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


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Actually their official name was Paddington Sidings.  Royal Oak ceased to have any involvement at all with Paddington working, or indeed WR train working, from the 1967 resignalling.

 

Hi Mike,

Pleased you mentioned that, the Quail Maps refer to them as Royal Oak Carriage Sidings! - I've made a mental note.

 

 

Yes, looking at the pic with the three 50s, from left to right it's 3,2, and 1 sidings, Up E&C (bi-directional) Down Main, Up Main (which the middle 50 is on and hidden behind its train is the middle siding), then it's Down Relief, Up Relief and the two Down E&C lines which were also bi-directional, with the Hammersmith & City lines adjacent to them, which of course burrowed down under the GW and resurfaced on the downside before curving round into Westbourne Park station.

 

A handy book to find on ebay is John Vaughan's 'This Is Paddington' (Ian Allen softback, 1982) which has some great shots of the are plus track layouts as well.

 

 

Thanks - the line you refer to as Middle Siding, is presumably that called 'Pilot Line' in the Quail?  Was that the stabling point for the Station Pilot, or just a short siding to allow ECS locos to be moved out of the way, or to reverse and head back into the station without hindering traffic?

 

Ooh, not heard of the 'This is Paddington' book - another for the hit list. I know John Vaughan well, so if I can't find one I'll have to see if I can beg, steel or borrow his copy! Sounds an ideal title for this thread, and my layout idea!

 

Rich

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A good friend of mine, knows the well known photographer Brian Morrison, who has kindly raided his photo collection and supplied these four images - all of which I think are fascinating in their own right, although two are late 1970s, and one is the early 1990s, so a little before/after the period being discussed, but still very interesting all the same.

 

I'll point out that all four are posted with the full knowledge and permission of Mr Morrison, and my thanks to him for his kindness in allowing them to be used.  They remain his copyright property.

 

post-16721-0-33238400-1499705492_thumb.jpg

 

Taken with a lineside permit that was available at the time, 253017 winds out of Paddington on 9th August 1977 forming the 13.15 departure to Swansea.  This throws an interesting query, the shunt signal is 'OFF' and the points are set for the headshunt, which doesn't look big enough to hold a loco, even an '08' so why was it a signalled moved?  I cannot see a signal for any departure from the headshunt!  I would have thought the headshunt would have been provided as part of the signal overlap, giving a safe route into Platform 1A from the country end that didn't impact on the entry/exit of Platform 1, with logically the shunt being 'OFF' for a signalled moved from Platform 1A to Platform 1?  I think the old signalling cabin is still visible just to the left of the leading power car - when did it go?  I assume it came out of use with the reksignalling in 1967 that Mike was talking about?

 

 

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253026 heads out of Paddington on 13th October 1977 with the 12.15 to Swansea.  Unfortunately the numbers of the two 50s are not recorded, but Im assuming the far distant one was on Ranleigh Bridge stabling point, while the nearest was arriving or departing said stabling point.  There looks to be a point just ahead of the first BG, but were the parcel vans stabled in Platform 1A?

 

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Undated, but given the cleanliness of the loco, I'm assuming must have been taken in 1985, shortly after its naming - 50007 Sir Edward Elgar passes Ranleigh Bridge stabling point.

 

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PClass 47/4 No 47478 passes Westbourne Park on 27th February 1992, hauling ECS from Paddington to Old Oak Common.  Rugd1022 - I'm assuming the exit on the right, just above the underground is the country end exit from Paddington Sidings that you were talking about?

 

How times have changed .. wish I could say for the better!

 

Rich

Edited by MarshLane
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Lovely photos those.... I'd imagine that OO447 signal is off to allow for full occupation of the parcels platform length during a shunt move. The concrete above and behind the stop block was used for loading / unloading Motorailers when platform 1 was in use.

 

As for 50 007 in green, pretty sure the date was 25/2/84 or thereabouts, it certainly wasn't '85, I cadged a lift from Old Oak to Padd on 47 500 'Great Western' which followed it up for the naming ceremony. I remember a lot of fuss being made at the time and there was a very large crowd at the ceremony that day. Some time later '007 was left in the 'elephant house' cleaning shed at Old Oak for about five or six hours with the engine running, all the doors and vents had been closed and when Driver Trevor Netley and I opened them to get the loco out we were choking on the acrid fumes. The cabs still stank of fresh paint as well, quite a combination! 

 

You're correct about the country end of Padd Sidings Rich, you could get in and out at both ends before the place was remodelled later on. In that photo 47 478 is crossing over from the Down Relief to the Down E&C and will shortly pass through Kensal Rise washing apron.

Edited by Rugd1022
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A few pics relevant to Padd and Old Oak to add a bit of flavour...

 

post-7638-0-98707600-1499710873.jpg

 

 

One of Old Oak's two pet 'skinhead' 31s, note the early style '68 to '73 shed code and post '73 data panel stickers...  

post-7638-0-93627100-1499710914.jpg

 

The other pet 31 arrives on the Up Main passing Ranelagh Bridge, note the stop block of the short neck at the London end of the old middle siding...

post-7638-0-91702500-1499711127.jpg

 

A bit earlier than the period in question but this shows the throat layout down at Old Oak with 47 479 coming off the shed in '79, pic was taken from the old footbridge which was accessible from the canal behind the retaining wall...

post-7638-0-96971900-1499711264.jpg

 

50 010 with its blue painted roof in platform 9 in September '83...

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50 004 smoking the place out c.'83 / '84...

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Another out of period shot (from 1972) but it's a good view of the gantry and layout at Padd Sidings / Royal Oak... taken from a DMU which for some reason is standing on the Up E&C line, while the Hymek is stabled awaiting its next move in the middle siding...

post-7638-0-97853800-1499712590.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks for those, they are wonderful! The atmosphere and detail to be savoured from them is superb!  Do you have any idea how long the middle siding was?  I presume that gantry  in the last image, would still have been there around the mid-1980s, if the resignalling was late 60s?

 

Rich

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Stephen,

Lovely shot - great to see an example of the Gen Set actually working - for further reference, in case Flickr ever disappears, that was 50019 Ramilies on the 14.45 Paddington to Plymouth service on 23rd June 1983.

 

 

Was there just the one Generator Van converted from a BG then which was shared between depots as needed - or more?

 

Rich

 

Hi Rich - I can't remember how many genny vans there were. Something at the back of my mind keeps saying there was more than one though

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Hi Rich - I can't remember how many genny vans there were. Something at the back of my mind keeps saying there was more than one though

I suspect there was only the one generator van (975325) in use with HST trailers at that time. I've just had a scan through the 1985 Platform 5 Departmental coaches book, and I can't find any other generator coaches/vans listed.

 

There's also a post from mjkerr on a thread about 91s which says it was the only HST generator van.

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Thanks for those, they are wonderful! The atmosphere and detail to be savoured from them is superb!  Do you have any idea how long the middle siding was?  I presume that gantry  in the last image, would still have been there around the mid-1980s, if the resignalling was late 60s?

 

Rich

 

The middle siding wasn't long enough to stable a full set of stock, from memory and looking at photos it was roughly four or five loco lengths at the Bristol end plus there was the short neck at the Padd end. The Autumn 1967 resignalling and track remodelling lasted into (I think) the early '90s but I'm not sure when the middle siding was lifted. There also used to be a short bay siding behind the parcels platform (1a) but I can't remember when it was lifted, maybe Mike  / SM will know.

 

I must say  a big 'thankyou' to you Rich for starting the thread, it's definitely rekindled my waning interest in modelling and the railway in general, although my love of the GWR / WR has never gone away, thankfully.

 

More WR London Division pics to follow as and when ;)

 

Edit : you can see the short bay siding going off behind the parcels platform in the b&w HST shot you posted further up the thread.

Edited by Rugd1022
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The middle siding wasn't long enough to stable a full set of stock, from memory and looking at photos it was roughly four or five loco lengths at the Bristol end plus there was the short neck at the Padd end. The Autumn 1967 resignalling and track remodelling lasted into (I think) the early '90s but I'm not sure when the middle siding was lifted. There also used to be a short bay siding behind the parcels platform (1a) but I can't remember when it was lifted, maybe Mike  / SM will know.

 

I must say  a big 'thankyou' to you Rich for starting the thread, it's definitely rekindled my waning interest in modelling and the railway in general, although my love of the GWR / WR has never gone away, thankfully.

 

More WR London Division pics to follow as and when ;)

 

Your welcome!  But its more me that should be saying a "BIG" thank you to yourself, Commoner, and everyone who has contributed.  Without your kindness in sharing knowledge, information, documents, photographs and snippets, I'd be way behind where I am!  If this can help incentivise (hate that modern day PR word!) people into modelling, then even better!

 

Can anyone offer any more insight into the  short bay platform behind 1a that Rugd1022 (do you have a name :) ??) mentioned - did it have a platform number? was it just used for the pilot to push parcel vehicles into? did the parcels DMUs use it?

 

Im just wondering now, if anyone might have any details or paperwork, specifically track plans from the 1967 resignalling that they would be willing to post or copy? If anyone can help, feel free to PM me if you would rather not post on the thread.

 

I've also been sent another five photographs from Brian Morrison, who says he is more than happy for them to appear here. My thanks to Mr Morrison for his help and generosity in allowing them to be published here.  Unfortunately, most of these seem to land just before the period we're discussing, but are non-the less interesting to see - and do document the area under discussion.

 

post-16721-0-04233400-1499786710_thumb.jpg

 

A colour shot from 25th February 1978, of 253007 (which I presume was power cars 43014/43015 at that time) arriving, passing 31420 stood alongside Platform 1.  Mr Morrison says his notes suggest that the 31 was stood there, and a short while after moved into the station to retrieve ECS for Old Oak Common.

 

 

post-16721-0-81924400-1499787175_thumb.jpg

 

Again in 1978, Class 31/4 No 31420 departs from Paddington on 25th February 1978 with empty coaching stock for Old Oak Common yards.  Presumably this is the ECS working concerned!

 

 

post-16721-0-59873000-1499787075_thumb.jpg

 

Taken alongside Royal Oak station, the 06.30 express from Bristol Temple Meads approaches its destination of Paddington on 25th April 1973, headed by Brush Type 4 No 1607 (later Class 47/4 No 47477).  On the left is Paddington Sidings clearly showing a Class 47 in No.3 road, and ECS in Nos. 1 and 2 roads.

 

 

post-16721-0-44859800-1499787082_thumb.jpg

 

Being way before the period we are talking about, I was not going to post this view, but I find this shot fascinating in that a GUV appears to have been marshalled within the DMU consist! Taken from within Ranelagh Bridge stabling point, with 47076 City of Truro and an classmate stabled, as BR Derby Class 116/130  Driving Car No W50915, departs from Paddington with a train for Slough on 21st May 1975.  

 

post-16721-0-43667600-1499787249_thumb.jpg

 

And finally, just on the edge of our time period - In new-style Network SouthEast livery design, Class 50 No 50044 'Exeter' passes Old Oak Common on 7th September 1987, hauling westbound newspaper vans.  Im assuming this is coming under the E&C flyover and heading for OC carriage sidings?

 

That last image brings us nicely onto the parcels workings that operate in and out of Paddington.  I've been provided with many details of the workings (thanks Kevin) which should also provide the set make up and types in each consist, but I'm assuming those vans that finished the overnight work in London, were moved out to Old Oak Common Carriage Sidings during the day??  Can anyone offer any insights into the parcels operations? I don't suppose we have any former TPO staff around on the forum who worked on the trains???

 

Rich

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''We aim to please...!''

 

Ye Old Oak Cafe, just outside the entrance to the depot itself, a haunt frequented by many at 81A down the years and still going today (lovely big mugs of tea and full English breakfast served), in the '60s it was run by a couple of brothers who had an air of the Krays about them, if they didn't like you they let you know about it... the 'Western Tower' office block behind it was recently demolished and replaced with a modern effort...

 

post-7638-0-62474400-1499785655.jpg

 

The taxi rank / roadway between platforms 8 and 9 at Padd with newspaper vans being loaded...

 

post-7638-0-09365900-1499785845_thumb.jpg

 

I've already posted this one elsewhere on RMWeb but thought it relevant so here it is again as it shows the Up E&C line and the Westbourne Park end of Paddington sidings, taken c.1970 with the unidentified Thousand heading west on the Down Main, '006' signal being part of the 1967 resignalling scheme...

 

post-7638-0-25248500-1499786406.jpg

 

Before your period again Rich but a good view of a typical moment at Paddington Sidings on 20th July '75 with 31 416 on no.3 road and D1043 on no.2 road, looks like the photo was taken from a train on the Up Main... move on a decade and just replace the Thousand with a large logo 50...

 

post-7638-0-50669500-1499786823.jpg

 

Another view fro ma train of Padd Sidings with 50 011 waiting on no.1 road, taken on Monday 15th August '83 which was coincidentally my first day at Old Oak after transferring over from nearby Stonebridge Park...

 

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The last pic I ever took of the old Departure 'box, March '89...

 

post-7638-0-87297900-1499787608_thumb.jpg

 

And the view of the approaches taken on the same day from the fire escape on the old Parcels Depot offices above platform 1 / 1a...

 

post-7638-0-22496500-1499787725_thumb.jpg

 

Country end of platforms 4 and 5 on the same day...

 

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Old Oak as viewed from the canal footbridge around the same time...

 

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Back to Padd for a shuftie at the hydraulic buffer stops in platforms 10 and 11...

 

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Circa '68 view of Padd Sidings from Royal Oak, the 08 is in the middle siding...

 

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The walkway alongside the taxi rank road in '82...

 

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The photographic contributions from this thread which have been superb, have inspired me to upload a few of my own.

 

Mention was made earlier of a FO working being booked for a Class 33.  This shot is from Wednesday 7th January 1987 with 33018 on what I have recorded as an unidentified ECS.  43143 is the HST power car at the head of the 15.00 to Swansea.

post-4127-0-51701600-1499790972_thumb.jpg

 

Second shot, rather "grabbed", due to the unexpected traction, 37212+ 37166 arriving with the 08.00 Hereford-Paddington.  The 37s had worked forward following a loco failure at Worcester.

post-4127-0-26742400-1499791153_thumb.jpg

 

A Paddington night shot.

50032 on the rear of the 17.47 Paddington-Westbury, having brought the ECS in earlier.

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Taken from Platform 1A on 10th April 1987, HST formed 43006/143, 44012, 42038/37/36/97, 40323, 41026/25 departs Paddington on the 15.00 to Swansea.

post-4127-0-69769900-1499791446_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

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Old Oak 1967 resignalling  notices are partially available to look at on the 'net although not all of them.  this is the site for them

 

http://www.signallingnotices.org.uk

 

I can't remember when the back siding in the Down Parcels Office was recovered but I reckon sometime in the 1980s as it had fallen out of use.  In fact I can't really think of it ever being used very much after the 1967 resignalling although it had the benefit of providing a safer headshunt clear of Platform 1A,

 

The building on the left in the first of the Gavin Morrison pictures is part of the old Arrival Signalbox which remained there until, I think, the last resignalling scheme in the mid 1990s.  it became Paddington TOPS office at one time and it was where the ASM used to go to conduct evening peak operations as it had a good view of what was happening plus of course radio and 'phone contact to all necessary folk.

 

The Middle Siding was used to stable dmus at various times including one set which managed to go over the stop block and somewhat upset the evening peak one day c.1979/80.

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Rich, in your post #60 in the b&w Brian Morrison shot of 1607 etc the 47 is stabled on no.3 road, with the empty stock on nos.2 and 1, the sidings were numbered 1 to 3 from the mainline not the other way round (a general railway rule of thumb still applicable today).

 

Oh, and the 1967 track plan is shown in the John Vaughan on Padd I mentioned earlier.

 

post-7638-0-13966800-1499798046_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

Edited by Rugd1022
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''We aim to please...!''

 

.....

 

The taxi rank / roadway between platforms 8 and 9 at Padd with newspaper vans being loaded...

 

 

 

Oh you certainly do mate!  Those detail and surrounding shots of Paddington and Old Oak are simply superb - thank you.  Especially the night view down 8 and 9 - just oozes atmosphere. Wonderful additions.

 

 

The photographic contributions from this thread which have been superb, have inspired me to upload a few of my own.

 

Mention was made earlier of a FO working being booked for a Class 33.  This shot is from Wednesday 7th January 1987 with 33018 on what I have recorded as an unidentified ECS.  43143 is the HST power car at the head of the 15.00 to Swansea.

attachicon.gif1987.01.07 33018 43143 S29 15.00 P-Sw RMW..jpg

 

Second shot, rather "grabbed", due to the unexpected traction, 37212+ 37166 arriving with the 08.00 Hereford-Paddington.  The 37s had worked forward following a loco failure at Worcester.

attachicon.gif1987.02.28 RMW..jpg

 

 

 

Again, a great set of shots - some incentive for odd workings on the model too!  I thought from browsing Flickr and the web, that 31s were rather rare in front of the lens, given that they were working in and out everyday, but 33s and 37s are definitely rarer!  Great shots of the period too.

 

Old Oak 1967 resignalling  notices are partially available to look at on the 'net although not all of them.  this is the site for them

 

http://www.signallingnotices.org.uk

 

I can't remember when the back siding in the Down Parcels Office was recovered but I reckon sometime in the 1980s as it had fallen out of use.  In fact I can't really think of it ever being used very much after the 1967 resignalling although it had the benefit of providing a safer headshunt clear of Platform 1A,

 

The building on the left in the first of the Gavin Morrison pictures is part of the old Arrival Signalbox which remained there until, I think, the last resignalling scheme in the mid 1990s.  it became Paddington TOPS office at one time and it was where the ASM used to go to conduct evening peak operations as it had a good view of what was happening plus of course radio and 'phone contact to all necessary folk.

 

The Middle Siding was used to stable dmus at various times including one set which managed to go over the stop block and somewhat upset the evening peak one day c.1979/80.

 

Mike,

Many thanks for the link, I'd tried typing Paddington resignalling 1960s into Google, but nothing useful was turned up.  I shall wander off and look at that website now!  Thanks for your additional info on the boxes and the parcels bay. I presume both the Arrival and Departure signal boxes were taken OOU during the 1967 resignalling?

 

I'll assume then that it was long enough for a three/four-car DMU.  It must have run in there at some speed to mount the stop block!  Can imagine the chaos it caused!!

 

 

Rich, in your post #60 in the b&w Brian Morrison shot of 1607 etc the 47 is stabled on no.3 road, with the empty stock on nos.2 and 1, the sidings were numbered 1 to 3 from the mainline not the other way round (a general railway rule of thumb still applicable today).

 

Oh, and the 1967 track plan is shown in the John Vaughan on Padd I mentioned earlier.

 

attachicon.gifPaddington 50 030.jpg

 

 

Ah thanks for that - I thought afterwards they should have been numbered the wrong way round, I'll update that caption.

 

Rich

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post-7638-0-67905200-1499798203.jpg

 

post-7638-0-41771200-1499798222.jpg

 

post-7638-0-91215600-1499798248.jpg

 

This general detail shot is one of about two hundred I took a few years ago when I had a couple of hours to kill at Padd between jobs, if I can find the rest I'll post some more...

 

post-7638-0-72011900-1499798285_thumb.jpg

 

50 029 down the Oak in '85...

 

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31 268 coming off the reception roads in '86...

 

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post-7638-0-51046500-1499798266.jpg

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Well the number of times I've walked out of Paddington station and never looked up at this building!  It was only seeing your shot that made me go and look to see if it was still there on Google Maps and low and behold it is!  Just shows, you don't know what is around you!  For those that don't know, its just on the south end of the Lawn, as you walk out of the old vehicle entrance, alongside London Road, which runs down the North East side of Paddington station...

 

Dont think posting this screen shot breaks any rules, but I'll happily remove it if it does... All copyright to Google Maps.

 

post-16721-0-76506900-1499801053_thumb.jpg

 

Rich

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Finding that building on GoogleMaps, following Rugd1022's post set me thinking about the surrounding area (deviating a bit from the topic, but its all Paddington, so related!)

 

Not sure if people have seen BritainfromAbove.org.uk - but if you haven't been on there recently, the site has been revamped, and as long as you create an account and log in (its free) you can now zoom in on pictures, which are a lot clearer than they used to be, and also make them full screen.  Links to a few of Paddington are below.  All well before the time period we're discussing (generally 1930s/1940s), but I doubt the station buildings will have changed much....  The quality of the images is far better than it use to be

 

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW005642

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW020961

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW039589

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW006462

 

And one of Old Oak Common

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW058336

 

Fascinating to see the changes that have taken place!

 

Rich

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Hi Rich, I've just had a very quick scan through the thread, and my first impression is that I need to come back and study it in more detail. A lot will be relevant to my Kings Moreton, as a lot of Traffic could eventually come though KM. 

 

I have a passion for the Class 50.

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The Arrival and Departure 'boxes - along with many others - were closed as a result of the 1967 resignalling when the second Old Oak Common panel box took over the are from Paddington to just west of Hayes.  A period of some interesting diversions some of which were exactly the same as the diversions which tok place during the 1930s rebuild/major layout alterations and resignalling.

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Re post #60 and the dmu marshalled between two 116 power cars, this is not the first time by any means.  Some time prior to this a pair of power cars, 51137+51150, was formed with two GUVs and put to work on an overnight "Rail-Air Express Parcels" service between Bristol TM and Hayes & Harlington, the latter being quite handy for Heathrow Airport. Apart from these, four or more 116 power cars worked with other units and parcels stock in the London division after being declared surplus from South Wales.

 

Chris 

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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.

 

Don't put too much emphasis on the numbers in parenthesis as they may be notes added later and secured from another source.

 

6410 and 6461 would be what the number carried by the coach at the time.

.

Magazines published the renumbering, but with a new scheme, sometimes the numbers were a little awry when first published, then corrected in later editions.

.

Brian R

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Re post #60 and the dmu marshalled between two 116 power cars, this is not the first time by any means.  Some time prior to this a pair of power cars, 51137+51150, was formed with two GUVs and put to work on an overnight "Rail-Air Express Parcels" service between Bristol TM and Hayes & Harlington, the latter being quite handy for Heathrow Airport. Apart from these, four or more 116 power cars worked with other units and parcels stock in the London division after being declared surplus from South Wales.

 

Chris 

 

51137+86174+86572+51150 was the Railair Express Parcels, converted at Newton Abbott.

.

When the power cars were withdrawn the words "air" were painted out on the GUV vans, giving a large space between Rail and Express Parcels

 

Cl.116 power cars used on parcels service in the London Division were W50819, W50862,  W50872 & W50915

 

Amongst other sightings, my notes show I saw W50915 + W55991 at Reading on 29th. August, 1972, and W50872 + W55992 at Didcot on 6th. August, 1976.

.

Brian R

 

.

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Another gratuitous early '70s shot but showing a neglected part of the area in photographic terms, 3962 in Paddington New Yard complete with shunters truck (ex-GWR or BR built I'm not sure, over to you Mike), 3962 was renumbered 08 794 in February '74 and stayed at Old Oak for many years...

 

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The esteemed Mr.Vaughan's fine little tome on the gateway to the west...

 

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Afternoon all,

Thanks for all the latest updates, amazing the amount of small details that continue to creep out!  Please do keep them coming.  When did the Class 116 Rail Air workings finish? Presume they were in the 1970s.

 

If I recall correctly the DMU workings out of Paddington in the mid-1980s were mainly 117s?  I think the occasional bubble car worked on the Greenford loop, along with replacing driving cars as and when required on the 117s?  Were there any other types?

 

Rugd1022 - I have acquired a copy of Mr Vaughan's tomb - for the extortionate amount of £2.99 from Amazon!

 

Rich

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