Wolverhampton the Indefatigable City of Railway Engineering Innovation

Wolverhampton was in the 1960’s playing its part in the greatest railway reconstruction project that the United Kingdom has ever seen. This was the electrification of the West Coast main line railway (via the Trent valley and the Black Country).

I remember conversations at the time about the new hourly service from Wolverhampton to London Euston and how this new service would have continual running at close to 100 mph.

At the time this was revolutionary as prior to this to even achieve 100 mph briefly, was a rare event.

The Bad News:

Wolverhampton Low Level station was ultimately closed as focus was moved to Wolverhampton High Level station.

The Good News:

Wolverhampton High level station was refurbished into a modern, clean Inter City station in preparation for the new electric trains. This refurbishment started in 1965 and was completed in 1967.

Also

The first 25 electric locomotives (class 81) although they were not built in Wolverhampton, they were built 13 miles away at the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon company in Smethwick.

And the present:

Wolverhampton continues to be an important rail hub with its links to London, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool.

The railway station is once again in the course of redevelopment and modernisation and this latest work is called the Interchange Project.

The Interchange Project will provide easier connections between the railway, buses and the Metro system.

The 1960’s electrification has proven to be invaluable.

Wolverhampton continues to be the indefatigable City of railway engineering innovation.