Western Identifications wanted

[DJM Dave]

Hi everyone,

 

Whilst being slightly too young to see the Westerns in service, i do however, remember a trip in March/April of 77 to Cardiff on an HST from Maidenhead.

 

Now i knew of the Westerns and had my face at the coach window as we passed Swindon.

 

Obviously i saw loads of withdrawn Westerns but never got any numbers.

 

I dont suppose anyone on here might have a liost for me to fill in the memory gaps? A picture or 2 would be icing on the cake if possible.

 

I've always wondered what they were, and maybe you can help?

cheers

Dave

[Andy1963]

Adrian Curtis is the man you need for that, his books Westerns Vol 1 and Westerns Vol 2 list all the dates the loco's went to Swindon and when they were scrapped. His next book, due out later this years Westerns Vol 3 (surprisingly) details the disposal of all of the class including the dates they went into A shop for stripping and when the cutters were let lose on them in the scrap yard. Link below.

 

http://www.westernlegacypublications.com/westernsvol3new.htm

[D1030western musketeer]

Sorry i have not replied to this post earlier but happy to help.

I did visit swindon works around august 77 so a few months out but doubt if any of those westerns i see changed from your time of seeing them.

Westerns on this day see were.

1015/1033/1070/1058/1071/1071 and 1023 these would of being hidden to see from a passing train.

Those outside as follows 1009/1034/1011/1001/1021/1064/1028/1025/1012/1003/1006/1051 and 1065.

The only western possibly on my list seen this day 1022 was the last to leave old oak in may 77 so would have not been seen at your time.

I must add D1011 i my self remember seeing all the time from a passing train right up till early 79 and had weeds coming out of her roof.

Hope this helps.

And meery xmas and jolly new year to all western fans.

 

richard.

[Downendian]

Somehow missed this post. I should be able to find the numbers from either my own records or from ICRS newsletters, will look when I'm back in Devon next week.

Looking forward to the Curtis book- they are extensively researched and reliable. For similar reasons want to know the IDs of Westerns in the con yard, October 1974. I'm pretty certain D1032 and D1038 were there, unfortunately I never saw the early casualties, but then did see most in service.

 

Neil

[D1030western musketeer]

Whoops.

seemed to of posted 1071 listed twice should of been D1056 and also missed out 1068 which did replace 1062/1015 on the turntable for a short while.

I wll add my only western seen being torched was a sad sight in may 76 was D1027 and the cutters even told me they were ashamed of cutting such fine locos but buisness was buisness ,also that day were 1040/1026 lifted high and dry in A shop having there fuel tanks dropped.This made D1026 my highest seen western seeing her 18 times.I also did,nt get see the earlier withdrawels and have reqretted this ever since but if it was,nt for seeing D1030 at bedford in nov 73 may have missed them all together as was stuck and lived on the eastern region just outside biggleswade.

Sad times but memories.

 

richard.

['CHARD]

Remember that forlorn '77 community in the weed and scrap-strewn wilderness as though it was yesterday.  My first recorded 52 was 1067 in July 1975, from New Street to Banbury, but it wasn't until another year had passed, as a ten year-old in the long hot summer of '76, that a couple of older, experienced lads (aged 11 and 12!) told me that 'the Westerns' were being withdrawn before the year end.  So by the time I was galvanized to proper action there were only two dozen or so left in traffic.

 

The first time I visited Swindon, it was mindblowing to realise that some of the locos hadn't even appeared in the '76 Locoshed; can't recall which without reference to the books, but such exotica as 1003, 1006 and 1012 seemed rare beyond belief.  Then 1011 seemed to survive forever, still seen there on subsequent visits, gradually being reabsorbed back into the landscape.

[Downendian]

Dave

Unable to post photos for some reason, but I've hit the jackpot.

I've got three photos in my collection taken in the con yard 20th April 1977.

The Westerns there were:

D1005, D1063, D1021, D1034, D1011 (behind 24 037)

D1012, D1025 and D1064 at top of con yard

D1071, D1056 and D1058 outside A shop. rumours were that Foster Yeoman were to purchase these three for stone trains, but the deal fell through.

Will try and post photos when I can.

Neil

[Downendian]

Dave

D1005 (leading) D1063 D1021 D1034 and D1011 with 24037 in background

D1012 D1025 D1064 top of con yard

D1071 (leading) D1056 D1058 outside works

Firebrand and Monitor were among my favourites

 

Neil

['CHARD]

Like many on here I reckon, I stood in the exact spot where those three shots were taken.  A couple of years later, 1056, 1070 and 1071 (or was it 71 and 72) were still tucked away inside the works, complete or so it seemed.  March '79 I think, the last time I saw 52s at Swindon.

[D1030western musketeer]

A smashing set of photos there and sad reminders of my 2 visits to swindon.

As stated my 2nd one being august 77 1056/1058/1070 and 1071 has been moved and covered up round the back.I believe 1005 was cut very quickly after arrival after these pics were taken.

 

richard.

['CHARD]

1005 was one of the two dozen I saw in traffic in the last year, most likely on the New St - Padd diagrams in late '76.  Some of the locos seemed to be in lovely nick, even then Laira was still performing its magic.

 

Of the late survivors 1005, 1009, 1056 and the 1070-72 trio seemed far, far too good to meet the cutter.

[Downendian]

Just for interest I've dug out my notes (well more precisely the archive "on this day in history thread on an old version of RMweb).

 

Swindon works

Sunday 26th January 1975

 

Hymeks D7000; D7016; D7031; D7032; D7054 (in green, small panel); D7055; D7068; D7074: D7097: D7098

Warships D806, D824

Westerns D1007, D1008, D1014, D1017, D1045, D1061, D1062, D1066, D1073

DMUs 50648/695/706/835/888; 51132/307/322/367/409/412; 55031/035; 59034/296/474/519

Scrapped ScR inter city units SC79086/089/090/100/103/105/155/156/158/161/166

Eastern region EMU 452

 

It was a period where the Hymeks still outnumbered the Westerns in the Con yard- and the remnants of the Warship cull still there.

Unfortunately though I'd missed the ends of the class 22s and 43s.

I agree with Chard's description of the atmosphere there at the time. Exotic beasts such as Western Warrior - which I had thought had gone with the first phase of western withdrawals, and the macabre sight of Western Talisman with heavily scarred flanks from the West Ealing disaster. Most of the other Westerns I'd seen in service the previous summer, and it was my first real experience of "progress" and how things never stay the same.

To me as a 13 year old, the Hymeks, Warships and Westerns seemed old. Of course they were not, and in modern day terms were comparatively new diesels.

Edit : I also remember seeing the remnants of a Hymek body - clearly had been cut up the previous week. My research has suggested that this machine may have been D7009.

Neil

[Rugd1022]

1005 was one of the two dozen I saw in traffic in the last year, most likely on the New St - Padd diagrams in late '76.  Some of the locos seemed to be in lovely nick, even then Laira was still performing its magic.

 

Of the late survivors 1005, 1009, 1056 and the 1070-72 trio seemed far, far too good to meet the cutter.

 

Of those Chard, 1009 was a candidate for preservation at the time, and if memory serves (ie: the books aren't to hand) it was withdrawn with a broken spring of all things. Both of it's Maybachs ended up with a Dutch boating company...! I have great memories of 1056 on the Western China Clay tour of 4/12/76... a weekend I'll never, ever forget ;O)

['CHARD]

Not happy times for 1001:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roger_sutcliffe/5953958004/in/set-72157626278361184/

[steve22]

 Such a waste to go so soon, like many others before and since.  And we never see those responsible for the premature demise of these fine locos (and other ones too, steam or diesel) standing by them, proclaiming, "Look what we've done with all your money, dear citizens and tax payers!" 

[Downendian]

Dave - thanks for the PM, Hope the pics in this thread were OK, as I said happy to email rescans if you like.

Neil

[mispentyouth62]

I know that this is an old thread but I'm in the process of digging through my old childhood photos and notes that are taking me back to days when I was drawn to the rare and dying hydraulics at Swindon works.  My first visit was with my grandfather on 5th September 1976 when we thought there was an open day but this had been cancelled unbeknown to my grandfather.  Not to be totally outdone, my brother and I managed to get into the yard from the back where I recorded some valuable first sightings of Westerns.  Sadly we missed some because from memory, I was reluctant to wander too far and get seen!  Missed were 1003, 1006, 1030, 1031, 1035, 1046, 1047, 1067 and 1068 which from records were all extant, some just about!  I would love to know which ones were in the yard and which ones tucked away?

 

Next visit was a passing train view on 26th March 1977 where a few poor photos were taken which I will try and attach.  1005 was I believe outside the works on this date and the only other identifiable western was 1015 on the turntable.

 

On 1st Feb 1978 I formally visited the works for the first time and recorded 1058, 1033, 1070, 1056, 1015, 1071, 1009, 1022, 1034, 1011, 1021, 1028, 1025, 1012, 1001 & 1065 (cabs & parts)

[Downendian]

You'd have definately seen D1003 - she was on "point duty" at the top of the yard for most of 1976, until she was cut. There are many pics in the press to confirm.

Late last year I had it confirmed that I saw D1032 and D1038 outside the works in Oct 1974 when two new photos were posted here so these confirmed sightings can be done decades after!

[mispentyouth62]

Thanks for you response Downendian - very much appreciated.  If only I could go back with the camera I have now!  A tardis please :-)