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


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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

Very interesting. The Fisons set at Mold Junction in 1986 is of note, with the red lettering on the ex BPO tank wagons. They were unchanged, without this livery in March 1985 and repainted into the green by 1988.

 

Earlier I asked if anyone knows which tanks ran with the Mark 1 coaches in the BR set. Any answers?

 

Thanks

 

Paul Bartlett

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Very interesting. The Fisons set at Mold Junction in 1986 is of note, with the red lettering on the ex BPO tank wagons. They were unchanged, without this livery in March 1985 and repainted into the green by 1988.

 

Earlier I asked if anyone knows which tanks ran with the Mark 1 coaches in the BR set. Any answers?

 

Thanks

 

Paul Bartlett

 

 

Paul

I have the same 3 tanks, 56960/1/2 being in the Fisons train from 1985-1998, having carried 3 liveries and worked with both sets of coaches.

Merf.

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  • RMweb Gold

You might find this link to a thread about a wagon I couldn't identify interesting, a weedkilling wagon on the Blyth and Tyne for those who haven't much space for a weedkilling train:

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/37412-what-was-this-wagon/page__pid__399264&do=findComment&comment=399264

 

David

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The is the scene around Leek Brook in June 1982 or 1983. 25086 did the honours on one trip and 250xx the other.

 

When I sent report to Rail Enthusiast magazine they mis quoted me and it sounded like 47136 to 25086 was also attached. 47136 was working the Oakamoor St Helens sand train. I never sent any more information to Rail enthusiast

post-8268-0-35925700-1305834014_thumb.jpg

post-8268-0-07185300-1305834027_thumb.jpg

post-8268-0-48603000-1305834049_thumb.jpg

post-8268-0-83497300-1305834077_thumb.jpg

post-8268-0-86098400-1305834096_thumb.jpg

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Paul

I have the same 3 tanks, 56960/1/2 being in the Fisons train from 1985-1998, having carried 3 liveries and worked with both sets of coaches.

Merf.

Merfyn

 

Thanks, but after clarifying what was wanted, this thread was about the BR train with Mark 1 coaches. So I am querying not the Fisons or Chipmans trains. BR had these tanks earlier http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/weedkillerbr but the earlier photographs in this thread show the entire train appears to have been re-equipped. We have the coach numbers, but we haven't pinned down what the tanks were. Are you suggesting the BR train was taken over by Fisons? I know it is complicated by the coach numbers being too similar 990xx vers 9990x ! They needed to alter because all of the earlier trains were vacuum braked and that was becoming redundant. Indeed between the Companies the tanks in the late 1980s were a nice reminder of both the pre monobloc design and Vacuum brake Monobloc with original suspension and brake rigging - whereas the petroleum fleets had been rebuilt as airbraked with Bruninghaus suspension (or various independent suspension units).

 

Regards

 

Paul Bartlett

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Some nice pictures coming here

 

I'm thinking that Comets M38 Corridor 3rd D2119 would be suitable for 99904

http://www.cometmode...atpic.php/7/912

http://paulbartlett....17166#h27317166

 

And comets W13 Full brake Dia. K42 would be suitable for 99901 and possibly with some blanked windows 99902

http://www.cometmode...atpic.php/8/622

http://paulbartlett....iller/h3bc3cdfb

 

Would anyone be able to confim my suspicions

 

 

Thanks, Simon

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In the far west before the class 20/9's - any traction could turn up on the weedkiller. I'm certain it was the Chipman's train that treated the lineside in Devon & Cornwall. The Cornish leg could be worked by any traction. I have photos of class 37s & 50's working it. The train was normally propelled along the St Ives branch. I have a (slightly blurred sadly) picture of 50018 at Lelant in NSE livery with the train in 1987.

 

I'll scan and upload later (lost with the crash of the fotopic site!!).

 

Craig

 

 

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Merfyn

 

Thanks, but after clarifying what was wanted, this thread was about the BR train with Mark 1 coaches. So I am querying not the Fisons or Chipmans trains. BR had these tanks earlier http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/weedkillerbr but the earlier photographs in this thread show the entire train appears to have been re-equipped. We have the coach numbers, but we haven't pinned down what the tanks were. Are you suggesting the BR train was taken over by Fisons? I know it is complicated by the coach numbers being too similar 990xx vers 9990x ! They needed to alter because all of the earlier trains were vacuum braked and that was becoming redundant. Indeed between the Companies the tanks in the late 1980s were a nice reminder of both the pre monobloc design and Vacuum brake Monobloc with original suspension and brake rigging - whereas the petroleum fleets had been rebuilt as airbraked with Bruninghaus suspension (or various independent suspension units).

 

Regards

 

Paul Bartlett

 

 

Paul,

I hope I have not caused confusion. I had refered to the Fisons train (being the one used in this area) which had 4 Mark1 coaches converted in 1989 to replace the GW/LMS/DMU train. As the same tankers were used, then would they have been dual braked or converted to air in 1989 ?

I have no knowledge of the B R train which seems to date from a lot earlier with it's Mk1 stock.

Merf.

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Paul,

I hope I have not caused confusion. I had refered to the Fisons train (being the one used in this area) which had 4 Mark1 coaches converted in 1989 to replace the GW/LMS/DMU train. As the same tankers were used, then would they have been dual braked or converted to air in 1989 ?

I have no knowledge of the B R train which seems to date from a lot earlier with it's Mk1 stock.

Merf.

Merf

 

Sorry, I think it is me that has confused myself and everyone else by forgetting the Mark 1s were Fisons!

 

The tanks haven't shown up very well in any of the photographs. The coaches were air braked so I have some doubts that they would have bothered to retain the VB ones and air brake them. I am guessing but it would have been easier to have obtained some of the AB conversions which had been in use for BP or SUKO from the earlier 1980s. There is a distant photograph of the tanks here http://www.departmentals.com/photo/99907 and the one you posted early on clearly shows Bruninghaus suspension which would go along with the AB conversion.

 

Paul Bartlett

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I'm thinking that Comets M38 Corridor 3rd D2119 would be suitable for 99904

http://www.cometmode...atpic.php/7/912

http://paulbartlett....17166#h27317166

 

And comets W13 Full brake Dia. K42 would be suitable for 99901 and possibly with some blanked windows 99902

http://www.cometmode...atpic.php/8/622

http://paulbartlett....iller/h3bc3cdfb

 

 

Looking through this site - http://martinimber.omegaowners.com/

I have confirmed that 99904 is a LMS diagram D2119, while 99901 is a GWR Diagram K41

 

Simon

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The 1987 departmental coaching stock book states the following:

 

Chipmans

 

99007 ex S3724S, Maunsell BTK dia 2105, built 1931

99008 ex S5644S, Maunsell CK dia 2304, built 1931

99009 ex S6699S, Maunsell BCK dia 2403, built 1935

99010 ex S4035S, Bulleid BTK dia 2123, built 1950

99014 ex S4600S, SR design GUV dia 3182, built 1949

99015 ex S4589S, SR design GUV dia 3182, built 1949

 

Fisons

 

99900 ex E56315, Class 100 DTCL

99901 ex W150W, Collett BG dia K42, built 1936*

99902 ex W164W, Collett BG dia K42, built 1936*

99903 ex ?, LMS TO lot 1401 (27150 - 27249)

99904 ex ?, LMS TK lot 1405 (2151 - 2200)

99905 ex ?, LMS BTK lot 1506 (26881 - 27005)

99906 ex W70W, Collett BG dia K44, built 1941*

 

The book actually states the three BGs as dia K45 but the ones above are corrected.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 years later...

Here is one from 1982, sadly it does not show the whole train

 

post-7081-0-82926500-1393953808.jpg

33001 reverses a weedspray train at Exeter St Davids, it is on the former Up Goods Line,

on the former Down Goods Line is 50001 Dreadnought on a set of Waterloo stock, 21/4/82

 

cheers

Edited by Rivercider
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  • 3 years later...

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

 

25302 and train at Chester 12 July 1981

attachicon.gif25302 CH 120781.jpg

 

attachicon.gifFISONS CH 120781.jpg

 

Fisons at Guide Bridge 1981

attachicon.gifFisons FA99900 GB.jpg

 

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

 

attachicon.gif20103,20004 YK 250585.jpg

 

attachicon.gif88001 WK Train YK 250585.jpg

More pictures of the Eastern Region BR Set circa 1984 / 1985 taken around Driffield, Gillberdyke and Hull by myself and my good friend Eddie Parker.

 

post-28565-0-04905400-1514736437_thumb.jpgpost-28565-0-41235200-1514736459_thumb.jpgpost-28565-0-11641300-1514736480_thumb.jpgpost-28565-0-15118300-1514736493_thumb.jpgpost-28565-0-37618100-1514736530_thumb.jpgpost-28565-0-92312100-1514736624_thumb.jpgpost-28565-0-07329900-1514736663_thumb.jpg

Edited by Albion47509
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  • 3 months later...
  • RMweb Gold

What on earth is a shark doing in the formation?

 

More complex question, the Gloucester DMU, was it a driving trailer or was it merely a propelling control vehicle with some kind of communication to the loco?

Being single piped vacuum would make it a bit awkward to be a proper driving trailer

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  • 5 months later...

Did staff stay/lodge on the train itself? Just curious having seen the final vehicle there!

I've just found this thread again whilst researching the Agrevo train.

 

The staff did stay on the train there being accomodation in coach 99910, which had bedrooms, showers and toilets. 99909 had a lounge area, kitchen and small workshop. 99908 was the storage coach for the weedkiller products, presumably bagged, and also had a generator to supply electricity. 99907 had the liquid mixing tanks, pumping equipment and the control gear for the spray equipment.

 

I believe that the whole train was exported to Belgium in the 1990s and subsequently scrapped over there.

 

 

Whilst sorting out less used stuff to sell on eBay to fund new purchases I've found a box of lima mk1 coaches which I've started to convert. I've finished cutting and shutting the body shells around to give the right window arrangements and provide roller shutter doors in the sides. I need to seriously hack the underframes around next to remove redundant battery boxes etc. I may even go so far as to replace the overscale brake equipment...we shall see.

 

This was really a test exercise to see how easy it is to do, and I've found that the lima shells cut really well, using an engineers square and fine razor saw, and stick together fine with Humbrol liquid poly. There are some gaps to fill before priming.

 

Does anyone know a paint match for the last livery before export?

 

If I can figure out how to upload pictures from my tablet I will do later

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've just found this thread again whilst researching the Agrevo train.

 

I believe that the whole train was exported to Belgium in the 1990s and subsequently scrapped over there.

 

 

Weedfree Ltd were still operating the train on the Belgium rail network in 2007 and it could often be seen stabled between trips in Melebeke Yard (Gent) although I believe it has now been replaced with continental sized stock.

 

post-31664-0-06611600-1540493557_thumb.jpg

Weedfree Ltd weedkilling train top and tailed by SNCB 6295 & 6317 while reversing at Bruxelles Nord on 25/08/2007.

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  • 2 years later...

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