45022 passes Walsall with 8M45 (probably 9M45 on this occasion) Bescot - Ashburys via Toton. This shot was taken on
Wednesday 28th August 1985. In the train is 08701, previously a Crewe loco, but en-route here from Swindon Works to
its new home at Healey Mills after being overhauled and fitted with train air-brakes. 8M45 was part of a circular
diagram, the other leg being 8G12 Ashburys - Bescot via Crewe. By this stage most of the traditional unbraked
yard-to-yard freights had been displaced by Speedlink services, leaving only a handful of trains like these to
move any residual traffic, including shunters in transit.
