Heart of England Rover - Birmingham - April2024

Heart of England Rover - Birmingham - April 2024

The Heart of England Rover covers an extensive area of the Midlands and is available for either three days in seven (£109 full fare) or for seven days in fourteen (£143 full fare). The rover covers from Gloucester and Oxford in the south to Crewe and Matlock in the north, with Birmingham as the central point. The tickets are valid for use with Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, London Northwestern Railway, Northern, Transport for Wales, and West Midlands Railway. On the 10th and 11th April I took a two day trip to the area to travel around the Midlands and explore. The trip also fell on the last week of full operation of Class 323 units on the Birmingham Cross City route, before new CAF units were introduced.

Day 1 - 10th April 2024

On the first day of the trip we tavelled to Birmingham New Street before heading to Leamington Spa, Banbury, and later returning across Birmingham to Stourbridge Junction and Strourbridge Town.

Birmingham New Street:

In the depths of Birmingham New Street, West Midlands Railway Class 323 No.323209 and No.323219 are pictured on the 10th April 2024 operating 2O24 10:29 Litchfield Trent Valley - Bromsgrove.

Leamington Spa:

Chiltern Railways Class 168 No.168321 arrives into Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 operating 1H43 12:11 Birmingham Snow Hill - London Marylebone.

Chiltern Railways Class 168 No.168113 departs from Leamington Spa on the 10th April2 024 operating 1G27 11:36 London Marylebone - Birmingham Snow Hill service.

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66244 passes Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 operating 4O21 09:20 Trafford Park - Southampton containers.

Chiltern Railways Class 168 No.168325 arrives into Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 operating 2L44 12:33 Stratford Upon Avon - Leamington Spa stopping service.

Chiltern Railways Class 168 No.168325 departs from Leamington Spa with the empty stock 5L30 13:14 Leamington Spa - Leamington Spa.

Chiltern Railways Class 82 DVT No.82305 arrives into Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 with No.68011 pushing. The set was operating 1H45 12:45 Birmingham Moor Street - London Marylebone.

Chiltern Railways Class 68 No.68011 is pictured at Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 with Class 82 No.82305 leading 1H45 12:45 Birmingham Moor Street - London Marylebone.

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66154 passes Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 operating 4M71 09:45 Southampton Western Docks - Birch Coppice containers.

Colas Class 70 No.70806 passes Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 operating 6M50 07:13 Westbury - Bescot engineers.

GBRf Class 66/7 No.66732 passes through Leamington Spa at speed on the 10th April 2024 operating 6G99 06:45 Tunstead - Banbury loaded aggregate.

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66151 passes through Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024 operating 6E11 11:47 Appleford - Milford West Junction.

Chiltern Railways Class 165 No.165026 is pictured at Leamington Spa on the 10th April 2024. The unit later departed 1H32 14:02 Leamington Spa - Birmingham Snow Hill.

Banbury:

GBRf Class 66/7 No.66764 speeds through Banbury on the 10th April 2024 operating 4M19 11:47 Southampton Western Docks - East Midlands Gateway containers.

Chiltern Railways Class 168 No.168113 arrives into Banbury on the 10th April 2024 operating 1H51 14:11 Birmingham Moor Street - London Marlybone.

Stourbridge Junction/ Stourbridge Town:

West Midlands Railway Class 172 No.172231 and No.172213 arrive into Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 operating 2C91 16:11 Worcester Foregate Street - Dorridge service.

West Midlands Parry People Mover No.139001 arrives into Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 from Stourbridge Town.

West Midlands Class 172 Units No.172214 and No.172220 arrive into Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 operating 2V84 16:03 Dorridge - Worcester Foregate Street.

West Midlands Railway Class 172 No.172345 is pictured at Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 operating 2S97 17:24 Kidderminster - Whitlocks End.

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66012 is pictured passing Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 operating 6M41 11:45 Margam - Round Oak.

West Midlands Railway Class 139 No.139001 arrives into Stourbridge Town on the 10th April 2024 arriving from Stourbridge Junction.

Chiltern Railways Class 68 No.68011 arrives into Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 operating 1J49 17:07 London Marylebone - Stourbridge Junction commuter service.

West Midlands Railway Class 172 No.172342 arrives into Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 operating 2D95 16:45 Worcester Foregate Street - Stratford Upon Avon service with No.172002

Parry People Mover No.390001 is pictured at Stourbridge Junction having arrived from Stourbridge Town on the 10th April 2024.

Chiltern Railways Class 68 No.68011 arrives into Stourbridge Junction on the 10th April 2024 operating 1J49 17:07 London Marylebone - Stourbridge Junction commuter service.

Day 2

Stafford:

Avanti West Coast Hitachi IET No.805009 arrives on test into Stafford on the 10th April 2024 operating 5Q90 09:13 Edge Hill - London Euston.

GBRf Class 66/7 No.66732 passes Stafford on the 11th April 2024 operating 6G99 08:45 Tunstead - Banbury Oxford Road aggregate terminal.

Avanti West Coast Pendolino No.390126 speeds through the centre road at Stafford on the 11th April 2024 operating 1A22 09:23 Liverpool Lime Street - London Euston.

DRS/ Transpennine Class 68 No.68032 arrives slowly into Stafford on the 11th April 2024 operating 5Q94 08:56 Manchester Longsight - Long Marston stock move. The loco was conveying CAF Mk2 stock going into storage. The loco also failed at Stafford with high water temperature.

DRS/ Transpennine Class 68 No.68032 is pictured at Stafford having failed with high water temperature on the 11th April 2024.The loco was operating 5Q94 08:56 Longsight - Long Marston stock move with Mk5 stock being taken for storage. The loco was declared a failure at Stafford and was later rescued by No.57304 and towed back to Crewe.

DB Cargo Class 66No.66244 passes through Stafford don the 11th April 2024 operating 4O21 09:20 Trafford Park - Southampton containers.

Operating on test, Avatnti West Coast Hitachi IET No.805005 passes Stafford on the 11th April 2024 operating 5Q80 11:00 Crewe - London Euston.

Crewe:

Colas Class 70 No.70811 passes Crewe on the 11th April 2024 operating 0F55 Carlisle Yard - Rectory Junction for servicing.

DRS Class 57 No.57304 prepares to depart Crewe on the 11th April 2024 to run light engine to Stafford to collect failed Class 68 No.68032

Avanti West Coast Pendolino No.390107 speeds through centre road at Crewe on the 11th April 2024 operating 1M10 09:36 Glasgow Central - London Euston.

Stafford:

DRS Class 68 No.67008 powers through Stafford on the 11th April 2024 operating 4S44 12:16 Daventry - Coatbridge 'Tescoliner'.

Direct Rail Services Class 57/3 No.57304 is pictured at Stafford having arrived as 1Z99 from Crewe Gresty Bridge on the 11th April 2024 light engine. The loco is pictured coupled the the Mk5 stock and failed Class 68 No.68032. It's thought this is the first ever time a Class 57/3 has been seen coupled to Mk5 CAF stock. The failed train was then towed back to Crewe.

Rugeley Trent Valley:

Avanti West Coast Pendolino Class 390 No.390050 passes Rugeley Trent Valley on the 11th April 2024 operating 1A40 12:43 Liverpool Lime Street - London Euston.

West Midlands Railway Class 730 units No.730206 and No.730220 arrives into Rugeley Trent Valley on test. The units were operating 2Q25 14:02 Nuneaton - Crewe on the 11th April 2024.

Litchfield and the Birmingham Cross City Line:

Freightliner Class 90 locomotives No.90041 and No.90005 double head through Litchfield Trent Valley on the 11th April 2024. The Pair were operating 4M63 09:12 Felixstowe North - Trafford Park.

West Midlands Railway Class 323 EMU units No.323207 and No.323241 arrive into Four Oaks traversing the Cross City Line on the 11th April 2024 operating 2P39 14:29 Bromsgrove - Litchfield.

West Midlands Railway Class 323 No.323210 and No.323215 arrive into Four Oaks on the 11th April 2024 operating 2U40 14:31 Redditch - Four Oaks service.

West Midlands Railway Class 323 No.323215 and No.323210 depart from Four Oaks on the 11th April 2024 operating 2E43 15:46 Four Oaks - Redditch service.

West Midlands Railway Class 323 No.323206 leads No.323201 into Four Oaks on the 11th April 2024 operating 2D44 15:39 Litchfield Trent Valley - Bromsgrove stopping service.

West Midlands Railway Class 323 EMU units No.323209 and No.323219 are pictured at Four Oaks on the 11th April 2024 operating 2P41 15:03 Bromsgrove - Litchfield Trent Valley.

West Midlands Railway Class 323 units No.323217 and No.323242 arrives into Four Oaks on the 11th April 2024. The units were operating 2U42 15:01 Redditch - Four Oaks stopping service.

Small Heath and Tyseley:

Chiltern Railway Class 168 No.168107 passes Small Heath on the 11th April 2024 operating 1H68 17:22 Birmingham Snow Hill - London Marylebone.

West Midland Railway Class 172 No.172214 passes Small Heath on the 11th April 2024 operating 2C91 16:11 Worcester Foregate Street - Dorridge service.

West Midlands Railway Class 172 No.172339 arrives into Small Heath on the 11th April 2024 operating 2K94 16:43 Stratford upon Avon - Kidderminster service.

West Midlands Railway Class 196 No.196006 and No.196011 is pictured passing Small Heath on the 11th April 2024 operating 5V23 17:26 Tyseley - Birmingham New Street.

West Midlands Railway Class 172 units No.172222 and No.172335 arrive into Small Heath on the 11th April 2024 operating 2S93 16:54 Kidderminster - Stratford Upon Avon service.

West Midlands Railway Class 172 No.172341 and No.172211 pass through Tyseley on the 11th April 2024 operating 2V96 17:08 Stratford Upon Avon - Worcester Foregate Street service.