GeoGraph - photograph every grid square

Going through Smethwick Junction

A Cross Country Voyager, Manchester to Birmingham Express, races between Smethwick Galton Bridge & Smethwick Rolfe Street. The track off to the right is the link between the ex-LMS line (shown) and the ex-GWR line at Smethwick West Station. West was replaced by Galton Bridge during the 1980's. When opened this route between Birmingham and Wolverhampton was considered so ugly that Queen Victoria had the blinds on her carriage lowered so that she could not see the view. The alternative GWR route from Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level was built some years later (in the 1860's I believe) & closed under the Beeching Plan in the 1960's - it is now the route of the Midland Metro.