Vanfit

Yes, Tubes were popular with the S&T but only the drop sided version, loading/unloading SCT (Surface Concrete Troughing) from a centre door Tube was not appreciated and would inevitability result in more breakage as troughs and lids were thrown over the side of the wagon. Pipe wagons (drop sided) were used but not as popular as their capacity per wagon was less. A RTR drop sided Tube would be very welcome, there were plenty in the SATLINK fleet even when vacuum braked wagons were becoming less common. A block train from Taunton Concrete Works would be good to model. Never say never but I know Taunton were not amused if any centre door Tubes arrived for loading.

Having an IRSE Licence does not in itself mean the holder is at all times and in all situations competent. To quote from the IRSE web site:- ‘The IRSE Licensing Scheme provides assurance about the competence of individuals to carry out technical safety-critical or safety-related work on signalling and railway telecommunications equipment and systems. It provides an accepted cross-industry benchmark of competence for personnel carrying out a range of activities from maintenance through design, installation, testing, project engineering and senior technical management. All licence holders must abide by the Obligations of Licence Holders, which set out the professional standards expected.’ The licence scheme was developed after the Clapham tragedy as a means of (for instance) increasing professionalism, setting consistent standards of working and giving assurance that the person has reached a certain level of competence set against defined standards. A licence on its own has benefit in assessing an individual’s suitability to carry out certain tasks, however the licence must be complemented with that persons Authority to Work (ATW - an agreement between the employee and employer as to exactly what tasks may be undertaken and at what level of complexity). For instance, holding an IRSE Principle Designers licence will not necessarily mean the holder is competent on all types of interlocking from Mechanical through RRI to SSI, that information is contained within the ATW. The licence is held and owned by the individual and not the company, the ATW is the associated company document. But perhaps the most important safeguard that ensures these authorities are suitable and sufficient for each individual is that those who manage IRSE licence holders should undertake regular checks in person. For a licence holder whose duties are mainly outside/practical this could mean management ‘by walking about’ seeing the work actually being carried out. If in an office environment then perhaps the G J Churchward technique of sitting with a designer and talking over the work. These can be carried out by managers in a supportive and professional manner, it is basically the cement that holds all the pieces of competence documentation together

Taken from the platform at Bristol Temple Meads some time in the first half of 1973.

Perhaps they were trying to steal the nameplate bit by bit?? D1011 Western Thunderer, a proper loco name!

Need to touch up the paintwork when renumbering, any old blue will do.

BR green, whatever the shade of green, something to go with the brake coaches, please!!! The research has presumably been done, there are common components, SR (BR) modelling is not exactly a niche activity - what are you waiting for - Accurascale please please note!!

A colonel Stephens layout beckons...... Great choice, they look superb!

Mike, I remember those guys, not sure if Ken Fuller was related to Jim, I do recall Ken drove a Triumph Stag, us young guys looked on enviously! Tony Barry, 'The Emperor' and ran his shifts accordingly. I think Robbie Bowden may have been the signalman on duty at Hungerford when an up stone train derailed and demolished the box. The story put about was that one moment he was looking at the train for tail lamp, the next moment he was sitting on top of a wagon. As for Shiplake, trust a signalman to find a way to make life easier, when the governor is not about! Happy days

Basingstoke Linemen Frank Brooks -Lineman, Dennis Upton (my father) - Assistant Lineman, outside the Lineman’s mess room and workshop at Basingstoke station before the PSB was opened in 1966 and the linemen, then renamed Technicians moved to the PSB. Their district comprised the ex GWR SBs on the Reading branch, Basingstoke C, Bramley, with level crossing, Mortimer and Burghfield, this included about 15 miles of pole route. For faults across the regional boundary, they would sometimes go to Southcote SB and meet up with the lineman there Jim Fuller. There were other Linemen based at Basingstoke who looked after the Main Line SBs. Early and late turns worked week and week about with the late turn covering any on call commitments for faults at night, generally for the whole Basingstoke maintenance area. No BR road transport in those days, during the week, walk, travel by passenger train, sometimes dropped off by a goods train, or cycle along the cess, yes you could do that pre CWR and the abolition of gang lengths. Any faults at night were generally notified to Stowells the main Basingstoke taxi firm, they would send a car to pic up Dad and his mate from their houses and then proceed to the fault. The regular taxi driver always worked nights and knew many of the access points without prompting. He would wait while the fault was fixed then drive them home. Before the PSB was opened the lineman who could not drive had lessons and tests paid for by BR so that they could then drive the van provided for the resignalling. There was also consequent regrading and reorganisation of maintenance/faulting areas. Interesting how one picture can bring back memories.

Thanks Guys, I have ordered the blue and green, they look superb.

I have previously posted this on the Basingstoke Shed topic, but thought a wider airing might be appreciated. A typically assorted selection of van types. Were they called Van Trains, not Parcel Trains on the SR, I remember train crew, platform staff and signalmen referring to them as such, for instance the Bournemouth vans or the Waterloo vans etc. 76067 looking smart on a Salisbury to Basingstoke vans at Worting Junction, very close to the end of steam on the SR.

Here are my last offerings, the quality is poor but 11 year Vanfit and a cheap camera was never going to produce excellence! But they are now a historical record so hopefully of some interest. I have converted the black and white from colour as over time the colour quality of the slides (now scanned) was far from acceptable. All from slides dated Aug 1966. 73051 Standard 5MT at the back of the shed 44372 5MT on shed 70004 William Shakespeare on shed A suggestion if I may. If you have a copy of Southern Steam Surrender by John H Bird, please look at page 69, splendid picture of one of the sheds most notable characters Firelighter Ben Nash. Pretty sure Ben had been in the footplate line of promotion and for some reason stepped down to become part of the shed staff. Possibly off to the Rising Sun at the bottom of the shed path in Chapel Hill….. Perhaps you could find a suitable figure for your layout from one of the scanning companies, he would make a fine feature. Good luck with your fabulous rendition of a place that has many fond memories for me. Mike

76067 on shed and off topic at Worting Junction but showing how relatively clean this loco was even a few months from the end, 76067 on a Salisbury to Basing parcels and return towards Winchester.

D58 'The King's Own Royal Border Regiment' on shed at Basingstoke, the slide was processed August 1966 so the actual date perhaps a couple of months earlier. From memory it had failed working either a pigeon special or a troop train and replaced at Basingstoke. It created huge interest at the time, as a 'Peak was very rare. The headcode at this end of the loco facing west looks like 1(possibly X???)26, should a special be Z? Be good to have Stationmaster Mike's opinion. Both those types of special train allow realistic variety on a layout, troop trains being fairly common through Basingstoke, destinations Southampton or somewhere around Salisbury Plain, often with a rare or unusual loco, I use that excuse on my layout, if of course we need excuses! Happy days Mike

Hi Richard, No problem with any delay in responding, I am often not able to spend as much time on here as I might like lol. Totally agree with your comment re railway craft apprenticeships, proper training with wide ranging experience, and taught to think for yourself, the best start to a career in engineering. Two pictures of the shed taken I think in 1967 (sorry about the quality I was only 12 at the time with a cheap camera!) not too far from the end of steam. Although not obvious from the photo 34100 Appledore was in very clean condition probably due to it being a Salisbury loco, there were noticeably the cleanest. In a more usual end of stem condition I cant make out the number of the 4MT Standard tank, it might be 80065, although as that was withdrawn in 1966. I should have waited until the engine was past the chimney of the sand dryer! Up to the end of steam there was a BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T about as it worked the goods from Basingstoke to Luggershall and Andover Town, I think it came up from Eastleigh each day. The 12T van alongside the loading dock was probably delivering stores, surprising how many loco sheds on layouts never seem to have any stores being delivered, I guess the average steam shed got through quite some oil, cloths, lamps and other consumables, in addition to spares and bits called from the main works for repairs in the depots. I have a few more pics and will sort them out when i get the chance, I am enjoying our reminisce about those far off but certainly not forgotten times. How far have you got with building the layout? Cheers Mike