Jewellery Line Reopening
Eight years after Snow Hill station reopened for passenger services on the Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon lines, the line from Snow Hill to Smethwick West Junction was reopened for passenger services. New stations were built at Jewellery Quarter, The Hawthorns and Smethwick Galton Bridge, the last of these being built on two levels to allow connections between services on the Snow Hill to Stourbridge and New Street to Wolverhampton lines (Worcestershire Parkway, take note!). Smethwick Galton Bridge also replaced Smethwick West station which closed a year later.
On Sunday 24 September 1995, the Shadow Minister of Transport, John Prescott, travelled on the first service over the new line which was hauled by the Severn Valley Railway’s BR 2-6-4T No 80079, and officially opened the three new stations. After that initial journey, 80079 hauled a number of public services between Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction. All of these services were pre-booked, and every one was full.
The following photographs were taken that day.
Looking from Livery Street Overbridge to Snow Hill station. BR 2-6-4T No. 80079 waits in platform 3 to depart on the first service over the Jewellery Line at 0950 hrs.
The 0950 service from Snow Hill arrives at The Hawthorns
The 0950 service from Snow Hill arrives at Smethwick Galton Bridge.
The view from above the western portal of Old Hill Tunnel while awaiting 80079 to bring the 1140 service from Stourbridge Junction up Old Hill Bank.
The 1440 service from Stourbridge Junction arrives at Snow Hill.
The 1600 service from Snow Hill to Stourbridge Junction waits to depart.
80079 at Stourbridge Junction.
80079 waits to depart from Stourbridge Junction with the 1720 service to Snow Hill.