"Birmingham Cross City Line Then & Now"

[@ads1066]

Great video Antman! Though by the time I moved away from Selly Oak it was long before the route was electrified and it was wall to wall clapped out smoky DMU's barking their way along, we used to have a den near the canal and railway between Selly Oak and University stations and watch the DMU's go by, along with class 45's and of course the HST's screaming along (I think back then they had Maybach engines?) looking at the 'now' footage besides having a bit more foliage than i remember, it is much more tidy and accessible than in my day in the early 1980's! Happy days :-)

[@antman09ful1]

Thank very much for your account of your early years along what they now call the cross city line

[@thestaffordshiretrainspott5799]

Fantastic video Mike. The Cross City Line has a lot of characterists with the unique space sounds of a Class 323.

[@antman09ful1]

I agree with your comment, they were a great unit if you wanted to keep warm.

[@andybyrne50]

Remember the 108s running exmouth/paington service..my how times have changed ! A cab ride in to Birmingham ,very nice ! I wouldn't mind a cab ride through the sisters in a HST,between Dawlish/teignmouth . Cheers,Andy

[@antman09ful1]

That would be fantastic Andy along the coast, might sort out some more old photos out when I have time. cheers Mike.

[@andrewholloway231]

Superb compilation, really enjoyed this.

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks Andrew for your comment on the old video of mine. Regards Mike.

[@DownGrand1967]

Marvelous comparison shots & cab footage Mike.

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks Gaz for your continued interest. All the best Mike.

[@spotter260]

Excellent compilation Mike. Very enjoyable. Clive.

[@antman09ful1]

Nice one Clive thank you. Mike

[@pmallenuk]

Very interesting and well put together Dad. The lineside has changed a bit since the days of the DMU's

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks Paul I'm amazed at the amount of interest with this video.

[@itsallabouttheclag]

Hi Mike love this ... where did you access the canal walk for the shots between five ways and university?

[@antman09ful1]

Mark I went there to finish this video off, and I'm sure there was a bridge over the canal which has now gone. Regards Mike.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

A great compilation Mike. Thanks

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks Keith, it was something a little different.

[@WestCountrySteamVideos]

Great video mate :) excellent footage!

[@antman09ful1]

Cheers mate pleased you have enjoyed.

[@maimadha]

Great video.

[@antman09ful1]

OK

[@MrDeltic15]

Great stuff Mike, a very interesting watch comparing the changes at locations and in traction. Later in the year(when I've more time)as I've now got video footage from 1986 to present day I'll be uploading a "Then & Now" series covering changes in traction, operators, and locations.

[@antman09ful1]

Darren that takes a lot of time to arrange, but it will be good to see. Thanks for your interest in this video which I do appreciate. Cheers Mike

[@acquiesce100]

Mrdeltic , do you have the footage from 86 on the cross city line? I’ve been wanting to find some for years.

[@acquiesce100]

Love this video. This is my favourite line and 8 used to ride it all the time with my grandad in the 80s. The driver used to let me in the cab and sound the horn going into new street. Loved the dmus. Really dislike the 323s and how they are slowly destroying the old heritage look and feel of the stations. If you could see those stations from the 80s they were stunning.

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks for your interesting comment, and for finding my video I did way back mate.

[@m18tankdestroyer43]

Great stuff, well done.

[@antman09ful1]

That's good of you to make a comment I do appreciate that. Cheers Mike.

[@crownjulesgaming542]

Look!! At 1:05 you get a rare glimpse of the side destination on the 323 still in use and not yet boarded up!

[@antman09ful1]

Well spotted, thanks for watching.

[@390h8er]

Nice footage. Didn't they also have a few 308/310 units on this route? For years I hated the 323's while we still had slam-door units and loco-haulage around the Midlands. I suppose they've grown on me since but it's not as fun.

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks for jogging my memory mate, yes there was class 310 about, then they went to the Great Eastern.

[@MKTTransportVideos]

If you watch the Video 125 driver's eye view filmed just after the 323s came in, a 310 goes past in the opposite direction somewhere around Sutton Coldfield. Don't know about 308s though? 310s and 312s worked it though I believe.

[@MKTTransportVideos]

Also these would've been the 310/1s, which stayed in the Birmingham area until 2000 or so. Oh and 304s worked this line too.

[@david1g1long]

Yes a few 308's were used on the line before the 323's came in. A few photos on Flickr.

[@angeltransportpjects]

Hi are 0:33 and 1:27 Class 127 units please? Four vehicles in length unlike most of the other Cross City DMUs like the Class 117/2 which were three. Only ever driven this line on train sim BVE (Boso View Express) so this was great to watch: Nice work.

[@antman09ful1]

Yes they are.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Fiveways signal looks awful. Are NR too tight to put in a repeater?

[@antman09ful1]

I cannot answer that.

[@atomiswave1971]

Ohh, a cab ride no less. I used to hate the old DMU's, but nostalgia is kicking in.. Kinda miss them in a way. Network Rail obviously making use of those hedge rows to keep trespassers at bay.

[@antman09ful1]

Richard liked your hedge comment which is true but a pain for use, the cab footage was from 2014 from a video I put out at the time. Thanks for your comment. Mike

[@scruffwood]

Excellent again and interesting for future generations I hope

[@antman09ful1]

Not thought about that Owen a very good point. Cheers

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

It is the Birmingham to Bristol line that is next to the canal, how far is it electrified? and for trains to go to the north of Birmingham to Walsall, Cannock and Lichfield without going through New Street.

[@antman09ful1]

Yes you are right, It is now electrified to Bromsgrove.

[@Glenn1967ful]

I used the Cross City line in 1989 to get to Birmingham University from New St and back. The trains were those dirty old DMUs that were noisy and near the end of their lives. Best laugh was when some teenagers got on at Five Ways and then ran through the barriers at New St, leaving behind some old ticket collector who couldn't catch them. Also first time at New St and what a rotten, dirty hovel of a station it was, with the roof leaking in the buffet.

[@antman09ful1]

Thanks very much Glenn for your interest in watching this oldish video I put together a good few years ago, and your memories of your days along that line. Things have improved and they have ordered some new trains.

[@MG06ZT]

great stuff

[@antman09ful1]

Cheers Keith for watching and commenting.

[@brianjesic4716]

AHHHHHHHH. bloody hell. I don't like the trains of today. but them DMU class 117s are a real gem. I have wanted to see more photos of these trains for years not to mention in colour to. and on the cross city line. it was brilliant traveling on trains in the 80s on that line. the 117s were my best trains EVER. it all changed when they electrified it in 1993. a very sad time to see the end of an era with these beloved 117s. its a shame you haven't got any footage of the 117s in the 80s. (or have you?) with the old alvechurch station in use (with a 2 level platform) that closed in 1993. PLEASE more photos or video footage of our 117s on the cross city line (Redditch to Lichfield trent valley). I shall look forward to hearing from you. best regards brian. (the Redditch train)

[@antman09ful1]

I wish I had more Cross City Line footage Brian, I have lots of photo of DMUs from different parts of the country. There is a class 304 video of mine from the last day of them electric units on the north part of the XCL.

[@brianjesic4716]

thank you for your reply. when that line was electrified in 1993 there were a few teething problems at time with the class 323s the ones that we see today. so yes there were some 1960s electric train running for a short period. I remember the last DMU 117 fairwell in 1993. then the power cables were switched on. but the fairwell slam door shut was not until 1996 when the last 304 was running. if remember correctly the last one was on a sunday in the summer of 1996 were I paid £2 and travel on it all day. between Birmingham new street and Lichfield trent valley. how ever I did buy a dvd 2 years ago 4 disc special on the cross city line from 1993 to 1995 that had a mixture of multiple units such as 116, 117, 118, 150, 304, 305, 310 and the current 323s (with press presentation) I can send you the details of this special dvd if you like. plus I have the 1995 cross city line drivers eye view that was done. and the 1990 cross city line drivers eye view that was filmed before it was electrified. how different it all looked then. I will send you the details of all 3 of these fantastic dvds if you like. please let me know. may I thank you for taking the time for showing an intrest in this hobbie of mine. take care

[@antman09ful1]

That's right.

[@EdgyNumber1]

323 is a good train set. Who owns the original design now? Is it Alstom? The original firm went bust.

[@antman09ful1]

Hunslet built the 323s but I don't know who designed the train, thanks for watching this old video I did. The 323 are being replaced this year on the CCL.

[@passionfruit7276]

Hardly anything "then" its all "now"

[@antman09ful1]

Ok.

[@TrainSpotter-nh2yp]

I will miss those 323s when they go :(

[@antman09ful1]

Yes I think we will mate, thanks for watching.