D826

Lots of good pictures of my Dad (NB Ray Wood, not Wood(s)) -in the book 'Red Panniers' too. A cracking book.

Shows a lack of editorial oversight and comprehension too. The fact the heading says 'Signs' would, you'd have hoped, led to some quizzical looks somewhere. Lord Reith will be rotating at velocity in his eternal slumber.

Maybe summer 77 ? After abolition of headcodes in 76, (and that year a lot of 50s were displaying their running number in truncated form in their headcode boxes ie 5044 )- here domino headcodes replacing the redundant roller blinds and before naming in 78. Fingers crossed there'll be a Western along in a minute if its summer 77. Possibly a 25 on the Paignton local too. Sure to be a 46 or 47 on a NE to SW too. Happy days. Very happy days. Matt W

For me, notwithstanding my love for all things on the GWR/Western Region and all points west (as the book title said - Don't Knock the Southern) it would be Great Central related. I'd love to have caught the Master Cutler between Marylebone and Sheffield in 47 to 58 - and enjoyed the fast running and excellent engineering of that late lamented masterpiece. The engineering near Canons Ashby and through South Northants and traces that remained just looked so impressive. If its possible for a dead railway to look fast the GC did. (Though obviously not on the Met GC joint lines). (Id be tempted to follow up with a visit to Barnstaple in about 1960 then down to Dawlish for 1970).

Likewise- who'd have thought I'm getting nostalgic about Met A stock. Bouncing on the fasts from Amersham to Baker St. The prospect of running one alongside Red Panniers, the delicious Radley 30t GP wagons and doing something loosely based on the tip workings is immense. That Rapido Met E class looks lovely too. Dad liked L44 but preferred the Met F Class. He said L52 was a bloody good engine - but rhapsodised about the Panniers. Said they'd pull anything. Admiring the work and skills of many on here. Rather like Mantles Wood. All the best Matt Wood

I spoke with my 89 year old Mum Roy. I think it must be a different Blossom as the bloke my Dad worked with would be in his 90s. (If Dad was alive he'd have been 99 this year). Other names Dad worked with were Harry Varley, David Slattery (Peaches), Tom Power, who like Dad, moved to and lived in Aylesbury. He took me as a 4 or 5 year old, about 1971, to Neasden depot to see the Rolls Royce Sentinels. I still remember my nervousness stepping over rails at the depot and his warning to 'not step on those ones boy - they're juice rails' and to this day regret not pressing the starter button in the cab of one of the Sentinels. Dad loved the railway and driving/firing. Told me that good pway guards were very skilled. Gave me a very strong impression of the camaraderie and teamwork of the railway back in the day. Love all these LT posts. Best regards Matt W

Names I remember Dad quoting for Neasden locomen are (remember- different times) ; The Captain Blossom Hazel The Witch Doctor Wizard Persil - aka ' neck' ! In all seriousness he loved the railway and his overseas workmates and went to a shunters funeral in Brixton - early 70s - only white person there - that was Dad - loyal.

He was at Neasden Roy - joined LT on demob from Army in 1947/48. Steam shed foreman at Neasden Steam shed by late 60s according to Red Panniers. Diagnosed as diabetic in 1975/76 - very ill for a couple of years - LT were very good to him. Kept him on and he was a ticket collector at Ricky from his return to work in about 1978, till retirement in 1990. He loathed being a ticket collector- but was a dyed in the wool railwayman. Full of great tales about life and work on the railway. He was a good man - good old Dad. Had access to very colourful vernacular language too. Happy New Year to you sir - I've seen your posts and timeliness of railway work, often wondered if you knew Dad. I believe he was nicknamed 'Dinker'. Other nicknames of Neasden Steam shed staff quite amusing.

Here's said photo - Dad loved driving steam locos, but absolutely rhapsodised about the Panniers. Said they'd pull anything. Very distinctive posture when driving, my old Dad. Some brilliant photos and reminiscences about him in "Red Panniers" where he's incorrectly referred to as Ray Wood(s). Just a Wood singular us Woods.😉

Re Air tanks - in case of interest. I have an H Casserley photo of my Dad driving L52 - it appears to have what looks suspiciously like two air tanks on both left and right hand side on both water tanks. (I.e. there are air tanks on both sides of boiler). Best regards Matt W

Anything by John Betjeman on railways quality. The "lets Imagine a branch line railway" linked above and the piece de resistance that is "Metroland". The former used to be on iplayer. The latter, I'm not sure but I bought it on DVD years ago. JB - a lovely laugh, a great raconteur and a passionate advocate of railways. This is great too, some lovely shots of Whernside, but trespass to give operator's the collywabbles !

My old man - born 1925, worked on LT from the late 40s, and Mum was born within earshot of Bow Bells in 1934. Marylebone was always 'Marry - le - bone' to them. Other areas of London which shall remain nameless - many of which are now altered beyond recognition, often for the better would be unrecognizable to Dad who retired in 1990, died in 95 whose London vernacular language frequently referred to places as a "s***hole' - as in 'what's x or y like Dad?" - "a s***hole boy". 😉 Best regards Matt W

With a government whose only consistency is incoherence.

Lots of the trains to Watford Tip, near the triangle of lines on the Met South of Rickmansworth, were loco Ash. Generally conveyed in the 30 ton General Purpose bogie open wagons. Hauled by LT Panniers, and I assume before that by Met F class. The trains also took general refuse, pway waste, hard-core from demolition of LT Neasden power station to the tip. My Dad was foreman at Neasden LT steam shed. Good photo of a wagon, load on fire, being taken to be doused at the water column at the end of Watford Met platform in the wonderful book, Red Panniers - Lightmoor Press. Loads of pictures of Dad in that book. He got loco ash/ a smut in his eye once which led to him visiting Moorfields eye hospital. Was most insulted when they asked if he'd visited any 'ladies of the night' as it might be syphilis. He was furious ! Best regards Matt Wood

24 hours and one of the alternative proposals is 'nuanced'. https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2023-10-05/government-u-turn-on-rail-line-pledge-less-than-24-hours-after-announcement Back of a fag packet short termism for a darker future folks. No strategic plan at work here, just sound bites and smoke and mirrors. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so profoundly sad.

 8 hours ago, Ron Ron Ron said: Maybe they're anticipating that in the future, we'll be confined to within 15 minutes from our allotted spot Apologies - never been much good with the quote tool. I'm seriously dischuffed by the HS2 decision. Not safeguarding the route and protecting the hybrid bill to enable future resurrection is nothing but 'project scorched earth'. And Ah, 15 minute cities - the other 'sinister' initiative which long term decisions for a brighter future regard as a threat. Our transport minister misrepresnting a principle - Who'd want amenities within walkable or cyclable distance eh ? What was that raving madman Ebenezer Howard thinking with his wretched Garden Cities of Tomorrow? I suppose that the house prices in Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City prove they're not nice places to live.... Hang on a minute. Christ Almighty- long term decisions ? I'm not being political, but at the 'conference' /sh*t show that's just been on in Manchester, that wasn't politics. They were making stuff up. Peddling mistruths and lies. Creating tensions and divisions to distract from their abject failure to do good by this country, its economy, its people - and yes, doing things in the long term strategic interest of the nation. Just remember all that and think when you come to cast your vote come election time. Me, I'm off to look at something restful like prototype images etc. The image below, (unsure of accuracy and provenance, but give or take a line, one thing is blindingly clear) showing existing and proposed high speed rail across Europe makes me mildly unhappy. The total failure of the Con conference to make a link between HS2, climate change and reducing need for domestic air travel also reveals how 'long term' and 'future looking' they are. With HS2 to Brum with cost inflated by unnecessary environmental mitigations to placate residents and MPs in the Chilterns and Home Counties we've ended up with the worst of all worlds. A high speed railway that's not achieving the bit that would do most for the North, and for alternatives to domestic air travel . Bloody Hell.   

Superb images all - and Rugd1022 - pleased to see 'Prince' ahead of the 50 at St Austell. Loved D1041 - seemed bomb proof that loco, kept grinding on. Just love that image. Also the 50s passing at Totnes with Milks in the trailing siding off the up platform loop. Brilliant and nostaligic sights and sounds in my minds ear. Me, I'd have to get 50 044 - always a favourite. Forget 'Strictly' - "keep posting" Love this thread. Thank you all. Best Regards MattW

I did like a 25. Lovely little locos with that distinctive Sulzer chug. Loved them on the Western - fond memories of 4 and 5 coach Paignton locals coming out the loop at Dawlish Warren, and tripping freights to Exeter Riverside - Newton Abbot. Very disappointed when they disappeared from the west in 1980. There used to be some cracking images circa 70s/ and 80s along the seawall, at the Warren/Langstone Rock/Marine Parade/ Kennaway tunnel taken by Owen the Rail on old RMweb but I don't seem to be able to find them now. The pictures are a relief from the humdrum day to day and reminder of more varied times on the railway. Happy memories. Thanks for posting all. Best regards MattW

That first paragraph is very misinformed. Context at the time, and decisions taken for all sorts of political, pragmatic, desire to meet need and cost reasons will have all impacted. The structures were considered fit for purpose - and passed Building Regs at the time. The real issue is not having a sufficiently broad rolling programme of mitigation/replacement. However, this is a Rail forum I look at for relaxation. It's a less than happy situation and votes, and what we choose to invest in, at what price and spec has consequences. Something for us to all remember when we cast votes.

I'm pretty sure I've seen photos of the 50s single window autotrailers on the Tintern to Monmouth line. I have a recollection (possibly wrong) of a 64xx pannier with one at Brockweir in one of the superb Lightmoor Press books on the area. Matt W

Rugd1022 two of those images above have made me very happy and nostalgic. I was almost a resident of the footbridge outside Kennaway tunnel in the 70s/early 80s. I loved that LQ signal with its sighting board. There was something magical about seeing the signal wires tremble and 'zing' almost imperceptibly and then the signal bouncing to off. Also love the 50 on the up milk. I was dismayed when, in 1980, and after the eradication of my beloved Westerns, the Milk disappeared. Always sounded fast and heavy the up milk - loco working hard. I also bemoaned the loss of Lairas last 25s, or Sulzers as my Dad called them. Characterful little locos. I love the pictures posted by yourself and others of the 70s/80s, but particularly the 70s. I'll raise a glass of beer to you tonight ! Cheers Matt Wood

I just love the picture of 50009 on the seawall just past Rockstone Bridge. Proper livery, proper train. Takes me right back. I expect a Western will be along in a few minutes. Those were the days. Lots of variety in locos and trains. 50s, Westerns, 47s, 46s, 45s, 31s, 25s, 33s, 08s, all to be seen on the seawall. Always remember an 08 scuttling along from the Warren, presumably NA bound. Cracking images. Thanks for posting all.

History that is. Is that the end of 4 wheeled rigid wheelbase wagons in revenue earning use in the west then ? The end of an era stretching back to the dawn of the railways. Those CDAs have given bloody good value for money over their lives. I still think of them as new mind, replacing UCVs etc. Mind you, I still think of 66s as new. Oh for a time machine to go back to the Langstone Rock (I know - wrong county) for a couple of hours - circa 71 or 76..... Cracking photos all. Thanks for posting. Best regards Matt W

Simple ticketing, - ironically- at the same time as the prospect of abandoning Travelcards for trips to London raises its head. The perversity of making integrated rail travel less accessible/easy for all sections of society, when we should be maximising sustainable transport modes is just crazy. Climate change deniers aside (The Telegraph seems to be zeroing in on climate change in the next depressing round of distraction politics) - any integrated transport plan would see simple ticketing, and more freight on rail. As for me - I just want a comfortable seat which lines up with a window.

We got our house number from Procast - https://www.procast.co.uk/ They also supplied two GWR cast iron seat ends with the 1934 shirt button monogram. The bench they're part of has outlasted all other garden furniture They do a brilliant line of cast railway products. Catalogue at the link above.