I find this mix of ancient manual level crossing and AC electric rather strange. David J Hayes adds An image showing the railway infrastructure at this location to good effect. At the time of this 1970s picture, which I estimate as being summer-dated circa 1972-1975, train 1A44 was either running as the 12:45 SuX or 13:18 SuX Birmingham New Street to London Euston service. Taking into account that the train would have most likely been travelling at speed, the photographer has done well to include all of the headcode display in the shot, which I'm guessing was more pure fluke than judgement!