RMweb Gold highpeakman Posted July 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2020 I have an old BR Brochure about modernisation of the railways issued in 1959 but I have always been curious as to where the photograph on the front cover was taken. Can anyone identify the station shown please? I suspect that it will be an easy question for many people who are familiar with something that I am not, but what I suspect is, the West Coast route possibly not too far from London? Thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve66 Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 good afternoon i think it maybe stafford. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted July 10, 2020 Moderators Share Posted July 10, 2020 Definitely not Stafford, looks more like Harrow and Wealdstone. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePipersSon Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Sorry, not Harrow and Wealdstone, nor Wembley Central or Watford Junction. After that I get lost going so far north! 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve66 Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 I cant see any DC lines unless there out of shot, but stand to be corrected by the more knowledgeable 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 I was also considering Rugby. But that had an overall roof as well as the hipped ones. Jason 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted July 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2020 Bletchley??? 3 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted July 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2020 4 minutes ago, Joseph_Pestell said: Bletchley??? <talkaboutbletchley.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/gsm-p-001-aerial-bletchley-station-1938.jpg> Photo is taken from the signal box Andi 7 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted July 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2020 Looking at that superb aerial photograph, was the modernisation an improvement? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Pannier Tank Posted July 10, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 10, 2020 11 minutes ago, Joseph_Pestell said: Bletchley??? Down Fast (North Bound) Platform 3, Bletchely. Looks like photo was taken from Bletchley No. 2 Sgnal Box. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted July 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2020 20 years, more or less, between the OP's photo and Andi's aerial photo, but it looks substantially the same. I think change was imminent, though, as the flyover to serve the important new marshalling yard was due quite soon. 40 years after the OP's photo I was required to do an office scheme there, creating a suite of offices including a Control. By that time almost nothing of the 1958 photo existed, and I would never have recognised it. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted July 10, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Dagworth said: <talkaboutbletchley.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/gsm-p-001-aerial-bletchley-station-1938.jpg> Photo is taken from the signal box Andi Must have been a very tall signal box! Mike. 1 1 1 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Interesting. An LMS diesel, hauling what looks, to my untutored eye, possibly LMS stock. Not exactly cutting edge stuff with which to illustrate a publication on modernisation . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Eaton Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 16 hours ago, Dagworth said: <talkaboutbletchley.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/gsm-p-001-aerial-bletchley-station-1938.jpg> Photo is taken from the signal box Andi Very high signal box tower ! But a very nice photo - thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 16 minutes ago, PatB said: Interesting. An LMS diesel, hauling what looks, to my untutored eye, possibly LMS stock. Not exactly cutting edge stuff with which to illustrate a publication on modernisation . Maybe trying to make a case that more modernization is needed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley739 Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Reporting number W55 was a Euston-Wolverhampton service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green too Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 1 hour ago, PatB said: Interesting. An LMS diesel, hauling what looks, to my untutored eye, possibly LMS stock. Not exactly cutting edge stuff with which to illustrate a publication on modernisation . Looks like it's only the leading Stanier coach which isn't a Mk1 - but by 1959 they might have been able to find a more 'modern' loco* if they'd waited a bit. * not sure where the earliest EE type 4s were operating - maybe better known as class 40s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Wickham Green too said: Looks like it's only the leading Stanier coach which isn't a Mk1 - but by 1959 they might have been able to find a more 'modern' loco* if they'd waited a bit. * not sure where the earliest EE type 4s were operating - maybe better known as class 40s The first 10 were on the ER, mainly Liverpool St to Norwich; and also some ECML services to S. Yorkshire. Edited July 11, 2020 by jonny777 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
runs as required Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 In the late 50s early 60s the trick was always to wait at the end of the platform in the direction of travel. As well as a seat, you could find a "strengthener" - an absolute delight, out of Region, with some very nostalgic carriage pictures and interior upholstery (arm rests or none?) and carriage detailing. Plus you could hear and feel the loco at work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 Its quite astonishing how isolated from the town this large station was in 1959. Looks like it was designed around off he shelf Triang railway components, straight platforms etc. Only things which gives away it is not a model is being a black and white photo, the sidings are stuffed full of wagons and only one train is in sight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 The aerial photo is 1938. Presumably after the 1930s modernisation. Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickham Green too Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 2 hours ago, jonny777 said: The first 10 were on the ER, mainly Liverpool St to Norwich; and also some ECML services to S. Yorkshire. So the only more 'modern' main line diesels that could have turned up at Bletchley at the time would have been the Bulleid trio !!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted July 11, 2020 Share Posted July 11, 2020 No. That would depend on the date of the photo. D210 onwards were delivered to Willesden/Crewe/Carlisle at the rate of about one per week from May 1959. Also D1 to D10 spent some time at Camden in their early years, and worked the WCML passenger services. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold highpeakman Posted July 11, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 11, 2020 22 hours ago, Dagworth said: <talkaboutbletchley.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/gsm-p-001-aerial-bletchley-station-1938.jpg> Photo is taken from the signal box Andi That's it! Thank you. And to every else who contributed comments and confirmation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 11, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 11, 2020 (edited) 23 hours ago, steve66 said: good afternoon i think it maybe stafford. Stafford around the same time: 14 April 1960 with the first "Peak". Edited July 11, 2020 by melmerby 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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