Some of the pavement sculpture circles at the original Midland Metro tram stops

These pavement sculpture circles can be found at the tram stops between Wolverhampton St George's and Birmingham Snow Hill (but not on the newly opened extension tram stops). Here is some examples I've found so far.

St Paul's Tram Stop

This resembles jewellery, one of two tram stops in the Jewellery Quarter.

dndimg alt="St Paul's Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Pauls%20TS%20(Jan%202013)%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Hawthorns Tram Stop

This resembles The Baggies aka West Bromwich Albion FC, who play nearby at The Hawthorns Stadium.

dndimg alt="The Hawthorns Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Hawthorns%20TS%2009032024.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

West Bromwich Central Tram Stop

This one resembles three springs.

dndimg alt="West Bromwich Central Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/West%20Bromwich%20CTS%2009032024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Lodge Road West Bromwich Town Hall Tram Stop

This looks like lots of feet together in a wheel.

dndimg alt="Lodge Road West Bromwich Town Hall Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lodge%20Rd%20WBTHTS%20(May%202017)%20(13).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Dartmouth Street Tram Stop

This one resembles the Dartmouth Street Bridge in West Bromwich with the tram line going through it.

dndimg alt="Dartmouth Street Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dartmouth%20St%20TS%2009032024%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Dudley Street Guns Village Tram Stop

This resembles cannons and cannonballs in a circle.

dndimg alt="Dudley Street Guns Village Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dudley%20St%20Guns%20Vil%20(Jan%202023)%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Bilston Central Tram Stop

This one resembles the sun at the centre.

dndimg alt="Bilston Central Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bilston%20Central%20TS%2009032024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Crescent Tram Stop

This one resembles the moon as a crescent forms during the month.

dndimg alt="The Crescent Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Crescent%20TS%2009032024%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Royal Tram Stop

This one resembles a butterfly.

dndimg alt="The Royal Tram Stop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Royal%20Tram%20Stop%20(May%202017)%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Preserved Midland Metro tram 16 at Very Light Rail, Dudley and West Midlands Metro tram 52 in service

On a walk around Dudley, I did not expect to find the preserved Midland Metro tram 16, one of the T-69 trams, to be at Very Light Rail in Dudley. Out of the 16 trams in service from 1999 to 2015, 13 have been scrapped, while three preserved including this one. The other two 07 and 10 are at Long Marston. The last West Midlands Metro tram 52, and was the last of the new Urbos 100 order.

I was in Dudley, during January 2024, for an update of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, and was walking out of Dudley Town Centre, when I spotted this old tram at Very Light Rail.

The former Midland Metro tram 16, a T-69 which was in service from Wolverhampton St George's to Birmingham Snow Hill from 1999 to 2015, was moved from Long Marston to Dudley, for testing on the Very Light Rail tracks.

It still has The Metro, and original red, blue and yellow livery on it, as well as a Wolverhampton College advert dating to 2014. It arrived in Dudley in November 2023.

dndimg alt="Midland Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/T69%20MM%2016%20VLR%20Dudley%2021012024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Midland Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/T69%20MM%2016%20VLR%20Dudley%2021012024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Midland Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/T69%20MM%2016%20VLR%20Dudley%2021012024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Midland Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/T69%20MM%2016%20VLR%20Dudley%2021012024%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The most recent tram to come into service was West Midlands Metro tram 52 in January 2024. The last of the Urbos 100 order. Currently there is multiple bus routes from Birmingham to Dudley including the 74, 87, 126 and X8. But by the end of 2024, the tram extension from Wednesbury to Dudley Town Centre might open.

Seen here leaving Edgbaston Village Tram Stop on Hagley Road, via the Five Ways underpass towards Broad Street and Five Ways Tram Stop.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM%2052%20Hagley%20Rd%2016012024%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM%2052%20Hagley%20Rd%2016012024%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM%2052%20Hagley%20Rd%2016012024%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM%2052%20Five%20Ways%20BS%2016012024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM%2052%20Five%20Ways%20BS%2016012024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM%2052%20Five%20Ways%20BS%2016012024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

West Midlands Metro trams returns to Paradise

After 203 days, West Midlands Metro has finally resumed services between Bull Street and Library, on the 12th February 2022. The last trams in service for passengers at this end was 24th July 2021. Since then Corporation Street was closed for 11 weeks for track relaying. Then faults in the trams around November 2021, then some back in service to Bull Street by December 2021. Welcome back.

Saturday 12th February 2022

The 24th July 2021 was the last date that trams ran on a service for passengers to Library Tram Stop. Since then, a 11 week closure of Corporation Street for track relaying. Then delays from November 2021 when cracks were discovered (on the Spanish CAF manufactured trams). Some repaired trams back in service from December 2021, but only to Bull Street (some new Urbos 100 trams have been fast tracked into service alongside the original Urbos 3 trams). 12th February 2022, the first date that West Midlands Metro have got trams back in service towards Centenary Square (but every 12 minutes). Here tram 29 departs Town Hall Tram Stop, and heads around Paradise Circus, passing the new One Centenary Way, before approaching Centenary Square, for it's final approach to Library Tram Stop.

While beyond Library, Broad Street is all tracked, but beyond Five Ways to Hagley Road, it is not quite complete. So might be a couple more months before we can see trams further into Westside.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 29 Paradise Circus 12022022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 29 Paradise Circus 12022022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="West Midlands Metro tram 29" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 29 Paradise Circus 12022022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Monday 14th February 2022

On a rainy Valentine's Day, I popped up to the Discovery Terrace at the Library of Birmingham. Saw West Midlands Metro tram 40 (Urbos 100) at Library Tram Stop. It then departed Centenary Square, via the Bus Gate onto Paradise Circus. While traffic waited at the traffic lights, for the tram to cross over to Paradise Street and to Town Hall Tram Stop.

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Library Tram Stop 14022022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Tram 40" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 40 Paradise 14022022 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After leaving the Library of Birmingham via Centenary Square and Centenary Way. Walked into Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square. Just about caught West Midland Metro tram 23 departing from Town Hall Tram Stop for Library. The first of three trams I saw heading to Westside.

dndimg alt="Tram 23" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 23 Town Hall Vic Sq 14022022.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Walking down Pinfold Street, the next tram I saw was West Midlands Metro tram 28 "Jasper Carrott", heading up Stephenson Street, having departed Grand Central Tram Stop. It then headed up Pinfold Street towards Victoria Square. The second of three trams. Maybe at least one was going onto Broad Street for a test run?

dndimg alt="Stephenson Pinfold" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 38 SP 14022022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Stephenson Pinfold" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 38 SP 14022022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last tram seen from Stephenson Street. West Midlands Metro tram 31 "Cyrille Regis" seen heading down from Corporation Street onto Stephenson Place. Still people walking on the wrong side of the road. There is a pavement next to the Apple building (ex Midland Bank / Waterstone's).

dndimg alt="Stephenson Corporation" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 31 SC 14022022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Stephenson Corporation" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM 31 SC 14022022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I actually started this rainy photo walk heading past Snow Hill. The Living Wall and grass track. First up was West Midlands Metro tram 20 heading to Wolverhampton. Then arriving at St Chad's Tram Stop was tram 34 heading to Birmingham. I then went down the steps, and walked up Constitution Hill and Great Hampton Street into the Jewellery Quarter.

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Snow Hill trams" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMM Snow Hill 14022022 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown