D6345's accident...

[18B]

Would anyone happen to know what accident was suffered by D6345 in the last months or so of its life shortly before withdrawal in 1968? 

[Rugd1022]

Most likely a shunting accident at Old Oak, Acton Yard or on the Park Royal trips whilst being driven from the wrong end. It was a very common cause of collision damage on a lot of the hydraulics back then.

[Pannier Tank]

Strange looking damage to the cab side? https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=d6345&tbm=isch&source=hp&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifq9rAlonhAhVRSxUIHXoYCNYQ7Al6BAgFEA8&biw=1120&bih=630#imgrc=bVPQQ_LhpuHoEM:

[The Stationmaster]

5 minutes ago, Pannier Tank said:

Strange looking damage to the cab side? https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=d6345&tbm=isch&source=hp&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifq9rAlonhAhVRSxUIHXoYCNYQ7Al6BAgFEA8&biw=1120&bih=630#imgrc=bVPQQ_LhpuHoEM:

Not a shunting collision by the look of it as there is no low down damage visible.  I suspect something being slewed by a crane would be the most likely cause of that sort of damage.

[HillsideDepot]

It's certainly had bit of a bump.

 

But looking at the other pictures in that Google search, and going off-topic, what about this one?

I don't recall seeing anything other than a shunting loco with a Shunter's truck before.

 

[The Johnster]

Me neither, but of course any loco allocated to a pilot or shunting duty that featured a shunter's truck would be coupled to it for the duration of the duty.  This is Penzance, I believe, from the background to the photo, taken from the retaining wall, the sort of location that might not have a handy spare for an 08 that had broken down.  

 

The changing ends rule was mostly honoured in the breach in those days, and would have been very onerous on a shunting duty, especially a single manned one.  Best way to do it was to have a man in the other cab signalling you with the fire bell test button.