Bromford tunnel

West Midlands is a metropolitan county in the West Midlands Region, England, with a 2021 population of 2,919,600, making it the second most populous county in England after Greater London. It was created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The county is a NUTS 2 region within the wider NUTS 1 region of the same name. It embraces seven metropolitan boroughs: the cities of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton, and the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall. The county is overseen by the West Midlands Combined Authority, which covers all seven boroughs and other non-constituent councils, on economy, transport and housing.

Bromford is an industrial and residential area of Birmingham, situated between Ward End, Alum Rock, Hodge Hill, Washwood Heath, Shard End, Stechford, Castle Bromwich and Tyburn. The industrial area is predominantly situated on the north side of the M6 motorway, including The Bromford Gate industrial park, Fort Shopping Park, and Fort Dunlop, with one industrial site sitting east of the M6 called Bromford Central. The residential area sits adjacent to the East of the M6 comprising two neighbourhoods, Bromford (formally referred to as Bromford Bridge) built along Bromford Drive, and The Firs built along Chipperfield Road. The industrial and residential areas have increasingly become two separate distinguishable places, and not recognised locally as joined or one. This is signified by the M6 & River Tame dividing the two areas, poor public transport links between the two areas, and the areas sitting within three different local authority wards (industrial being split between Gravelly Hill and Pype Hayes, and the residential situated within Bromford & Hodge Hill), and two parliamentary constituencies (industrial area situated within Birmingham Erdington (UK Parliament constituency) and residential area situated within Birmingham Hodge Hill (UK Parliament constituency).

Bromford Bridge railway station was a railway station in Birmingham opened by the Midland Railway in 1896. It was built on the site of the previous Bromford Forge railway station which had been opened by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway on its new line to Lawley Street railway station in 1842.It was on the line from Water Orton and was reopened in 1896, the line by then being connected to Birmingham New Street. It was only used to serve the nearby racecourse, the platforms being on the goods lines to which the "specials" could be brought, clear of the running lines. It closed in 1965 when the racecourse closed. The name "Bromford Bridge" comes from the bridge over the River Tame, before which the river was crossed by a ford, hence "Bromford". The original station, Bromford Forge, was on the same level as the road, which crossed the railway on the level. At that time the track was just double. It was quadrupled later. As traffic increased, the level crossing became inconvenient, so the long viaduct was built, carrying Bromford Lane over the railway. Remains of the original road are still visible when looking down from Bromford Lane. The south platform was originally an island, with tracks on both sides. In the photograph above you can see where the additional tracks used to be. The signalbox was not sited there at the time. Beyond that platform was a terminal platform for unloading horses, with an entrance directly into the racecourse. It was used only for horses and dignitaries: the public had no access. On at least one occasion the Royal Train was backed into the platform. On the other side of Bromford Lane to the station there was a public footpath alongside the railway, which led to the Metropolitan Cammell factory.

The Bromford Viaduct carries the M6 motorway between Castle Bromwich (junction 5) and Gravelly Hill (junction 6 - Gravelly Hill Interchange) along the River Tame valley in Birmingham, England. This elevated stretch of motorway above the Tame itself is 3+1⁄2 miles (5.5 kilometres) long, which makes it the longest viaduct in Great Britain, being 1⁄4 mile (400 metres) longer than the Second Severn Crossing. It was constructed during the period 1964–1972.Between 2012 and 2014, the motorway along the length of the viaduct was converted to a smart motorway system, with variable speed limits.

Washwood Heath Yard was a marshalling yard, and later sidings, to the east of Birmingham, in the West Midlands, England. The site was first host to sidings in the late 1870s, which were upgraded to a hump marshalling yard by 1900 which survived until the early 1980s. Thereafter, the site was flat shunted, but moreover used as a layover yard, rather than used for the transfer or interchange of wagons between trains. It was run-down and closed in late 2008 due to the loss of most of the automotive traffic that it was latterly used for. The lines were removed by 2020.

Esso Birmingham Terminal is a wholesale diesel and petroleum supply terminal located next to the Fort Shopping Park, on Wood Lane in Erdington, Birmingham, UK. The site is also adjacent to the A47 Fort Parkway, otherwise known locally as the 'Heartlands Spine Road'.Opened in 1962, the site consists of 17 fuel storage tanks, with a combined capacity of 50,000m³, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The site used to be serviced by both rail and road up until the mid 2000s, however the rail connection beneath Fort Parkway has now been severed. In 2014, it was discovered that a major fuel theft had taken place on the pipeline between the Birmingham Terminal, Birmingham Airport and Esso's oil refinery in Fawley, Southampton. The pipeline had been breached near to an industrial unit in West Wellow, Romsey.

St Margaret's Church, Ward End is a Grade II listed former Church of England parish church in Birmingham.

The River Rea (pronounced "ray") is a small river which passes through Birmingham, England. It is the river on which Birmingham was founded by the Beorma tribe in the 7th century.

Washwood Heath is a ward in Birmingham, within the formal district of Hodge Hill, roughly two miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, England. Washwood Heath covers the areas of Birmingham that lie between Nechells, Bordesley Green, Stechford and Hodge Hill.

The Lad in the Lane is a pub in the Bromford area of Erdington in Birmingham, England. Dating to the year 1400, it is considered to be the oldest house and pub in the city, although The Old Crown in Digbeth claims to date from 1368, a date which is yet to be confirmed. Prior to the dating of the building, New Shipton Barn in Walmley was considered to be the oldest building in Birmingham, dating to around 1425. To find the construction date of the building, scientists used a technique called dendrochronology to analyse the timbers in the oldest known part of the building. The results showed that it was constructed in the spring at the end of the 14th century.When constructed in 1400, it was used as a home for a family of high status. It is believed to have remained as a house until the early 1780s, when it was converted into a pub by the owners who were established in 1306. Throughout its lifetime as a pub, it has also been known as The Green Man and the Old Green Man. It was used by foresters who worked for the Earl of Warwick. In the 1930s, the pub was extended and altered.In 1912/13 the register of electors will show that the famous England, Aston Villa, WBA, Leicester Fosse and Lincoln City footballer Billy Garraty was the landlord. On 25 April 1952 the building received listed status. This was altered on 8 July 1982 so that it became a Grade II listed building.

Erdington Academy is a mixed-sex academy located in Erdington, Birmingham, England. Erdington Academy converted to an academy status in September 2016, joining the Fairfax Multi Academy Trust. The academy had its opening ceremony on 17 October 2016, being officially opened by Labour MP, Jack Dromey. The school is part of the same family of school as Fairfax Academy in Sutton Coldfield.

Ward End Park is a Green Flag awarded public park located in Ward End, Birmingham. The park covers an area of 54 acres and contains a historic mansion, the 18th century Ward End Park House. Facilities include a fishing and boating lake, a basketball court and a tennis court.