Had a lot to do with that line over the years. Moved higher up from Stourbridge to another new house which over-looked the line just before Brierley Hill - where the runaway Sunday School outing train crashed on the 12th August 1858. A terrible story. I went by Motorbike to work through Round Oak Steel Works and watched the molten slag being poured every day. My office then was at Dudley over-looking the Freighliner Depot - which apparently was the most successful in the UK - until it was closed to help support the loss-making Birmingham one. I did manage to transverse the line in an enthusiasts DMU in the 1970s. There were often plans to re-open Dudley even as a Tram stop but nothing has happened.

[@mukkaspec755]

Fantastic !

[@84asrd84boxy]

Thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed watching this blast from the past, cheers...Bill

[@Biigfish559]

Thanks for watching??? This kind of fantastic footage makes you treasure your vision , thanks x 10,000 for posting.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Francis, thanks for looking and your kind comment much appreciated, nice to know you enjoyed a look at a short blast from the past which unfortunately has now been lost forever. Regards....Bill

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

60 years and we'll soon have some of the route back with the Metro.

[@TheRichardSpearman]

Although not from the area, I appreciate the high quality of the film, and the places shown. I was surprised that some of the station platforms were so weedy, and not much had been spent to keep them in good condition.

[@gingydadtog2151]

Really appreciate this upload, a real gem. I have always been interested in the history of and seeing photos of this part of the OWW line (along with the Bumble Hole line), both of which were unfortunately long gone by the time I was born. The odd reminants still prevail if you know where to look. Really pleased to see colour film of the lines last days. Thanks!

[@84asrd84boxy]

Thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed watching this short blast from the past. We have Jim Clemens to thank for recording these wonderful scenes of the OWW which are now just a distant memory, having worked over the line many times myself during the early 60s, this short clip bought back so many memories for myself, therefore I am glad that others can appreciate something we use to have, and has now long since gone, cheers...Bill

[@KenBrownekb71000duke]

Thanks for uploading this historical video Bill. Its always good to see film of steam locos in action as it was years ago. Sadly this line didn't survive but I loved watching all the intersecting junction lines and the commentary was very informative as well. I don't know where you keep getting these old videos, in colour too, but keep them coming, they're part of our railway heritage. Thanks once again! Kenk

[@84asrd84boxy]

Ken, thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed watching this short clip of part of our railway heritage of a line long since gone, all credits for this short clip must go to Jim Clemens who did a great job recording these scenes. The local passenger service seen ceased on the 30th of July 1962, but freights still worked over the line for a number of years later, Blowers Green was the junction for what was known locally as The Bumble Hole, with gradients of around 1 in 51 on the climb from Coxes Lane Crossing up through Old Hill to Rowley Regis were there used to be an Oil Terminal for the oil trains we used to work over The Bumble Hole, cheers...Bill

[@rebeccam7326]

Fascinating! They should reopen this line

[@84asrd84boxy]

Unfortunatley Rebecca I can't see this line ever re-opening there are too many obstacles in the way now. Sorry for the late reply. Regards...Bill

[@user-cg7uw9uh6n]

fantastic video

[@84asrd84boxy]

+David R Cheers David, glad you enjoyed watching this little blast from the past, thanks for looking and your kind comment...Bill

[@gilbertcostin2429]

Hi. Gil costin here fired this engine 78008 many times with driver Ken law at Oxley moor sheds it was used for engineering shunting , I now live at Eastbourne Cheers.

[@blauckner]

Wonderful video. I rode this route in the mid 1950s as we used to go to Wolverhampton for a day's train spotting! Pity about the London Midland Region station signs; this was WR territory!

[@84asrd84boxy]

It's nice to know that this short video bought back some great memories for you, I actually worked this service as a young Stafford Road fireman, it's thanks to Jim Clemens who recorded these wonderful scenes, that we can now look back all those years ago and now see what has been lost, thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed watching, cheers...Bill

[@Melody-mu6nk]

Wow Nice to see the past 🙋

[@davidbacon2428]

And the Crooked House pub also gone forever 😢 as with the GWR consigned to the history books tragic.

[@percomotion]

Fantastic video all not far from me but unrecognisable these days so much change over the years. Kev

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Kev, thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed watching, as you say unrecognisable nowadays, most of the line I would say has now been built on, we have to thank people like Michael and Jim Clemens for recording scenes such as these to remind us of what we used to have, but unfortunately no longer do, cheers...Bill

[@kejcolley]

A very interesting film - most enjoyable to watch. As I'm in my mid-60's, grew up in Tipton and have lived in Stourbridge for many years (literally 5 minutes walk away from Stourbridge Junction) the places were all familiar to me. Just two comments on pronunciation: 'Bradley' should be pronounced 'Braid-lee' and in Cradley Heath, 'Cradley' should be pronounced 'Craid-lee'

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Keith, It's nice to know that you enjoyed watching this short video of the former service from W-ton Low Level to Stourbridge Junction. Jim Clemens did a great job recording these scenes of a long forgotten branch line. Regarding the pronunciation of Bradley & Cradley Heath, I think anyone from outside the Black Country would possibly make the same mistake, people living around the Black Country would obviously know how to pronounce each station correctly. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment, much appreciated...Bill

[@dougattrenholmebar]

Terrific film, bang on my era

[@84asrd84boxy]

dougattrenholmebar Many thanks for looking, and for your kind comment, glad you enjoyed watching and that it bought back some great memories for you, this was also the era I grew up in, and remember it well, cheers...Bill

[@dougattrenholmebar]

Thanks Bill, if this is your era have a look at this:- kzbin.info/aero/PLSavywr5Ijy-QsDdUzMCFNDvlozZ-F-al

[@ryanstephenkristoferkearns1319]

Brilliant film and I think Bilston train is now a tram station.

[@moirahole1395]

Terrific!

[@84asrd84boxy]

Moira, thanks for looking, and for your kind comment, this is now my final look at Priestfield and surrounding areas, take care...Bill

[@moirahole1395]

84asrd84boxy You have given me such a treat with these videos, Bill. I had managed to find books with photos of Priestfield at the Watercress Line and at the Didcot Railway Centre, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would ever again have the experience of actually seeing steam trains running through Priestfield. I could write a book about the things we got up to as kids around that station. Thanks once again from the bottom of my heart, As they say in Bilston - bostin'!!

[@84asrd84boxy]

Moira, it's pleasing to know that you have enjoyed watching the few bits and bobs around Priestfield and that they have bought back so many happy memories for you, people of our generation know what we had, unfortunately the younger generation don't know what they missed, if they were to watch these and other videos of days gone by, they would then realise what great days they were, take care...Bill

[@petercurrell9344]

In the 60's a Man in India wanted to buy a train ticket to Wolverhampton. The clerk said do you want High or Low Level stations.

[@davidwooldridge7570]

I have heard rumours of this line being rebuilt, I have actually seen evidence of this myself from the Walsall end, and North of dudley. I hope that it will go all the way, the line is still used and modernised up to round oak steel terminal.

[@risvegliato]

This is very rare footage of this part of the OWW! There are very few photos of places like Daisy Bank, and Tipton West, never mind video.

[@84asrd84boxy]

We have the late Jim Clemens to thank for recording these scenes before the line closed to passenger services in July 1962, and what a wonderful job he did. Thanks for looking/commenting much appreciated. Regards...Bill

[@stephensmith799]

I am sure this route would be viable today. Love the Staffordshire Blue bricks!

[@84asrd84boxy]

+Stephen Smith Stephen, unfortunately everywhere is overgrown from Sun St to the twin bore tunnels at Low Level to Stowheath, and I would imagine that from Priestfield Junction to Dudley would be the same or having been built upon making this former line a definite no-go as far as any restoration of services. From memory everywhere around Low Level was built with Blue Bricks, there is now a pub called the Bluebrick standing on what used to be the up and down goods lines that ran behind Low Level Station. Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated, cheers...Bill

[@stephensmith799]

84asrd84boxy They closed the line from Guildford to Horsham via Cranleigh and the roads are jammed solid every morning into Guildford as a direct result. Rail travel has DOUBLED in the last 20 years, nationally. So railways are back! Mind you the arguments in Cranleigh are strage ones: many locals don't want to make travel easier 'cos this would bring more housing development. They are content to let their lives slip by stuck in trafficIn just for the satisfaction of preventing anyone else build a new house near their own. In the meantime London has this insane housing crisis. Solving housing means solving transport and this means rail. The economic picture is different in Birmingham but the case for rail-boosted economic development is even stronger. As for Staffordshire Blues, I used them to build the footings for a hoppy room at the bottom of our garden. They are really tough and frost resistant. The railway builders knew what they were doing. No finer brick!

[@hjellam2251]

hi,is there any chance you,r stephen smith from cleveland close,ashmore park as a lad.

[@gilbertcostin2429]

Hi Gil costin here 78008 was on Oxley sheds doing the local engineering trips I fired this engine many times and it was a load of crap never mind fired a 9F next day made up for it, my driver was Kenny law Great guy we was like chalk and cheese I am now 68 and I remember it like yesterday.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Hello Gilbert, 78008 was allocated to 84a Stafford Road Shed and was amongst the rest of the allocation of loco's that were transferred to 2B Oxley when Stafford Rd closed in September 1963. I also fired this loco a few times. My first driver at Stafford Rd was Dennis Macmillan in the Bank Link, then I was transferred to Oxley into the Zone Link and mated Teddy Purslow for a couple of years. Kenny Worrall was another driver I mated and when Bushbury closed in 1965 I mated George Matthews an ex Bushbury man who moved to Oxley with a few more men from there. When Oxley closed in 1967 I moved to Wolverhampton High Level as a secondman a glorified teaboy. I loved the job but decided to leave in September 1968. Happy days never to be forgotten. Thanks for looking/commenting, cheers...Bill

[@spongatejunction]

Priestfield is now part of the Midland Metro line

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Stuart, yes what was the mainline from Low Level to Snow Hill at Priestfield is now used by the Midland Metro, the other part of the Junction at Priestfield to Dudley/Stourbridge etc is the part that disappeared many years ago, thanks for looking...Bill

[@annescholey6546]

Interesting how Low Level survived many years after closure.

[@billkent6037]

It did but it was in a state of absolute ruin! I remember there was a rusty old train carriage just abandoned

[@samc6223]

Great scenes, which DVD are these on?

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Samantha, thanks for looking and your kind comment. This clip was taken from TheJim Clemens Collection Number 23 Western Steam South Of Birmingham. Hope this answers your question, the actual clip is on Chapter 4 on the DVD. Regards...Bill

[@Biigfish559]

So (gulp!) this is just a fraction of what is available on this awesome DVD? And there are probably more made by similar folk to the wonderful Clemens clan. Just ...great!! Maybe these lines had to close but as many have said, they should have been protected . Maybe people with an eye for making money are otherwise very short sighted hence the destruction of so much of our transport infrastructure :'(

[@aprilshowers6752]

Can I just say, its not Cradley Heath ( with a short sounding "a") its Craadley Heath ( ling sounding "a). I used to live there for what it is worth and new Cradley Heath Station well.

[@felipe12songs]

Great nostagia

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Phil, thanks for taking the time to view and comment, glad you enjoyed watching this short blast from the past...Bill

[@felipe12songs]

People like yourself , keep my childhood alive, thanks.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Phil, many thanks for your kind words, there are more videos around the Midlands of this era on my channel if you wish to look, cheers...Bill

[@PLAYINGAROUND]

Nice film, although the narrator's details are a tad iffy in places.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated, cheers...Bill

[@dave13dc]

What the Brierley Hill is going on here then? Lol

[@84asrd84boxy]

A glimpse of what has been lost forever, thanks for looking/commenting. Regards...Bill

[@mickb4255]

Had a junior school teacher who shouted this to us kids when we were making a noise.

[@TheHannible]

Wow must have been strange when people had jobs?