JAMIE'S RANDOM UK RAILWAY PICTURES

[Fat Controller]

6 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Good morning from a sunny Charente. First up, one that got missed from 1994 due to the unsorted films. Taken in France but of a TOPS registered loco that did run in the UK.  A French Class 222XX modified for use through the Channel Tunnel when the 92's weren't approved.  They were coded Class 22 on TOPS and had the nickname of " Yellow Submarines" as they had to have yellow ends to operate in the yard at Dollands Moor.  This photo was taken at Calais Frethun depot.

Somewhere I do have a photo of one taken at Dollands Moor and will post it when it surfaces.  They only ran in 1994 and 1995. 

 

The 'Nez cassés (broken noses) were used from early 1995, I believe, until the 92s were delivered. There were two sub-types, with and without TVM. Obviously, the TVM-fitted version had to lead, which used to lead to double fun-rounds at Dolland's Moor and Frethun. Fortunately, there were only a couple of trains per day at the time. ET also had a pair, which ran at either end of a staff shuttle, consisting of one coach. This was intended to reduce the amount of time that staff spent either crossing on ferries, or staying in hotels.

The Paul Arzens design exists in several versions. Within France, there are 1.5kV versions (BB7200), 25kV (BB15000) and dual voltage (BB22200) versions. Whilst the fleet is being run down, there are examples of all to be seen throughout France. The Dutch examples are 3kV, I believe, whilst one of the Balkan states has some 25kV ones.

The introduction of the 92s was down to signal-immunisation problems, I believe.

Edited August 30, 2020 by Fat Controller

[eastwestdivide]

3 hours ago, Fat Controller said:

...The Dutch examples are 3kV...

Isn’t is Belgium that’s 3000V, while NL is 1500? Which is why cross-border B-NL local services to Maastricht and Roosendaal are Belgian units running on half-voltage instead of Dutch ones exploding in flames (disclaimer: I’m not an electrical engineer). 

[Fat Controller]

5 hours ago, eastwestdivide said:

Isn’t is Belgium that’s 3000V, while NL is 1500? Which is why cross-border B-NL local services to Maastricht and Roosendaal are Belgian units running on half-voltage instead of Dutch ones exploding in flames (disclaimer: I’m not an electrical engineer). 

I think you might be right.  Looking at who's run these locos; I believe Portuguese railways had some.

Most of the turns through the tunnel were SNCF-staffed; there was one UK driver, who used to live near us. I bumped into him, and his son (three or four at the time), and asked the little boy what his dad did. 'He drives trains to France; he drives 'vingt-deux milles deux cents', he said, very proudly.

[jamie92208]

Yes it was definitely Begium at 3000 and the Netherlands at 1500. The Dutch borrowed the protytype class 76 after the war and named it Tommy.  The Portuguese  gad the 25Kv version. I've got a photo of one somewhere and there was a 4 current version that the French and Belgians had thst was a good bit longer. I saw a slide of those recently and if when I get round to posting my European photos they will appear.  Good looking locos. 

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

A cheery good morning to you all, it's a mixture of cloud and sun this morning but still shorts weather. however it's not a bank holiday here in France. We are still just in 1997 and a final bit of variety at Wandsworth Road.  Here a 56 heads down towards the junctions.

We then move on to 1998.  I was at a foot crossing just west of Garforth near where the M1 now crosses the Leeds and Selby line. A Regional railway 158 heading east.

It was a very gloomy afternoon but I was waiting for this stranger in the north.

My only ever sighting of a King working.  One of the Edwards IIRC and going rather well.  It was however a pretty murky day with not much light. Even though I'm a confirmed Midland fan I have always had a soft spot for the Kings and in fact the first kit I ever built was a Wills King. It never ran well. Next I'm down in London again and a Heathrow Express unit at Paddington.

Then it's Rugby and a 60 heading north with National Power hoppers. It must have been after the EWS takeover.

Then a location that I can't remember but I think that it's in Scotland with a pair of 37's on a cement train.

The signalling prefix is A so it could possibly be Aberdeen.

 

Jamie

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[beast66606]

19 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Then a location that I can't remember but I think that it's in Scotland with a pair of 37's on a cement train.

The signalling prefix is A so it could possibly be Aberdeen.

 

Jamie

 

Yep - Aberdeen, photographed there myself.

 

Possibly an Aberdeen - Swanscombe working which was PCA tanks.

Edited August 31, 2020 by beast66606
added train info

[eastwestdivide]

1 hour ago, beast66606 said:

Possibly an Aberdeen - Swanscombe working which was PCA tanks.

If the photo was 1998, Swanscombe had closed by then.

[jamie92208]

On 31/08/2020 at 10:31, eastwestdivide said:

If the photo was 1998, Swanscombe had closed by then.

I think it was coming off the old connection to the harbour. Presumably it could be heading to Oxwellmains.

 

Jamie

Edited September 1, 2020 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Good afternoon from a sunny and quite warm place.  We are back in, IIRC, March 1998 and my final cab ride in a 59/2.  My friend Keith and I were kindly offered a ride to Wardley opencast and back. We set off from Ferrybridge with and empty set and had a good ride up the ECML as far Tyne Yard.  Here, rather embarrassingly  the 59 sat down on the down main opposite the yard office.  A control relay on the engine had failed and we had to declare a failure.  We then watched procedures and kept out of the way as the driver and Traction Inspector got on with things whilst trains passed us on both sides. As senior officers it was fascinating to watch two professionals doing a thoroughly professional job and communicating well. Within half an hour a 60 appeared from Tyne Yard and backed, wrong line towards us. Detonators had been put down and the 60 came closer and eventually coupled up. We then set off through the station and here is a not brilliant photo out of the cab as we passed through.

We then went across the High Level bridge and looped right past Gateshead depot before going through the underpass into Tyne Yard where we stopped. 

The 60 then pulled away and we had to wait for another 59 to arrive from Ferrybridge.

Whilst we waited we got a nice array of locos lined up, all we needed was a 57 and 58 to complete the set.

A 37 then ran in on an engineering train.

And a 60 set off with cement tanks.

All in all a fascinating morning but we didn't manage to cover the trackage on the stub of the Leamside line to Wardley.  However as I mentioned above it was very impressive to see how things were done safely and quickly.  The 60 certainly looked big and powerful as it approached our cab.  It seemed as if you could hear each of those 8 big cylinders firing and rocking our loco.

 

Jamie

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[Fat Controller]

On 31/08/2020 at 06:20, jamie92208 said:

Yes it was definitely Begium at 3000 and the Netherlands at 1500. The Dutch borrowed the protytype class 76 after the war and named it Tommy.  The Portuguese  gad the 25Kv version. I've got a photo of one somewhere and there was a 4 current version that the French and Belgians had thst was a good bit longer. I saw a slide of those recently and if when I get round to posting my European photos they will appear.  Good looking locos. 

 

Jamie

Belgium and France each had their own design of 'quadicourant': I think the French ones were CC40100. I have heard talk that they were built to a smaller loading gauge than normal, as they were to be used through the Channel Tunnel. This was pre-TGV/ Eurostar, of course. I didn't think they looked that small when I saw them.

[Joseph_Pestell]

54 minutes ago, Fat Controller said:

Belgium and France each had their own design of 'quadicourant': I think the French ones were CC40100. I have heard talk that they were built to a smaller loading gauge than normal, as they were to be used through the Channel Tunnel. This was pre-TGV/ Eurostar, of course. I didn't think they looked that small when I saw them.

 

I think that you are right that the loading gauge of the CC40100 was somewhat smaller than most locos. It had never occurred to me that could be for eventual cross-Channel use (the tunnel proposed and abandoned in the early 70s).

The Belgians had an identical class of locos (apart from livery), 1800s iirc.

[jamie92208]

As there has been much discussion about the Nez casse SNCF locos I thought that I would post a few photos of them so that people can see what we were wittering about.  I promise I'll try not to stray across the channel or the big pond again.  Anyway a bit of good news, whilst looking for the slide of the 40000 class I found this of two Class 22's at Dollands Moor, so these are British photos.  As Fat Controller said that came in two versions and one of each was used on the freight trains.

Now we are at the Gare Due Nord and a 401XX heading in light engine to take a Brussels express out.

There was on of the almost identical Belgian ones, their class 1800's in the station as well.  I think it had brought the Brussels train in.

There was another class that was fitted mainly for 1500V DC that worked out of Austerlitz to the South west and Gare de Lyon to the South East. these were CoCo's and looked rather nice.  A sub class had been fitted with third rail equipment for working the difficult line Maurienne Line up to Modane and the Italian Border from Lyon. That line has been converted to Overhead at 1500 so the pick up shoes have been removed. The ancient thing next to it at Parris South West depot one Sunday morning is one of the ex Midi classes of BoBo's from the 1920's and 30's that owed their parentage to the BTH company of Britain. I love that look with all the rivets.

Of the three BoBo class the 72XX's, now being withdrawn, are 1500v only and always had both pantogrpahs raised as they started off. The 2nd one dropped after about 30 seconds. This one is at Gare D'Austerlitz.

Finally the most powerful class of French Diesels the 72000's had the same cab design. Most of these have now been withdrawn. This one is at Les Sables D'Olonne on the Atlantic Coast just south of the Loire.

That is from June 1984, the others are all from 1994 when I had a 2 day trip to Paris.  My father in law was appalled that I didn't take my wife, and that his daughter was happy to let me go to Paris to look at trains. I think I've got some photos of the Portuguese versions somewhere.

 

Jamie

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[brushman47544]

16 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

As there has been much discussion about the Nez casse SNCF locos I thought that I would post a few photos of them so that people can see what we were wittering about.  I promise I'll try not to stray across the channel or the big pond again.  Anyway a bit of good news, whilst looking for the slide of the 40000 class I found this of two Class 22's at Dollands Moor, so these are British photos.  As Fat Controller said that came in two versions and one of each was used on the freight trains.

 

Of the three BoBo class the 72XX's, now being withdrawn, are 1500v only and always had both pantogrpahs raised as they started off. The 2nd one dropped after about 30 seconds. This one is at Gare D'Austerlitz.

You can’t go wrong with photos of nez-casse locos.

 

As regards the class numbers, as you probably know it’s Class 22200, not Class 22. The AC only versions are Class 15000, the DC only are Class 7200. Add the together to get the dual voltage version: 15000+7200=22200. The same concept works for other SNCF locos as well e.g. 9200+16000=25200.

 

Great to see 7283 at Austerlitz in the good old days of sleepers heading for the south (west and east) of France. Those UICs are blue and look like couchettes.

Edited September 2, 2020 by brushman47544

[jamie92208]

32 minutes ago, brushman47544 said:

You can’t go wrong with photos of nez-casse locos.

 

As regards the class numbers, as you probably know it’s Class 22200, not Class 22. The AC only versions are Class 15000, the DC only are Class 7200. Add the together to get the dual voltage version: 15000+7200=22200. The same concept works for other SNCF locos as well e.g. 9200+16000=25200.

 

Great to see 7283 at Austerlitz in the good old days of sleepers heading for the south (west and east) of France. Those UICs are blue and look like couchettes.

The Class 22 comment is that according to Wikipedia they were given TOPS codes of 22xxx for when they worked in the UK at Dollands Moor.  Yes French numbering is interesting. Discarding the initial numeral nowadays that gives the owning sector for SNCF locos for instance. And as to the latest multiple units where the number on the ends bears absolutely no relationship to the inidividual segment numbers is like going back in tine with BR multiple units.  Glad you like the broken noses. Mynplan is to start a similar thread on European  railways when I get up to date with the UK.

 

Jamie

[keefer]

IIRC the locos are B-B and C-C

There's a single motor for each bogie but I'm not sure if it drives the wheels through reduction gearing or gearboxes & shafts.

[jamie92208]

Good evening from the Charente. We have come back from our short excursion to France and are back in Tyne Yard in 1998. After a couple of hours another 59 turned up.

And was quickly attached to the ailing one.

There was time for the obligatory portrait of Keith and I.

We then set off down the ECML and as we were empty were allowed to do 75.  It was quite unnerving as we were turned onto the slow line at Northallerton.  The turnout looked awfully sharp as we approached it.

Anyway we now move forward a couple of months to May and I went up to Long Preston to do a bit of layout research and also called at Settle Junction.  The bobby kindly invited me into the box.

Here you can see the most important feature the stove.

And now the lever frame and the diagram.

As I left a train was approaching and so I stood on what had been the site of the station that closed in, I think 1877 having only been open a few months. It was only demolished in the 1980's. In in 76 Settle had 3 stations. Settle Old, now Giggleswick, Settle New, now Settle and Settle Junction.  Anyway the train appeared in the form of a rake of MGR's behind a 60.

 

More tomorrow.

 

Jamie

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[Fat Controller]

8 hours ago, keefer said:

IIRC the locos are B-B and C-C

There's a single motor for each bogie but I'm not sure if it drives the wheels through reduction gearing or gearboxes & shafts.

From what I can remember of seeing 'Monomoteur' bogies at Quatre-Mares, they had a single, large, motor which drove the axles on its bogie. Almost like a giant pancake motor, in fact.

[jamie92208]

Good evening all.   I think I've scanned the last of my negatives today unless some more turn up when I empty the box with the mixed slides in it.   Anyway my last negs are from 2008 after which I bought my first DSLR another Olympus.  Anyway by sheer chance the last 4 pictures contained this and I couldn't resist posting it.

It is of course a Portuguese Casse Nez waiting at Faro to head back to Lisbon.  Part of the French export drive marketed by IIRC the 50 Hz group. 

 

Next a Virgin livered HST heading north at Hincaster and passing over Hincaster Tunnel. Rather a poignant photo for me as this was the last time I was able to take my Dad out for a run round from his Care Home at Grange. We spent the day exploring the remains of the Lancaster Canal and had a good pub lunch. He navigated and I drive and helped him around. 

Then we are back at Settle Junction and one I missed.  The reason I was there was to photograph the lamp hut next to the box for my Long Preston layout.  The 'bobby' saw my interest and invited me over and let me take measurements.  Chris Bachelor then made the hut for the layout using Wills sheets.  IIRC the roof was 5' radius when I calculated it from the arc dimensions.

My Outlaws had a Timeshare in Bournemouth and we were invited there so this was taken during the 2nd week of June 98.  Beth and I had a good day out on the Swanage railway and rode down from Norden. Here we are at Swanage with what I think is an M7.

How Bulleid managed to produce the Leader as a replacement for these we will never know.

Finally back to the slides and the next one after the cement train at Aberdeen was these 156 and 158's at Inverness.

 

 

That's all for tonight folks.

 

Jamie

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[brushman47544]

Hincaster Tunnel looks flooded from the reflection of the light at the other end. Surely that can't be the norm?

[jamie92208]

32 minutes ago, brushman47544 said:

Hincaster Tunnel looks flooded from the reflection of the light at the other end. Surely that can't be the norm?

From what I remember it is flooded. I think thst's because the channel has been severed and sealed at both ends with water between two dams. It may possibly be done that way to keep the masonry intact but that is just a guess. The water entry to the rest of the canal isn't far away. The upper reaches were severed in about 6 places by the M6 and slip roads but are still in water to feed the rest of the canal below Tewitfield locks. It's a good walk exploring it. I think there is a trip boat on one section.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good evening from a rather warm Charente. Some more from 1998. Unfortunately I've not yet got them in date order so the dates are a bit random.  I'll try harder next year as I used to promise my teachers.

First up from May and we were having a holiday on the Llangollen canal with our 3 kids and they each had a mate with them. 6 teenagers.  It actually went rather well.

Anyway we were alongside the railway for a while. What should come past but two Standards, a 9F and a mogul.

Always a good sight.  As you might guess I have a soft spot for 9F's.

Then back to Ferrybridge depot, probably in June and the New order has taken over and 59201 has just arrived from the paintshop.

Some of the staff weren't impressed but National Power decided that being a railway company was not part of their core business.  They had halved the cost of transporting their coal so they sold out to Ed Burkhardt.  Several of the staff ended up working for Freightliner Heavy Haul.

Then a bit of modelling.   My first ever exhibition layout got put together for the first time over New year 98/99. Here it is in my church hall.

For those who know them there is a young Steve Hurley in the background and Ray Clasper in the foreground.

 

Quite  a bit of scenic work had been done and some buildings were done.

The station area from the underbridge to the overbridge is now on permanent display in Long Preston Village Hall.

 

Jamie

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Good evening all. It's early 99 and I'm down at Leeds station watching the rebuilding that took place over the Millennium. Here the 308's are still around and the centre platforms are being rebuilt. 

Looking the other way another 308 is coming in from the Aire Valley Lines

And the Orange army was hard at work.   Some of the new roof has been erected.

Some of the new roof is visible here along with both classes of electrics, the old exploding 308's and the new 333's.

Then a trip to Wales and an HST is the Great Western Livery

Then back up to Long Preston and photos of details, here a relay cabinet.

And here the handrail stanchions on the underbridge.  With the advice and assistance of a cousin  who's a jeweller I made a master and had them cast.  I asked for brass but they arrived rather bent and looking like white metal.   A quick phone call to the casters and I was told, no problem about bending Mr Guest, we'd no brass in stock so did them in sterling silver.  I did toy with the idea of having them hallmarked.  In the end the bridge became known as Faberge bridge.

That's it for now folks.

 

Jamie

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[jamie92208]

Good morning from a warm Charente. More pictures from the 98/99.  First another one from the rebuilding of Leeds.  This former Midland railway van body was at the entrance to the Whitehall Road Goods yard.  IIRC it's a D376.   It got swept away in the reconstruction but fortunately there are apparently other examples preserved.

Next we move to Carnforth and a 56 heading north with what I think were the wagons for the short lived experiment for moving trailers for the Post office.

Then a 31 heading in with a short engineers train.

 

Now another trip to London and a 465 heading out of what I think is London bridge.

A sight that won't be repeated.   St Pancras before the reconstruction for Eurostar with 170's on Midland Mainline service.  

When I do a trip to London I often finish my trip at St Pancras.  The soaring architecture seems to restore my soul as the psalmist wold say.  Nowadays you even get live music. One rip I impressed my daughter by telling her I was standing there listening to McFly who were playing for some event connected with the Olympics.

 

And finally to a very strange sight, 1 66 at a platform end in Euston.  This was during the rebuilding.

Funnily I saw another 66 last night at Poitiers, 66 229 hauling a cereal train for Millet Rail.

 

Jamie

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by jamie92208

[eastwestdivide]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

Funnily I saw another 66 last night at Poitiers, 66 229 hauling a cereal train for Millet Rail.

 

I've seen those too - does France have a large budgie population?

[Davexoc]

14 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

Next we move to Carnforth and a 56 heading north with what I think were the wagons for the short lived experiment for moving trailers for the Post office.

 

 

In 2007 that set was laid up at Doncaster - Eurospine TOPS code - KDA. A couple of sections of the articulated set.

 

 

 

Regards,

Dave