Western Region Carriage Formations/Workings (into/out of London) mid-late 1980s

[MarshLane]

Morning all,

Would anybody happen to have or know any of the carriage formations operating on the Western Region out of Paddington around the mid-1980s/early NSE period?  I know many of the Intercity workings had gone over to HSTs by that point.  Im trying to find my old 1H84/1H85 books for loco diagrams (although any info is welcomed) but I'm specifically looking for formations and working diagrams for Mk1s, Mk2s and HSTs around the mid-1980s.

 

I assume the 31/4s based at OC, were for ECS duties into/out of the station, no doubt displaced from the GN by the new EMUs in the late 1970s??

 

Even just recollections/personal notes/observations would be welcome/helpful in identifying specific vehicles. Im scouring the web and Flickr for some information. I know there was the superb length Friday-only trains that were double-headed 50s (generally about 12-14 coaches I believe).  Quite a few of the Mk2 sets seemed to be mixed Mk2b/c pressure ventilated, and Mk2d/e/f air conditioned, and I've noted that many of the West Country services (particularly Plymouth/Paignton's) seemed to be about load 10, with a Mk1 BG in the consist, along with a Mk1 buffet or restaurant?  A few Mk1 SOs seem to appear on the Oxford services in NSE livery.  I also recall, although haven't found any images yet, that there were some Mk1s in Blue/Grey with NSE branding in the lower blue panel?

 

Also trying to track down any information on Parcel coach diagrams/workings for postal, newspaper and TPO services.  Any/all help appreciated.

 

Rich

Edited July 8, 2017 by MarshLane

[MarshLane]

Compiled Information

The information contained and gleaned within this thread, and on any received PMs, has been compiled in this initial post for easy reference in the future.

 

General Notes

Class 31s operated parcels duties into Paddington.

Laira-based Class 46s operated a Friday's Only service to Paddington and a relief working back to Plymouth during the afternoon, with steam-heat stock. Loco visited Ranleigh Road in-between duties.

 

Weekday Departures: (Feb 1984)

1652 Class ?? to Newbury (ECS arrives behind Class 50)

1657 Class ?? to Newbury (ECS arrives behind Class 50)

1705 Class 47 to Hereford (ECS arrives behind Class 47)

1708 Class 47 to Oxford (ECS arrives behind Class 50)

1711 Class 47 to Twyford (ECS arrives behind Class 47)

1727 Class ?? to Banbury (ECS arrives behind Class 50)

1730 Class 47 to Oxford (ECS arrives behind Class 47), loco returns with 1912 Oxford to Paddington

1740 Class ?? to Wolverhampton (ECS arrives behind Class 50)

 

Summer 1985

Liverpool to Paddington services, electric to Birmingham New Street, booked Class 50 to Paddington.

 

Class 33s

Observation received notes Class 33s Nos. 33008 and 33208 were seen at Paddington on 17th May 1984.  What would they have arrived/departed on?  No information on whether they were separate workings or double-headed.

Edited July 8, 2017 by MarshLane

[Banger Blue]

Hi Rich

 

I have a copy of the WTT for the Paddington area (83-84) so can have a look in there for you, I have also been slowly gathering a collection of the 1H8* books and have most of them from 80-87 and a couple of the Platform 5 loco-hauled workings books, is there any loc diagram you were particularly after or just general loco workings from Paddington?

[MarshLane]

Hi Dougie,

Thanks. Anything loco wise really, be it loco-diagrams into/out of Padd, coach diagrams etc. I'm looking around for the Western Region WTT from around 85 but haven't found one yet. But any info or scans (feel free to PM me) would be welcome if you could.

 

Rich

[Banger Blue]

Hi Dougie,

Thanks. Anything loco wise really, be it loco-diagrams into/out of Padd, coach diagrams etc. I'm looking around for the Western Region WTT from around 85 but haven't found one yet. But any info or scans (feel free to PM me) would be welcome if you could.

 

Rich

 

1980s BR(WR) WTT crop up on ebay quite often (as you are probably aware) but seem mostly to be for the freight WTT, Section PA which covers the Paddington area for Passenger / Parcels, hardly ever seems to crop up. it took me ages to acquire one. I'm on the look out for Section PC to complete my 83/84 collection.

 

If they are of interest to you Section PA May 86 - May 87 and May 87 - Oct 87 are available from https://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/wtt/wtt.php. Unfortunately earlier years have gone.

[The Stationmaster]

The Old Oak 31/4s were also used, usually in pairs, on various commuter trains if there was a shortage of Type 4s - they could almost manage to keep time in from Reading on a morning commuter train.

[The Pilotman]

A look at Martin Loader's excellent site www.hondawanderer.com will show you lots of shots of WR passenger trains in the period you are interested in.

[MarshLane]

Thanks all.

 

I've got some carriage working books from the 1960s, but does anything similar exist for the 1980s?

 

Also, does anyone know if the formation of the sleeper to PENZANCE (was this only one from Paddington in the 80s?) has changed over the years??

 

I'll go take a look at the HondaWanderer website!

 

Rich

[br2975]

From my notebook for 1987, sightings at Paddington

.

Locos are in bold, where two locos are shown on the same train, one was the incoming loco, the other the outgoing.

 

Fri. 13th. February 1987

Unidentified service

50026+80501+18930+18788+18925+35300+7196+13436+18734+18928+18971+50031

 

Sat. 14th. February, 1987

Padd - Penzance sleeper

50015+93083+92096+10535+10567+10689+10554+92113+5881+5638+5949+6010+17163+50007

 

Padd - Taunton

47530+18604+18715+13442+35471+13329+35196+17068+ 3x vans for news traffic.

 

Unidentified service

18760+18607+18826+24835+13440+35074+18608+18943

 

Sun. 15th. February 1987

Unidentified service

50032+92058+5486+3253+1671+13594+5400

 

Unidentified service

47508+18982+18627+18622+18624+18861+35473+13344+13331+18882+19004+18744+18939

.

I may have some more, if there is interest ?

.

Brian R.

Edited July 8, 2017 by br2975

[br2975]

Fri. 13th. March 1987

 

Paddington 16:15hrs.

 

All services are unidentified.

 

50032+92150+5267+3419+1684+13583+5851+5872+5286+92045

 

50030+6176+9467+5473+5478+6001+13594+1671+3253+5486+92081

 

50013+18671+18943+18608+35206

 

47627+9468+5797+13564+3401+6608+6053+5799+5929+5035+9469

 

47588+18789+18760+18926+24835+13412+17062+18971+18928+84269+50027

 

47501+18704+18730+18784+35200+13329+18935+18729+18727

 

Brian R

Edited July 8, 2017 by br2975

[Commoner]

If you would like a copies of WR Loco diagrams for Winter 83/84, Paddington Station Working Books for 1985, drop me a PM with your email address.

 

Cheers Kevin (Commoner)

[MarshLane]

From my notebook for 1987, sightings at Paddington

.

Locos are in bold, where two locos are shown on the same train, one was the incoming loco, the other the outgoing.

 

Fri. 13th. February 1987

Unidentified service

50026+80501+18930+18788+18925+35300+7196+13436+18734+18928+18971+50031

 

Sat. 14th. February, 1987

Padd - Penzance sleeper

50015+93083+92096+10535+10567+10689+10554+92113+5881+5638+5949+6010+17163+50007

 

Padd - Taunton

47530+18604+18715+13442+35471+13329+35196+17068+ 3x vans for news traffic.

 

Unidentified service

18760+18607+18826+24835+13440+35074+18608+18943

 

Sun. 15th. February 1987

Unidentified service

50032+92058+5486+3253+1671+13594+5400

 

Unidentified service

47508+18982+18627+18622+18624+18861+35473+13344+13331+18882+19004+18744+18939

.

I may have some more, if there is interest ?

.

Brian R.

 

 

Brian,

Many thanks for taking the time to write up those, thats great as it starts to give a clear indication of sets and the vehicles involved, which is what I am seeking.  If you have any others, please do post them.  Many thanks again, much appreciated.

 

Rich

[MarshLane]

The Old Oak 31/4s were also used, usually in pairs, on various commuter trains if there was a shortage of Type 4s - they could almost manage to keep time in from Reading on a morning commuter train.

 

 

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your input. I presume anything spare on OC could actually turn up on the ECS duties?  How long did the 31/4s last?

 

Rich

[br2975]

All sightings shown were at Paddington

 

The locations shown on the newspaper vans were the individual destinations for the load carried and was ascertained by (a) chalk markings on each van, and/or (b) asking the loaders.

 

Saturday (evening) 14th. February 1987

 

Unidentified working

50035+18714+18711+18955+35193+13328+18602+18936+18970

 

Unidentified working

47557+9470+6410(3301)+5855+6461(3316)+13609+6616+3438+6618+92067

 

Unidentified working

47508+17075+13568+3389+3274+3292+1945+3375+3227+3363+3387+5751

 

Unidentified working

31468+80501+93233+93953+84126+80589+84369

 

Saturday  14th. February 1987 (20:35hrs)

 

Newspaper working Platform 10

FRONT - 93362 (Westbury)+93411(Taunton)+93952(Taunton)+93725(Gloucester)+93948(Stroud)+93878(Stroud / Gloucester)

 

Newspaper working Platform 9

93383(Chippenham)+93623(Swindon)+93644(Bristol)+93384(Bristol)+93834(Bristol)+94021(Bath)+95205(Bath)+84318+47534 FRONT

 

South Wales newspaper working

FRONT - 80670 (Milford / Transfers)+84558(Haverfordwest/Whitland)+84125(Swansea)+93652(Swansea)+93938(Llanelli)+93367(Bridgend)+93506(Cardiff)+93694(Newport)+84416(Newport)

 

Saturday  14th. February 1987 (22:50hrs)

 

Newspaper working Platform 8

FRONT-47194+93293(Bridgend)+93711(Cardiff)+93192(Cardiff)+93914(Cardiff)+93852(Newport)+93265(Lydney/Chepstow)+93962+84332+94030

 

Newspaper working Platform 12

FRONT-47620+93152(EXeter)+80769(Exter)+93374(Newton Abbott)+84611+84369+80589+84126+93953

 

Hope this helps ?

 

Brian R

Edited July 9, 2017 by br2975

[Rugd1022]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your input. I presume anything spare on OC could actually turn up on the ECS duties?  How long did the 31/4s last?

 

Rich

 

A lot of the ECS movements in and out of Padd were part of the normal every day type 4s booked workings, we'd often have to take a set of stock up to Padd before going onto our own train, and at the end of the diagram would often take another empty set back to Old Oak after coming up from Oxford, Bristol, South Wales, the South West etc. If there was no staff bus available we'd sometimes have to pinch an ECS loco for a while to do the half hourly Old Oak - Padd - Old Oak shuttle.

 

If a loco was fresh out of the Factory and restricted to 'local working only' we'd use that as well, be they 31s, 47s or 50s. From memory we nearly always had a 47 or a 50 on the empty sleeper job, where we took the stock over to Willesden and Wembley via Greenford and back up to the WCML via Acton Wells, Acton Canal Wharf and the Willesden Relief lines.

 

Edited (again, sorry!) to add : as well as mainline locos the fleet of 08s at Old Oak were used to take stock in and out of Padd, particularly on nights when we had to take up the various sets of newspaper vans. I've also just remembered on a couple of occasions we used an 08 as the shuttle bus, the cab was a little crowded on those days!

Edited July 9, 2017 by Rugd1022

[MarshLane]

If a loco was fresh out of the Factory and restricted to 'local working only' we'd use that as well, be they 31s, 47s or 50s. From memory we nearly always had a 47 or a 50 on the empty sleeper job, where we took the stock over to Willesden and Wembley via Greenford and back up to the WCML via Acton Wells, Acton Canal Wharf and the Willesden Relief lines.

 

Edited (again, sorry!) to add : as well as mainline locos the fleet of 08s at Old Oak were used to take stock in and out of Padd, particularly on nights when we had to take up the various sets of newspaper vans. I've also just remembered on a couple of occasions we used an 08 as the shuttle bus, the cab was a little crowded on those days!

Hi Rugd1022,

After a couple of replies on this thread we need a 'Fascinating' button adding! You mentioned local workings, presumable that was local ECS/LE, or did it mean confined to out and back local workings, like Reading/Oxford passengers?

 

You mentioned about taking the Sleeper stock to Willesden, was that just done on the evening ECS into Padd, or the morning ECS trip back out as well? I'm assuming going via Greenford, Willesden and Acton Wells was due to was some requirement to turn the set??

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Any other comments, insights or tales from the period, of workings around OC / Paddington would be welcomed!

 

Rich

[MarshLane]

All sightings shown were at Paddington

 

The locations shown on the newspaper vans were the individual destinations for the load carried and was ascertained by (a) chalk markings on each van, and/or (b) asking the loaders.

 

Saturday (evening) 14th. February 1987

 

Unidentified working

50035+18714+18711+18955+35193+13328+18602+18936+18970

 

Unidentified working

47557+9470+6410(3301)+5855+6461(3316)+13609+6616+3438+6618+92067

 

Unidentified working

47508+17075+13568+3389+3274+3292+1945+3375+3227+3363+3387+5751

 

Unidentified working

31468+80501+93233+93953+84126+80589+84369

 

Saturday  14th. February 1987 (20:35hrs)

 

Newspaper working Platform 10

FRONT - 93362 (Westbury)+93411(Taunton)+93952(Taunton)+93725(Gloucester)+93948(Stroud)+93878(Stroud / Gloucester)

 

Newspaper working Platform 9

93383(Chippenham)+93623(Swindon)+93644(Bristol)+93384(Bristol)+93834(Bristol)+94021(Bath)+95205(Bath)+84318+47534 FRONT

 

South Wales newspaper working

FRONT - 80670 (Milford / Transfers)+84558(Haverfordwest/Whitland)+84125(Swansea)+93652(Swansea)+93938(Llanelli)+93367(Bridgend)+93506(Cardiff)+93694(Newport)+84416(Newport)

 

Saturday  14th. February 1987 (22:50hrs)

 

Newspaper working Platform 8

FRONT-47194+93293(Bridgend)+93711(Cardiff)+93192(Cardiff)+93914(Cardiff)+93852(Newport)+93265(Lydney/Chepstow)+93962+84332+94030

 

Newspaper working Platform 12

FRONT-47620+93152(EXeter)+80769(Exter)+93374(Newton Abbott)+84611+84369+80589+84126+93953

 

Hope this helps ?

 

Brian R

Brian that's great. I was going to say, presumably the fact that there was no loco on the blocks indicates that the coaches were shunted by a station pilot into position, but Rugd1022's input confirmed that though!

 

I think we forget in this day of 'fixed formations' and no parcels/newspaper traffic, just how much shunting, as well as attaching/detaching of traffic took place at terminal stations in the 1980s. Oh for a return to the good days! Vastly different railway today worst luck.

 

Rich

[The Stationmaster]

I presume taking the sleeper to Willesden was possibly when it wasn't being dealt with at Old Oak or in order to changeover vehicles going to/from works.

 

The normal method of working the commuter stocks was for a train engine to take up a set then when that train departed the engine would be crossed over to another platform to work its own train.  Much the same happened in the morning where engines off arrivals took down the stock of a subsequent arrival.

 

A 350 (08) was booked at one time to take down the Sleeper stock and it was the only booked working of such a machine through the carriage washer at Kensal Green (A Pilot returning to shed)

[Rugd1022]

Hi Rugd1022,

After a couple of replies on this thread we need a 'Fascinating' button adding! You mentioned local workings, presumable that was local ECS/LE, or did it mean confined to out and back local workings, like Reading/Oxford passengers?

 

You mentioned about taking the Sleeper stock to Willesden, was that just done on the evening ECS into Padd, or the morning ECS trip back out as well? I'm assuming going via Greenford, Willesden and Acton Wells was due to was some requirement to turn the set??

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Any other comments, insights or tales from the period, of workings around OC / Paddington would be welcomed!

 

Rich

 

Hi Rich,

 

By 'local working only' it usually meant any shortish out and back working from Old Oak so the Factory lads could keep an eye on a particular loco, or it was possibly awaiting parts which didn't affect it's use on jobs that didn't stray to far from the depot. These would often be the daily trip workings around Park Royal and Acton Yard, ECS duties into Padd or a trip out to Hayes, Southall, Reading or on the Chinnor coal job.

 

As far as I recall we took the empty Sleepers to Willesden in '83 / '84 every weekday for a while, I don't think it was just to turn the stock but the route involved was quite a meander to avoid a run round. Once we'd taken the stock to Willesden a pilot loco would take over and shunt it into Wembley carriage sidings. We booked on at around 05.30 to prep our loco on shed, go over to the carriage sidings to take an early morning commuter set up to Padd then once released from the platform we'd drop onto the sleepers and take them out as far as Greenford triangle where we recessed for about an hour and a half. From there we'd go via West Ealing and Acton Wells Junction to Sou' West Sidings round to Mitre Bridge, most days the Willesden pilot loco would back onto the stock and take over from there but sometimes we'd do a run round at Mitre and take the stock to Wembley ourselves. One thing I recall about this job was coming to a stand at the stop board at Sou' West Sidings and having to walk down to the ground frame to wake up the Bobby who was always fast asleep!

 

The ECS jobs into Padd were usually booked to be double manned because of all the light engine moves, but you'd often end up doing half the turn on your own as a Secondman while you're Driver was ''just nipping to the post office...''! Many's the time I've taken the last set of empties down to Old Oak on the late or night turn, a mere eighteen year old pup in charge of a full train of vacuum braked Mk1s. Happy days.

[Bomag]

All sightings shown were at Paddington

 

The locations shown on the newspaper vans were the individual destinations for the load carried and was ascertained by (a) chalk markings on each van, and/or (b) asking the loaders.

 

Saturday (evening) 14th. February 1987

Unidentified working

47557+9470+6410(3301)+5855+6461(3316)+13609+6616+3438+6618+92067

Hope this helps ?

 

Brian R

 

Could you please check your notes and confirm, 6410 is a Mk2c SO ex FO 3164 (preserved at MNR); 3301 was a Mk2f FO which became SO 6460, TSO 6825 and was cut up in 2007.

Edited July 9, 2017 by Bomag

[MarshLane]

I presume taking the sleeper to Willesden was possibly when it wasn't being dealt with at Old Oak or in order to changeover vehicles going to/from works.

...

A 350 (08) was booked at one time to take down the Sleeper stock and it was the only booked working of such a machine through the carriage washer at Kensal Green (A Pilot returning to shed)

 

 

Hi Rich,

 

By 'local working only' it usually meant any shortish out and back working from Old Oak so the Factory lads could keep an eye on a particular loco, or it was possibly awaiting parts which didn't affect it's use on jobs that didn't stray to far from the depot. These would often be the daily trip workings around Park Royal and Acton Yard, ECS duties into Padd or a trip out to Hayes, Southall, Reading or on the Chinnor coal job.

 

As far as I recall we took the empty Sleepers to Willesden in '83 / '84 every weekday for a while, I don't think it was just to turn the stock but the route involved was quite a meander to avoid a run round. Once we'd taken the stock to Willesden a pilot loco would take over and shunt it into Wembley carriage sidings. We booked on at around 05.30 to prep our loco on shed, go over to the carriage sidings to take an early morning commuter set up to Padd then once released from the platform we'd drop onto the sleepers and take them out as far as Greenford triangle where we recessed for about an hour and a half. From there we'd go via West Ealing and Acton Wells Junction to Sou' West Sidings round to Mitre Bridge, most days the Willesden pilot loco would back onto the stock and take over from there but sometimes we'd do a run round at Mitre and take the stock to Wembley ourselves. One thing I recall about this job was coming to a stand at the stop board at Sou' West Sidings and having to walk down to the ground frame to wake up the Bobby who was always fast asleep!

 

The ECS jobs into Padd were usually booked to be double manned because of all the light engine moves, but you'd often end up doing half the turn on your own as a Secondman while you're Driver was ''just nipping to the post office...''! Many's the time I've taken the last set of empties down to Old Oak on the late or night turn, a mere eighteen year old pup in charge of a full train of vacuum braked Mk1s. Happy days.

 

 

Mike/Rug,

Many thanks for that.  Kevin (Commoner on here) has confirmed that the sleeper stock was serviced at Willesden, with the day coaches returning to OC to be added to a morning Paddington-PZ set, the same happening in the evening, hence the trip to Willesden.

 

I do love these historical threads when different people get contribution, the snippets of information that would otherwise go unrecorded are wonderful!  Wonder if there's any of the former Bobby's from Sou'West Sidings reading this lol!!

 

Does anyone know how many 08 shunter diagrams were based at OC - presumably a station pilot in the evening for the parcels traffic, one or two pilots for the carriage sidings, but I'm assuming there would have been other local trips/shunt workings that OC provided the locos for?

 

Thanks all for your contributions, please do keep them coming with any other snippets.  I've had lots of info contributed by PM or email (thanks to those concerned, you know who you are!) which is really helping piece together the weekday, Saturday and Sunday operations.   All this is background research for a the layout in my new Railway Room!

 

Rich

[Rugd1022]

I dare say most if not all of the old Bobbies from the area are long gone Rich, pulling levers (and pints) behind the Pearly Gates!

 

I don't have any of my allocation or locoshed books to hand but I'm sure we still had a dozen or so 08s on the books at Old Oak when I was there from '83 to '85. Number one job for them would have been Paddington 'A' Pilot which was charged with taking up and shunting the night newspaper vans plus various sundry parcels and passenger shunting during the day. Most days this was 08 944 which we tried our best to keep ship shape, it was repainted into green later on for the GW150 anniversary but I'll always remember it in blue. I remember being on this turn with Larry Harrison one night, we took up the vans for the Bristol and Swansea papers which we were due to split once at Padd, we struggled a bit going up the 'Egg & Chips' flyover (engine and carriage), I was driving and struggled to control the train going down the other side as well! When we arrived in platform 12 over on the 'dark side' Larry disappeared up Pread Street to get the fish and chips in and left me to do most of the shunting, not to mention pumping up the fuel into the top tank. He came back just in time to do the last move of the night which involved a very long shunt out as far as Royal Oak with a rake of vans, we both struggled to see the shunter's bardic lamp as he waved us back into the platform.

 

Acton Yard always had one 08, occasionally two before the yard was drastically remodelled. If an 08 wasn't available we'd sometimes use a spare 31, 47 or 50 to shunt the yard, I remember booking on spare one Sunday morning with Driver Clive Hatch and told to take 31 273 (complete with snowploughs) to Acton quick sharp to shunt some important traffic back to Old Oak reception sidings, we duly arrived and found the yard deserted with no shunt staff on hand so we sat outside the cabin for a couple of hours drinking tea then took the loco back to shed to find we should have been sent to Southall instead. There were regular trips into Acton Yard from Willesden which would often bring my former colleagues from Stonebridge Park in on a 25 or 31, and even on one occasion an old hand Driver from there who still signed 40s brought 40 028 down to pick up some vac braked wagons for Sou' West Sidings.

 

At least two, possibly three of our 08s had buckeye couplings for shunting the carriage sidings, this would have been 'C' pilot turn, a regular one for our green carded Drivers at the time. The Guiness factory at Park Royal also had a couple of 08s, which were later painted into black livery with Guiness logos on the side.

[MarshLane]

I dare say most if not all of the old Bobbies from the area are long gone Rich, pulling levers (and pints) behind the Pearly Gates!

 

I don't have any of my allocation or locoshed books to hand but I'm sure we still had a dozen or so 08s on the books at Old Oak when I was there from '83 to '85. Number one job for them would have been Paddington 'A' Pilot which was charged with taking up and shunting the night newspaper vans plus various sundry parcels and passenger shunting during the day. Most days this was 08 944 which we tried our best to keep ship shape, it was repainted into green later on for the GW150 anniversary but I'll always remember it in blue. I remember being on this turn with Larry Harrison one night, we took up the vans for the Bristol and Swansea papers which we were due to split once at Padd, we struggled a bit going up the 'Egg & Chips' flyover (engine and carriage), I was driving and struggled to control the train going down the other side as well! When we arrived in platform 12 over on the 'dark side' Larry disappeared up Pread Street to get the fish and chips in and left me to do most of the shunting, not to mention pumping up the fuel into the top tank. He came back just in time to do the last move of the night which involved a very long shunt out as far as Royal Oak with a rake of vans, we both struggled to see the shunter's bardic lamp as he waved us back into the platform.

 

Acton Yard always had one 08, occasionally two before the yard was drastically remodelled. If an 08 wasn't available we'd sometimes use a spare 31, 47 or 50 to shunt the yard, I remember booking on spare one Sunday morning with Driver Clive Hatch and told to take 31 273 (complete with snowploughs) to Acton quick sharp to shunt some important traffic back to Old Oak reception sidings, we duly arrived and found the yard deserted with no shunt staff on hand so we sat outside the cabin for a couple of hours drinking tea then took the loco back to shed to find we should have been sent to Southall instead. There were regular trips into Acton Yard from Willesden which would often bring my former colleagues from Stonebridge Park in on a 25 or 31, and even on one occasion an old hand Driver from there who still signed 40s brought 40 028 down to pick up some vac braked wagons for Sou' West Sidings.

 

At least two, possibly three of our 08s had buckeye couplings for shunting the carriage sidings, this would have been 'C' pilot turn, a regular one for our green carded Drivers at the time. The Guiness factory at Park Royal also had a couple of 08s, which were later painted into black livery with Guiness logos on the side.

 

 

Thanks for that - lets hope its 31s, 37s, 40s, 47s and 50s passing Pearly Gates SB and none of this 66 rubbish, let alone units! Hehe!  

 

Thanks (again!) for the background reference on the pilots, thats great.  You mentioned 'A' Pilot was Paddington, and 'C' pilot was within the carriage sidings, any ideas what 'B' pilot would have been?  08944 in GW Green will be one for the new stock list then!

A nice line up ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/38042186@N03/5676049474 

and specifically 08944 https://www.flickr.com/photos/60459234@N04/5789572842

 

Great anecdotes!  Wonder who got it in the back of the neck for mixing Acton and Southall up! I seem to remember one of those Guiness 08s was at the Old Oak Open Day in 1991?  Sure I've a picture somewhere....  They were privately owned if I remember right?  Talking of which I've just found this ... together with a grey 08944! 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/66403187@N06/7068745247

 

Rich

[The Stationmaster]

I'm fairly sure that by the early 1980s the only 350(08) turn at Paddington was A Pilot.  There were a couple in Old Oak Yard - one on the Carriage Shed side plus another working the Van Sidings and Coronation and I've an idea there was another one - but not manned - for the HST shed which was used when needed by the shed ferry drivers.

[Banger Blue]

My 1985 Platform 5 'Shunter Duties' has the following for Old Oak:

 

1x OOC TMD pilot.

1x Paddington Station / Motorail pilot. Trips to OOC CS.

1x Acton Yard

1x OOC HST Depot pilot.

1x OOC CS.