We went to Manchester on the train this week. On the way up, the train went via Five Ways into Birmingham New Street where it reversed.
Coming back from Manchester, we stopped at New Street and then continued in the same direction. We then travelled via the Camp Hill line and rejoined the main line at King's Norton.
Is this the usual practice? Do some services do it, but not others? Do some nortbound service go via Camp Hill? I haven't travelled this route for many years, and have not previously gone via Camp Hill.
Camp Hill Railway Line, Birmingham
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Pompey Lad
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Prior to the introduction of Voyagers it was not unusual for loco hauled trains heading to Liverpool/Manchester to take the Camp Hill route to avoid a loco run round at New Street. HSTs did go that way on occasions and it is possible that was to avoid congestion caused by local services between New Street and Kings Norton.
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Robin Summerhill
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I think I've been via Camp Hill twice.
The second time was about 15 years ago when I went up to Brum one afternoon on an HST and was rather surprised at our "deviation" at Kings Norton.
The first time was back in the 60s when I went north on the 0110 Sheffield. In those days it was not unusual to be able to get a compartment to yourself, and I was out cold in my "unofficial" sleeper. When I woke up somewhere around Tamworth I was on the "opposite" side of the compartment (ie, I had dozed off an the facing side, and I wasn't on the facing side any more). I might have sleep walked over there of course!
The second time was about 15 years ago when I went up to Brum one afternoon on an HST and was rather surprised at our "deviation" at Kings Norton.
The first time was back in the 60s when I went north on the 0110 Sheffield. In those days it was not unusual to be able to get a compartment to yourself, and I was out cold in my "unofficial" sleeper. When I woke up somewhere around Tamworth I was on the "opposite" side of the compartment (ie, I had dozed off an the facing side, and I wasn't on the facing side any more). I might have sleep walked over there of course!
camp route
the Plymouth to Liverpool was one of these services that went via Camp hill and returned to Bristol it was sensible to save run rounds in New Street.
Yes they do travel via camphill on some services as DB Schenkwe drivers use it for route refreshing Birmingham.Mot sure if there is a specific reason for it other then route knowledge for the drivers.
A lot of freight will go via camp hill unless for enginering work they are diverted via New street which a lot of drivers with heavy freight trains dislike becuase they have to crawl through new street and struggle getting out.
A lot of freight will go via camp hill unless for enginering work they are diverted via New street which a lot of drivers with heavy freight trains dislike becuase they have to crawl through new street and struggle getting out.