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Weed killing trains in the 1980s (what worked where?)


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Reading through old Rail Enthusiasts I've found out that there were three weed killing trains on B.R. in the 1980s, a Fisons' one , a Chipman's one and a B.R. Eastern Region owned one.

 

Did they all work all over the country as required or were they used in specific areas?

 

Thanks in advance.

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Whilst conducting research into the same topic I found this thread. I might as well bump this one.

 

I'm after any info or photos of weed-killing trains in the 80s and early 90s. I'm particularly after details about what types of MK1 carriages were used,

 

regards,

 

Mark

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Now, this brings back memory, almost forgotten about this

 

The only time I ever saw it, it was a pair of Class 20 in Hunslet-Barclay livery, top and tailing the coaches

I was invited onboard the set whilst it was idle for a few hours in Aberdeen

 

I've had a basic search (so far), but could search later on today

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justindperkins/4432949525/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisboon/4238596386/

This looks like the Eastern region one, operated by Chipman, possibly converted from an EMU

 

However the one used in Scotland appeared to be green in colour, so may have been the Fisons, but also had several TTA tanks (which carried water)

From memory, Rail Magazine did an article shortly after the Class 20 locos were released in this livery, and included all of the contractors that were to be used

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My negs are in the attic and so I am working from memory here. A weedkilling train I photographed near Chester, on the Wrexham-Bidston branch and at Llong (Mold) circa 1978 had ex GWR coaches and an ex DMU coach in its formation. The train was chocolate & cream (under a coating of white spray!), and the loco was a Class 25.

 

My next memory jumps beyond the 1980s to 1992 with two Hunslet-Barclay 20's hauling a weedkilling train in the Conwy Valley. The coaches were mid green with a white stripe. By the late 90's the coaches were light green, an au-de-nil shade. Photographed on the Trawsfynedd branch, it was top & tailed by EWS maroon and Mainline blue 37's.

 

PS : I was told by local station staff the spraying was more hand controlled in steam days to avoid killing carefully tilled flower beds at stations!

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My next memory jumps beyond the 1980s to 1992 with two Hunslet-Barclay 20's hauling a weedkilling train in the Conwy Valley. The coaches were mid green with a white stripe. By the late 90's the coaches were light green, an au-de-nil shade. Photographed on the Trawsfynedd branch, it was top & tailed by EWS maroon and Mainline blue 37's.

 

 

More 1990's with HB 20's. Type in any of 20901-20906 in the usual photo sites. Although you will have to look for earlier pics as most of them will come up with the 20/9's in later guises - I used "20902 weedkiller" as a search. using hunslet/barclay/fisons/chipman may also yield results

 

is a quick example from 1990

 

This should give you a few ideas. The Fisons green, later Agrevo (as mentioned/pictured above), set is easily accomplished using TTA's, Hurst Models overlays and Mk1's.

 

ISTR 20901/904 were used on the Chipman's train and 20902/903 on the Fisons, with 905 and 906 as "spare" locos, although 906 pics on weedkiller duty seem hard to come by.

 

Cheers, Mick

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Does anyone know if Kernows are still doing the coaches for this weedkilling train? I purchased the class 20 loco pack and the water tanks under the impression the coaches were to follow, but its all been a while and its gone very quiet.

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Dozy me :blink: I forgot to add that I model in O gauge and it's a 7mm project I'm researching :rolleyes: And it's the Northern England/Scotland train I'm researching so i think that it's ex-LMS stock.

 

The Fisons train with the Mk1's was predominantly used in the Midlands/North.

 

Cheers,

Mick

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For Mark and anybody else doing the 1989 train with it's Mark1 coaches.

99907 ex CK 7203 as marshaled next to the water tanks. The spray coach. As running 1989.

post-1625-0-40825300-1305535015_thumb.jpg

post-1625-0-47645800-1305535040_thumb.jpg

post-1625-0-26839800-1305535068_thumb.jpg

 

99908 ex CK 7160, tool van.

post-1625-0-28705000-1305535093_thumb.jpg

post-1625-0-04392300-1305535135_thumb.jpg

 

99909 ex SK 18401, office & mess coach.

post-1625-0-61388500-1305535155_thumb.jpg

 

the complete train in the later livery in 1995, showing the order and which way round the vehicles were.

post-1625-0-91831900-1305535178_thumb.jpg

 

99910 ex SK 18574 , the dormitory coach.

post-1625-0-49717900-1305535203_thumb.jpg

post-1625-0-28245900-1305535226_thumb.jpg

 

Merf.

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Some shots of the Weed killer trains in the 1980's

 

25302 and train at Chester 12 July 1981

post-1161-0-57137500-1305542647_thumb.jpg

 

post-1161-0-85044300-1305542668_thumb.jpg

 

Fisons at Guide Bridge 1981

post-1161-0-81933700-1305542725_thumb.jpg

 

Eastern Region train York 1985 (taken on an 'all nighter' at Holgate Bridge)

 

post-1161-0-61188800-1305542727_thumb.jpg

 

post-1161-0-76660100-1305542723_thumb.jpg

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The Chipmans one was based out of Horsham and the three TTA water tanks and two ex SR Elephant Vans are still there over on the far side of the yard gradually disappearing into the weeds ironically. The vans are reportedly up for sale.

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Some more 1980s pics:

 

25211 near Mold Junc 20th August 1986

 

post-891-0-73751800-1305785472_thumb.jpg

 

31247 at New Bilton and Marton Jnc 20th Jujne 1985

 

post-891-0-01324700-1305785729_thumb.jpg

 

post-891-0-71111100-1305785674_thumb.jpg

 

and 31206 at Burton Dassett 25th June 1985

 

post-891-0-84325500-1305785771_thumb.jpg

 

Appolgies for the appalling choice of motive power in the last three pics....

 

Regards

Mike

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