D860 VICTORIOUS

Ventura Highway - America

Back in 1974,when "pub rock" was becoming established,I saw Dr Feelgood at a venue in South Harrow,the name of which escapes me now.It was just after Xmas,so the atmosphere was good to start with. I knew nothing of the band,but the gig was absolutely electrifying,to this day one of the best I've seen. RIP Wilko.

A generalisation here,but maybe the perception of what it takes to be content in life and not always wanting more has changed dramatically. Consumerism seems to be almost overwhelming,but I personally couldn't care less that I don't have the latest TV with all the features,or that my smartphone is rather out of date,and I'm relieved not to be loaned up to the eyeballs just so I can drive around in (what I consider to be) a pointless SUV. The good old days? Going to Old Oak Common and almost certainly seeing a Warship...

Golden Years - David Bowie

Nothing but the truth - Procul Harem

On the waterfront - Simple Minds

It might as well rain until September - Carole King

Quite agree Phil,but would he fit into Mr. Southgate's system? From what I've seen so far,I'm not convinced by Jack Grealish,and Raheem Sterling isn't yet having his best season,but there's no doubt they both have the potential to influence things..

I've been a QPR fan since 1968(now a very lapsed fan),but definitely taking my hat off to Brentford. I didn't expect them to last their first season in the Premiership,they're playing decent football,and who would have put money on them beating Man City at the w/e...?

Drift Away - Dobie Gray

I've just watched a few minutes of the Cenotaph Ceremony,very moving. In front of me now I have an official photo of my Dad's squadron,sat on and around a DH Mosquito. I know he spent time in the Middle East during the war,and I'm guessing that is where the picture was taken. I think I'm going to have a reflective day...

Hand in glove - Smiths

Angel Fingers - Wizzard

Three steps to heaven - Showaddywaddy

Good Times - Chic

Here comes the night - Van Morrison

Rap "Music"-nothing to do with real music in my view Other opinions are available

Hi Apollo, That's a great post. Back in 1985,after saving as much as possible and quitting work,I went on my first bout of travelling. I was in my mid-twenties with no responsibilites and didn't take very much seriously. The first part of our trip started in Thailand,and a fantastic time was being had by all,with a like-minded group out to absorb some culture.and indulge in life's other rich pleasures. Then,our tour took us to Kanchanaburi,to the bridge and the War Graves Cemetery.Seeing the ages of the fallen,and the inscriptions on the graves,was so humbling,I cried and cried. Writing this brings a lump to my throat,I for one feel that all of the sacrifices made over the years should never ever be forgotten. My dad served in the RAF during WW2,I remember him telling me that him and his mates thought it would be a good adventure,a way of escaping their humdrum lives. We shoud,and must,never forget. Neil.

Hi Keith, What a fascinating thread,on a railway which probably very few remember now. I have the Middleton Press book on the line,which has a photo taken near Winnall.I used to work on the Winnall Ind. Estate,and can recall,further down Easton Lane,the bridge over the line as it headed out of Winchester.I'd imagine the cutting has long since been filled in.Pictures of the line in that area are hard to find. It's a pleasant walk from Shawford along the Itchen into Winchester,and after passing beneath the M3 part of the trackbed is used,with a rail overbridge along the way.As I expect you know,Hockley Viaduct was opened up some time ago as part of a cycleway,and I've often paused on the viaduct and imagined crossing it by train and seeing the fine view towards Winchester.Best not to look the other way at the M3... A line from a different era,and how good it would be to take a rail journey along the route... Neil

Hi Brian, that's informative and interesting,thank you. This is all adding to the picture of a thriving freight scenario in Wales back then... Neil

Radyr must have been an absorbing location for train-watching back then,no waiting hours for something to happen...Am guessing from your comment that just about all of the locations listed no longer have rail activity. Didn't realise Canton's allocation was that extensive,theirs and Landore's Brush 4's were common enough on passenger work to Paddington,but we had to make trips to South Wales to see the higher-numbered (D7070-D7100 approx) Hymeks.The EE3's didn't really stir the interest back then like they have done in recent times,but as you say their contribution in Wales was considerable. The oil workings were extensive,excuse my ignorance but am not familiar with Hebrandston or Llandarcy,am assuming they were refineries.The workings from Fawley may have given you a surprise or two had you been able to see them! As another aside,the only WR London area oil trains that I can vaguely remember did pass westbound through Southall,even on a Saturday (hazy memory time...),possibly North Thameside to Micheldever,but I digress... Just to hopefully further this great topic,was there much in the way of chemicals traffic,and at which Cardiff depot was general freight handled? And,I think there was milk traffic from Whitland-Kensington,would that have featured in this era? Terrific info again.

Hi all, Excellent Peak info Brian,intriguing why a service would run from Bargoed Pit all the way to Middlesbrough,maybe a requirement for a particular type of coal...? And the Peak from 6V23 didn't get much chance for a rest,good utilisation there.Regarding your list of further Peak workings from 1970 onward,here's a couple of bits to throw into the mix : the September 1971 Railway Magazine has a short but interesting article entitled "Summer Saturday on the Lickey",with notes from June 1971 and a few pictures.One of these is of a Peak on a freight which the author identifies as the 07.30 STJ-Washwood Heath,headcode 8M63,not quite the same timings as you quote.Also, the aforementioned" Tribute to the Hymeks" lists one example on 8V85,the 09.33 Tees Yard-STJ,noted as working forward from Gloucester,which appears in your list.That freight must have taken all day... The PFA workings were intensive,would have been a spectacular sight/sound climbing out of Wales. OT a bit,but we did a few Saturday "Merrymakers" to Cardiff and Barry I. in the early 70's,and it was impossible to write down everything stabled at STJ,37's aplenty... Thanks also to BerTIe for the further info,all of this is excellent. Neil.

Morning gents, Lots of fascinating info to digest,Brian R your knowledge on this subject is exhaustive! Was a bit surprised to see from your notes that Peaks had a working from STJ to one of the pits.Many pictures have been published showing Hymeks ambling along on remote West Wales branch lines,with a handful of 16t coal wagons or a few milk tanks,way below their capabilities and I always thought very wasteful.A bit OT,but another side to the coin is I can remember Hymeks on the Greenford loop heading quite lengthy freights(possibly to/from Park Royal). As Mike said earlier,please ramble on at whatever time suits,it's fabulous stuff. It's informative to get gen from The Johnster and BerTIe,who were on the front line when all of this was happening,and to now know how much went into preparing a freight is a real insight into proper railway work. phil_sutters' pics of the flyash trains are interesting,have seen very few pics of those workings. Phil B,cheers for re-posting your coke hopper piccies,just what the troops needed! I know this ought to be in the modelling section,but while we're about it,do you remove the line of rivets 🥴🤔 from where the lower hopper slopes inwards,and is there any sort of lip along the wagon top edge? Am I now a rivet counter...NO!! Fabulous stuff guys,thank you.100% agree that Hymeks were magnificent loco's,perhaps always overshadowed by the Westerns.Final drop of nostalgia from me:on 16th August 1972,we were waiting at Ealing Broadway for a dmu to Reading,when D7026 made a stop at the down main platform to pick up,no idea why.My only Hymek haulage in BR days... Neil.

Yet more fascinating detailed info! Firstly Brian W...50-plus sidings in Margam Yard,with work probably going on round the clock,with all of that coal to sort,seems barely credible now. Jersey Marine is one of those names that seem to crop up often when South Wales freight is being discussed,you've confirmed no pit there but it sounds like it was another pivotal yard.Think I've read that Swansea Docks was just about the last location to handle coal carried in non-MGR wagons.Giants Grave was indeed an apt name for a ship-breaking area,and Port Walleroo wouldn't be immediately connected with Wales.. In case of any confusion,the WTT's were posted by BeRTie,leading neatly to: Thanks for the further WTT's,more interesting gen which will need careful study. Hi Mike,fascinating it certainly is.A book on this subject might be considered niche,but I'm surprised at some of the books appearing nowadays on all sorts of obscure topics.As we've seen here,there is a lot of detailed knowledge available,and if there's also relevant pictures to go with text,maybe a book would be a goer. For me,if I was at Ealing and saw a freight heading to Acton Yard,it would be,well,just that,at the time I didn't know about headcodes and traffic patterns,with hindsight wish I had. Again,thanks to you all for your replies, Neil.