RMweb Premium Commoner Posted May 11, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 11, 2021 I have just purchased a number of negatives featuring the work of railway photographer John Vaughan. The attached scan is captioned Witham 25.07.81. The date is incorrect as by this time the leading power car from 253 012 had an exhaust cowling fitted. My hunch is this photo was taken on 29.09.79 as JV had a photographic expedition to the eastern end of the Berks and Hants line on this date. At the time HST working was limited to two up and down workings a day, and one of the up workings was formed by HST set 253 028 with 43024 from 253 012 replacing 43125 on 29.09.79. The question is where is the shot taken? There is no station at Witham just east of Castle Cary. I wondered if any of the RMWeb contingent with a more intimate knowledge of the B and H could name the location please. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted May 11, 2021 Share Posted May 11, 2021 Thatcham 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Commoner Posted May 11, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 11, 2021 32 minutes ago, woodenhead said: Thatcham Well that didn't take long. Many Thanks. Kevin (Commoner) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Commoner Posted May 23, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 23, 2021 Another John Vaughan negative I recently purchased with an incorrect date. Photograph is dated 1977, but 50s weren't named until 1978. Location is given as Wolfhall which I believe is near Savernake? The signal in the photograph has not been commissioned. A confirmation of the location combined with the date from which MAS was commissioned for this part of the B and H line would go some way to more accurately dating the photograph. Any help would be much appreciated. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DY444 Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 (edited) The signal, DW69, is between Crofton crossing and Savernake GF. According to the signalling notice it was commissioned between 2200 on 9/9/78 and 0600 on 11/9/78. Edited May 23, 2021 by DY444 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Pilotman Posted May 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2021 It is the site of the former Wolfhall Junction with the photographer standing on the remains of the bridge that you can see in the background of this picture: https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/12134932003/in/photolist-jujGvz-xAcrR8-pNpCfa-sDHSdZ-fKGEfV-r3Y2Wv-gBoJCA-d6t9Nh-jukoHj-zWJHkx-rGH4XS-68MizF-CNHEbW-dqhScz-hgvtet-9ZgPpC-qpqTFa-SmEKjy-k7mJck-d1rAEm-bo83EL-FU5ycw-KYuNCp-9GDwZt-6dzL89-hmhzir-E7LGkF-6TkLPd-6iQtUh-Uks1Ph-9CEbek-87KDMR-omAhqe-6gLbNf-6Xwskf-6msxhJ-ZMjxHH-7iJA5Y-gBBw1M-omrDN4-yLgTYR-9BAqvv-iyTAde-cxevNC-e8MHRS-d5Jp5s-7YwEgZ-CVY54u-e8G5hH-d6taaf 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted May 24, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2021 Never knew that any locos got market lights in the headcode box before refurbishment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Commoner Posted May 24, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2021 13 hours ago, DY444 said: The signal, DW69, is between Crofton crossing and Savernake GF. According to the signalling notice it was commissioned between 2200 on 9/9/78 and 0600 on 11/9/78. 12 hours ago, Western Aviator said: It is the site of the former Wolfhall Junction with the photographer standing on the remains of the bridge that you can see in the background of this picture: https://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/12134932003/in/photolist-jujGvz-xAcrR8-pNpCfa-sDHSdZ-fKGEfV-r3Y2Wv-gBoJCA-d6t9Nh-jukoHj-zWJHkx-rGH4XS-68MizF-CNHEbW-dqhScz-hgvtet-9ZgPpC-qpqTFa-SmEKjy-k7mJck-d1rAEm-bo83EL-FU5ycw-KYuNCp-9GDwZt-6dzL89-hmhzir-E7LGkF-6TkLPd-6iQtUh-Uks1Ph-9CEbek-87KDMR-omAhqe-6gLbNf-6Xwskf-6msxhJ-ZMjxHH-7iJA5Y-gBBw1M-omrDN4-yLgTYR-9BAqvv-iyTAde-cxevNC-e8MHRS-d5Jp5s-7YwEgZ-CVY54u-e8G5hH-d6taaf Many thanks to you both for the above information. RMWeb proves again that its membership has all the answers. Obviously photograph dates from summer 1978. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Commoner Posted May 24, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2021 7 hours ago, keefer said: Never knew that any locos got market lights in the headcode box before refurbishment. I am not a 50 expert so but I don't think this mod was widespread before fleet refurbishment. 50035 was the first 50 to be named in a ceremony at Reading in January 1978. I am not sure if the mod pre-dates that event for which the loco was turned out in superb external condition. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 10 hours ago, keefer said: Never knew that any locos got market lights in the headcode box before refurbishment. A few did I think (possibly as many as 6), the light design in the picture is unusual being the sealed beam type fitted to many locos (eg refurbed class 37's, no2 end of class 47s) rather than the opaque discs used on the majority of class 50s, 37/0s etc. Unusually it seems that those that had the marker lights were converted back to the opaque discs, for example 50003 had a plated headcode with sealed beams but later converted to standard: https://www.flickr.com/photos/113816008@N03/49136592623/in/photolist-2hS2T6r-eS5KBG-9cNSnq-fk8ZEi-2ekHttz-9RukKe-dCh9Tr-9HRWtj-codjC-TUSgnX-mHwqoC-9HRZMj-dL2mj3-9HRZRQ-amAe96-hvcU26-amD4CA-5rTH8b-2icHka3-cZJ7cu-hvepjF-8ToHi6-9v8LuQ-a7D6vs-7tKxR8-ab9zFo-2wKLSe-amD4Zs-Heu2Dc-p78MAp-dCnzGu-2NeAPf-i5LPg9-bxhLGk-HRABha-29651K2-SJKGgi-peHYr8-a9fZYT-e34ArK-qseQYN-S1o82u-kE3CJS-pGhpCN-nh9aq5-9GAU6M-28mVFVk-2iBybrq-Kh4xEg-be5jmR 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 3 hours ago, Commoner said: I am not a 50 expert so but I don't think this mod was widespread before fleet refurbishment. 50035 was the first 50 to be named in a ceremony at Reading in January 1978. I am not sure if the mod pre-dates that event for which the loco was turned out in superb external condition. Looks like it was modded before if the date on this photo is accurate https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5653601947/in/photolist-9BAbTD-FS2jC9-po9EfP-GqzAmt-Neyh6H-N4huWS-HeTZpc-NbsaYd-F5KDpw-N6XWpp-HcxawG-G7zyh9-FUkCVn-2jfJwUf-2jhmSYm-2jhi4nr-qjR7Wj-9sWWZY-drprLQ I suspect it is 50035 in the photo posted on this thread earlier as well as the loco has a crest above the name plate while the name is also one of the shorter ones... https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/11770062825/in/photolist-bu2CnQ-iW5DBF-RfiwwH-9BAbTD-ssDRrM-Yr5tH4-NbsaYd-Y7Eyt3-WnSdzX-N6XWpp-phrDfX-2kjnXoB-7RFT1k-dX2hm3-zfP4Mq-Neyh6H-ZuBAgB-N4huWS-dbPExw-2ciVpVh-dWgAn3-7EL5jd-8TX2Po-2jxc3Sk 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Commoner Posted May 24, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2021 3 hours ago, 37114 said: Looks like it was modded before if the date on this photo is accurate https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/5653601947/in/photolist-9BAbTD-FS2jC9-po9EfP-GqzAmt-Neyh6H-N4huWS-HeTZpc-NbsaYd-F5KDpw-N6XWpp-HcxawG-G7zyh9-FUkCVn-2jfJwUf-2jhmSYm-2jhi4nr-qjR7Wj-9sWWZY-drprLQ I suspect it is 50035 in the photo posted on this thread earlier as well as the loco has a crest above the name plate while the name is also one of the shorter ones... https://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-by-john/11770062825/in/photolist-bu2CnQ-iW5DBF-RfiwwH-9BAbTD-ssDRrM-Yr5tH4-NbsaYd-Y7Eyt3-WnSdzX-N6XWpp-phrDfX-2kjnXoB-7RFT1k-dX2hm3-zfP4Mq-Neyh6H-ZuBAgB-N4huWS-dbPExw-2ciVpVh-dWgAn3-7EL5jd-8TX2Po-2jxc3Sk Whoops. I should have pointed out that the accompanying detail with the negative confirms 50035 as the loco featured. It was the accuracy of the date that appeared to be in question. Thanks for the link to Jon Woolley's shot which I hadn't seen before. Thanks Kevin (Commoner) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flood Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) 50003 and 50035 were both modded in 1976. 50035 had white rims to the light fittings, 50003 had blue. 50003 Truro 26 June 1976 photo by Richard Billinge 50007 had no. 1 end only done in 1978. The next batch were done around the time of the first refurbs and had the later rubber grommit style fitting. From what I can remember thery were modded before refurb due to water ingress, the examples were: 5, 10, 11, 14, 20, 24, 27, 30, 46 and 49 Edited May 25, 2021 by Flood 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Commoner Posted May 25, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 25, 2021 That's detailed stuff Flood. Thanks for sharing it. Like the shot of 50003 arriving at Truro as well. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted May 28, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 28, 2021 The type of marker lights fitted in the headcode box were different too. Those on 50003 and 50007 (No 1 end only) had a flat front and outer edge as as can be seen here on 50007, whereas those on 50035 were more conical. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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