Presflos used on Aberthaw cement trains

[Richard_A]

I'm currently working on a rake of these for an eventual South Wales based layout, the only pictures I can find of these trains are in black and white. I'm assuming that the presflos are in bauxite livery and I cannot see any branding on the sides of them. 

 

The period I'm interested in is the 70's to the mid 80's, so would anyone be able to confirm my supposition at all? 

[Fat Controller]

1 hour ago, rka said:

I'm currently working on a rake of these for an eventual South Wales based layout, the only pictures I can find of these trains are in black and white. I'm assuming that the presflos are in bauxite livery and I cannot see any branding on the sides of them. 

 

The period I'm interested in is the 70's to the mid 80's, so would anyone be able to confirm my supposition at all? 

The ones I saw at Lawrence Hill in the mid-1970s  were cement-over-bauxite livery, some with 'Trader's Labels'. I looked at Hollar's labels, but couldn't see a sheet for 'Aberthaw'. There were always a few Vanfits for bagged cement, similarly labelled and liveried.

 

[Richard_A]

Thank you, what do you mean by traders label? 

[Fat Controller]

22 minutes ago, rka said:

Thank you, what do you mean by traders label? 

They were paper labels, about A3-sized, with the customer's name and logo on them, pasted on the side of a wagon. They were supposed to be removed after unloading, but would happen is that they'd either be left, or partially removed. This link should give you some idea:-

https://www.wizardmodels.ltd/3_manufacturer/hollar-models/

[Richard_A]

Hmm interesting, would the wagons which headed west towards Carmarthen be in block trains or most likely be mixed. 

 

I have the books freight trains of Wales and the western region in Wales but they don't have much in the way regarding freight west of Swansea. 

[Fat Controller]

2 hours ago, rka said:

Hmm interesting, would the wagons which headed west towards Carmarthen be in block trains or most likely be mixed. 

 

I have the books freight trains of Wales and the western region in Wales but they don't have much in the way regarding freight west of Swansea. 

I left the area in 1973; from observations before then, I'd say the Presflos would normally have been part of a mixed freight. There was still domestic coal, and other traffic to Carmarthen at that time.

[The Johnster]

This was one of my regular link jobs as a freight guard at Canton in the 70s.  Hymek until they were withdrawn followed by class 37, pick up empty traffic from Long Dyke for Rhoose and Aberthaw works (both owned by Aberthaw Cement Co.), both vanfits and presflos for both Rhoose and Aberthaw.  Rhoose was dealt with first, then the train taken to Aberthaw Station.  Rhoose loaded traffic was left on the down loop platform road, and the loco ran around to pick up the Aberthaw empty portion to draw back and propel it on the down main to Aberthaw West GF where I got to play at being a signalman in a proper signal box building.  Traffic exchanged for loaded, we proceeded on the up main back to Aberthaw Station (Blue Anchor), past the power station junction to set back on to the loaded Rhoose traffic in the down platform, attach tail lamp, perform brake test, walk back to loco, give driver the load, right away Long Dyke, uncouple, light engine Canton,, proper old school railway work with a bit of shunting and handsignalling, well earned beer.

 

So, between Aberthaw and Long Dyke, the train consisted of vanfits, presflos, more vanfits, and more presflos.  These were shunted out at Long Dyke into Bristol and Carmarthen portions and worked to those destinations by Bath Road and Carmarthen locos and traincrews overnight.  I seem to remember seeing presflos in a class 7 train for Carmarthen, which accords with what Fat Controller says, and the Lawrence Hill traffic was worked as a block class 6 train,   All vehicles were in standard BR fitted bauxite livery, but this was sometimes difficult to determine under the cement dust; it was a filthy job and I wore overalls under a dust coat for it.  Vanfits and presflos were in circuit working IIRC and had traders' labels, the Aberthaw Cement A over C in a grey and black hexagon logo.

 

[Richard_A]

Thank you, that makes some sense to me. 

[hmrspaul]

Something a bit different at Carmarthen was the almost certainly unique Presflo with extra pipes. The purpose of this conversion was not recorded at the Derby Rolling stock library. https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflopipe

Presflo at Carmarthen https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e2095b870  https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e3c2b47e1  

 

Found them clearly shows the Aberthaw cement Traders label https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e3297ee8b https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e267c28ea https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e272fc1cd https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e3ee30e77  https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e3cd7fb06  https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e23256b60  https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e3cec82d5  

https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e320929d9 (Oil Well cement with remains of a AW label same wagon, clearer writing but probably not in AW traffic at the time https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e2d057cc7 )  

 

Wagon Pool 7075 was for Abercrete. https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e388a42fd    https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e38be81f2   https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e21b12971   

 

The Aberthaw cement lorries appear to have been kept very clean - they are behind this at Plymouth Friary https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brpresflo/e21ce5298 

 

And a few others at Carmarthen - https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/?q=carmarthen I probably have more. Incidentally the 29 May 1978 was exceptionally hot! Julie insisted we go to the beach after this photo session. 

 

Paul

[Richard_A]

That's great thank you. 

[br2975]

Aberthaw and the nearby Rhoose cement works were owned and operated by the "Aberthaw & Bristol Channel Cement Co."

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From recollection, the only privately owned Presflos were built for (i) Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers aka 'Blue Circle', and (ii) Tunnel Cement.

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By default, the Presflos working from Aberthaw would (or should) be the BR built/owned examples.

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In addition, the both works despatched a lot of bagged cement in 12 ton vans.

.

Brian R

[Richard_A]

That's brilliant thank you, got more presflos on order, now to get some an kits ordered too. 

[The Johnster]

The Aberthaw Cement turn at Canton (6C96?) was, incidentally, a 94xx or 56xx job in steam days.