Travelling back from Small Heath, I had to change at Moor Street. There was just time for a few photos before my train arrived. 9600 was seen in action, before moving out of the way for 168107 to arrive. The Pannier then ran into platform 3 just as my train was arriving – I wasn’t waiting another 30 minutes for the next train, but at last managed a few photos which show how the station looks and the track layout where it joins with the main running lines.

Link to photos

9600, and that’s my train approaching on the left, I’m gone………

Looking out of the window as my train headed into Birmingham, I thought it was going to be too dark for photos, but the light increased enough for some good photos at Small Heath. Fortunately I was able to rest the camera on the bridge parapet to keep it steady, as even at iso1600 the best I could get was 1/250th sec – not good with a zoom lens!

The special train, heading to Paddington and organised by Vintage Trains, was the first departure from the new Birmingham Moor Street platforms, which would be in use for service trains on the following day.

Link to photos

Plenty of smoke & steam:-