On This Day In History

[phil_sutters]

Having found an interesting loose page from a notebook of Dad's for a day in the year which will be on us shortly, I have tracked down this thread, which I see hasn't been used much recently. To reactivate it here goes - on this day in 1954 Dad took several photos at Exeter, which I rather like and which show a variety of locos.

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2022 by phil_sutters
Replacement of lost photos.

[Pobrien]

55 years ago, 1st August, 1964.   Yate, north of Bristol on the Midland mainline.  A busy Summer Saturday

 

1964 was the last year when over half the Summer Saturday extras were steam hauled

 

Jubilee 45721 Impregnable heads a relief 1V29 Midlands to the West Country

 

 

Holbeck Jubilee 45658 Keyes hurries north with 1N48. 11.45 (from Bristol) West Country to Leeds

 

Black Five 44825 heads north with 1N40 Newton Abbott to Bradford extra

 

Castle 5056 Earl of Powis leaves the Midland mainline at Yate to approach Bristol via Filton and Stapleton Road with 1V54 10.05 Wolverhampton to the West Country

 

 

Unexpectedly Jubilee 45721 Impregnable returned north with 1M39 18.10 off Bristol Temple Meads to Wolverhampton after the failure of the fostered Castle

 

 

[phil_sutters]

On this day in 2013 I visited the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway with two grandchildren. This is one of the photos I took there. The rest can be seen at http://www.ipernity.com/doc/philsutters/25667891/in/album/496669

The railway is a family-run business with the locos and stock built mainly by the family.

[phil_sutters]

On this day, 2nd August, in 1958 Dad snapped King George V at Bristol Temple Meads.

Edited August 2, 2019 by phil_sutters

[Guest CLARENCE]

An old scanned in photo of my Dad in his box in 1953.  Not sure of the exact date, but he looks very young!

Cheers,  David.

Edited August 2, 2019 by CLARENCE

[phil_sutters]

This is the entry from a loose page from a note book, made by my father on 3rd August 1940. I assume that he was talking about this departure being from Oxford, as he was working there in 1940. It may be of interest to those into WW2 railway movements. There are entries for 10th & 13th as well. If there is interest, I will upload them on the appropriate days. There is nothing staggering to reveal, but someone may find them of interest.

 

Phil

 

Edited August 3, 2019 by phil_sutters
To add the probable location of the train.

[Trev52A]

In the summer of 1967, 52 years ago, steam was having a 'final fling' on passenger workings south of Carlisle.

Here are three pictures from this day back then: Saturday 5th August 1967

 

I was in a southbound train in Carlisle station (headed by D1631) with 44802 alongside, waiting to take over a Dundee-Blackpool train (1M31), when 45562 arrived with one of the two regular Saturday trains over the S&C still entrusted to the last two or three  of Holbeck's 'Jubilee' locos

 

I alighted at Oxenholme and was able to photograph 44802, which had been following my train, waiting to leave the station

 

The reason I had gone to Oxenholme was to return to Carlisle by steam on 1L27, a Saturdays-only Euston to Carlisle train  (steam from Preston, if I remember correctly). This duly arrived with 45227 in charge for my first (of only two) rides over Shap with a steam loco.

 

Trevor

[62613]

11 hours ago, Trev52A said:

In the summer of 1967, 52 years ago, steam was having a 'final fling' on passenger workings south of Carlisle.

Here are three pictures from this day back then: Saturday 5th August 1967

 

I was in a southbound train in Carlisle station (headed by D1631) with 44802 alongside, waiting to take over a Dundee-Blackpool train (1M31), when 45562 arrived with one of the two regular Saturday trains over the S&C still entrusted to the last two or three  of Holbeck's 'Jubilee' locos

 

I alighted at Oxenholme and was able to photograph 44802, which had been following my train, waiting to leave the station

 

The reason I had gone to Oxenholme was to return to Carlisle by steam on 1L27, a Saturdays-only Euston to Carlisle train  (steam from Preston, if I remember correctly). This duly arrived with 45227 in charge for my first (of only two) rides over Shap with a steam loco.

 

Trevor

 

Absolutely no doubt about which train 44802 was going to haul!

[Trev52A]

3 hours ago, 62613 said:

 

Absolutely no doubt about which train 44802 was going to haul!

 

When 12th August comes round I'll upload some more, which include the fireman actually chalking the reporting number on the smokebox of his Black 5 at Carlisle. Must be short of chalk as he only wrote in once this time!

 

Cheers

Trevor

[phil_sutters]

Quite a nice bunch of photos taken by Dad on 6.8.1983, at Bewdley and Bridgnorth on the Seven Valley Railway.

[Trev52A]

On Tuesday 8th August 1967 (52 years ago today) I started a 7-day 'Runabout Rover' ticket covering much of North West England (at a cost of £2-10-0), starting in Carlisle.

 

This is 44859 arriving at Lancaster with a train from Windermere, forming the 11.50 from Lancaster which I travelled on as far as Preston, the southern limit of my ticket. There the train was combined with a Blackpool portion for the onward journey to Euston behind a diesel.

 

At Preston I photographed 70023 heading through the station with a southbound freight, about to pass 43033 waiting to depart with my next train, the 12.44 to Blackpool South

The third steam loco I travelled behind on that first day was 45342 running tender first from Windermere to Lancaster, but the weather was so bad I did not even attempt a photo!

Just for the record, other journeys that day (including from and to my starting point in Newcastle) were with four DMUs, D1619 (twice) and D1622.

 

More to follow tomorrow.

Happy days!

Trevor

 

 

[Trev52A]

It's day two of my North West 'Runabout Rover' ticket - 9th August 1967.

 

Due to the very late running of my train between Lancaster and Carlisle the previous evening, I had missed my expected connection to Newcastle and did not reach home until nearly 5am!

By a superhuman effort I was up and ready for more in time to catch the 10.34 DMU to Carlisle(!), eventually reaching Preston after 2pm. This left me with only about three hours before I had to think about making a move back home, not wishing to repeat the fiasco of the previous night!

According to my notebook I saw 14 steam locos at Preston during that time but strangely I only took two photographs - and here they are:

 

45347 waits to depart with a southbound passenger train. Sadly my ticket would not allow me to join it. According to the station clocks the time is fast approaching 16.00, so this must be the 15.45 to Manchester Victoria running a bit late.

 

45072 is heading north on the station avoiding lines with a freight, passing 48453 which appears to be waiting for the signals to clear on the impressive gantry.

 

No steam-hauled journeys, but I would make up for it later in the week.

For the record I travelled that day behind D1948 and D1958, plus two DMUs.

 

Trevor

[phil_sutters]

This is the second snippet from Dad's observations at Oxford in August 1940.

10.8.1963 finds him with his camera at Exeter.

 

[Trev52A]

Thursday 10th August 1967, and more pictures from my NW 'Runabout Rover' ticket (day three)

 

Approaching Preston behind 44915 on a train I had joined at Lancaster 

 

92137 rumbles through the station with a southbound freight, showing the now defunct East Lancs section on the right

 

44679 stands at the south end of the station - this looks like the same spot I saw the 9F, looking the other way. Anyone recognise the enthusiast on the right?

 

At the same location as the day before, 48033 heads north on the avoiding lines. The vehicle on the right lettered WD is in the same place as yesterday - anyone know what it might contain?

 

43033 stands at the head of a rake of coaches detached from an earlier northbound train, to form the 12.44 departure for Blackpool South. Taken from the station footbridge this shows some station details I would have otherwise missed 

 

45382 waits for the road northbound with a train of mineral trucks on the East Lancs lines of the station. The contents look like ballast - any other suggestions?

 

After returning to Carlisle behind D310 on an 'extra' (according to my notes), I grabbed this portrait of the engine crew of a 'Brit' backing on to a northbound passenger train, prior to my catching the 19.25 DMU back home to Tyneside

 

Trevor

 

 

[Ian Smeeton]

1 hour ago, Trev52A said:

Thursday 10th August 1967, and more pictures from my NW 'Runabout Rover' ticket (day three)

 

 

 

At the same location as the day before, 48033 heads north on the avoiding lines. The vehicle on the right lettered WD is in the same place as yesterday - anyone know what it might contain?

 

45382 waits for the road northbound with a train of mineral trucks on the East Lancs lines of the station. The contents look like ballast - any other suggestions?

 

After returning to Carlisle behind D310 on an 'extra' (according to my notes), I grabbed this portrait of the engine crew of a 'Brit' backing on to a northbound passenger train, prior to my catching the 19.25 DMU back home to Tyneside

 

Trevor

 

 

 

The tank wagon would have been oil/fuel of some description. I think that the star has a significance, but whetjer it is class A or B, I do not know.

 

The mineral piled that high would certainly be overweight if it was ballast. Perhaps power station coal?. Too fine for loco coal or household, I would think.

 

Last phot, an absolute cracker. In fact all good. You ceratinly have a great eye for a photo.

 

Regards

 

Ian

 

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, Trev52A said:

 

 

44679 stands at the south end of the station - this looks like the same spot I saw the 9F, looking the other way. Anyone recognise the enthusiast on the right?

 

45382 waits for the road northbound with a train of mineral trucks on the East Lancs lines of the station. The contents look like ballast - any other suggestions?

 

After returning to Carlisle behind D310 on an 'extra' (according to my notes), I grabbed this portrait of the engine crew of a 'Brit' backing on to a northbound passenger train, prior to my catching the 19.25 DMU back home to Tyneside

 

Trevor

 

 

The .wasn't me, I was only 14 at the time 

20 minutes ago, Ian Smeeton said:

 

The tank wagon would have been oil/fuel of some description. I think that the star has a significance, but whetjer it is class A or B, I do not know.

 

The mineral piled that high would certainly be overweight if it was ballast. Perhaps power station coal?. Too fine for loco coal or household, I would think.

 

Last phot, an absolute cracker. In fact all good. You ceratinly have a great eye for a photo.

 

Regards

 

Ian

 

Agree about the tanker.   The wagon contents might well be ash from a loco shed.   Empty coal wagons were routinely used to take ash away and tere was a big tip at, IIRC Kirkham on the Blackpool lines.

 

Can I second the comment about the standard of the photos, they are superb and as Ian says the last one is brilliant, showing workaday steam as I remember it, and the human side of the railway.

 

Jamie

[Trev52A]

@Ian & Jamie

 

Many thanks for the feedback (and the kind words)

 

Here's another shot of that 'coal train' behind 45382, which might be a better view.

 

Cheers

Trevor

[jamie92208]

3 hours ago, Trev52A said:

@Ian & Jamie

 

Many thanks for the feedback (and the kind words)

 

Here's another shot of that 'coal train' behind 45382, which might be a better view.

 

Cheers

Trevor

Having looked at that photo, it may well have been power station coal. Heading North there was Lancaster still going in those days and they used 16T minerals. The way that the load is so neat looks like hopper loading.

 

Jamie

[pH]

13 hours ago, phil_sutters said:

 

10.8.1963 finds him with his camera at Exeter.

 

 

Those bring back memories, Phil! I was there 2 days before your Dad.

[phil_sutters]

2 hours ago, pH said:

 

Those bring back memories, Phil! I was there 2 days before your Dad.

I am glad I resurrected this thread, as we seem to have found some excellent material. 

Exeter was a fairly easy trip from Highbridge. Dad's days off excursions were typically bounded by Salisbury, Exeter, Bristol - Lawrence Hill seems to have been a favored spot - and Swindon. His days off were often on Mondays after his church duties on Sundays.

[Trev52A]

It's now Friday 11th August 1967 - day four of my 'Rover' ticket, and I'm off to Preston once again. Looking back, I went there on every day covered by the ticket. I wonder why? Well, it was such an imposing station with its gantries of semaphore signals, the perfect setting for the procession of steam-hauled trains, (mainly freights, of course) which passed through every weekday, plus I expect I intended to get my money's-worth out of the ticket as it was at the extremity of the area covered! On this day I had an extra incentive, as there was a Fridays-only passenger train scheduled for steam-haulage all the way back to Carlisle, over Shap, and I aimed to be on it.

 

After arriving at Lancaster behind D1861 I caught the usual 'Black Five'-hauled ex-Windermere train, the 11.50 from Lancaster, this time with 45227 at the head.

 

A perhaps unusual view(?) at Preston, showing 45450 arriving at the East Lancs section with a cement train. The railway has since been obliterated from this side of the station, of course, and the last time I was there it was a car park.

 

Later that afternoon the sun came out (most of my pictures from that week seem to be in dull weather!) and I found a good vantage point - a roof-top car park north of the station on the west side of the line.

 

This is 44993 heading north with a parcels train, passing diesel shunter D3580. It wasn't until much later that I realised I had taken my only picture of a green diesel without a yellow end! No wasp stripes here - presumably none on the front , either.

 

The same view but including all of the magnificent LNWR signal box, as D1950 heads north.

 

The train I really wanted to see was the Fridays-only 13.27 Liverpool-Glasgow, due off Preston at 14.30 and steam-hauled to Carlisle. It duly arrived behind 70025 (ex- 'Western Star'), where the loco took water. Note the fireman with typical 'knotted hankie' on his head! The loco is in quite nice external condition, (i.e. you can see the BR emblem on the tender!) although its last green repaint has omitted the lining out, as was the practice near the end of steam.

 

At Preston this train was combined with a portion from Manchester to make an eleven-coach train for the journey north. I remember there was some consternation among prospective passengers on the platform as the first half pulled forward ready to set back onto the rear coaches in a different platform - this shot must be during this manoeuvre as the signals appear to be on and the loco is blowing off furiously. A nice view of the signal gantry, though.

 

First stop was Lancaster, where I grabbed this shot. One of the  young lads asked me if the train would stop at Carnforth - presumably he fancied a short ride behind a 'Brit'. 'No, next stop is Penrith', I answered and we set off without him. On the climb to Shap I walked up and down the corridor several times but every open window was occupied by an enthusiast enjoying the sound of 'Western Star' pounding up the 1 in 75 without a banker.

The following day, Saturday, was not valid with my 'Rover Ticket', so there was no need for an early departure from Newcastle in order to catch a southbound train to Preston. This meant I could could look forward to a lie-in and a leisurely day at Carlisle instead.

 

Trevor 

 

 

Edited August 11, 2019 by Trev52A
Typo

[jamie92208]

Lovely set of photos again Trev.   Interesting to see that the Overhead gantries for the Branch to Green Ayre from Castle, were still in place.  The wires had gone by early 1966 but the gantries, which dated from 1907, were still there.   It's ironic that it was only about 5 or 6 years till new gantries were put up for the main line wiring.

 

Jamie

[phil_sutters]

I know that these have appeared elsewhere in RMweb, quite apart from in my albums, but I can't resist giving them another airing 57 years after Dad took them. Someone commented recently that 'express' is a relative term in an SDJR context.

[Trev52A]

@ Phil

 

I only travelled over the S&D once, on a 'special' on 1st January 1966, but I always like seeing pictures of the line, even though these are just a bit early to coincide with my 'spotting' years.

And it must have been great having a father to pass on the interest in railways (and the pictures, of course!) There was no such connection in my family and I got in to it through mixing with school friends, which is when I took my steam-era photos.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trev52A]

I wonder if we'll see any pics of the 'Fifteen Guinea Special' today? (Unless it's been done to death in previous years.)

My trip to the S&C on 11th August 1968 ended with a flat tyre in a Landrover somewhere near Hexham!

 

Trevor