PGH's photographs of British Railways from c1960

[Adam]

Further to the video Mike linked to above, I've now relocated this set of pictures by Martin Pritchard taken during construction of the plant at Trawsfynydd. Well worth a look:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63164772@N05/sets/72157629381905748/

 

Thanks for posting these pictures PGH, really interesting.

 

Adam

Edited December 24, 2013 by Adam

[unclebobkt]

  ... .  However I believe Barbara Castle (good Surname that), as a non car driver, stepped in to stop the carnage so I've been told. However, my knowledge of that period is hazy ... .

 

 -- Pray correct me if I'm in error - but wasn't she the Minister of Tpt. who approved the closure of the Gt. Central Railway?  I think so.

  -- :-)

[PGH]

Next a few odd photos around the Cambrian:

 

 

80087 taking water at Afonwen c1959

 

 

 

42446 on a Bangor train at Afonwen in August 1962

 

 

 

2214 with a short goods train on a wet day at Portmadoc in 1960

 

 

 

6333 at Portmadoc on the same day in 1960

 

 

 

It was nearly 50 years later before I took my next photo on Portmadoc BR Station - another 2-6-0, 76079 on 'The Cambrian' in August 2009.

Is this train also now a thing of the past ?

 

 

 

 

Edited January 12, 2016 by PGH

[PGH]

 

 

A parcels unit on permanent way duty and trailing lengths of rail passing the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway station at Portmadoc in May 1983

 

 

 

Aberdovey Signal Box in August 1962

 

 

 

7801 at Moat Lane Junction in August 1962

 

 

 

75033 on the down Cambrian Coast Express at Newtown on 25th February 1967.

This loco worked the last up steam hauled CCE a few days later on 4th March 1967.

 

 

 

75033 leaves Newtown, blowing off vigorously

 

 

 

7819 at Welshpool on a northbound train.  In the distance a Standard shunts an oil tank wagon and a flat loaded with farm machinery.

 

 

Edited January 12, 2016 by PGH

[Merfyn Jones]

 

6.CS189B.jpg

 

7.CS180B.jpg

 

A parcels unit on permanent way duty and trailing lengths of rail passing the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway station at Portmadoc in May 1983

 

 

8.CS112B.jpg

 

Aberdovey Signal Box in August 1962

 

 

9.CS107B.jpg

 

7801 at Moat Lane Junction in August 1962

 

 

10.80.29B.jpg

 

75033 on the down Cambrian Coast Express at Newtown on 25th February 1967.

This loco worked the last up steam hauled CCE a few days later on 4th March 1967.

 

 

11.80.30B.jpg

 

75033 leaves Newtown, blowing off vigorously

 

 

12.CS111B.jpg

 

7819 at Welshpool on a northbound train.  In the distance a Standard shunts an oil tank wagon and a flat loaded with farm machinery.

 

 

Nice shots there of the parcels DMU with it's custom coupling bar towing the rail. I trust that would date from the days that locos were not allowed over Barmouth Bridge. I have a view of it in the area towing 2 ballast hoppers.

Merf.

[Fat Controller]

A few points:-

Steam-hauled trains are unable to run on the Cambrian at present, as there isn't yet a practical portable ERTMS receiver. The only stock currently permitted are the 158s and the three (?) Class 37s fitted with on-board equipment.

I presume the 22xx was running towards Penrhyndeudraeth, as there aren't any barrier wagons between the loco and the rake of Gunpowder vans.

The photo of the CCE shows one of the ex-LNER 'long' CCTs that Hornby are supposed to be bringing out this year.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Fat Controller

[Kev_Lewis]

Brilliant photo's as always PGH.

 

The Manor at Welshpool is particularly superb.

[NorthHighlander]

A brilliant set of high quality photos! My aunt moved to the (then) new Elson Park estate in Ellesmere in 1985 and we lived at the time in Rossett, so drove to see her along the route shown in the photos. We often wondered what the journey would have been like by train.. now we know!

Like so much else, an evocation of a much nicer time... hey ho

Regards and thanks

Tony Hagon

[The Stationmaster]

Two of your pictures in post #117 intrigue me. You say the shot of BR Class 4 tank No. 80087 is circa 1959. I assume it come off the LMR line from Bangor?  These tanks only became familiar on the Cambrian coast section in 1964 when they were drafted to the line in appaling external condition.

 

The colour shot below it at Afon Wen shows non-corridor stock from Caernarvon. I only ever saw ex-LMS open seconds on these workings so I've learned something there. A long journey with no lavatory accomodation.........Passengers must have been toilet-hopping at the various passing stations! I must be mistaken but was sure I have seen this picture published somewhere and didn't know it was yours.

 

80087 was a Bangor engine in 1957 but had moved to three Bridges by mid 1960.

[PGH]

The colour shot below it at Afon Wen shows non-corridor stock from Caernarvon. I only ever saw ex-LMS open seconds on these workings so I've learned something there. A long journey with no lavatory accomodation.........Passengers must have been toilet-hopping at the various passing stations! I must be mistaken but was sure I have seen this picture published somewhere and didn't know it was yours.

 

No Larry, its never been published, this is its first public viewing.  (I should have taken more at the time in colour)

 

 

In November 1963 a week's work surveying a quarry at Buckfastleigh gave the opportunity to explore the Ashburton Branch between its closure by BR and its takeover by the Dart Valley Railway, and I was able to walk the section of line now occupied by the new dual-carriageway A38 Road.

 

 

 

Ashburton Station

 

 

 

The loco shed had already been adapted for alternative use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bridge under the old A38 road outside Ashburton, view towards Ashburton

 

 

 

Buckfastleigh Station, view towards Totnes

Edited January 11, 2016 by PGH

[5050]

As usual, brilliant sets of photos.  The Blaenau branch ones in particular are super, I never realised Llan Festiniog had such as interesting platform canopy.  I wish I'd had the foresight to travel along the line BITD.  Mike Lloyd sent me a series of shots of BF when I was considering modelling it way back in the 70's.  Yours add to the overall picture.

 

Many thanks.

[David C]

Just want to add to the chorus of appreciation of your photos! Thanks so much for posting them.

 

David C

[gismorail]

Excellent photo's of Ashburton  one can understand why so many people have modelled this station over the years.

[RGSrr]

PGH

 

Great pictures, thank you for sharing

Wrexham Ind Estate was surely on a grand scale being ex ROD, looks rather like a another lost opportunity

[Poolelad]

What a fantastic collection of photo's, providing such a wealth of information from "Days gone by". It's made great viewing, thank you.

[PGH]

The Chester to Denbigh and Ruthin line was visited in April 1962, just 10 days before its closure to passengers on the 28th of that month.  It was a miserable wet day, memorable for trapping my thumb when closing the carriage door at Mold Station - no doubt the resulting language was as blue as the end of my thumb.  Apparently it wasn't a great day for taking photos and the following four are the only ones just about acceptable for public viewing. 

 

 

 

Denbigh Station, view looking south with the 2 coach Ruthin train at the far end of the platform.  The substantial station building with its spire was originally the headquarters of the Vale of Clwyd Railway, the first railway to reach Denbigh from a junction with the Chester & Holyhead line at Foryd.

 

 

 

75014 running round its train at Ruthin Station

 

 

 

Ruthin Station with 75014

 

 

 

42288 at Denbigh on a Chester train

 

 

 

 

The Prestatyn to Dyserth line was closed to goods traffic in September 1973 and the following two photos were taken about 2 years later.

 

 

View of Dyserth Yard from the overbridge.  The line branching to the right led to the limeworks sidings.

Note the unusual (?) part interlaced sleepers on the point in the foreground.

 

 

 

Dyserth Limeworks.  By 1975 the limekilns were disused and the standard gauge sidings had been lifted.  The sidings were shunted by a farm type tractor fitted with timber 'buffer beams'.  The limeworks was fed with limestone from the adjacent quarry by a 2'-7" gauge line, which crossed the main road on a viaduct and terminated on the gantry to the left of the kilns.

Edited January 11, 2016 by PGH

[5050]

Nice ones again.  I visited Ruthin station a while after closure with my Dad and his friend on our way back from Rhyl.  Everything still there basically.  These days it would have disappeared overnight!

 

Denbigh had a fascinating station building with that 'spire'.  Have any drawings ever been published?

 

Interlaced sleeper point work would be rather unusual for a North Wales location I reckon.  A good 'prototype for everything' example.  Very common in the North East though.

[PGH]

 Did you take a photos on the Chester route via Bodfari etc?

 

Not really, Larry, just a couple leaning out of the coach window in the rain at Broughton & Bretton Station and somewhere else I'm not sure about.  I didn't think they were worth posting.

 

The photos in this post might be of more interest to members, certainly a bit more colourful.

 

 

 

Torside Level Crossing on the Woodhead Line in July 1979.  76008 + (76029 ?) on a loaded MGR coal train.

 

 

 

76054 light engine

 

 

 

Dinting Viaduct in July 1980 with an eastbound mixed freight train

 

 

 

Westbound EMU crossing eastbound MGR empties

 

 

 

 

 

 

Torside Crossing again, in July 1980 with 76025 + ? on a loaded MGR coal train. 

The 'tide' seems to be out in Torside Reservoir.

 

 

 

76022 with BR lion and wheel emblem leading 76013 on eastbound coal empties

 

 

 

76047 light engine

 

 

 

The BR Woodhead Line was not the only overhead electrified line to occupy the Longdendale Valley.  The Manchester Corporation Waterworks 3ft gauge line on the opposite side of the valley was electrified in 1904 and worked by a small 4-wheel centre cab loco.  It was replaced by a diesel locomotive in 1949 and the overhead wiring removed about 5 years later.  The chassis of the electric loco was used to build a workmen's coach and the body dumped beside the exposed upper reaches of the line as a shelter, pictured here in 1965.

Edited January 12, 2016 by PGH

[steveNCB7754]

 

6.CS189B.jpg

 

7.CS180B.jpg

 

A parcels unit on permanent way duty and trailing lengths of rail passing the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway station at Portmadoc in May 1983

 

 

8.CS112B.jpg

 

Aberdovey Signal Box in August 1962

 

 

9.CS107B.jpg

 

7801 at Moat Lane Junction in August 1962

 

 

10.80.29B.jpg

 

75033 on the down Cambrian Coast Express at Newtown on 25th February 1967.

This loco worked the last up steam hauled CCE a few days later on 4th March 1967.

 

 

11.80.30B.jpg

 

75033 leaves Newtown, blowing off vigorously

 

 

12.CS111B.jpg

 

7819 at Welshpool on a northbound train.  In the distance a Standard shunts an oil tank wagon and a flat loaded with farm machinery.

 

 

Have just seen this post today and can only echo the many positive comments -  what a great thread!

 

My interest is in mid and south Wales railways and seeing the Moat Lane image, I wondered whether you ever travelled/photographed the Mid-wales line from there to Buith Wells via Llanidloes, Rhayader, etc (an area I know very well)?

 

 

Regards

 

Steve N

[PGH]

 

My interest is in mid and south Wales railways and seeing the Moat Lane image, I wondered whether you ever travelled/photographed the Mid-wales line from there to Buith Wells via Llanidloes, Rhayader, etc (an area I know very well)?

Regards

Steve N

 

Yes, will appear here shortly and thanks for your comments

Edited January 30, 2014 by PGH

[BRIDGEMAN]

Excellent photos.  A  real gem for anybody modelling that area.  We were all guilty of filling our photos with locos and ignoring the infrastructure as we thought it would be around for ever. While in the area of the Cambrian Coast I am putting out an appeal for anybody having photos of Shrewsbury - early 1960's showing the station platform buildings without being blotted out by rolling stock.  I am also trying to establish when the central signal box at the end of bays 5 and 6 was demolished.  It was taken out of commission in February 1961, but had it been removed by the Summer of 1962? (which is when my model of the station is based on).  A second request for any photos of the goods platform, originally used as a cattle dock, adjacent to Howard Street.  There is a large pipe scales about 6" diameter running along the girder over the entrance to the Shropshire Union Yard, and then, I assume, running into some sort of machine housing on the goods platform, but this is only my guess.  Hence, I would be very grateful for any photo evidence.

 

Many thanks,

 

Ray.

[Blandford1969]

This thread is such an excellent source of inspiriation, as ever fantastic photos, we will look forward to see what comes next. Thanks for sharing them

Duncan

[PGH]

The next 6 posts cover the Central Wales (or Heart of Wales Line as its now known) and the Mid Wales Lines.

 

In compiling this topic its been interesting to try and work out what I actually did when riding on some of these lines over 50 years ago, as I didn't make any notes and the photo taking was rather spasmodic.  The Mid Wales and Central Wales Lines were first covered with a school mate during 4-5 days of travel, presumably using one of the rover tickets then available, all done on a daily basis from home on the North Wales Coast.

The first day we travelled through Caernarfon - Afonwen - down the Cambrian Coast line to Dovey Junction - Moat Lane Junction, then down the Mid Wales Line, presumably all the way to Brecon, although for some reason I didn't take any photos there.  The few photos I did take on the Mid Wales were only blurry views from the train.  Return to North Wales would probably have been via Oswestry and Chester.

The second day we did Bala to Wrexham, the photos taken on that trip were covered in Post #49.  I haven't a clue how we got to Bala, presumably via Afonwen and Dolgelley, but the return would have been via Chester.

The third/fourth day we travelled to Shrewsbury, then by the Central Wales Line to Swansea (taking the few photos in this Post), up the valley lines to I've no idea where, except that we must have passed through Abercynon where I took a solitary photo, to Cardiff, then returned home overnight via Newport and Hereford, arriving back in North Wales on the morning of day 4.

The next day (day 5) it was down to Hereford and as far as Fawley on the Gloucester Line (the photos taken were in Post #30), but this was a solo trip as my mate must have had enough travelling by day 4.

 

The next trip covering these two lines was in October 1962, down the Central Wales Line from Craven Arms to Builth Road, then up the Mid Wales Line to Moat Lane Junction.  Quite a number of photos were taken on that trip.

 

The last trip was on Saturday 29th December 1962, which I believe was the last day of scheduled passenger services for the three remaining lines to Brecon (officially closed on 31st December).  We travelled overnight via Crewe and Shrewsbury, down the Central Wales Line, arriving at Builth Road in the early hours.  Then down the Mid Wales Line to Brecon; down the Newport Line as far as Pentir Rhiw; then returned north up the full length of the Mid Wales Line to Moat Lane Junction.

 

 

 

I'm not sure of the merits of this view, but it's the Swansea train at Builth Road High Level Station.  On the left is the luggage lift down to the Mid Wales Line's Low Level Station with the footpath down alongside.  The bridge over the Mid Wales Line is just in front of the loco.  Above the footway in the distance is the small single road loco shed with steam visible from a loco standing outside.

 

 

 

Crossing 48706 on a northbound goods train at Garth

 

 

 

Llandovery Station with a variety of wagons in the yard - 3 steel 16T minerals, a van, a cattle wagon and a tank wagon

 

 

 

I've no idea where this is, except it must be between Llandovery and Swansea, and where the Central Wales Line connected with a local service.  This negative was never printed so when I recently scanned these negatives it was the first time I'd seen this view since I took it over 50 years ago !

 

 

5699 at Abercynon.  The disc above the front buffer with the lettering "C 02" might give a clue as to what it was doing there ?

Edited March 19, 2018 by PGH

[PGH]

 

A leaky 73034 on the Swansea train at Craven Arms, October 1962

 

 

 

 

 

Knighton Station building

 

 

 

The opposite platform at Knighton

 

 

 

Approaching Knucklas Viaduct

 

 

 

Llangunllo Station.  The small square building with the hipped roof on the left would appear to have housed the ground frame, judging by the point rodding.

 

 

 

Llanbister Road

 

 

 

73034 at Llandrindod Wells

 

 

Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH

[PGH]

 

73034 at Builth Road High Level Station

 

 

 

The bridge over the Mid Wales Line is in the foreground

 

 

 

 

 

73034 leaving Builth Road High Level

 

 

 

The goods shed and signal box at the Shrewsbury end of Builth Road High Level Station

 

 

 

Builth Road High Level Station, view towards Swansea

 

 

 

48730 on a southbound goods train at Builth Road High Level

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH