steeveetee

56 103 this lunchtime at Ealing Broadway

Fantastic memories Ruth. I remember the cottage by the crossing which was at the end of Hamm Moor Lane. My earliest memories of it was as a small child in the late 70's or very early 80's and it was occupied then. I went inside it in about 1986-87 when it was sadly derelict and the mill was being redeveloped. It backed onto a builders merchants yard called Dangerfield.

Apologies if this is regarded as off-topic. Colas 56 302 has derailed at Ripple Lane on the Tilbury steel. Working in multiple with 56 113

Sorry Ben that it's taken me an age to post this but not getting home much these days. This is the only photo I've got of the yard prior to redevelopment, all the others are from the canal side. This picture was taken in 1982 or '83. I'm pretty sure the track crossed the yard and went between the concrete silo and the metal-clad building. The building closest to the camara was a sampling lab and weighbridge office. Behind it the building with the pitched asbestos roof was a workshop, probably for the truck fleet. Behind these buildings, between them and the railway line was a white bungalow which I'm sure Allied Mills used as offices. There was an article about it in the Surrey Herald because somebody of note once lived there, but I can't remember who it was. The bungalow was where the swimming pool and fitness club now stands. Regards Steve

I've gad a few browses online for pictures and as you say, there's very little pre-redevelopment. It closed as a flour mill in April 1983. If my memory serves me correctly, you could see the ground frame for the sidings from the level crossing at Addlestone station. At least one siding went across the yard, finishing at the waterside between the two mill buildings. Chertsey museum used to have a collection of slides taken on a visit shortly before closure.

I grew up in Chertsey and absolutely love this place. The rail sidings used to be where the terrace of houses are now. A public footpath used to run through the yard, I'm sure a winch or capstan was near the path. I've got a few pictures of the yard before redevelopment but none if any rail traffic. I do remember seeing wagons there on a regular Sunday morning walk with my dad. There was a crossing where the modern footbridge is now, with a little crossing keepers house. You're correct, that silo was huge! I've got some photo's of its demolition.

*** FREE TO A GOOD HOME *** Several files containing pictures cut from books, magazines and prints depicting all 512 class members if class 47 in as many different liveries and specifications as possible. Compiled in the early to mid 1990's. They will need to be collected at your own expense from Essex. Unfortunately I cannot send email from my phone so please contact through this forum if you're interested. Regards Steve