On This Day In History

[pH]

September 3 1968 – the second day of my last trip round Lancashire sheds after the end of British Railways steam. I saw only four types of steam engine – Stanier 5s, 8Fs, Standard 5s (Walschaerts and Caprotti versions) and just two Ivatt large moguls.

 

There were diesels around, but I wasn’t interested, so I don’t have any notes of them.

 

Lostock Hall:

Ivatt 4 mogul - 43019/43027

Stanier 5 - 44713/44806/44816/44874/44878/44894/44942/44950/44971/45017/45055/45073/45110/45149/45156/45212/45260/45269/45287/45305/45318/45353/ 45386/45388/45407/45444

8F - 48253/48293/48294/48340/48476/48493/48546/48723/48763/48765/48775

Standard 5 - 73069

 

Rose Grove:

Stanier 5 - 44690/44899/45096/45350/45382/45397/45447

8F - 48062/48115/48167/48191/48247/48257/48278/48323/48348/48384/48393/48400/48410/48423/48448/48519/48665/48666/48715/48727/48730/48773

 

Bolton:

Stanier 5 - 44802/44929/44947/45046/45104/45290/45312

8F - 48026/48168/48319/48380/48392/48504/48646/48652/48692/48720

 

Patricroft:

Stanier 5 - 44777/45187

8F - 48033/48170/48212/48267/48282/48327/48338/48374/48467/48491/48549

Standard 5 - 73010

Caprotti Standard 5 - 73125/73133/73134/73135/73138/73142/73143

 

Newton Heath:

Stanier 5 - 44780/44803/44818/44845/44884/44890/44891/44910/44949/45076/45202/45203/ 45255/45411/45420

8F - 48132/48321/48356/48368/48369/48373/48529/48612/48620/48678/48687/48746

Standard 5 – 73050

[pH]

September 4 1965 – a journey from Glasgow to Gloucester by way of Leeds.

 

As the Gourock train ran into Glasgow Central, the relief to the Thames-Clyde was ready to go, with a Stanier 5 on the front. I was not happy at missing the chance of steam haulage, but I still had to buy a ticket to Gloucester, so there was no way of getting the train. At the ticket office, the clerk absolutely refused to sell me a ticket from Glasgow to Gloucester via Leeds! She kept insisting that the route to Gloucester was by Crewe. I told her I knew that was the shortest/quickest route, but that I wanted to go via Leeds. In the end, I bought a ticket to Leeds, where I would have to re-book. Altogether, it wasn’t a good start to the day, but it was about to get better. The power for the Thames-Clyde itself backed over the Clyde bridge - a pair of Stanier 5s (44798 and 45115)! The rostered ‘Peak’ had failed on Corkerhill shed. The regular Leeds Holbeck crew was on the train engine, with a Corkerhill crew on the pilot.

 

Central: Stanier 5 - 44798/45115/45210, Class 40 - D305, Class 47 - D1843/D1844/D1849

 

As we started out, it was obvious that there were problems. The pilot was doing almost all the work – the train engine was just along for the ride. Various hand signals were being passed between the footplates, and it ended up with the pilot driver shutting off completely – halfway up Neilston bank! At that point, some kind of understanding must have been reached, because both engines opened up properly and we had a pretty good run after that, at least as far as Annan.

 

Mauchline: Hughes/Fowler mogul - 42917

Dumfries: Stanier 5 - 45126/45490, Standard 4 mogul – 76073, Standard 2 mogul - 78051

Kingmoor: Stanier 5 - 44727/44911/45029, 3F tank – 47667, B1 – 61347, Britannia - 70010/70041, Standard 4 tank – 80113, 9F - 92130/92160, Class 11 - 12084

Carlisle Citadel: Ivatt 4 mogul – 43040, Britannia – 70009, Class 47 - D1839/D1854

 

We were delayed by the usual congestion around Carlisle. In Citadel, the Stanier 5s were taken off the train separately, and Britannia 70009 backed on. I thought we were going to get one of the 5s back on as a pilot, but 70009 set off by itself, with the Holbeck crew. The run from Carlisle to Leeds was not good – down to 25 MPH several times before Ais Gill, and no obvious attempts to make up any time after that. It didn’t help that station staff at Appleby said that the relief, still with steam haulage, had gone through right on time.

 

Skipton: 4F – 44277, Standard 4 - 75015/75017

Apperley Bridge: Stanier 5 - 45242

Leeds City: Fairburn tank – 42052, Ivatt 4 mogul – 43069, Stanier 5 - 44758/44852, Jubilee – 45661, 8F - 48274/48454, WD 2-8-0 – 90254, Class 04 - D2273, Class 25 - D5283, Class 37 - D6775,

Class 45 - D23/D24/D51/D89/D101/D109

 

The Bristol train I had hoped to catch at Leeds had long since gone, and with some time to wait for the next one, I decided to try to get round Holbeck shed. No luck – I only saw what I could between the gate and the shed office.

 

Holbeck: Ivatt 4 mogul – 43135, Stanier 5 - 45025/45273, 8F - 48126/48283, B1 – 61051, Class 04 - D2248, Class 08 - D3294, Class 25 - D5185, Class 45 - D25

Normanton: 8F – 48528, B1 – 61129, WD 2-8-0 - 90615/90636, Class 03 - D2095, Class 04 - D2249

Cudworth: WD 2-8-0 – 90132, Class 08 - D3379

Rawmarsh: Class 08 - D3574, Class 37 - D6804

Rotherham: Jubilee – 45643, WD 2-8-0 – 90242, Class 08 - D3251, Class 45 - D135

Sheffield: Stanier 5 – 45073, Class 08 - D3288/D4048, Class 25 - D5242, Class 31 - D5677/D5859, Class 45 - D50/D117, Class 47 - D1552/D1772/D189

Chesterfield: Class 45 - D102, Class 08 - D3663, Class 25 - D5261

Wingfield: Class 47 - D1617

Derby: Stanier 5 - 45224/45262, 8F - 48507, WD 2-8-0 – 90471, Class 25 - D5253/D5271/D7514, Class 47 - D1870

Burton: 8F - 48111/48332/48367/48662/48684, Class 25 - D7502

Water Orton: Class 08 - D3167

Bromford Bridge: Class 46 - D141, Class 08 - D3865, Class 25 - D5202

Saltley: Stanier 5 – 44663, Ivatt 2 mogul – 46443, 8F – 48110, B1 – 61050, Class 47 - D1732

New Street: Class 46 - D171, Class 47 - D1728

Worcester: 61xx – 6147, 9F – 92008, Class 37 - D6938/D6941, Class 47 - D1755

 

By Worcester it was dark, and I didn’t take any more notes after that.

 

[pH]

September 4, 1968 – a visit to Speke Junction shed to see if there were any steam engines still there after the end of BR steam. There was one – 9F 92069. It was the last standard gauge steam loco I saw while it was still owned by BR. Later in the day, I saw (4)6203 at Butlin’s camp in Pwllheli.

 

[pH]

September 5, 1968 – to Aberystwyth to see the last steam locomotives operated by British Railways – 7,8 and 9 on the Vale of Rheidol.

 

[pH]

September 6 1965 – my only trip over the Somerset and Dorset, only months away from closure.

 

Gloucester: Grange – 6861, 57xx tank – 8745, 8F – 48410, Standard 3 tank - 82040/82042, 9F – 92000, Class 03 - D2138, Class 08 - D3986/D3989, Class 37 - D6994, Class 47 - D1611/D1720/D1730

Gloucester to Bristol: Class 35 - D7022/D7033

Barrow Road (passing): Stanier 5 - 45006/45186, 8F - 48020/48117/48313/48364/48635, 9F - 92113

Temple Meads: Class 08 - D4026, Class 35 - D7007, Class 46 - D169, Class 47 - D1728

 

At Bath Green Park, we tried to buy day returns to Templecombe. The booking clerk told us we couldn’t do that – day returns to all major Somerset and Dorset stations from Bath had been withdrawn. (I’ve never seen this mentioned in accounts of the rundown of the line.) Our disappointment must have been obvious – we couldn’t afford the regular fare he quoted – so he said “I can still sell you day returns to Wincanton, and at Templecombe you can say you got on at Wincanton and pay the excess fare from there. But please don’t show your tickets from Bath and don’t tell anyone how you found out about this.†So we bought day returns to Wincanton - which would lead to some embarrassment later on.

 

Bath Green Park: 57xx tank – 3681, Ivatt 2 tank - 41208/41214/41243, Standard 5 – 73068, Standard 3 tank - 82041

Radstock: 3F tank – 47544, Standard 4 mogul - 76025

Norton Hill Colliery: 3F tank – 47506, 8F - 48760

Shepton Mallet: Standard 4 tank - 80037

Evercreech Junction: Standard 4 tank – 80041

 

On arrival at Templecombe, we paid the excess fare from Wincanton, but didn’t show our tickets from Bath, as the booking clerk had asked. Off we went round Templecombe shed.

 

Templecombe:

57xx tank - 3659

Ivatt 2 tank - 41223/41249/41283/41290/41296/41307

Standard 4 - 75073

Standard 4 tank - 80043/80059/80138

Class 42 - D831 (passing on ex-LSWR)

 

We arrived back at the station to buy tickets back to Wincanton, to be greeted by the stationmaster, a ticket collector and two porters (There were only two of us - I don’t know what they thought we might do!). The stationmaster told us they had checked with Wincanton, and nobody had got on there to the train we’d arrived on. He then accused us of travelling without tickets. At that point we had to produce our tickets from Bath to Wincanton. Fortunately, he didn’t ask why we only had tickets to Wincanton – he assumed we’d wanted to keep them as souvenirs and gave us a lecture about having correct tickets and giving them up to railway staff at the end of a journey.

 

Evercreech Junction: Standard 4 – 75072

From here, we went ‘up’ the branch to Highbridge, still surprisingly busy so close to the end of service, then back to Evercreech Junction.

Highbridge: Ivatt 2 tank - 41206/41216/41249, Class 52 - D1004 (passing on the ex-GWR)

Evercreech Junction: 8F – 48706, Standard 4 mogul – 76025

 

Bath Green Park shed:

57xx tank - 3681

8F - 48309/48444/48525/48732/48760

Standard 5 - 73001/73015/73051/73054

Standard 4 mogul - 76026

Standard 4 tank - 80037

Standard 3 tank - 82004

 

Bath Green Park: Standard 3 tank - 82001

Mangotsfield: Class 45 - D47

 

[pH]

September 7, 1963 was the first time I went to Carlisle. It was a Scottish Railfans outing, going down on the relief to the Thames-Clyde, hauled by a Corkerhill Standard 5. I‘ve lost the first couple of pages of my notes for the day so, as far as Dumfries, all I can list are steam locos that I copped. We included a visit to Workington. By this time, Carlisle Canal shed had closed.

 

St Enoch: Stanier 5 - 45463

Kilmarnock: Hughes/Fowler mogul – 42736, Stanier 5 – 45124, Standard 3 mogul – 77016, Standard 4 tank - 80112

Hurlford: 4F – 44189, Caley 2F – 57249, V1/3 - 67664/67667

Kilmarnock to Dumfries: Hughes/Fowler mogul – 42880, Standard 5 - 73121

Dumfries: 2P - 40670, Hughes/Fowler mogul - 42908/42915, Stanier 5 - 44996/45169/45453, Ivatt 2 mogul – 46450, Caley 2F – 57302, Caley Mcintosh 3F – 57602, Caley Pickersgill 3F – 57661, J72 – 68750, Standard 2 mogul – 78026

Dumfries to Carlisle: Stanier 5 - 45030, Duchess – 46244, A3 – 60037, Class 08 - D3173

Citadel: Ivatt 4 mogul – 43025, Stanier 5 – 44901, Duchess – 46250, 3F tank - 47295/47345, A1 – 60131, Standard 5 – 73120, Class 11 - 12086

Carlisle to Workington: 4F - 44060/44461, Stanier 5 – 45425

 

Workington:

Fairburn tank - 42673

Ivatt 4 mogul - 43006/43008

4F - 44027/44035/44065/44157/44292/44449/44505

Stanier 5 - 44898

Jubilee - 45645

Ivatt 2 mogul - 46410/46488

3F tank - 47373/47390

Class 28 - D5705/D5707/D5709

 

Workington to Carlisle: 4F – 44464

Citadel: Fairburn tank – 42210, Fowler 4MT tank – 42301, Stanier 5 - 45228/45374, 8F – 48318

 

Kingmoor:

Fowler 4MT tank - 42369

Hughes/Fowler mogul - 42819

Stanier mogul - 42947

Ivatt 4 mogul - 43011/43027/43028/43103/43141

4F - 44060/44181/44183/44305/44386/44464/44504

Stanier 5 - 44671/44706/44726/44783/44786/44792/44931/44935/44937/44983/45012/45028/45081/45082/45121/45148/45164/45178/45218/45236/45254/45313/45317/ 45466/45478/45498

Jubilee - 45604/45734/45738

Scot - 46157/46160

Duchess - 46226/46236/46242/46254/46255

3F tank - 47471/47492/47515

8F - 48139/48276/48512/48708/48756/48758

A3 - 60091/60100

V2 - 60836

Britannia - 70016

Clan - 72005/72007/72008

Standard 5 - 73006/73057/73058/73077/73120

Caprotti Standard 5 - 73147

WD 2-8-0 - 90135

WD 2-10-0 - 90763

9F - 92017/92107

Class 08 - D3172/D3566/D3567

Class 40 - D316/D360

Class 45 - D51

Class 46 - D151

Class 11 - 12080/12084

 

Upperby:

Hughes/Fowler mogul - 42720/42752/42834/42835/42836/42837/42875/42882/42883/42884/42899/42906

4F - 43908/44346/44452

Stanier 5 - 44792/45425

Rebuilt Patriot - 45532/45545

Jubilee - 45601/45640

Scot - 46132/46141/46162

Princess - 46200

Duchess - 46225/46230/46250

Ivatt 2 mogul - 46432/46434/46455

3F tank - 47295/47326/47415/47614

Britannia - 70000

WD 2-8-0 - 90329

Class 24 - D5012

Class 40 - D371/D381

 

Citadel - Fowler 4MT tank – 42369, Stanier 5 - 44699/44937/44983/44992, Jubilee – 45661, Ivatt 2 mogul – 46455, Class 26 - D5305, Class 40 - D287/D308/D372, Class 45 - D114

 

We travelled back to Glasgow on the Royal Scot, with an EE Type 4. I remember hanging out of the window in the vestibule at the very back of the train as a Fairburn banked us up Beattock, listening to the tank’s exhaust about 15 feet away, and watching the sparks going high in the air.

 

Carlisle to Beattock: 4F – 44009, Stanier 5 - 44899/44956/45126, Class 11 – 12079, Class 40 - D398

Beattock: Fairburn tank - 42205/42215, 8F – 48758, Caley 2P tank – 55234, Caley Mcintosh 3F - 57568

Carstairs: Stanier 5 - 44675/45173, Duchess – 46232, Caley bogie – 54463, WD 2-10-0 - 90768

Central:Class 40 - D378

 

Some highlights (among many!):

- 67664 and 67667 stored at Hurlford – I don’t know if they ever did any work after being transferred there

- 40670, withdrawn at Dumfries, had been the last 2P in service in Scotland

- 68750, a J72, withdrawn at Dumfries

- A1 60131 taking the Thames-Clyde relief south out of Carlisle

- Only 1 Brit and 2 9Fs at Kingmoor – very different from the situation two or three years later

- the last 3 Clans I needed at Kingmoor

- Two WD 2-10-0s, one at Kingmoor and one at Carstairs, both withdrawn

- All the withdrawn Hughes/Fowler moguls at Upperby. They had all been Kingmoor engines, though some had been at Canal shed for a short time before withdrawal

- Princess 46200 still at Upperby nearly a year after being withdrawn. It would stay there for more than a year longer before being scrapped.

- An 8F, 48758, working a down goods at Beattock – 8Fs were rare in Scotland at this time.

 

[pH]

September 7 1965 – a trip to some sheds in the East Midlands.

 

Gloucester: 57xx – 3675, Grange – 6876, 4F – 44264, Stanier 5 – 45385, 8F - 48291/48635, 9F – 92219, Class 08 - D3990/D3992, Class 45 - D37, Class 47/D1692/D1750

Gloucester to Worcester: 61xx – 6113, Manor – 7820, Princess – 46201, 8F - 48681

Worcester: 57xx - 3615/3616/3682, Grange – 6813, 9F - 92094/92235, Class 03 - D2135, Class 25 - D5241, Class 47 - D1641/D1699/D1724/D1738/D1757

Worcester to Birmingham: Ivatt 2 mogul – 46526, 8F – 48394, Class 25 - D5197, Class 37 - D6938/D6943, Class 45 - D123, Class 47 - D1668/D1742/D1744

New Street: Class 40 - D324/D341, Class 45 - D116, Class 47 - D1693

Birmingham to Burton: 57xx – 3770, Ivatt 4 mogul – 43149, 4F – 44057, Stanier 5 – 44859, Ivatt 2 mogul – 46448, 8F - 48375/48522/48755, A1 – 60145, WD 2-8-0 - 90491/90529, 9F – 92152, Class 08 - D3107/D3974, Class 11 - 12043/12044/12061, Class 25 - D5223/D5236/D5243/D5281, Class 44 - D8, Class 45 - D130, Class 47 - D1611/D1639/D1719

Burton: Stanier 5 – 44839, 8F - 48098/48279/48286/48345/48358/48367/48393/48662, WD 2-8-0 - 90237/90439/90501, 9F - 92159/92211, Class 08 - D3570/D3572/D3586/D4137/D4149,

Class 11 - 12050/12052, Class 25 - D5297, Class 47 - D1835

Burton to Derby: Stanier 5 – 45191, Class 47 - D1798, Class 25 - D7580

Derby: Stanier 5 – 45224, 8F - 48000/48355/48492/48627, B1- 61050, WD 2-8-0 - 90255/90390/90636, Class 11 – 12033, Class 25 - D5263/D5271/D5283/D7530/D7549/D7554/D7583,

Class 27 - D5381/D5404, Class 45 - D64, Class 47 - D1756/D1772/D1904/D1907

Derby to Nottingham: Class 25 - D7534/D7537/D7575, Class 47 - D1830

Nottingham: Class 08 - D3860, Class 25 - D5221/D7504/D7522/D7523, Class 27 - D5396, Class 45 - D101/D113/D133, Class 47 - D1621

 

We asked at the Colwick shed office if we could go round. Not only was the answer ‘No’, we got shouted out for even asking. The shedmaster then followed us out into the street and watched us as we tried to see what we could over the wall.

 

Colwick: B1- 61070/61141, O4 - 63707/63734, WD 2-8-0 - 90423/90443/90510/90540/90674/90703, Class 47 - D1822

Bulwell Forest: WD 2-8-0 – 90104

 

On to Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and a totally different welcome. The shedmaster was out in the yard as we approached the shed. Not only did he say we could go round, he apologized that there was so little variety left in the allocation, especially now that all the 4Fs had gone. He just wanted us to check in before we left.

 

Kirkby-in-Ashfield:

8F - 48096/48097/48102/48105/48156/48201/48222/48225/48272/48303/48304/48334/48342/48346/48405/48442/48541/48614/ 48621/48694

9F - 92072/92075/92093/92095

Class 25 - D5294

Class 47 - D1630/D1808/D1821/D1831

 

Staveley Barrow Hill:

Midland 0F - 41528

Midland 1F - 41708/41763/41804/41835

Ivatt 4 mogul - 43089

Jubilee - 45694

Kitson dock tank - 47001

8F - 48162/48695

WD 2-8-0 - 90084/90258/90340/90377/90509/90573/90730

9F - 92172

Class 10 - D4072

Class 17 - D8606/D8608/D8610

Class 31 - D5542/D5698/D5813

Class 37 - D6802

Class 46 - D166

Class 47 - D1886

Class D2/5(pre-TOPS) - D2409

All the small steam shunters were already out of use – some were outside on the scrap lines – but they were not officially withdrawn until more than a year later, from Langwith Junction shed.

 

In a day of varying receptions at sheds, that at Staveley G.C was the weirdest. We went into the shed office and asked the person behind the desk if we could go round. He didn’t answer, in fact he didn’t even look up from what he was reading. We asked again, and again got absolutely no reaction. So, since we hadn’t been told ‘no’, round we went.

Staveley G.C.:

O1 - 63590/63646

O4 - 63913

WD 2-8-0 - 90266/90474

Class 10 - D4063

 

Chesterfield: Class 08 - D3663, Class 31 - D5826, Class 45 - D85, Class 46 - D145

Chesterfield to Derby: 8F - 48060/48354, 9F – 92088, Class 08 - D3859, Class 31 - D5837, Class 45 - D28/D88, Class 47 - D1833

Derby: Class 11 – 12053, Stanier 5 – 44682, 8F - 48100/48353/48666, WD 2-8-0 – 90649, Class 08 - D3587, Class 25 - D5253/D5263/D5283/ D7549/D7629, Class 45 - D66/D89, Class 46 - D138/D149, Class 47 - D1597

Derby to Birmingham: Stanier 5 – 44941, 8F – 48127

New Street: Stanier 5 – 45065, Ivatt 2 mogul – 46454, Class 45/D95, Class 47 - D1855

Birmingham to Gloucester: Class 37 - D6938/D6939/D6941/D6944

Gloucester: Standard 4 mogul – 76039, Class 47 - D1679

[pH]

September 7, 1968 – the end! My third and last visit to Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry. Since I had been there in 1965 and 1967, I didn’t see much that was new. However, it was my final experience of walking between long rows of steam engines, even if they were all dead. For the record, my last cop was 4953 (I don’t know how I’d missed this before – it had been there since 1963) and the last number I ever wrote down in my notebook was 9466.

 

I only marked 4 more numbers in my ‘Combine’ after that day – my last 3 Deltics (5, 8 and 17) and an EE Type 4 that I knew would give me a run of 30 or so. The main aim had been to see steam engines, and when they were gone, I just wasn’t interested in the same way.

[johnw1]

On this day in History – Derby Works – 8th September 1975

 

08014/37/43/45/74, 08104/79/82/83/87, 08283, 08302/37/51/74, 08682/91/97, 08748/84, 08800/01/03/07/15/32/39/41/94/99, 08914, 20029, 24086, 25006/45/55/64/65, 25103/22/25, 25318/25, (Class 45) 125, 45004/14/27/35/36/44/54/58/60/62/72/75, 45104/10/23/49, 46002/07/16/33, steam 46203

 

I photographed a number of these engines above in later life and they can be seen in this collection.

 

http://pics-by-john.photoblog.org.uk/c1893694.html

[pH]

September 9 1965 – Oxford and Banbury sheds.

 

Gloucester: 61xx - 6160

Oxford: 8F – 48056, Class 24 - D5002/D5035, Class 35 - D7049, Class 47 - D1709

 

Oxford shed:

57xx - 3677/3751/3775/9653/9773/9789

Hall - 4962/5933/6927/6953/6956/6961/6963/6983/6998/7912/7917

61xx - 6108/6145

Grange - 6848/6849/6861/6874

8F - 48490

Standard 5 - 73003/73021/73023/73030/73031

9F - 92223

Class 47 - D1688

By this time, many ex-GWR locos were in pretty bad physical shape. 6848 here, for example, had lost its nameplates, cabside numberplates, smokebox numberplate and shedplate. Its number was painted on the front bufferbeam.

 

Oxford to Banbury: Standard 5 – 73014

 

Banbury shed:

56xx - 6644/6697

Grange - 6868

Hall - 4920/6911/6916/6917/6922/6930/6931/6934/6947/6951/6976

BoB - 34051

4F - 44560

Stanier 5 - 44847

Ivatt 2 mogul - 46428

8F - 48220/48603/48671

Standard 5 - 73048/73066

Standard 4 - 75005

9F - 92013/92067/92228

Class 08 - D3109/D3110

Class 47 - D1683/D1745

A couple of non-GWR engines of interest here. 34051 ‘Winston Churchill’ was dead inside the shed. A shed worker shed said it had failed and he didn’t know if it would be repaired or withdrawn. 44560 was an ex-S&DJR engine, the last tender engine belonging to that company to be taken out of service.

 

Banbury station: Hall - 6903/6923, Standard 4 – 75000, 9F – 92074, Class 25 - D7520, Class 37 - D6811, Class 47 - D1603/D1687/D1710/D1715/D1751

D6811 brought in the York-Bournemouth and was replaced by 4920. We took this train back to Oxford.

Oxford: 61xx – 6135, 8F - 48474/48646/48678, Standard 5 - 73084, 9F - 92227

[pH]

September 10, 1965 – from Gloucester to Basingstoke for the day.

 

Gloucester: Hall – 6932, Class 35 - D7020

Stroud: 5101 class – 4100

Swindon: 9F – 92227, Class 03 - D2088/D2131/D2186, Class 08 - D3512/D3953/D4120/D4123/D4124, Class 14 - D9536, Class 35 - D7019/D7049/D7089, Class 47 - D1676, Class 52 - D1024/D1025/D1044, Class D3/10(pre-TOPS) – 15100 (this was the first GWR ‘mainline’ diesel shunter).

Didcot: Hall – 6910, 9F – 92113, Class 08 - D3949/D3269/D3518/D3831

Reading: Class 14 - D9521, Class 22 - D6336, Class 33 - D6597, Class 35 - D7028/D7076, Class 43 - D860, Class 47 - D1719/D1724, Class 52 - D1011/D1026/D1036/ D1046/D1068/D1073

 

Basingstoke:

Hall - 6991/7912

S15 – 30837

WC - 34001/34004/34005/34018/34037/34042/34044/34046/34097/34103/34108

BB - 34053/34057/34060/34071/34090

MN - 35012/35029

Ivatt 2 tank – 41294

8F – 48625

Standard 5 - 73020/73029/73084/73092/73110/73169

Standard 4 – 75005

Standard 4 mogul – 76066

Class 08 - D3012/D3046

Class 33 - D6528/D6530/D6532/D6535/D6537/D6540/D6546

Class 35 - D7017/D7045

Class 42 - D824/D831/D832/D870

34046 was on the northbound ‘Pines Express’, 34071 on the Bournemouth-York, and 35029 on the ‘Bournemouth Belle’

 

Reading: Class 08 - D3268, Class 43 - D854, Class 47 - D1586, Class 52 - D1000/D1029/D1072

Goring: Class 47 - D1732

Didcot: Hall – 6993, 94xx – 8459, 9F – 92223, Class 35 - D7065, Class 52 - D1028

Didcot to Swindon: Hall – 7909, Class 35 - D7066/D7082, Class 47 - D1748, Class 52 - D1013

Swindon: Hall – 7907, 8F – 48347, Class 08 - D4121, Class 35 - D7007/D7034

Gloucester: Ivatt 2 tank – 41238, Stanier 5 – 44962, 8F – 48367, Class 08 - D3991/D3992, Class 35 - D7033, Class 37 - D6954, Class 45 - D36

[pH]

September 11 1965 – an afternoon at the lineside at Churchdown, between Gloucester and Cheltenham.

 

Hall - 5971

61xx - 6160

Grange - 6819/6833

8F - 48628

9F - 92073/92227/92231

Class 40 - D337

Class 45 - D14/D22/D40

Class 47 - D1587/D1613/D1661/D1713/D1778

Class 52 - D1042

 

D1661 ‘North Star’ was one of the few Class 47s then named.

[pH]

September 14, 1964 at Gourock.

 

There was a Blackpool Illuminations excursion returning that evening, due about 9.30, if I remember correctly. Two of us went down to the station to see what was on it. The staff said it was going to be late, but it was already past Glasgow, so we decided to stay anyway. We would be very glad we did.

 

About 11, in came the excursion with Jubilee 45589 of Wakefield (56A) shed, a Carlisle Kingmoor crew and no conductor! They had overshot Woodhall and had to back up, and the train was so long that they had had to draw up at several stations from there onwards, which accounted for the extra lateness.

 

The train had been put into platform 1 at Gourock (numbered 3 today), which at that time extended well past the ticket barrier – it had been used for boat expresses in Caledonian days, and this was to get passengers closer to the steamers.

 

Local crews knew to stop short of the ticket barrier, but this crew crept forward round the tight curve, looking for the buffers. Station staff were running after them, shouting to stop, while we watched transfixed as the Jubilee’s right –hand cylinder moved along an inch or so from the platform edge. They eventually stopped with 2 carriages past the barrier and, fortunately, before removing any platform coping stones.

 

45589 was the last Jubilee I saw at Gourock.

 

(Th-th-th-that's all folks!- I've been through all my significant notes. Anything else would just be a very few numbers per day. I may re-do a couple of the larger days that I did early on, where I didn't list everything I saw - I've since worked out how to use Excel and Word together to produce ordered lists of numbers. But I've got nothing else new. I hope these posts were of some interest - going through old notebooks was pure nostalgia for me.

Peter Hughes)

[br2975]

Not quite "on this day in history" but historically significant at this time with the visit to the UK of Pope Benedict XVI.

.

On 2nd. June 1982 Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Coopers Field, Cardiff and attended a youth rally at Ninian Park.

.

Unfortunately I was required to work (from 2100hrs 1st. June until 1700hrs 2nd June - cue violins) so had to rely on friends sightings of the various specials in connection with these events.

.

If anyone can fill in the gaps, it would be appreciated.

.

Excursions and Special Trains to / from Cardiff Central

in connection with the visit of

H.H. Pope John Paul II 2nd. June, 1982.

 

 

47186 1Z49 20.40 ex Plymouth then 09.15 ex Barry Island – Bristol T.M.

45009 1Z52 22.30 ex Plymouth

47538 1Z99 ex Chester

50007 1Z29 ex Worcester

47543 1Z26 ex Paignton

47107 1Z60 ex Paddington

47202 1Z98 ex Llandudno Junction

47559 1Z56 ex Paignton

47530 1Z20 ex Exeter

47119 1Z40 ex Penzance

47477 1Z24 ex Bristol TM

47144 1Z61 ex Westbury

47478 1Z30 ex ?

37269 1Z41 ex Barry, then ECS to Gloucester to work; 1Z16 ex Gloucester

47106 1Z21 ex Stroud

47429 1Z55 ex Fishguard - Bristol, then to work 1Z55 ex Bristol TM

47459 1Z97 01.47 ex Crewe (10 Mk.1)

47098 1Z99 ex Barry, then ECS ? to Bristol Parkway to work; 1Z99 ex Bristol Pkwy, then to work 1Z99 ? 16.13 Cardiff - Llandudno Jcn

45076 1Z47 ex Crewe

47101 1Z38 ex Plymouth

47103 1Z19 ex Barry, then ECS to Chepstow, to work 1Z19 06.50 Chepstow - Milford Haven (06.50 to Swansea ?)

40148 1Z96 ex Hollinwood nr Oldham vice failed Cl.47

47015 1Z17 ex ?, ECS to Hereford, to work; 1Z17 ex Hereford

47233 1Z90 ex Llandudno Junction

47079 1Z35 ex Chepstow

47079 19.20 Cardiff - Penzance

47029 1Z83 ex Hereford, then to work 12.15 Cardiff - Portsmouth

45070 1Z22 ex Penzance

47177 1Z49 ex Bristol TM

47491 1Z63 ex Holyhead ?

47069 1Z35 ex Barry

47008 1Z91 ex Worcester

47561 1Z59 ex Weston-super-Mare, then to work 1Z66 11.45 to Crewe (ex Barry ?)

47196 1Z56 ex Chepstow

47121 ex Barry

45048 1Z77

47088 1Z09

47228 1Z94 ex Manchester

37302 1Z23 ex Bristol TM, then to work; 12.35 Cardiff – Barry Island and 1Z25 14.15 Barry Island – Bristol T.M. then to work; 17.22 Bristol-Cardiff

37090 08.20 Swansea (- Cardiff ?), then to work;

1Z40 15.10 Barry Island – Bristol T.M.

47361 1Z88 ex Portsmouth

47087 1Z66 ex Crewe

47428 1Z69 ex Rock Ferry

47279 1Z74, then 1Z63 to Holyhead

47105 1Z52

47105 1Z61 20.05 Cardiff Central - Paddington

47244 1Z46, then 1Z30 18.45 to Birmingham

37258 1Z97, ? then to work; 10.15 Bristol T.M. – Ninian Park

37258 1Z23 15.25 Gloucester - Milford Haven (16.59 ex Cardiff)

47142 16.15 Cardiff - Portsmouth

47487 1Z28 16.25 Cardiff - Paignton

47530 19.12 Cardiff - Basingstoke

37257 1Z17 14.55 Cardiff - Barry Island, then to work, 1Z22 16.30 Barry Island - Gloucester (or S.T.Jct. ?) or Bristol (17.07 ex Cardiff)

31139+31216 1Z83 1800 Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour

47105 1Z61 20.05 Cardiff Central - Paddington

37256 13.45 Cardiff – Bristol T.M.

47229 19.30 Bristol T.M. – Fishguard Harbour

37295 20.05 Barry Island – Cheltenham Spa.

 

I spent most of the day working in the company of the father of another subscriber to this forum, (Black Rat), attempting to prevent priests and nuns storming the papal dias, almost surreal when I look back..

.

Brian R

[johnw1]

On this day in History – Crewe Works – 20th September 1975

 

20009/35/64, 25264, 25304, 27006/25, 40003/10/12/14/22/26/38/40/49/57/70/74/76/77/80/86/91/98, 40100/03/14/26/30/37/47/52/65/69/80/89/92/93/96/97, 43002, 47014/15/18/19/38/46/59/63/66/91/98, 47100/02/06/14/15/20/24/36/58/93/95, 47213/41/65/86, 47358/65/71, 47402/05/10/15/22/24/27/34/50/62/69/95, 47508/14/40/53, 50002/41, 76044/56, 81003, 82003, 83011, 84005, 85013, 86002/10/16, 86205/09/11/17/42/35/58, 87004/23, 87101

 

I photographed a number of these engines above in later life and they can be seen in this collection.

 

http://pics-by-john.photoblog.org.uk/c1898288.html

[eastwestdivide]

Not quite "on this day in history" but historically significant at this time with the visit to the UK of Pope Benedict XVI.

.

On 2nd. June 1982 Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Coopers Field, Cardiff and attended a youth rally at Ninian Park.

.

And he also visited Coventry in 1982 (30 May?) - I was at Leicester at the time, and three x 12-car Marylebone DMUs* arrived as empties for various specials. Nothing so exotic as all those loco-hauled ones you had in Cardiff.

*Yes that's 3 trains, each train of 3 x 4-car sets.

[AberdeenBill]

September 14, 1964 at Gourock.

 

There was a Blackpool Illuminations excursion returning that evening, due about 9.30, if I remember correctly. Two of us went down to the station to see what was on it. The staff said it was going to be late, but it was already past Glasgow, so we decided to stay anyway. We would be very glad we did.

 

About 11, in came the excursion with Jubilee 45589 of Wakefield (56A) shed, a Carlisle Kingmoor crew and no conductor! They had overshot Woodhall and had to back up, and the train was so long that they had had to draw up at several stations from there onwards, which accounted for the extra lateness.

 

The train had been put into platform 1 at Gourock (numbered 3 today), which at that time extended well past the ticket barrier – it had been used for boat expresses in Caledonian days, and this was to get passengers closer to the steamers.

 

Local crews knew to stop short of the ticket barrier, but this crew crept forward round the tight curve, looking for the buffers. Station staff were running after them, shouting to stop, while we watched transfixed as the Jubilee’s right –hand cylinder moved along an inch or so from the platform edge. They eventually stopped with 2 carriages past the barrier and, fortunately, before removing any platform coping stones.

 

45589 was the last Jubilee I saw at Gourock.

 

(Th-th-th-that's all folks!- I've been through all my significant notes. Anything else would just be a very few numbers per day. I may re-do a couple of the larger days that I did early on, where I didn't list everything I saw - I've since worked out how to use Excel and Word together to produce ordered lists of numbers. But I've got nothing else new. I hope these posts were of some interest - going through old notebooks was pure nostalgia for me.

Peter Hughes)

 

Thanks so much Peter for all the work in entering this mass of information. Who'd have thought that over 40 years' later you would be using technology undreamed of at the time to share these invaluable records.

 

Best regards,

Bill

[johnw1]

On this day in History – South Wales – 30th September 1973

 

A tour of South Wales MPD’s and Stabling Points

 

Aberbeeg

Class 08 (3824, 4024), class 37 (6842, 6923/48/95)

Aberdare

Class 08 (3761), class 37 (6896, 6914/32/80/86)

Pantyffynnon

Class 08 (3745), class 37 (6877/81/89. 6944)

Llanelli

Class 37 (6607, 6990/92/96), class 47 (1635/51/63, 1920)

Landore MPD (87E)

Class 03 (2119/20/22/44), class 08 (3828, 3987, 4127), class 37 (6600, 6859/78, 6924/30/34/54), class 47 (1574/84/89, 1609/15/56/57/77, 1948), class 52 (1022/35)

Swansea East Dock

Class 08 (3356, 3804/25/27/30, 3986), class37 (6601, 6903/18/21/58/82/89)

Briton Ferry

Class 08 (3812, 4174)

Margam MPD (87B)

Class 08 (3431/32/35/36/37/38), class 25 (7502/03), class 37 (6892, 6908/10/22/57/99), class 46 (159), class 47 (1637, 1732, 1902/12/32/36/47)

Port Talbot

Class 08 (3430)

Llantrisant

Class 08 (3604), class 37 (6913/78)

Radyr

Class 08 (3258, 3420/22, 3748/56/60), class 37 (6858/82, 6906/09/31/41/81/93/98), PWM651

Cardiff Central

Class 08 (3423, 3603), class 47 (1954, 47337)

Cardiff Canton MPD (86A)

Class 03 (2142), class 08 (3259/64/66, 3409, 3818, 3960, 4182), class 11 (12054), class 25 (7514), class 35 (7098), class 37 (6605, 6880/85/86/88, 6910/17/25/39/76/88/94/97), class 45 (93), class 47 (1540/92, 1604/39/44/46/62/65/66, 1717/23/47, 1913/23/26), class 52 (1012/49/59/65), steam 9600

Barry

Class 08 (3421/24), class 47 (1901/06)

Dinas Powis

Class 37 (6979)

Cardiff Docks

Class 08 (3256/60/62/63/68, 3593)

Newport Ebbw Junction MPD ((86B)

Class 08 (3185, 3433, 3594, 3602, 3762, 3806/19, 4021), class 25 (5180/82, 7504/05/11/14/16/17/21/69, 25169), class 37 (6608, 6890, 6929/36/54/56/73/74/95), class 47 (1986), class 53 (1200), PWM650

Newport Docks

Class 08 (3972, 4011/16, 4124)

Newport

Class 08 (3596, 4014)

Severn Tunnel Junction

Class 08 (3189, 3990, 4012, 4162), class 25 (7508/20, 25282), class 31 (5530, 5818), class 37 (6977), class 45 (78), class 46 (162), class 47 (1563, 1730/60, 1938), class 52 (1032)

 

I photographed a number of these engines above in later life and they can be seen in this collection.

 

http://pics-by-john.photoblog.org.uk/c1902092.html

[steve1]

30th Sept 2000 - I got married.

 

steve

[johnw1]

On this Day in History – Birmingham and Severn Valley – 4th October 1970

 

On this day forty years ago I spent the morning touring Birmingham area MPD’s (Saltley, Tyseley and Bescot) and stabling points (Duddeston and Wolverhampton) and the afternoon on the Seven Valley Railway. This is what I saw that day:

Class 08 (3020/27/88, 3106/07/08/10/11/16/68/91, 3250, 3511/38/76/82, 3752/80/81, 3838/39/65, 3974/77/78/79, 4149/50), class 11 (12056/87), class 20 (8068, 8151/63/69), class 24 (5054/80/85), class 25 (5236/51/67/69/95, 7501/08/12/13/27/28/58/62/89, 7610/30/41/44), class 31 (5617), class 40 (245/98, 373), class 45 (43/90/98, 102/08/19/23), class 46 (142/85), class 47 (1683/84/85/93/94/98/99, 1700/10/11/12/14/17/25/37/42/46/49/91, 1816/18, 1970/96), class 81 (E3005/16/17/22/23), class 85 (E3059/61/64/90), class 86 (E3103/24/26/34/65), GWR steam 1501, 3205, LMS steam 43106, 46443, 45110, 47383.

 

Locomotives of note: Class 11 shunters 12056 and 12087 which would be withdrawn in the next year (October 1971 and July 1971 respectively),

 

I photographed a number of these engines above in later life and they can be seen in this collection.

 

http://pics-by-john.photoblog.org.uk/c1903448.html

[Commoner]

Monday 4th October 1976 - 125mph operation started on the WR as HSTs commenced working a number of accelerated services on the London-Bristol/South Wales route. 34 years on two Valenta engined power cars are still at work on Grand Central, but won't survive in this condition to see the 35th anniversary of the commencement of HST operation. How time flys! Does anybody have any recollections/observations from the start of the HST service on 4th October 1976?

[johnw1]

On this Day in History – Doncaster Works – 5th October 1975

 

(class 03) 2173, 03014/58/78/91, 03104/09/55, (class 08) 3001/24/28/53, 08024/63/92, 08138/62, 08256, 08369, 08402/35, 08530/43, 08752, 08867/88, 31004/08/11/16, 31102/41/50/66/73/82/88/99, 31205/12/50/77/83, 31401/03/09/23, 37001/06/16/22/32/76, 37121/43/64/72/92, 37256/67/81, 55001/07/09/16, 84001/08

 

I photographed a number of these engines above in later life and they can be seen in this collection.

 

http://pics-by-john.photoblog.org.uk/c1903820.html

[johnw1]

This Day in History – Leeds, York and Darlington – 11th October 1969

 

A tour of a number of MPD’s in Yorkshire and Durham on the 11th October 1969 produced the following:

Knottingley (55G)

Class 03 (2081, 2161/73), class 08 (3379), class 37 (6733, 6915/39), class 47 (1892/93/94, 1999).

York (55B)

Class 03 (2051/73/75), class 08 (3238/39, 3319/20, 3872), class 20 (8018/28/62, 8159, 8305), class 24 (5099), class 37 (6731/32/91, 6814, 6951), class 40 (238/39/51/71/72/75, 353/98), class 45 (23), class 46 (185), class 47 (1508/14/17), Departmental No.84/86, Steam 60019, 60532.

Thornaby (51L)

Class 03 (2057/61/68/70/76, 2149), class 04 (2332), class 08 (3317, 3406, 3672, 3943), class 10 (3143/44), class 17 (8601/02/03/04), class 25 (5158), class 37 (6741/62/63/66/75/76//78, 6824/26/34/72), class 47 (1523, 1758/69/85, 1862), Departmental No.56/82/87, Steam 63395, 65894.

Darlington (51A)

Class 03 (2080, 2109/67), class 04 (2206), class 08 (3227/29/35/41, 3380), class 20 (8302/08), class 25 (5157/64), class 37 (6765/74/85), class 40 (392), class 47 (1105).

Leeds Neville Hill 55H: class 03 (2112), class 04 (2242/44/48/64), class 08 (3001, 3375, 3657, 4042/43), class 47 (1673, 1763), class 55 (9009), Departmental No.84/86, Steam 61994, 62005, 69621.

Leeds Holbeck (55A)

Class 08 (3658), class 24 (5100), class 25 (5179, 5211, 7571, 7624/54), class 40 (208), class 47 (1501)

Healey Mills (55C)

Class 03 (2097, 2164), class 08 (3071, 3230/31, 3456, 3873, 3941), class 31 (5862), class 37 (6836/61/67/68/70, 6914/16/17/20/22/23/28/29/39/40/45/46/49/50), class 40 (350/51/52/55/56/94/95/96/97).

 

This gave a total of one hundred and sixty two diesels and seven steam locomotives.

 

Of note are the five department Ruston and Hornsby 4W diesel mechanical shunters 56/82/84/86/87, two of which (56/87) were withdrawn in 1970 the remainder surviving until 1976.

2332 at Thornaby which had been withdrawn in June 1969, would be sold to the National Coal Board and would survive until condemned and broken up in 1986.

3143 and 3144 at Thornaby which had been withdrawn in August and July 1969 respectively. 3143 would be broken up in April 1970 whereas 3144 would be broken up by the end of the month.

2206 at Darlington which was withdrawn in July 1969 and would be broken up within two months in December 1969.

The four class 04’s at Neville Hill with 2242/64 being withdrawn during October 1969 and 2244/48 being withdrawn in June 1970. The first two were broken up by 1971 however 2244 survived in industrial service until 1981 and 2248 survived until 1987.

The four Clayton (class 17) locomotives at Thornaby’ which were always associated with Scotland but were actually allocated to Thornaby at this time.

 

I photographed a number of these engines above in later life and they can be seen in this collection.

 

http://pics-by-john.photoblog.org.uk/c1905466.html

[mikemeg]

This day in history - York - October 11th 1958

 

On that day, now more than half a century ago, an eleven year old lad with two of his mates, made his first spotting trip away from his home town. Platform 9 at Hull Paragon station for the 8.25 all stations to York - an eight car multiple unit; four two car Cravens sets. The line from Hull to York still had many NER slotted post lower quadrant signals, stations with working goods yards and pick up goods trains. The entire line was much as it would have appeared in Victorian times, though then none of us had any idea of what we were passing through.

 

As we drew into York, over Lendal bridge, we saw our first green engine of the day and the first V2 any of us had ever seen, as it slid into the station - 60872 Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. I can still see that V2 as it moved majestically into York station.

 

Too many locomotives on that day to enumerate and you don't want yet another long list of numbers. Memories of that day - hundreds :-

 

Looking through the window of the repair shop at the back of York shed to see three A1's - Boswell, Sea Eagle and Balmoral, 60138, 139 and 140. Where did they get those incredible names from. Later we would see another seven A1's but none more appropriately named than Hal O'the Wynd, was there ever a more evocative name for a locomotive.

 

We saw nine A3's, six A2's - including an A2/2, Earl Marischal - on that day but only once would we thrill to the unmistakable sound of a chime whistle announcing the passing or arrival of an A4, 60015 Quicksilver.

 

Jubilees and an Unrebuilt and unnamed Patriot came in on the Bristol and Birmingham trains; those going on northwards changing locomotives to Pacifics or V2's.

 

Though we couldn't get into or round the two turntables in the shed, we were able to find a hole in the fence and do the locomotive yard and what a sight that was. Row upon row of locomotives, of two dozen or more different classes B1's, B16's, K1's, K3's, D49's and many more.

 

An almost incessant stream of freights passed, either through the station or taking the avoiding lines at Holgate. Ex LNER 2-8-0's, LMS 8F's and Back 5's and Austerities and 9F's, over twenty different 9F's in the day, plus J39's, one J27 and a host of B1's, K1's and K3's.

 

In the day we saw almost two hundred steam locos and various diesel shunters and multiple units; the later main line diesels had not yet made their appearance beyond the first examples of some classes.

 

Home on the 7.13 stopper to Hull, sitting in a compartment of a Gresley coach and pulled by B1 61304. Tired, quite grubby but with three full pages of the new notebook filled with numbers.

 

Now, it seems almost beyond belief that so many trains, so many locomotives of so many different types could be seen in a single place on a single day.

 

I still consider myself lucky to have seen those days, yet only seven or eight years before that the locomotive numbers and variety would have been even more staggering.

 

Cheers

 

Mike

[johnw1]

On this day in History - Folkestone and Ashford – 13th October 1973

 

An excursion from Nottingham to Folkestone and Ashford behind class 47 1839 generated the following sightings:

 

Class 08 (3093/95, 3223/25, 3463/66/68, 3586/87, 3776/88, 3817/63 3996, 4015), class 09 (3671, 4099, 4101/02/10), class 20 (8063/88), class 25 (5189, 5220/44, 7556/62), class 31 (5630), class 33 (6500/52/67/68/71/78/85/88), class 45 (17/46/49/83, 115, 45001, 45103/05/11), class 47 (1803/13/39), class 71 (E5002/03/04/06/07/08/10/11/12/13), class 73 (E6008/09/22/29/35/45/48), class 74 (E6101), steam (31263).

 

Of note are 3093 and 3095 at Chart Leacon MPD which were both withdrawn and are within four months of being broken up, ten out of fourteen class 71’s seen in the day and the start of the TOPS renumbering scheme with four class 45’s with there new numbers

 

I photographed a number of these engines above in later life and they can be seen in this collection.

 

http://pics-by-john.photoblog.org.uk/c1906258.html