On a recent visit to the Severn Valley Railway I was sat on the platform at Bridgnorth waiting for "Dukedog 9017" to turn up, when, I just happened to notice this on the solebar of the LMS coach that was stopped in front of me.



You could just make out through all the grime the words "Earl of Duley Steel"

Quite significant for me because did my apprentice training there and worked there for 14 years until it closed in 1982.
Also thought that our member Mike may be interested as he is modelling part of the Earl's railway (Ashwood Basin)

The coach in question was also built in the "Black country" by Birmingham Carriage and wagon co in 1949 (after nationalisation so strictly speaking should be BR not LMS!)

Hi Frank, Iv'e just seen this post I will have to follow it up when I get back from the States in a couple of weeks time. Thanks for the info. :D

Frank thats a good find and one that has a link to you personnally.

I take it you first did a job in a steel works of some sort when you first started work?

cheers Brian.W

henryparrot said

Frank thats a good find and one that has a link to you personnally.

I take it you first did a job in a steel works of some sort when you first started work?

cheers Brian.W

Yes Brian, I started work in 1967 at the "Round Oak Steel Works" formally (and still known to locals as) The Earl of Dudleys' Steel works.
I started as an apprentice and worked there for 10 years after that as an Instrument Technician.
The works closed in 1982 and is now the "Waterfront" business park and Merry Hill shopping centre.
The steel works had it's own internal railway system which extended out for several miles to "Baggeridge" colliery and "Ashwood basin" among other places and was know as "The Pennsnett Railway".
It was standard gauge using 0-4-0 & 0-6-0 steam locos up until about 1960 then diesel 0-4-0s after that.