Whoosh-and the train flew through!

In my glorious past when the West Midlands County Council was still functioning, it fell to the Passenger Transport Committee of which I was Chairman to 'procure and promote' public transport.

In this role I was a very enthusiastic supporter, as I am now, of rail, bus and tram. The Committee spent many hours planning for the re-structuring of what was the former Oldbury rail station, to transform it into the brand new Dudley and Sandwell inter city rail station. Recently whilst clearing out much of the former papers and photo's that I have collected over the years. I came across this cartoon of the time, and the people who played a key role in the stations transformation.

The funny part is that on the day of the grand opening, the great and the good, were gathered on the platform. After having lunch which had been served inside the Marquee erected on the car park for the event. We all trudged up to the platform, with the British Rail Chairman Sir Bob Read, for the first train to pull in and load its passengers.

The train could be heard approaching the station, on went its klaxon, as we all expected the train to draw in gently and allow boarding. With the Chairman using the train to go back to London. Imagine our surprise as the klaxon went again and 'whoosh' the train flew through with out stopping!

Looking at the cartoon and being a railman at heart, I am still chuckling to this day of the shock and horror of this important event going wrong. But the station is still there now and making a great contribution to the economic life of both Dudley and the Borough of Sandwell!