leekman Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Managed to sort through and found a shot of Three Spires Sidings taken from Lythalls Lane about December 1992 Also found this of 31289 approaching Judds Lane Footbridge in October 1991 on a Sunday possibly in connection with engineering work. The supports of the gas holders are visible just in the background. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 A few more pics, this time from Three Spires. In the '80s Three Spires yard handled incoming coal from the Nottingham area for the Homefire plant and outgoing MGR traffic to Didcot Power Station, Garston Docks and household coal tripped to Bescot (and later Washwood Heath). Here 45048 "The Royal Marines" departs from Three Spires on 12th August, 1983 with 8D85, the 0918 empties to Toton, while 56065 arrives light from Saltley for the 7V44 0939 MGR to Didcot Power Station. 56065 then departs from Three Spires Junction Yard on 12th August, 1983, with 7V44. Having backed out of the yard, 20160 & 20060 depart with the 6D85 0830 Three Spires Junc-Toton New Bank empty HTVs on 20th June 1985. 31247 passes Three Spires 'box with the 7Z07 0430 Walsall CCE-Walsall CCE weedkiller early on 20th June 1985. 58016 departs from Three Spires Junction on 18th October 1985 with a 7Z60 1335 additional MGR to Didcot Power Station 47099 arrives at Three Spires Junc with the 9X48 1230 Tyseley TMD-Three Spires on 23rd April 1986. 9X48 conveyed private shunter NCB No. 1 returning to Coventry Colliery after tyre turning at Tyseley. That ends tonight's session. More to follow in due course.... All other contributions most welcome! Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supaned Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Mike , you've come up trumps again :icon_thumbsup2: thanks again. I especially like the shot of the 56 taken from the overbridge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Excellent photographs folks. being a Cov lad myself they bring back some good memories, particularly the choppers on the HTV's, and the Grids and Bones. Out of interest has anyone got any pictures of the avoiding line around Bell Green and the Morris works - Im quite interested in the track plans too if anyones got any! Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted November 10, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2009 Out of interest has anyone got any pictures of the avoiding line around Bell Green and the Morris works - Im quite interested in the track plans too if anyones got any! Cheers Thats an A road now that I know very well ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 The A444 past Sainsburys? My father in law worked on the construction of the road, and I remember the old railway bridge and embankment over Stoney Stanton Rd. ( For some reason I lived in Courthose Green for 12 years so I know it well too! I'm sure my Dad mentioned a signalbox adjacent to the canal down by the Red Lane end which would have been for the Morris works? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted November 10, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2009 The A444 past Sainsburys? My father in law worked on the construction of the road, and I remember the old railway bridge and embankment over Stoney Stanton Rd. ( For some reason I lived in Courthose Green for 12 years so I know it well too! I'm sure my Dad mentioned a signalbox adjacent to the canal down by the Red Lane end which would have been for the Morris works? Yes thats it.I too also remember that bridge but I'm not old enough to remember trains taking Morris engines over it on the way to Cowley. Sainsburys is now on Austin Drive so the name lives on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted November 10, 2009 Author Share Posted November 10, 2009 Regarding track-plans, I have some old 1930s LMS Control strip maps of the area scanned but I am not sure about posting them for copyright reasons - perhaps the mods can advise? The following is a list of signal boxes and closure dates: Coventry Loop Line Gosford Green 26-02-67 Ordnance Cos Sdg 26-02-67 Bell Green 26-02-67 Coventry-Nuneaton line Coventry No.4 16-04-62 Coundon Rd Station 23-05-09 Webster's Siding 24-06-73 Foleshill Station 26-04-66 Three Spires Jn 09-98 * Bedlam Gates Crossing 13-11-88 Foleshill Gas Works Sdg 02-08-70 Longford & Exhall Stn 09-06-65 Hawkesbury Lane 23-05-09 Newdigates Siding 04-05-83 Bedworth Station 09-67 Griff Junction 03-02-85 *New box opened 25-02-03. Closed 23-05-09 Regards Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulb1973 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Would I be correct in saying the Coventry Avoiding Line's junction with the WCML was severed as long ago as 1963? I did walk the 'Folly Lane' footpath (from Shortley Rd in Whitley through to Humber Rd in the Stoke area) recently with its two pedestrian tunnels. Also, Gosford Green Terminal actually remained operational until the early 80's?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Speaking to my Dad last night, he tells me that my Mums' cousin (an ex Saltley man) worked the last train from Three Spires yard. (A pretty dull fact but there you go!) Strange that I lived in Coventry for 32 years, but didn't take any pictues around the Lythalls Lane area. (of which I tend to rectify!) As regards the traffic to ProLogis - how long are the water trains due to last and what are the timings (if anyones got em!) and am I right in thinking that is the only train to use the branch? Here are a couple of links to some photos that I took recently in the Coventry area: Coundon Road box before closure in April: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p57657846.html The same box six months later: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p61608488.html Coventry PSB: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p61608495.html Hawkesbury Lane box after closure http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p61550032.html 37401 on a tour to Pro Logis last year http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p57450366.html The tour waiting to gain access back to Coventry from Three Spires: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p55842644.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold CovDriver Posted November 11, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 11, 2009 Reference to the last train was it the very last one which traversed the line reclaiming the old track panels. If so my uncle was on that same train !! Speaking to my Dad last night, he tells me that my Mums' cousin (an ex Saltley man) worked the last train from Three Spires yard. (A pretty dull fact but there you go!) Strange that I lived in Coventry for 32 years, but didn't take any pictues around the Lythalls Lane area. (of which I tend to rectify!) As regards the traffic to ProLogis - how long are the water trains due to last and what are the timings (if anyones got em!) and am I right in thinking that is the only train to use the branch? Here are a couple of links to some photos that I took recently in the Coventry area: Coundon Road box before closure in April: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p57657846.html The same box six months later: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p61608488.html Coventry PSB: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p61608495.html Hawkesbury Lane box after closure http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p61550032.html 37401 on a tour to Pro Logis last year http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p57450366.html The tour waiting to gain access back to Coventry from Three Spires: http://bigtsrailimages.fotopic.net/p55842644.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I think it was the last MGR IIRC! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share Posted November 11, 2009 Guys, regarding the last MGR & track lifting train, would you be able to ask your respective relatives if they kept any diaries of jobs worked. Be very interested to get any details from them? Regards Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold CovDriver Posted November 11, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 11, 2009 There was an article in copy of Traction magazine a couple of years ago with a few pictures on the track lifting train near to the Gosford Green freight terminal. My uncle was actually a signaller at the time on the branch if I can find anymore info I'll do my best ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share Posted November 11, 2009 There was an article in copy of Traction magazine a couple of years ago with a few pictures on the track lifting train near to the Gosford Green freight terminal. My uncle was actually a signaller at the time on the branch if I can find anymore info I'll do my best ? Would he not have still been a signalman at that time...?? :icon_e_wink: Would be interested in getting a back copy of that particular Traction if anybody knows which edition it was? Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold CovDriver Posted November 11, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 11, 2009 oops!! yes a signalman or the bobby as they are still called. The edition of Traction you need is October 2005 Issue No.132 I've just spent the last 40minutes looking for it !! The article is by another well known local SIGNALMAN!! Nigel Fletcher. Also I recently bought a 3DVD boxset of the branchlines of Britain which was also by Nigel Fletcher and there is alot of very good quality clips of freight around the Coventry and West midlands in the 1980's. I think I paid about ??12 for it in a shop in Coventry but never seen anymore copies since. It maybe possible to have a look on Amazon or someting similar ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share Posted November 11, 2009 oops!! yes a signalman or the bobby as they are still called. The edition of Traction you need is October 2005 Issue No.132 I've just spent the last 40minutes looking for it !! The article is by another well known local SIGNALMAN!! Nigel Fletcher. Also I recently bought a 3DVD boxset of the branchlines of Britain which was also by Nigel Fletcher and there is alot of very good quality clips of freight around the Coventry and West midlands in the 1980's. I think I paid about ??12 for it in a shop in Coventry but never seen anymore copies since. It maybe possible to have a look on Amazon or someting similar ? Thanks for that. I do know Nigel and saw him only recently but didn't know he had done that article. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Absolutely! I will get on the blower & ask some questions! The blokes a gem and has some cracking stories. Back to the topic, I have decided to try and recreate Three Spires Jn in 00 and have drawn up some track plans to suit. Time to buy a couple of peaks and some blue rats me thinks! Any more pics Mike?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hump Shunter Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Hi all I also have an interest in Coundon Road Station, in that my Great Great Grandfather was the Station Master there in 1891 ! My Great Grandfather was born in the Station House and attended the Bablake School next door. I visited the station in 2008 to take some photos, the station house was then the Bablake School shop. The staff therein informed me that someone else from New Zealand had also visited as their father was also ex Station Master here.. small/big world ! There are some nice old pictures of the station and coal yard on this website: http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/coundonroad_station.htm If anyone has any pictures of the Station Staff, I would be very interested to see them. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted November 12, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2009 Absolutely! I will get on the blower & ask some questions! The blokes a gem and has some cracking stories. Back to the topic, I have decided to try and recreate Three Spires Jn in 00 and have drawn up some track plans to suit. I will look forward to the progress on that as I don't live too far away from where the prototype was. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Morrisons on the Holyhead Road is worth a visit, as on the wall near the toilets is an aerial photo of the area which includes the Alvis factory site and the Coundon Road sidings. I think the photo is dated from the early 1950's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 A couple of years ago before it was demolished to make way for the Daimler Green housing estate, I had a job at the Jag works at the top of Sandy Lane and got to see the siding with the loading ramp. Only wish I'd have taken my camera with me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I will look forward to the progress on that as I don't live too far away from where the prototype was. I will do. I didn't live to far from it either, small world isn't it?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold CovDriver Posted November 13, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 13, 2009 This really is a small world how many people are there from Coventry area. I've often thought about modelling coundon road but its just the space required issue ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted November 13, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 13, 2009 I will do. I didn't live to far from it either, small world isn't it?! It certainly is ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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