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Goings on at Cill

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Last Up passenger working of Day 79

Relatively clean H Class 0-4-4T No. 31265 stands with Trio-C set No. 595 forming the last Up passenger working of the day from Cill, the 10pm to Epple. It must be high summer as it's still light. One more train is expected, the last Down passenger service of the day, due to arrive from Epple at 10.25 p.m. and work back ECS at 10.30 p.m. Although booked for a pull-push motor train it has been worked by a DEMU for the last few days.     Taken on a Fujifilm X-T30 with a 15-45m z

A trio of 3MTs

There are currently three BR Standard 3MT tanks available for service in the Epple district and hence likely to be found on the Cill branch.  Today they were all brought down to Cill and lined up on the run round loop for inspection and photography ...   All taken with a Fujifilm X-T30 in indirect daylight reflected off white card using a 15-45mm zoom lens set to 28mm focal length and an ISO setting of 160 overexposed by 1/3 stop and adjusted in Paint.net.     8201

SR Chris

SR Chris in Weathering

Running round the morning goods

Guard Edwards and Signalman Oldbury chat whilst watching Fireman Davison guide Driver Williams on 31579 as he buffers up to the the brake van of the morning goods.     Guard Edwards accommodation today offers a somewhat more comfortable ride than he is used to, quite how an express goods brake van ended up on his branch trip is unclear, but he's not complaining.     The brake van will now be shunted into the loop following which 31579 will shunt the wagons into No. 1 siding leaving the

SR Chris

SR Chris

Running round the ballast

31227 runs round its ballast train and backs onto the brake van. The brake will be shunted into the loop, followed by the wagons in order to reverse the train which will then set off for tonights worksite.  

SR Chris

SR Chris

Ballast Train arrival - this time with images!

Wainwright C class No. 31227 rolls into Cill's platform with a short ballast working. Once uncoupled 31227 runs to the end of the platform ready to run round its train. I had planned to lightly weather this locomotive but then came across a picture of classmate 31716 working a Tonbridge-Brighton train in 1961 (p62 in Kent Steam by Michael Welch, Capital Transport 2002), so I decided to have a go at a more neglected state.

SR Chris

SR Chris

Evening goods arrival

Wainwright C class number 31086 rolls to a halt at Cill with the evening goods arrival. Leaving Epple at 6.22pm this train shunts the yard at Beresford and drops off wagons at Grenham where it waits until the 7.41pm Cill to Epple passenger train clears the section. At 7.52pm it sets off for Cill arriving at 8.10pm, where the crews first priority is to run round and clear the platform in time for the arrival of the 7.52pm pull-push train from Epple at 8.24pm. They then have just under an hour

SR Chris

SR Chris

Making plans (for shunting)

Now the goods is standing in the loop the crew of 31086 await the arrival of the 7.52pm from Epple which has just come to a stand at the platform behind the locomotive. Guard Tobin has been discussing the shunt with the yard shunter and is on his way to tell the driver what's required.

SR Chris

SR Chris

Clearing the platform road

31086 buffers up to Guard Tobin's brake van after running round. It's 8.14pm and the signalman wants the platform cleared so that he can accept the 7.52pm from Epple due to arrive in ten minutes. 31086's goods will be shunted into the loop, the imminent arrival is a pull-push service and nothing will require use of the loop for a further hour yet. Also the first vehicle in the goods is van E181497 loaded with parcels/smalls which is required at the dock at the end of the loop siding.  

SR Chris

SR Chris

Morning Goods departure

The 9.30am from Epple pull-push service has arrived at the platform so the fireman climbs back aboard 31579 which is now ready to depart at 10.15am with the return morning goods trip.     The departing morning goods consists of the following wagons: B497624 HIFIT Dia 1/044 lot 2484 13 ton vacuum fitted 5 plank open with Morton four shoe brakes (Parkside Dundas kit PC02A).     B495051 HIGH Dia 1/044 lot 2409 13 ton unfitted 5 plank open with Morton two shoe brakes (Parkside Dundas kit

SR Chris

SR Chris

7.41pm to Epple

Having run round its train, 41309 buffers up before propelling set 43 back into the platform at Cill to form the 7.41pm all stations departure to Epple (arriving 8.10pm) sometime in 1958. The loco and stock arrived at 7.30pm (as the 7.00pm from Epple) so smart work is required to achieve the booked 11 minute turn around.   Chris

SR Chris

SR Chris

Quiet contemplation

Guard Tobin takes in his surroundings at Cill while he waits for the crew to uncouple 31086 from his train and run round.

SR Chris

SR Chris

The mid-day goods arrives

Following the departure of the 12.10pm to Epple peace descends upon Cill for three quarters of an hour, enough time for the signalman to have his lunch before Grenham signal box sends the next Call Attention. The mid-day goods leaves Epple at 11.35am arriving at Beresford at 11.51am. Here it crosses the morning goods which leaves Beresford for Epple as soon as the mid-day goods has cleared the section. Nine minutes are allowed to drop off wagons before departure at 12.00 noon for Grenham wher

SR Chris

SR Chris

12.10pm departure to Epple

Class O2 No. 30182 shunts the van from the dock siding onto the horseboxes in front of the signalbox.     Once the horseboxes have been uncoupled from the passenger stock 30182 draws them and the van from the platform and clear of the station throat ...     before propelling them along the run round loop and into the dock siding.     30182 has returned along the loop and is now buffering up to the coaches to form the 12.10pm departure to Epple.     Once coupled up 30182 prope

SR Chris

SR Chris

11.53am arrival

Adams' 0P Class O2 0-4-4T No. 30182 arrives with the 11.22am from Epple. This train is permitted to convey up to two horseboxes when required and today has the full complement in tow. The train locomotive is required to shunt these to the loading dock siding at the end of the loop in the 17 minutes before departure back to Epple.     After uncoupling from the stock 30182 eases forward alongside the lever frame to clear the crossover to the loop.     30182 then reverses over the cross

SR Chris

SR Chris

11.10am to London Victoria

After crossing the 10.28am pull-push departure at Grenham, 34001 'Exeter' arrives at Cill with the 10.20am from Epple.     After setting back and uncoupling from its train 34001 crosses to the loop and backs onto the CCT standing in the loading dock on the loop siding.     34001 backs the CCT onto set 199.     Fireman Dunster has refilled his billy can and makes his way back to 34001's cab as it stands ready with the 11.10am departure for London Victoria. On arrival at Epple 34001

SR Chris

SR Chris

10.28am departure

Train out of section has been received for the morning goods signifying its arrival at Grenham where it will shunt to allow this train, the 10.28am pull-push all stations to Epple to pass it. The Guard has seen the platform starter come off and with an enthusiastic blast on his Acme Thunderer he flags the right away for M7 No. 30108 with set 610. After a brief call at Dane Road arrival at Grenham is booked for 10.38am where the 10.20am ex Epple will be crossed.  

SR Chris

SR Chris

8.55pm pull-push service to Epple

M7 30108 propels the 8.55pm pull-push service to Epple out of Cill's platform. Signalman Rivers is waiting to give the train staff to the driver as he passes.   The evening goods departure has been assembled and is standing in No. 1 siding. Guard Tobin has trimmed the lamps and placed them on the irons at the rear of his van. Once the 8.55pm has left, 31086, which is standing at the ground signal at the exit from the loop, will run back into No. 2 siding and extract the vans in the foregrou

SR Chris

SR Chris

Through service from the Eastern Region

N class 31813 arrived at Cill with a through portion of a working from the Eastern Region comprising Gresley and Thomson non-corridor stock. After the Guard has ensured all passengers have left the train the stock is backed clear of the crossover and the locomotive uncoupled.     31813 runs to the end of the platform to use the release crossover to run round its train.     The Guard watches as 31813 buffers up to its stock.     31813 has propelled its train back into the platform

SR Chris

SR Chris

Morning goods wagons arriving

The five wagons arriving on the morning goods were: W118215 an ex-GWR diagram V22 MINK G 20 ton goods van carrying retail goods for local stores (Parkside Dundas kit PC48)     B452876 a diagram 1/002 12 ton LOWFIT carrying sundries (Red Panda kit RK01 body on a Parkside PA09 underframe).     B880637 a diagram 1/242 8 ton BANANA van (Ratio kit)     B723298 a diagram 1/050 12 ton SHOCK shock absorbing open carrying manufactured goods for local distribution (Parkside Dundas kit PC28)

SR Chris

SR Chris

Preparing the 9.02am departure for Epple

Having uncoupled from its train 34001 'Exeter' runs to the end of the platform to use the crossover to run round its train. Bulleid pacifics have to run right up to the stops in order to clear the points, something I occasionally forget! Standing adjacent in the loop siding is the express goods brake van off the morning goods arrival. The Guard has already moved the side lamps to the other end but left the tail lamp in situ until the outgoing wagons have been shunted into place.     Exeter

SR Chris

SR Chris

The 8.16 from Epple

Bulleid West Country 34001 'Exeter' rolls into Cill with the 8.16am from Epple consisting of a CCT and set 199. 34001 will take set 199 for a return trip to Epple whilst the CCT will be shunted by the locomotive off the morning goods, 31579, into the loading bay at the end of the loop. When 34001 returns at 10.51am it will collect the CCT and set off with set 199 for London at 11.10am.     34001 stands at the platform with its train. 31579 shunted the brake van from its train to the loop s

SR Chris

SR Chris

Morning goods arrival

Wainwright C class No. 31579 arrives with the morning goods trip from Epple. Due to the cramped nature of the goods facilities and the level of traffic three goods trips per day are usually required (far more than a town the size of Cill would probably require but I like shunting). 31579 left Epple at 5.40am, spent between 5.56 and 6.22am shunting the yard at Beresford and between 6.38 and 8.18am at Grenham before arriving at Cill at 8.30am. The long spell at Grenham is due to line occupancy o

SR Chris

SR Chris

First through London service of the day

Billinton E4 No. 32556 coasts into Cill with the 7.20am from Epple. This service crosses Up trains at Beresford and Grenham then calls at Dane Road before arriving at Cill at 7.51am.     The Guard watches as 32556's driver is asked to compress the buffers before his fireman goes between to couple up.     32556 stands with set 242 ready to depart with the 8.05am through service to London Victoria. This train arrives at Epple at 8.34am where it will be attached to the rear of the 8.40a

SR Chris

SR Chris

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