TEDDYBEAR D9521 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 19 hours ago, The Stationmaster said: Hughie was a smashing bloke - no doubt long gone - and he and I always got along very well. That paid off because when Les, his Assistant got a job elsewhere (Hereford perhaps?) in 1973 Hughie always had me as first in line to pick up what would have been the Sundays on engineering work etc that would have gone to Les. The only rough one I got out of that was a turn at Penarth Curve North seeing various engineering trains in and out of a possession between there and Radyr Quarry and some clown of a tamper driver decided that red signals didn't apply to him and duly ran through some points. Mind you Hughie always did his own budget submissions (the only DI in South Wales who could manage it) so he was very careful when it came to coverage and I had one Sunday at Maesmawr where I was supervising three different things at the same time, including a crane, while we were Single Line Working. But definitely great days and it was in some ways a bit of a wrench going back to England in 1974. Old Hughie only pasted away last year and I was at the funeral, there was some old railway stories told about him even his son said he liked a good derailment on a weekend. I always got on well with him had a few telling off’s but he never held it against you. Gareth 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted June 1, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 1, 2020 4 hours ago, TEDDYBEAR D9521 said: Old Hughie only pasted away last year and I was at the funeral, there was some old railway stories told about him even his son said he liked a good derailment on a weekend. I always got on well with him had a few telling off’s but he never held it against you. Gareth Sorry to hear that and he must have managed quite a good age - well into his 80s I presume. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEDDYBEAR D9521 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 On 01/06/2020 at 16:34, The Stationmaster said: Sorry to hear that and he must have managed quite a good age - well into his 80s I presume. He died in March 2019 he was 89. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
9C85 Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 On 27/05/2020 at 08:22, 9C85 said: Over the years I saw examples of diesel Classes 03, 08, 11, 14, 20, 25, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42, 45, 46, 47, 52, 56, 60 and 66 at Radyr, albeit not many of those classes ventured north of Radyr, to Ponty and beyond. The 'rarest' thing I saw at Porth in the 70s/80s, apart from anything but a 47 on an excursion, was a March (Ely) based class 31 on an Engineer's inspection saloon working. It stood at the station long enough for me to cross the bridge and get up close on the platform. The driver asked if I wanted a look in the cab - couldn't turn down an offer like that. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 19, 2020 Author Share Posted December 19, 2020 (edited) It is a while since I added anything to this topic, but I have a few more photos further up the valley. The marvellously named Stormstown must have been a busy place in the past, there was still some activity when I visited on a couple of occasions in the 1980s. Coal from Lady Windsor colliery had to reverse here before heading down the valley, while coal for the phurnacite plant at Abercwmboi which came from Merthyr Vale also reversed here. 37239 stands in one of the down loops with coal from Merthyr Vale for Abercwmboi phurnacite plant and is about to head north after running round the train. In the background are the wagons are standing in Carn Parc Dump? 24/5/83 37239 departs from Stormstown with coal from Merthyr Vale for Abercwmboi phurnacite plant loaded in a mix of MDVs and MCVs. 24/5/83 A copy of this photo appears in my book 'South Wales Railways in the 1980s', which was published by Amberley earlier this year cheers Edited December 19, 2020 by Rivercider Additional info 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rivercider Posted December 19, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 19, 2020 Having departed Stormstown with coal for Abercwmboi 37239 is now held just south of Abercynon awaiting a pathway north. 24/5/83. 37229 heads north through Abercynon with a lengthy train of empty HTVs for Abercwmboi phurnacite plant. 14/4/83. In the background the long closed Abercynon steam shed is in industrial use. The steepness of the line to Merthyr can also be appreciated, the long line behind the island platform ends in a lengthy sand drag. cheers 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 19, 2020 Author Share Posted December 19, 2020 (edited) North of Abercynon the only active rail connected colliery in the Merthyr valley by this date in the mid 1980s was Merthyr Vale, this was connected to the BR network at Black Lion. 37231 gets away from Black Lion with coal from Merthyr Vale for Abercwmboi phurnacite plant. At the time this was the only crossing point on the singled line between Abercynon and Merthyr. 14/4/83. A copy of this photo appears in the 'South Wales Railways in the 1980s' book. Black Lion signal box controlled the passing loop and access to Merthyr Vale colliery which passed behind the box where the HTVs can be seen. 14/4/83. There was a steep incline from the main line down to Merthyr Vale colliery which was on the valley floor. The NCB employed a pair of former BR class 08 locos at Merthyr Vale. One of the pair D3014 can be seen on the line that connected the colliery, which is seen in the distance, with Black Lion off to the left of this view. The main line can be seen heading to Merthyr off to the right. 14/4/83. cheers Edited December 19, 2020 by Rivercider 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rivercider Posted December 19, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 19, 2020 The 10.00 Merthyr to Cardiff Central service formed by class 101 Met-Cam set C811 passes Merthyr Vale colliery. 14/4/83. One of the pair of former BR class 08 locos shunting at Merthyr Vale. 14/4/83. The two former BR class 08s owned by the NCB are seen at Merthyr Vale colliery, D3183 is on the left with D3014 on the right. 14/4/83. cheers 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted December 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2020 I am very much enjoying this recent update. Thanks Chris 1 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rivercider Posted December 19, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 19, 2020 (edited) Having posted most of my freight photos in the Cardiff Valleys it is time to head towards Barry and Aberthaw. The only photo I have at Cadoxton shows the access in to Barry Docks in the distance. Class 116 set C313 calls at Cadoxton with a Cardiff bound service. In the distance are two Barry Docks pilots 08187 and another unidentified loco. I think the wagons with them are HUOs of export coke that has came from Nantgarw, if I remember rightly the hopper and conveyor discharge equipment was nearby and visible from the train. 21/7/82. 37224 and 37162 accelerate through Barry with 28 loaded HAAs for Aberthaw power station. The origin of the coal for the power station varied from day to day and week to week. Loading points in the Cardiff/Valleys area included Cardiff Docks, Penallta, Lady Windsor, Cwmbargoed and the Ocean complex of collieries, and the weekly train plan could be up to 90-100 trains a week in the 1980s. cheers cheers Edited December 19, 2020 by Rivercider 24 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernBlue80s Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 Cracking pics. Reminds me of my forays into South Wales in the early 80s. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 20, 2020 Author Share Posted December 20, 2020 Some more freight action at Barry. 6C64 Llandarcy to Aberthaw tanks passes Barry behind 47196. In the distance are a pair of the Canton allocated class 37s outbased at Barry for working the Aberthaw coal services. 21/7/82. About six pairs of class 37s were employed on the coal services to Aberthaw. Here 37302 and 37288 head through Barry with a loaded train for Aberthaw. The former Barry steam shed of to the right was used for wagon maintenance including the South Wales HAA fleet, some wagons can be seen standing in the yard. 17/9/81. Resting between duties a Barry are 37308 and 37287, the former steam shed can be seen on the left. 21/7/82, cheers 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rivercider Posted December 20, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 20, 2020 (edited) Turning the other way at Barry we see a couple of services coming in off the Vale of Glamorgan line. In 1981/82 BR built a new batch of Seacow ballast hoppers (TOPS code YGB) these were similar to the previous sealions but were air braked with vacuum pipe only. 37243 runs through Barry with a train of newly built seacow ballast hoppers, 17/9/81. Also coming off the Vale of Glamorgan line are 37297 and 37305 with an empty MGR set from Aberthaw. The lines curving away to the left go to Barry Island. 21/7/82. cheers Edited December 20, 2020 by Rivercider Grammar 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted December 20, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 20, 2020 Were the Barry 37s any different to the normal locos? I remember reading some 37s had strengthened drawbars/couplings - or was that for steel/iron ore services? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted December 20, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 20, 2020 Really great to see these South Wales pics. I didn't find your thread until it was reinvigorated recently. Please keep them coming. Jonathan 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted December 20, 2020 Share Posted December 20, 2020 18 minutes ago, keefer said: Were the Barry 37s any different to the normal locos? I remember reading some 37s had strengthened drawbars/couplings - or was that for steel/iron ore services? IIRC they were for the triple-headed Port Talbot-Llanwern iron ore trains. 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted December 20, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 20, 2020 (edited) 31 minutes ago, keefer said: Were the Barry 37s any different to the normal locos? I remember reading some 37s had strengthened drawbars/couplings - or was that for steel/iron ore services? There was a batch of high numbered 37/0s with strengthened couplings to work the Llanwern - Port Talbot ion ore trains triple-headed. They were replaced by pairs of Class 56. Edit Pipped - took too long to post! Edited December 20, 2020 by brushman47544 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 88C Posted December 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 20, 2020 I can just see my Grandparent’s house in the last pictures which I am sure is why I have an interest in railways. My memories are set in the days of steam but still nice to see. The bridge that I use as my avatar can be seen behind the trains. Thanks for posting these pictures, much appreciated. Brian 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 20, 2020 Author Share Posted December 20, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, keefer said: Were the Barry 37s any different to the normal locos? I remember reading some 37s had strengthened drawbars/couplings - or was that for steel/iron ore services? I can't find the exact list of the class 37s with modified drawgear for the Llanwern iron ore services, but I think they were 37300-308, with possibly one or two others. As you can see several of that batch were seen on MGR work. Edit - on another RMweb thread Brian R (Brian Rolley) quotes the December 1977 Railway Observer, the locos modified were 37241 37298/9 and 37300-308 Although I do remember seeing the triple headed class 37s on the ore trains it was before I had a proper camera. cheers Edited December 20, 2020 by Rivercider Additional info 2 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 (edited) At Aberthaw there were reception sidings, here the MGR trains for the power station were re-engined, the pairs of class 37s were replaced by slow speed fitted class 47 for the trip around the power station loop. Aberthaw Reception Sidings looking west. There are three class 47s in the distance, 47241 on the right, the others are probably 47231 and 47232. 12/11/85 37254 and 37181 arrive at Aberthaw with 7Z66 09.15 ex Oakdale coal probably for Aberthaw cement works. 12/11/85 As well as the power station at Aberthaw the nearby Aberthaw Cement works also received coal in MGR trains. Here 47232 is seen after unloading an MGR set with the cement works as a backdrop. 12/11/85, cheers Edited December 24, 2020 by Rivercider 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 Here are a couple of copies of photos that I included in my book 'South Wales Railways in the 1980s', which was published earlier this year by Amberley. 47186 runs into the west end of Aberthaw Reception sidings with an empty MGR set, 12/11/85. Moving now to the South Wales main line I made one brief visit to Llantrisant. In the low November sun 37235 departs from Llantrisant heading east with a MGR set which had been loaded at Llanharan opencast site. 12/11/85. cheers 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 Moving west to Bridgend which saw a lot of freight traffic. As well as traffic on the South Wales main line via the Vale of Ely traffic routed via the Vale of Glamorgan also passed through Bridgend before branching off at Bridgend East Junction. 47079 G J Churchward heads east through Bridgend with a loaded tank train. 6/11/81 In order to access the Vale of Glamorgan route it was necessary for up trains from the west to run through Bridgend station on the down line. 37231 and 37291 are seen heading up through Bridgend on the down main, they will then branch off for the Vale of Glamorgan route at Bridgend East Junction with coal for Aberthaw power station . 7/7/81. cheers 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 26, 2020 Author Share Posted December 26, 2020 More coal traffic passing through Bridgend. 37223 passes Bridgend up the up line with a train load of coal in MDVs. 6/11/81. The locations to the west that supplied coal for Aberthaw power station included Onllwyn, Blaenant, and Steel Supply at Jersey Marine. A westbound set of empties passes Bridgend behind 37236 and 37255, 7/7/81. cheers 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Great pictures as ever , Kevin . hope you are having a good Christmas 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 (edited) The final three views at Bridgend show a variety of passing freight traffic, from the dwindling vacuum braked wagon load services to the Freightliner network. 37176 departs from Bridgend with a local working that had originated at nearby Bridgend Coity Yard and was returning to Margam Yard. The remaining vacuum braked wagon load services such as this would finally cease in 1984. 7/7/81 47157 passes Bridgend heading for one of the Milford Haven refineries with discharged tanks. 7/7/81 By the 1980s there were two Freightliner terminals in South Wales, at Danygraig Swansea, and Cardiff Pengam. 56043 brings the Danygraig to Stratford Freightliner service up through Bridgend, this train called at Pengam to detach and attach portions. 7/7/81. cheers Edited December 27, 2020 by Rivercider spelling 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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