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Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
24 Mar 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Our Beating Heart at Snow Hill Station Square

There was a mirror ball heart sculpture thing at Snow Hill Square from the 21st to 23rd March 2024. Lit up between 6:30pm and 10:30pm each evening. On the final evening was a silent disco. Bit hard to photograph after dark with it spinning, especially in zoom in. Wasn't there for long. Train in to see it, then train out back home.

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Our Beating Heart at Snow Hill Station Square





There was a mirror ball heart sculpture thing at Snow Hill Square from the 21st to 23rd March 2024. Lit up between 6:30pm and 10:30pm each evening. On the final evening was a silent disco. Bit hard to photograph after dark with it spinning, especially in zoom in. Wasn't there for long. Train in to see it, then train out back home.


The free pop-up artwork is called Our Beating Heart was created by Studio Vertigo. A Mirror ball installation lit up Birmingham city centre from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd March 2024, between 6:30pm and 10:30pm each night. Located in Snow Hill Station Square, outside of the Colmore Row entrance to Birmingham Snow Hill Station, and between 1 and 9 Colmore Row.

 

Lunchtime on Thursday 21st March 2024, a quick look at Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo. I popped out from work to get my lunch at Sainsbury's Local, then took a quick few shots on my phone camera.

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A couple of crops of the above photos, wasn't sure if I was going to see it after dark, well not on the first two evenings. And missed an event on the launch evening (Jack Babington and Damien Walmsley got some photos that evening).

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A last minute decision on Saturday evening of the 23rd March 2024, to get the train up to Birmingham Snow Hill to see Our Beating Heart. Wasn't there for long, just to get the photos below. Found it a bit hard to focus on the mirror ball heart. Walked around twice. There was a silent disco going on at the time, they had headphones on. With limited trains on the line, I headed back into the station to get a train home. These were around 7:45pm in the evening. They were playing music by the Pet Shop Boys.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown People & community
20 Mar 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

The first St Patrick's Day Parade in 5 years but on Bradford Street in Digbeth!

I previously got the St Patrick's Day Parade's in Digbeth in March 2015 and March 2018. Usually from a view outside Selfridges at the Bullring. But the 2024 St Patrick's Day Parade was on Bradford Street, due to the Eastside Metro extension works on the Digbeth High Street. It started at Camp Hill and went as far as Rea Street. I walked up Cheapside for extra views.

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The first St Patrick's Day Parade in 5 years but on Bradford Street in Digbeth!





I previously got the St Patrick's Day Parade's in Digbeth in March 2015 and March 2018. Usually from a view outside Selfridges at the Bullring. But the 2024 St Patrick's Day Parade was on Bradford Street, due to the Eastside Metro extension works on the Digbeth High Street. It started at Camp Hill and went as far as Rea Street. I walked up Cheapside for extra views.


A few days before the St Patrick's Day Parade, I went to the Custard Factory to get the painted billboard wall on Gibb Street. It was advertising Shanky's Whip for St Patrick's Day.

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Before noon on Sunday 17th March 2024, St Patrick's Day. The parade was waiting at the top of Camp Hill. Bus routes including the 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6 and 50 were diverted from Camp Hill Circus, Bordesley Middleway, Coventry Road and onto the Digbeth High Street. Until 2019, the previous parades always used to use the Digbeth High Street (consisting of High Street Bordesley and High Street Dertiend). The 2020 and 2021 parades were cancelled due to the pandemic, then 2022 and 2023 due to the Eastside Metro extension works and other factors. But was decided for 2024 to use Bradford Street instead.

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I was thinking of going up to level 4 of Edgbaston Street Car Park for a view of the parade, but an alarm at the Bull Ring Indoor Market stopped that idea. So headed back to the Bullring then into Selfridges, and over the Parametric Bridge for a view from level 8 of Moor Street Car Park (which I was going to do anyway). But in the end, felt better just to leave the car park on Park Street and walk to Bradford Street in Digbeth for some views of the parade close up. There was no view from the balcony at the Bullring near Selfridges.

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The view from Bradford Street, beyond Rea Street, looking up to Camp Hill. Very crowded. But at least the parade was back.

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I left Bradford Street, and walked onto Barford Street then started going up Cheapside. A look up Rea Street towards The Anchor, Birmingham Coach Station and The Digbeth Institute.

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Continuing up Cheapside, the next road I popped up was Birchall Street, where you have a view of the Custard Factory (Devonshire House / Zellig Building). Modern flats on the right at Fabrick Square.

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St Anne's Catholic Church could be seen from Alcester Street with an Irish flag. They held a service here that morning before the festivities began.

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Also on Alcester Street near St Anne's Catholic Church was this stall selling Irish flags, hats and scarves.

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Further up Cheapside is Rea Place, between new apartment buildings, Rea House and Kinvara Heights, towards Abacus on Bradford Street. Bit hard to see anything from here, so continued walking up the hill.

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Now onto Moseley Road. The parade floats near A1 Clutches and Adam & Eve Evolve.

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After Moseley Road, I then walked up Ravenhurst Street to Camp Hill, I did briefly look at one side from Lowe Street. The last parade floats on Camp Hill, as they were about to go onto Bradford Street. After this I walked around Bordesley Middleway, Coventry Street, Upper Trinity Street and Adderley Street, before getting a bus from the Digbeth High Street.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

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Daniel Sturley People & community
17 Mar 2024 - Daniel Sturley
Gallery

St Patrick's Day Parade in Digbeth 2024

Here is a selection of great photography taken at today's St Patrick's Parade in Birmingham by Jack and Daniel, contributors at Birmingham We Are. 

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St Patrick's Day Parade in Digbeth 2024





Here is a selection of great photography taken at today's St Patrick's Parade in Birmingham by Jack and Daniel, contributors at Birmingham We Are. 


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Photography by Daniel Sturley.

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Photography by Jack Babington

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Elliott Brown Travel & tourism
17 Mar 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Funder City at Moat Lane from Danter Attractions

Digbeth Fun Fair is back for the fourth year. Second time at the Smithfield Festival Site, but near Moat Lane (unlike the Beach @ Smithfield in Summer 2023 near Pershore Street). Started 14th March and runs to the 7th April 2024. In time for the up and coming Easter holidays.

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Funder City at Moat Lane from Danter Attractions





Digbeth Fun Fair is back for the fourth year. Second time at the Smithfield Festival Site, but near Moat Lane (unlike the Beach @ Smithfield in Summer 2023 near Pershore Street). Started 14th March and runs to the 7th April 2024. In time for the up and coming Easter holidays.


FUNDER CITY THE DIGBETH FUN FAIR.

Danter Attractions is holding their fourth fun fair in Digbeth / Southside in four years, but the second year at Smithfield. It opened on the 14th March and is open daily until the 7th April 2024, during the Easter holidays period.

The same rides as before, some of which were last used at Ice Skate Birmingham. Others return from the last Digbeth Fun Fair, called at the time Beach @ Smithfield (July to August 2023).

 

The view from Digbeth near Enterprise Rent a Car, and the Eastside Metro extension (just before Alcester Street on the Digbeth High Street).

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From Mill Lane near Birmingham Coach Station, towards Bradford Street. Buildings on right were demolished recently, Bullring Autocentre (Strictly MOT before that) and Sutton Florists (previously the Leather Company, and Fonz Leathers before that).

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A carousel ride seen near Bradford Street.

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Fun House

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Birmingham Big Wheel returns again.

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Funder City from 14th March to 7th April 2024 open day, Moat Lane City Centre, B5 5BD. Best to get the bus here (or train), don't go in your car!

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Onto Moat Lane. The fun fair is where the concrete Moat Lane Car Park was until it was demolished a few years ago.

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The Welcome entrance, it's been used at many fun fairs in Birmingham over the years, even one that was at the Curzon Street HS2 site back in 2010!

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Upper Dean Street view, some demolition rubble.

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And to the Bullring, up to the balcony near St Martin in the Bullring for one last view before going into the West Mall.

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A few days later, and it was St Patrick's Day. View from the Bullring on the balcony behind Browns Birmingham.

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A view from Moor Street Car Park level 8 through the safety barrier fence.

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Funder City in full swing from Moat Lane, as I walked to check out the St Patrick's Day Parade on Bradford Street.

dndimg alt="Funder City" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Funder%20City%20Smithfield%2017032024%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown Transport
07 Mar 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Trains at Walsall Station over the years

Walsall Station has three platforms. The Walsall to Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street was the first one to be electrified. The line to Rugeley Trent Valley saw electrification completed by 2019. So had diesel trains before then. London Midland until 2017, then West Midlands Railway (with London Northwestern Railway trains) since then.

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Trains at Walsall Station over the years





Walsall Station has three platforms. The Walsall to Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street was the first one to be electrified. The line to Rugeley Trent Valley saw electrification completed by 2019. So had diesel trains before then. London Midland until 2017, then West Midlands Railway (with London Northwestern Railway trains) since then.


Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley line

In the years before Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley was electrified, London Midland used the Class 170 DMU's from Birmingham New Street. Mostly going via Perry Barr or sometimes via Soho and Handsworth. Trains from Birmingham stopped at platform 1, while trains from Rugeley arrived at platform 2.

London Midland 170517 seen in 2014 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Midland 170508 seen in 2014 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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The line was electrified between 2017 and 2019, and by the time it opened, the line was run by new franchise operator West Midlands Railway. These Class 350 EMU's would also be used by London Northwestern Railway on the lines between Birmingham New Street and London Euston or to Liverpool Lime Street. Under West Midlands Railway the trains from Rugeley Trent Valley would go beyond Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International.

London Northwestern Railway 350 266 seen in 2021 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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London Northwestern Railway 350 259 seen in 2023 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Northwestern Railway 350 240 seen in 2023 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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London Northwestern Railway 350409 seen in 2024 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Northwestern Railway 350122 seen in 2024 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Northwestern Railway 350409 seen in 2024 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street to Walsall line

Trains on this line always usually go via Aston, Witton and Perry Barr, and terminate at platform 3. Until 2019, it was the only platform to be electrified. Under London Midland, they used the Class 323 EMU's on the line to and from Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street.

 London Midland 323202 seen in 2016 at Walsall Station platform 3.

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London Midland 323201 seen in 2016 at Walsall Station platform 3.

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After West Midlands Railway took over in late 2017, they replaced the Class 323's on the line with the Class 350 EMU's.

London Northwestern Railway 350 106 seen in 2018 at Walsall Station platform 3.

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From 2024 West Midlands Railway have started to introduce the new Class 730's on the line, but on my last visit to Walsall on a Sunday, they weren't running, so ended up going on the Class 350's instead (on the Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley line). Although did travel to Smethwick Galton Bridge earlier, and caught a Class 350 to Birmingham New Street, and switched lines.

London Northwestern Railway 350 238 seen in 2024 at Smethwick Galton Bridge Station (low level) platform 4.

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Soho EMU Depot

The only place to see the Class 730's not in service in the West Midlands is at the Soho EMU depot near the Soho Loop. You can also see them from the train. Some have come into service on the Wolverhampton to Walsall via Birmingham New Street line (but I'm not sure on what days). And they are due to enter service on the Cross City Line from April 2024.

West Midlands Railway 730 006 seen at Soho EMU Depot during 2023.

dndimg alt="Class 730" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Soho%20EMU%20Depot%2031082023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Train view of West Midlands Class 730's during 2023 from the train.

dndimg alt="Class 730" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Soho%20EMU%20Depot%2028082023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Railway Class 323's and Class 730's seen at Soho EMU Depot from the train in 2024.

dndimg alt="Class 730" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Soho%20EMUD%20323%20730%2003032024.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

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