Cadbury Crème Egg car in Stirchley and Cadbury Dairy Milk Big Taste monster truck at Cadbury World in Bournville

Cadbury Creme Egg car can sometimes be seen in Stirchley near the Pershore Road (opposite the Fordhouse Lane junction). It's just behind the gate during the week (if not at the weekend). Over at Cadbury World in Bournville is a jacked up former Taxi that looks like a Mini Monster Truck! Which was seen during the snow earlier in March 2023.

The Cadbury Crème Egg car can be seen near the Pershore Road in Stirchley, close to Stirchley Gearbox Services. I've only managed to see it during the week (it wasn't there the weekend I tried to get close to it). It is almost Easter, so only a week or two left before Cadbury stop selling them, until after Christmas next year!

Seen on the 28th March 2023. I had previously seen it earlier in the month, and once aware of it, travelled to Stirchley on the 4th March 2023, but it wasn't there. Saw it again from the bus almost a month later, so made my way back to Stirchley to see if it was still there!

dndimg alt="Cadbury" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cadbury%20Creme%20Egg%2028032023.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

On the snow of 9th March 2023, I got a train from Birmingham New Street to Bournville. Had a snowy walk past the Cadbury chocolate factory, and around to Cadbury World.

I found this Cadbury Dairy Milk Big Taste, Mini Monster Truck. Well its a former taxi / Hackney carriage, jacked up as a monster truck! Seen covered in snow. It was really cold that day in Bournville.

dndimg alt="Cadbury Dairy Milk" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Big%20Taste%20Cadbury%20World%2009032023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cadbury Dairy Milk" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Big%20Taste%20Cadbury%20World%2009032023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Cadbury Dairy Milk" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Big%20Taste%20Cadbury%20World%2009032023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown

Taxi exhibition at the Coventry Transport Museum in 2019

I've been to the Coventry Transport Museum around three times between 2015 and 2019, when entry used to be free (has been an entrance fee since 2020). The last time I went around March 2019, for an exhibition called TAXI: The Story from A to B (was on at the time from January to May 2019). Had UK taxis as well as taxis from around the world. Including New York and Tokyo.

Coventry Transport Museum is a short distance away from Pool Meadow Bus Station. So if you don't get the train, you can catch the X1 bus from Birmingham (takes over an hour, via the Airport and NEC). On these visits I used to start by going to Esquires Coffee, before going into the museum (it is now Baxter Baristas @ 16 Hales Street).

 

TAXI: The Story from A to B

From horse drawn to horse power, the history of the taxi is much older than you think. From record breaking cabs that drove around the world, to hackney carriages throughout the ages. This is the Story from A to B.

Free Admission (not on the meter). It was on from the 26th January to 12th May 2019.

Did you know that the much loved feature of London streets has been made in Coventry since the 1940s?

They have been ferrying millions of passengers around the UK and in more than 40 countries.

The recent TX4 black cab model has starred in more than 5000 films including in James Bond, Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes.

 

Here is some of the taxis that was on display in this temporary exhibition at the Coventry Transport Museum, back in 2019.

 

Humber Laudette 1910 London Taxi

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

FX3 1948-1958

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

TX1 1997-2017

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Sent to Coventry - 2 Tone Taxi - BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Japan Taxi

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

New York Taxi

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Get Taxi Breaking a World Record - It's on the Meter World Taxi Challenge

Aston University, Birmingham, QUT Business School.

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Rickshaw

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Tuk Tuk

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

TX E City Electric Future

dndimg alt="Coventry Transport Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Taxi%20Cov%20TM%20(Mar%202019)%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Avanti West Coast: Riding the Flying Scouseman to Coventry

I got the Avanti West Coast Pendolino service from Birmingham New Street to Coventry (it was going to London Euston) on the 23rd February 2023. Journey took around 20 minutes, with only one stop at Birmingham International. This train the Flying Scouseman was named in the Liverpool Echo Name a Virgin Train competition in 2017. The name remained after Avanti took over in 2019.

Coventry Station

Arriving at Coventry Station on Avanti West Coast Pendolino Flying Scouseman 390 148 on the 23rd February 2023. Mainly to have a look around the new Coventry Station concourse (the old 1960s building remains as is Grade II listed). Caught at Birmingham New Street, this train was going down the West Coast Mainline towards London Euston. The train stopped at platform 2. After my walk around Coventry (via War Memorial Park and the City Centre), I got Cross Country Trains back to Birmingham New Street (standing all the way, no free seats).

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Flying%20Scouseman%20Cov%20Stn%2023022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Flying%20Scouseman%20Cov%20Stn%2023022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Flying%20Scouseman%20Cov%20Stn%2023022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Flying%20Scouseman%20Cov%20Stn%2023022023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The previous time I'd been to Coventry Station was on the 12th June 2021, where I saw Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390 010, with the 'Welcome to Coventry' sign. That day I got Avanti down to Coventry from Birmingham New Street, and later back with this train.

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Avanti%20WC%20Cov%20(Jun%202021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham International Station

I previously saw Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390 152 at Birmingham International on the 3rd September 2022. But that day got London Northwestern Railway back to Birmingham New Street. This Avanti service was heading for Edinburgh at the time.

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AWC%20BIS%2003092022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AWC%20BIS%2003092022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham New Street Station

Seen from platform 4c at Birmingham New Street was Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390 135 at platform 5 (5b) on the 19th June 2021.

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/AWC%20390%20BNSS%2019062021.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Avanti%20WC%20BNSS%2019062021%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

While at platform 3 (3b) that day was Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390 122.

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Avanti%20WC%20BNSS%2019062021%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A pair of Avanti West Coast Pendolino's Class 390 recorded at Birmingham New Street, from the Moor Street Link Bridge on the 17th October 2021.

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Avanti%20WC%20BNSS%2017102021.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

At Birmingham New Street on the 20th August 2020,  I saw Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390 127 in the new livery. Earlier that year before the pandemic began, they were still white, after the end of Virgin Trains in December 2019.

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BNSS%20Avanti%20W%20Coast%20(Aug%202020)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BNSS%20Avanti%20W%20Coast%20(Aug%202020)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Avanti West Coast" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BNSS%20Avanti%20W%20Coast%20(Aug%202020)%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Centro Regional Railways livery on 323221

Eventually the Cross City Line fleet of the awesome Class 323 EMUs will be replaced by the new Class 730 EMUs. In December 2022 West Midlands Railway 323221 was repainted in classic 1990s yellow and green livery of Centro | Regional Railways. BWA's Elliott first photographed it at University on 11/02/2023, then rode it from Birmingham New Street to Shenstone and back on 15/02/2023.

Centro Regional Railways 323221

West Midlands Railway repainted the Class 323 unit 323221 in the 1990s livery of lime green, yellow and white with Centro and Regional Railways logos at the Soho depot. It returned to service on the 19th December 2022.

Birmingham We Are contributor Elliott Brown first spotted it at Selly Oak near the Worcester & Birmingham Canal a day later (near Selly Oak Shopping Park on 20/12/2022), but was unable to get a photo of it.

Several other attempts to see it including a trip from Five Ways to Longbridge (and back to Kings Norton on 21/12/2022), then Birmingham New Street to Aston (and back from Duddeston on 01/01/2023), finally Bournville to Birmingham New Street one way (on 28/01/2023), didn't catch it.

 

Previous liveries over the years

London Midland 323221 at Aston Station during August 2012.

dndimg alt="Aston Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LM%20323221%20Aston%20(Aug%202012).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

London Midland 323221 at Witton Station during September 2012.

dndimg alt="London Midland" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Witton%20Station%20(Sep%202012)%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

London Midland 323221 at Bournville Station during January 2015.

dndimg alt="London Midland" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bournville%20Station%20(Jan%202015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Railway 323221 in London Midland livery, late December 2017, at Birmingham New Street Station. The franchise changed that month.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20BNSS%20(Dec%202017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Railway 323221 at Chester Road Station during December 2018.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chester%20Road%20West%20Midlands%20Railway%20323221.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Railway 323221 at Selly Oak Station during August 2019.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Station%20(Aug%202019)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 

University Station - 11th February 2023

On this day I went to the Selly Oak Shopping Park and walked up the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to catch a train one way from University to Birmingham New Street. And I finally got 323221 arriving on a service to Redditch! It was quite awesome to see. The station here is still not complete. At the front that day was 323204.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Uni%20Station%2011022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The platforms here feel extra long, but don't walk past the no pedestrians sign at the end.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Uni%20Station%2011022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Sometime in the future you will be able to use both sides of the new station building, but it is still not open or complete.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Uni%20Station%2011022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

First full view of the back of 323221 in it's "new" Regional Railways livery.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Uni%20Station%2011022023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

These units still had this livery into the Central Trains era, but was changed to a darker green, yellow and white livery under London Midland from 2007 to 2017.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Uni%20Station%2011022023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Eventually when West Midlands Railway took over in 2017, they got a orange and white livery. They are due to be replaced by the new Class 730 Aventra with orange and purple livery sometime in the future, by 2024.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Uni%20Station%2011022023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Video clip on Youtube here West Midlands Railway 323 at University.

 

Birmingham New Street Station - 15th February 2023

A few days later, I went to Birmingham New Street to get the train to Shenstone in Staffordshire, to see the Annatomix mural. And guess what, Centro Regional Railways 323221 showed up at platform 8! So I got on it and had a half hour ride to Shenstone. While there was 11am emergency alarms tests at the station, but departed a few minutes later.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20BNSS%2015022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Class 323's have a big gap between the platform if they are curved, so MIND THE GAP.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20BNSS%2015022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The refurbished interior is unchanged from when West Midlands Railway did up the entire fleet from 2018 to 2021.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20BNSS%2015022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

My walk around the village of Shenstone gave me time to get back to the station and back on West Midlands Railway 323221 in Regional Railways Centro livery, and back to Birmingham New Street. Arriving at platform 12.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20BNSS%2015022023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Shenstone Station - 15th February 2023

Between Sutton Coldfield and Staffordshire as usual is all the fields, and after that Shenstone is the first station outside of the WMCA. Got off West Midlands Railway 323221 at Shenstone. It was a bit bright from this side as I exited the station. Couldn't initially saw the Annatomix. A half hour walk around the village, found three pubs, and several old churches.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Shenstone%20Stn%2015022023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The station building at Shenstone probably dates to 1884 but isn't listed, sunlight to bright from this side, was better to see from the car park.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Shenstone%20Stn%2015022023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Up the steps to Lynn Lane, for a half hour walk around Shenstone.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Shenstone%20Stn%2015022023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After the walk, back to Shenstone Station. The Annatomix was in the bike store area on platform 2. This time 323221 was at the back, with 323207 at the front, still I decided to get on 323221 again for the half hour train ride back to Birmingham New Street from Shenstone.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Shenstone%20Stn%2015022023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

323207 passed under the Lynn Lane bridge.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Shenstone%20Stn%2015022023%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Six carriages on three car sets linked together. The WMR livery contrasts with the Centro Regional Railways livery behind.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Shenstone%20Stn%2015022023%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Yellow doors with the Centro logo, press the button to open the doors when it lights up.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20323221%20Shenstone%20Stn%2015022023%20(7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Selly Oak Winding Hole 2022 update

The Winding Hole in Selly Oak, near the Bristol Road was built and completed during 2022. At the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, the restoration of the Lapal Canal (Dudley No. 2 Canal) at Selly Oak Junction, which some day in the future will be restored to Halesowen. Until then, the area where narrowboats can turn onto this to be restored canal is now finished. Boats even moor there.

Previous post from May 2021: Selly Oak Winding Hole until 2021.

 

During 2022, the Lapal Canal Trust worked to have the Winding Hole built. work was well underway in spring 2022, and was open by autumn 2022. In the future, they will need to dig out the canal under Sainsbury's and next to Selly Oak Shopping Park, towards Harborne Lane and through Selly Oak Park towards Weoley Castle. But that is a long way off for now.

The area, also called Whitehouse Wharf was open on the 25th September 2022 to boats.

 

May 2021

View from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, the towpath near an entrance to Selly Oak Shopping Park, as a Cross Country Trains Class 170 passes over the railway. The future Winding Hole site is to the right of here. Seen on the 29th May 2021.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/XC170%20Selly%20Oak%20Jctn%20(May%202021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

August 2021

Views from the passing train on the Cross City Line. There was still grass on the Winding Hole site at the time. View towards the Unite student accommodation with Sainsbury's behind it, on the 15th August 2021.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding%20Hole%20Selly%20Oak%20(Aug%202021)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding%20Hole%20Selly%20Oak%20(Aug%202021)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

January 2022

Early signs that they will soon be digging out the Winding Hole for the Lapal Canal Trust. Seen from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal towpath near the Unite student accommodation on the 8th January 2022.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB%20Canal%20Selly%20Oak%20SP%2008012022.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

May 2022

By the spring of 2022, work was well underway to dig the grass and soil out of the Winding Hole site, as they secured the site so water didn't get in. Seen from the footbridge that will one day be the entrance to the Lapal Canal (under Sainsbury's) on the 21st May 2022.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding%20Hole%20Selly%20Oak%20WB%2021052022%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding%20Hole%20Selly%20Oak%20WB%2021052022%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

October 2022

By the autumn of 2022, the Selly Oak Winding Hole was complete, as can be seen from the footbridge and canal towpath. There was even a boat and narrowboat moored at it on the 2nd October 2022.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SO%20Winding%20Hole%2002102022%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SO%20Winding%20Hole%2002102022%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SO%20Winding%20Hole%2002102022%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SO%20Winding%20Hole%2002102022%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A couple of weekends later, on the 16th October 2022, this time I got the Selly Oak Winding Hole from the pocket park on the other side of the canal, heading for the Selly Oak Shopping Park via the footbridge that opened in 2021. Two narrowboats moored here this time.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SO%20Winding%20Hole%2016102022%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SO%20Winding%20Hole%2016102022%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SO%20Winding%20Hole%2016102022%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

November 2022

I got the train one way from Birmingham New Street to Selly Oak, on the 6th November 2022. Leaving via Bristol Road, it was raining, and saw this view to the Winding Hole. Much more pleasant to see than what it used to look like in the past.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Winding Hole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Oak%20Winding%20Hole%2006112022.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown.