PGH's photographs of British Railways from c1960

[queensquare]

What a fabulous thread. Much Wenlock must rate as one of the most attractive and modelable stations around.

 

Jerry

[darren01]

Hi 

How the hell did i miss this thread!, these are cracking photo's and not the typical shoots of just the loco's.

These are the sort of shots we scream for when building a layout based on real locations,please keep them coming!,just fantastic!  

Darren01 

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What strikes me about many of the station views at that period is how neat and tidy they were - luggage barrow and trolley neatly parked, no piles of luggage, crates or boxes, no milk churns, no weeds or litter.

 

 

 

It's called pride.

 

Mike.

[brushman47544]

In August 1962 I travelled to Hereford for the day, but apparently found little of interest to photograph in Hereford itself - too "main line" - except for this view of 7031 on a London train and station pilot 5970

 

 

EDIT [snipped to reduce space]

 

Super photos, but what is immediately noticeable is that in the platform shots there is not a passenger in sight...

Edited December 9, 2013 by brushman47544

[Oldddudders]

Super photos, but what is immediately noticeable is that in the platform shots there is not a passenger in sight...

A chap called Beeching came to the same conclusion.

[Mikkel]

Excellent photography, and the scenes are of considerable historical interest, I think. Thanks very much for sharing them.

[The Stationmaster]

 

 

The temptation here was to crop the photo down to the train but I think the details of the station building are perhaps of more interest.  What strikes me about many of the station views at that period is how neat and tidy they were - luggage barrow and trolley neatly parked, no piles of luggage, crates or boxes, no milk churns, no weeds or litter.

 

It was of course very much the case everywhere on some Regions at that time (but not on all I think) as stations were still maintained on a programmed basis plus quick attention to any structural matters by the District Engineer's staff and of course most stations were staffed and at a place like Fawley, and many other small stations of course, the staff had plenty of time to sweep platforms, tend flower beds and keep the white line platform edging up to scratch - because at many places there was little else to do, even for a single Porter.

 

Permanent way gangs still worked on the basis of their own 'patch' on which they not only tended the track but also looked after the lineside with - on the Western if not elsewhere - two burnings of lineside vegetation every year.  Hence a much tidier lineside, cess paths in generally good condition, and so on.  It all started to decline from the end of steam and as mechanidsed track maintenance and 'basic' railways came in

[JeffP]

Great photos.

 

Does Worcester feature at all? I didn't visit until the early 70's, but it still had that aura of magic to me.

[Tim V]

 

The temptation here was to crop the photo down to the train but I think the details of the station building are perhaps of more interest. 

 

Please do not be tempted to crop to the train in this or any other picture. Train pictures are two a penny, I've see too many photos where something of interest has a train in the way. After all, it's just another GW mogul, but the rest of the picture is crammed with detail.

 

I am reminded of a picture of an A4 in colour at some London shed, what is really interesting is the partly obscured ex PO wagon, with its livery clearly visible.

 

Also the shot at Buildwas is of more interest because you stepped back.

[avonside1563]

Most of these photos wouldn't look out of place in Railway Bylines PGH, have you ever considered offering them for publication? The Railway Bylines team would love to see them I'm sure.

[PGH]

Great photos.

 

Does Worcester feature at all? I didn't visit until the early 70's, but it still had that aura of magic to me.

 

No it doesn't, I don't think I ever reached Worcester by rail.

 

 

A few 'odds and ends' from the Oldham Area:

 

 

 

Oldham Mumps Station in 1960 - view towards Manchester with an ex L&Y 0-6-0 on shunting duties

 

 

 

Royton Station in August 1962 - a rather badly composed view but hopefully of interest

 

 

 

Royton Junction - view towards Oldham

 

 

 

An ex L&Y signal at Royton Junction - view towards Rochdale

 

 

 

The sign says it all

 

 

 

The rather dilapidated Middleton Station

Edited January 11, 2016 by PGH

[JeffP]

Urban decay, ugly but interesting.

A bit like travelling by train through a city, where you are treated to views MOST of the public don't see: factory rear yards, industrial areas, etc.

[New Haven Neil]

Oh, atmosphere!  Grot maybe, but that's how it was.

[AberdeenBill]

Stunning shots, Phil, thanks so much for posting them.   Can an expert please explain why the right-hand doll at Royton Junction (picture 4 of post 44) is slotted?

 

Many thanks,

Bill

[PGH]

Moving on to the Barmouth to Ruabon line:

 

 

 

Bala Junction August 1962 - 7821 on a Ruabon train taking water with the connecting train to Bala extreme right

 

 

 

7418 on arrival at Bala Station

 

 

 

Bala Station with the coaches shunted out of the way to the other platform between trains

 

 

 

View from the end of Bala Station platform towards Bala Junction, loco depot in centre distance to left of the double track line and the goods shed with its castellated end wall on the right

 

 

 

7414 being prepared at the loco depot

 

 

 

7414 ready to depart on a Wrexham train

 

 

 

Llandrillo Station was about halfway between Bala Junction and Corwen

 

 

 

7414 on arrival at Wrexham General Station

Edited January 11, 2016 by PGH

[62613]

No it doesn't, I don't think I ever reached Worcester by rail.

 

 

A few 'odds and ends' from the Oldham Area:

 

 

3.03B.jpg

 

Oldham Mumps Station in 1960 - view towards Manchester with an ex L&Y 0-6-0 on shunting duties

 

 

CS136B.jpg

 

Royton Station in August 1962 - a rather badly composed view but hopefully of interest

 

 

CS137B.jpg

 

Royton Junction - view towards Oldham

 

 

CS133B.jpg

 

An ex L&Y signal at Royton Junction - view towards Rochdale

 

 

CS142B.jpg

 

The sign says it all

 

 

CS138B.jpg

 

The rather dilapidated Middleton Station

The first photo still more or less looked like that six years later when the family moved to Oldham (and fairly soon decamped to Uppermill!) What is the building with the four cooling towers - a power station? It certainly wasn't the gasworks as that was nearer the second and third photos.

[TheSignalEngineer]

Absolute treasures here. Even more so as my chosen period is not like 'Third week in July 19xx' but things happening the period of steam running with pilot scheme diesels pre-yellow panel.

The examples of variation in wagon condition alongside generally clean coaches, weed strewn platforms and urban grot are just what i need.

[PGH]

The first photo still more or less looked like that six years later when the family moved to Oldham (and fairly soon decamped to Uppermill!) What is the building with the four cooling towers - a power station? It certainly wasn't the gasworks as that was nearer the second and third photos.

 

Greenhill Power Station -opened 1903 by Oldham Corporation, later CEGB.  Its sidings were shunted by a Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0 fireless loco.  

[gismorail]

The shot of Llandrillo is interesting as it's a timber yard now which I regularly get set to collect fencing materials with the Haulage company I work for. Only the goods shed is left now, probably in original  condition but has had a metal shed added where the fencing material get tantalised.

Keep the pictures coming rarely enjoying them

[darren01]

Hi

Again a cracking set of photo,  I do like the shot of the goods shed, never seen one like that before!.

Keep them coming.

Darren01

Edited December 11, 2013 by darren01

[PGH]

Continuing the Barmouth to Ruabon line:

 

 

 

 

75024 leaving Glyndyfrdwy on a Ruabon train in September 1963

 

Following final closure of the line track materials were sold to T.W.Ward and lifted in 1968/9. The track lifting gangs worked east and west from the flood damaged section at Llandderfel (between Bala Junction and Corwen) which caused the premature closure of the line as a through route in December 1964

 

 

 

Bala Junction in August 1968.  The line to Dolgellau curves away to the left while the crane is completing the lifting of the Bala branch

 

 

 

On the western section the contractors used an 0-4-0 diesel electric built jointly by Brush and Beyer Peacock in 1958, hired from Brush's Loughborough Works where it had been used as one of the works shunters

 

 

 

D5011 running round a tracklifting train at Llanuwchllyn

 

 

 

Corwen Station in July 1968 - view towards Dolgellau with the tracklifting contractors loco parked in the distance

 

 

 

On the eastern section the contractors used this Andrew Barclay 204hp 0-4-0 diesel mechanical originally supplied new to Lever Bros Port Sunlight in 1955

 

 

 

The Barclay loco crossing Berwyn Viaduct in November 1968

Edited January 11, 2016 by PGH

[Grafarman]

I hate to use the 'Like' button in this instance but I have to say Thank You for posting these pictures.

 

The now-preserved Llangollen Railway is very dear to me and I have spent many hours on Corwen and Berwyn stations, and it's sad to think they had to go through that state as seen here in order to be restored to the condition they are now in.

 

That said, these represent superb historical pictures of considerable interest, so let's see some more please!

 

David

[The Stationmaster]

Very interesting arrangement of ground discs at Bala showing up there - I can't recall ever seeing it elsewhere on the Western and it's rather odd because at that time Reading still had castings for double discs in stock (but I presume the relevant District S&T stores didn't?)

[flyingsignalman]

Stunning shots, Phil, thanks so much for posting them.   Can an expert please explain why the right-hand doll at Royton Junction (picture 4 of post 44) is slotted?

 

Many thanks,

Bill

The signal acted as Royton Junction's starter and as Royton Junction Sidings' home signal. The left hand signal being solely controlled by Royton Junction Sidings box for entry to the down loop.

[Blandford1969]

I've siad it before, but these really are stunning images, thanks for posting them. I love the contractors using a condemed brake van (would you get away with that now?)