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Waterloo Sunset


'CHARD

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Indeed yes, although I chose to not be part of the death throws by not going there in the last few weeks, I was a regular there from the downgrading of Nine Elms shed in April 1965, and more so after the closure of my favourite shed - Willesden- in the September of that same year. I agree with Catlin's view on Nine Elms engine-men, one of whom became my next door neighbour some 20 years later. The photos bring back memories, of 34015, and 34019 which were both used for spares to keep the last 'Spam-Cans' ( 34023, and 34102) in working order; 35007, a popular free steamer that was literally flogged to death in the last weeks. 

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I was at Nine Elms a week before the end (aged only 14) and still remember it well. Several old favourites seen only weeks previously in steam at Waterloo or Clapham were lying withdrawn, there was an atmosphere of utter desolation. The "bulled-up" Merchant Navies 35008 and 35028 (nameplates restored for the official "End of Steam" specials) looked rather out of place amongst all the rusty hulks and the remaining Bulleids and Standards eking out their last few days of active service. I also remember Ivatt 2-6-2T 41319 in surprisingly clean condition; earlier the same day I'd seen the same loco pulling a Waterloo-bound van train through Vauxhall at quite a brisk speed.

Spamcans 34002 and 34057 (both withdrawn, minus rods) were side by side in the shed, I think they may have formed the basis of one of David Shepherd's paintings, but possibly with different identities.

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34002 was definitely a subject of one of David Shepherd's paintings, I happened to pass him as he was packing up after painting that loco one day, and spoke to him. 34002 & 34057 were kept as a source of spare parts (cannibalized)for 34023 & 34102, a few weeks earlier it had been something like 34015 & 34019 keeping the other 4 going.

I saw the last working BR M7 30053 at 9E in July 1964, it was kept for working the 'Surrey Wanderer' or some such special before going to the US, little would I realize that I would be working on that same such loco about 25 years later. Likewise one of the drivers that I became friendly with at Nine Elms, would 20 years, or so, later be my next door neighbour in Bournemouth - small world, such are old memories.

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34002 was definitely a subject of one of David Shepherd's paintings, I happened to pass him as he was packing up after painting that loco one day, and spoke to him. 34002 & 34057 were kept as a source of spare parts (cannibalized)for 34023 & 34102, a few weeks earlier it had been something like 34015 & 34019 keeping the other 4 going.

I saw the last working BR M7 30053 at 9E in July 1964, it was kept for working the 'Surrey Wanderer' or some such special before going to the US, little would I realize that I would be working on that same such loco about 25 years later. Likewise one of the drivers that I became friendly with at Nine Elms, would 20 years, or so, later be my next door neighbour in Bournemouth - small world, such are old memories.

For a long time, I thought it was a great shame that so few of the SR's last locos were saved - how I'd like to see "Okehampton", "Lamport & Holt Line" or "Melisande" running now! Sadly, funds were in short supply and most of the locos were knackered, so it wasn't to be. A couple more preserved Standard 5s would have been nice.....

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For a long time, I thought it was a great shame that so few of the SR's last locos were saved - how I'd like to see "Okehampton", "Lamport & Holt Line" or "Melisande" running now! Sadly, funds were in short supply and most of the locos were knackered, so it wasn't to be. A couple more preserved Standard 5s would have been nice.....

The worst example of 'the one that got away' must have been 77014, but I personally feel there is more than enough Bulleid pacifics, the railway preservation/heritage movement has more than it can cope with as it is, unless it suddenly gets a big influx of volunteers. But as far as the standard 5's are concerned - maybe, pity they didn't save 'Linette' (73087)as I was going out with a girl of that name about 1964/5 :-) .

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I saw the last working BR M7 30053 at 9E in July 1964 ...

 

I wish you wouldn't do that! That's at least twice you've had me wondering "What the !?$& was a Southern Region engine doing at Trafford Park?".
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I remember staggering into Waterloo one night, probably a saturday .very late and not much around .We were looking for coffee and i think the bar /cafe place was just closing .i remember seeing a spam can  at the buffers .It was cold and completely covered in rust and grime .i keep thinking it didnt have any rods but I wasnt that sober and was more interested in the girls we were with . I was saddened to  how sorry it was and how my late Father told me he fired up Merchant Navies during the war when he was on the Southern  .I do remember feeling very sad and a bit shocked that any loco could be allowed to get so run down .I wasnt into trains than much so knew nothing about anything .It must have been one of the last ever run in service ,at least from Waterloo.it must have had rods .Barley wine chasers are  a heady memory destroyer .

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The worst example of 'the one that got away' must have been 77014, but I personally feel there is more than enough Bulleid pacifics, the railway preservation/heritage movement has more than it can cope with as it is, unless it suddenly gets a big influx of volunteers. But as far as the standard 5's are concerned - maybe, pity they didn't save 'Linette' (73087)as I was going out with a girl of that name about 1964/5 :-) .

Funny that - 73119 "Elaine" was a favourite of mine for a similar reason!

I have to reluctantly agree with you about the number of preserved Bulleids - but I was sad to read of the scrapping of 34086 "219 Squadron" - always my personal favourite after I saw it come through Clapham Junction at speed back in 1965. Apparently it was the subject of an abortive preservation bid - sadly abandoned due to the loco's poor condition.

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Do you know that there is a group whose aim is to build a new one of that class? - http://www.77021.org/

Yes, but it was 77014 that caught the imagination during it's magic last 15 months on the Southern Region that proved what an individual loco it was, it drew quite a following amongst enthusiasts which included a visit to Blandford on a special over the southern end of the S&DJR, and the last scheduled steam working from Bournemouth.

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I read somewhere that 77014 was actually in fairly good mechanical condition as well, unlike most of the indigenous SR motive power which was pretty much worn out.

Presumably it hadn't been facing imminent withdrawal from its home shed when the SR borrowed it for a special!

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I read somewhere that 77014 was actually in fairly good mechanical condition as well, unlike most of the indigenous SR motive power which was pretty much worn out.

Presumably it hadn't been facing imminent withdrawal from its home shed when the SR borrowed it for a special!

So the story goes, Northwich didn't have any use for it, when asked if they wanted their loco back, after working the special it was brought south for, they said something like 'keep it if you've got use for it'.

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but I personally feel there is more than enough Bulleid pacifics, the railway preservation/heritage movement has more than it can cope with as it is, .

My opinion is somewhat different...remember, if you are a railway that likes to keep an example of a certain class running on your railway, whether a Bulleid or a Black 5 or whatever, you need at least two of the things if not more as one needs to be ready when one comes out of its ticket.

 

Also, speaking as a driver of the things, and as support crew out on the mainline with them, you can NEVER have too many of them......

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My opinion is somewhat different...remember, if you are a railway that likes to keep an example of a certain class running on your railway, whether a Bulleid or a Black 5 or whatever, you need at least two of the things if not more as one needs to be ready when one comes out of its ticket.

 

Also, speaking as a driver of the things, and as support crew out on the mainline with them, you can NEVER have too many of them......

Yes, I tend to agree, but was speaking from the perspective of their being a shortfall in the number of active mechanical engineering based volunteers at heritage railway workshops around the country. I must admit having been such in the past, but have insufficient spare time to do it now. But hiring of locos from outside is a good way of helping to finance overhauls.

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