Thursday 29 October: “Dazed and confused” might be a more appropriate title –  which is perhaps odd, since the centrepiece at New Street station (should I call it “Grand Central”?) is a huge and strange sculpture of a bull, named “Ozzy”. That’s after Ozzy Osborne of Black Sabbath – nothing to do with Led Zeppelin. The crazy and baffling mish-mash of ticket barriers, eateries and escalators at a railway station I once understood (designed by Escher?) may be a tribute to that gentleman. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable and (mostly) relaxing day out on a “West Midlands Day Ranger”.

My day began at Shifnal, with a train to Wolverhampton, where I met my travelling companion. We continued to New Street, then down to Worcester Shrub Hill (what a contrast with New Street!) via Bromsgrove. Back to Brum (Snow Hill this time) via Kidderminster (for lunch at the SVR’s “King and Castle”), and a walk following the tram lines back to New Street. Here endeth the illustrated part of the day.

We continued to Lichfield (the light had gone by now) and down to Tamworth (coffee) where I left my friend and returned to New Street. There, I was almost defeated, while trying to make a tight (four minutes…) connection, by the random arrangement of barriers and platform access. If anyone spotted a white-haired pensioner running through the station at 4. 25pm, that was me. (Yes, I made it!)