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Key to the trains and the football

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022

My next visits with #keytothecitybrum involved both a train station and a football ground. This is an account of my travels to two different venues.

New Street Train Station

Having passed through New Street Train station countless times, I wondered what surprise the key would provide.  The instructions were to go the end of platform one and announce your arrival at the door.   There was a wait as a prior party made the visit and then it was my turn.  There were two members of staff who took me down the stairs.  One of them, worked at the station but had never seen the underground tunnels.  We walked along an access tunnel and then we entered the area under the platforms.  Whilst you were allowed to take pictures along this access corridor, I was given strict instructions not to take pictures of the tunnels under the platforms.  These tunnels were originally used to connect with the Mailbox for mail delivery.  They are now used to deliver refreshments to the trains that pass through New Street. This was a good key location and gave access to a very interesting part of the City of Birmingham.

Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
Access to the tunnels under New Street Station.
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
Approaching the door.
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
Door to the secret tunnels
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
Platform 1 and #b2022
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
Selfie at New Street Station

A trip to the Hawthorns

Taking part in the #keyofthecitybrum is not just about the places you visit. The key allows you to meet people who live and work in the West Midlands.  My journey with the key took me to the Hawthorns, the home of West Bromwich Albion Football club.  My key worked in the lock and when opened, the door led to a viewing platform where you could view the football stadium. The picture is of Leah who works in the WBA Club shop.  Leah opened the door to the ground and introduced me to the football club.  She and her colleague were good company.  We talked about her father who is a lifelong WBA football supporter.  In turn, I talked about my love of Manchester City.  Two of my boyhood heroes were Jeff Astle and Tony Brown even though they did not play for my beloved City.  I told Leah that I remember WBA winning the FA cup in 1968 as it was the year before City won the cup.  This stadium is a very friendly place and happens to be one of my favourite football grounds.  I just like the Hawthorns and thank you to “Key of the City Brum” for allowing me to visit once again.

Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
Leah with the background of the pitch.
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
The plaque commemorating WBA’s history
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
Approaching the door.
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
The Lock against the blue door.
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022
The Hawthorns, home to West Bromwich Albion

My Journey with the Key
If you wish to review my journey then I have published all my visits on my blog as follows.

Categories blog

Winter at Clowes Wood

by Damien Walmsley Posted on
Winter in Clowes Wood

Woodlands are wonderful for getting back to nature and clearing the mind.  Clowes wood in Earlswood has a mix of birch and coniferous trees in a rolling woodland.  There is the Stratford upon Avon railway line cutting through the wood and following work by Network Rail, the railway bridge has been reopened. 

Railway bridge, Clowes Wood
The new Railway bridge over the Stratford-upon-Avon line in Clowes Wood

On the day of the visit, it was bright weather, but Storm Dudley was waiting in the wings.  I felt the wind as I walked over the railway bridge waiting to photograph the trains as they approached Earlswood train station.  The sun was strong, and the tall trees broke the light, softening it before it hit the woodland floor.

Path through Clowes Wood
Path through Clowes Wood

There was a great deal of surface water in the woods and all the rainfall had created temporary ponds.  I had brought along my Canon D5 mark VI and several lenses.  My tripod was used to good effect although it came apart when I started using the central column.  Following on from this, I have become an expert of delving into Manfrotto spares website and reassembling my tripod.  I did a couple of bracketed shots and then single pictures where the light was fleeting.  Practice makes perfect and I am starting to get slick on the bracketing of pictures and using a 2 second timing delay on my Canon camera.  I used both by EF24-70mm (f/2.8L II USM) and EF16-35mm (f/4L IS USM) with a polariser filter. I am looking forward to spring and seeing the leaves back on the trees until then I hope you enjoy the photographs.

Reflections in the woodland pools.
Reflections in the woodland pools.
Clowes Wood
Clowes Wood
Winter in woodland.
Winter in woodland.

If you liked this then you may wish to read my earlier account of Clowes Wood.
Details on visiting Clowes Wood are in Forrestry England’s Website