The additional after the game from Witton to New St runs every game. Usually a single 323 but has been 2x323 for the odd game.
As I've said above, no it doesn't. I don't think the additional Specials have run at all this year. When it did run it was almost always a double 323.
The only extra provision that has been provided this year has been an additional stop at Witton on a couple of Rugeleys.
Ah, but after the game they go via Aston rather than Soho, right?
Yes direct to New St via Aston. Non stop
I think that ATW goes the other side (similar to the New Street - RTV services which bypass Aston). (Perry Barr West to Perry Barr North)
The Villa specials & that XC uses the curve between Perry Barr South & Perry Barr West. That XC also does Didcot West curve, plus Stechford to Aston, a trio of rare curves
So sadly no good for Brian whom I'm assuming is after that curve whose use otherwise is by the 21:46 XC from Reading which arrives into New Street around midnight?
Oh I'm sorry. I don't know what that train I catch from Witton after every home game is then. It sure isn't any service train. Must be my imagination
It has been a long time since that curve was in regular use. I don't have the dates for it at this time, but I'm pretty it was 2005 when I did it on a 350/1 around to Stechford from Birmingham New Street. The same weekend it was beyond strange to do a Birmingham to Wilnecote move by heading south to do Lifford Curve too! Sadly I don't appear to have that day logged in RailMiles so I can't find the relevant date.
Crikey I've just suddenly hit a massive dose of nostalgia there...
Looks like you may need to wait for a massive bit of signalling replacement at the north/east end of New Street to get it done easily. Just be grateful it's got movements booked over it, Soho North to East has nothing these days and I never had the chance to do the PSUL move over it at the time! One of the few bits of track across the West Midlands I need and it's really annoying!
I think though that my confusion here might stem from this 'Special' essentially being a bodge job. I've proven to be wrong before, so may well be again, but I don't think this is the traditional additional working via Soho that I described. Instead I wonder whether this comes ECS from Walsall having been the stopper on the way out, with the Rugeley behind stopping at all stations to compensate? This would explain why you normally get a single 323 rather than a double, as the additional football working via Soho was routinely a double set*.
Soho North to East has always been a bit of track you tend to 'fall on' - last time I went over it was on a train from Shrewsbury to get a knackered unit at the right end of New Street station to go to Tyseley. Nearly buggered me up for my last train of the evening.
I got Soho North - Soho East in both directions back in 1989/90, when there was a football special that ran from Stourbridge Junction to Bescot. West Bromwich Albion were away to Walsall at their previous ground Fellowes Park. As I was not attending the match, I then continued south to Birmingham, then back to Bescot to pick up the return working.
As I've already completed the other side of the Soho triangle with the limited stop Walsall/Hendesford services where the first stop is Tame Bridge Parkway, the only section I require is the Perry Barr West - Perry Barr South curve for me to have completed the Perry Barr triangle.
In peace
Adam
Get yourself on the 2140 Reading to Birmingham then. Booked route From International - New St covers that
Not guaranteed though, looking at RTT it usually runs direct at least once a week.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P30500/2015/05/01/advanced