WME Update Digest: April 2009

Yes, its that time of the month where I blitz you with news of new additions to the WME galleries. There's a fair bit to cover for April, including a couple more gallery milestones...

The headline act this month has to be WME Wolverhampton, which has reinforced its status as top gallery by reaching the landmark tally of 350 photos. The new arrivals here include an extra photo of Pothouse Bridge for the Bradley Canal Arm, and a shot of Bantock Park's highland bull carving on Exploring Bradmore. WME Wolves is gradually becoming a gallery of some substance and does lead the way in showing the depth of content I want my other galleries to aspire towards.

WME Telford is lagging way, way behind in terms of providing a substantial array of photographs, but it does have reason to celebrate its own little landmark for once. I always consider 50 photos to be a minimum base camp before a gallery can be considered to have established itself - in Telford's case its been one heck of a struggle but we've finally got there. We actually put a little spurt on when crossing the line too, with five worthy additions to the Newport Branch Canal collection having been augmented by a new Exploring Hinkshay selection focusing on the derelict White Hart pub. This is a veritable feast by Telford standards, and a fine achievement to build on further.

That's the landmarks dealt with, so what else has been happening? Would you believe it, Exploration Extra has come out of hibernation with it's first new photos since last August - I can't believe it's been that long! A new collection of photos from my Clacton holiday last year has done the trick - these include a views of Clacton Station, Frinton level crossing, the Victory pub at Walton-on-the-Naze and a train calling at Harwich Town.

Elsewhere, there are new collections to report on WME Sandwell (Exploring Rowley Regis with shots of the Britannia and Robert Peel pubs), and on WME Staffordshire, where pubs are also the order of the day on Exploring Gnosall courtesy of the Boat and the Royal Oak. Staffordshire has also received a Green Bus photo of route 2 at Penkridge, and some more Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal stuff thanks to views of Princefield and Broom Bridges near Penkridge.

And finally, this month's stragglers. WME Dudley sees Dudley by Bus in action again with the 242 making an appearance at Stourbridge; WME Walsall receives a nice view of Moorcroft Junction, making for a great new location on the Walsall Canal collection; and WME Worcestershire sneaks in with an extra photo of Upper Severn Bridge on the Staffs & Worcs Canal. That completes our round-up for April, I wonder what May might have in store?