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Dorkingian
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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

A New Zealand garden railway in 1933

 

I was recently perusing some long-forgotten copies of the Armstrong Whitworth Record, which was a promotional magazine produced by the engineering group.

 

The following photos, with not much supporting text, show the Roberts Stewart Roberts Railway which was in Auckland.  This was built "not as a plaything but as a historical record of the New Zealand Railways, Locomotives and Rolling Stock from the earliest days".

"The completeness of the data collected in the work of building this line is astonishing, every locomotive, every vehicle, is a true to scale model of a prototype whose history is known in amazing detail as the result of the tireless searching out and writing to scores of descendants of old railway employees."

 

There was no mention of scale or gauge, and of course I was wondering if the models have survived to today.  They were built by Frank Roberts, with the research done by Mr W. Stewart, and Frank's brother George helped build the line.

 

large.920039902_1933gardenrailway.jpg.082f5d68a9266e42873366a667a3c6d8.jpg

 

large.403307383_1933gardenrailway_0001.jpg.7ddb4d969bb7f9bb240ea6bd0739de5a.jpg

 

A very helpful reply from Alan at the New Zealand Model Railway Guild explains that the locomotives and rolling stock models have survived and were sold to the NZ Government Railways by Frank Roberts in the 1950s. The models are now in the possession of Te Papa Tongarewa/Museum of New Zealand and appear on exhibition from time to time.

 

He confirms that the models are G gauge (which in the 1930s would presumably have been called gauge 1).  Given NZ's 3'6" track, the scale is 1:24.

 

The Wikipedia page I've found on Frank Roberts 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Roberts_(model_maker)

has a link to the NZ museum where there are photographs of the models which show their superb detail:

https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/631

 

Frank lived from 1882 to 1963.  A book called Vintage steam: stories by Frank Roberts, edited by Gordon Troup was published in 1967.  Then a book by Frank Roberts' daughter was published in 1976, covering his life, his workmanship and love of steam power and the making of the garden railway with the aid of his brother, George and friend, Bill Stewart.

 

It's good that this pioneer of garden railways has a place in history.

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Yesterday's activity

 

Better to take the photos in historical order, although there's a story about the C21st images below.  So, we begin in the 1950s with the Jubilee taking its train through some idyllic parts of northern England in high summer.  Listen to the birdsong!

 

First, passing Throstlebeck Sidings

 

large.20210613_162741a.jpg.bf8c5524a7c07d3bc189b9bf57d1a413.jpg

 

 

 

Crossing Foxdale Bank

 

large.20210613_171319.jpg.e020da6ef349963f35cc2f70fe586160.jpg

 

 

 

Coasting across the girder bridge

 

large.20210613_162549a.jpg.7ff93d0f8e76852a8f03e88b262f9361.jpg

 

 

 

and romping down Bamboo Curtain Straight

 

large.20210613_162718c.jpg.378fa62917ea9897c0e357f4a01b0432.jpg

 

 

 

Moving on, the twentyfirst century proved to be most frustrating as the Bachmann intermodal wagons are particularly demanding in terms of track quality.  The aged and warped timber which constitutes the DGR trackbed really is not to their liking.  It proved impossible to get the rake to do anything like a complete circuit of the line without derailments left, right and centre.  There seems to be very little play on the bogies, so any vertical twisting of the track just sees several bogies bouncing along on the sleepers. 

Having tried things in both directions, eventually I gave up trying to run the intermodal train and just took photos of it.  At least they don't indicate the extent of the aggrevation.  Then, for consolation, out came the Jubilee and nine coaches - which somehow seem to ride much more successfully than those container flats - so the day provided some enjoyment after all.

 

We start with the Class 66 making an adjustment to the rake at Throstlebeck international container depot:

 

large.20210613_121956.jpg.2cf844fc754a5431988e71b8e34d8378.jpg

 

 

 

Then heading away down Bamboo Curtain Straight towards the coast

 

large.20210613_123125a.jpg.0a7d7c4bc5f482592cbe866f8643ab2d.jpg

 

 

 

Powering across Foxdale Bank

 

large.20210613_124329a.jpg.88c1d480910fd7373a9f6944e7da7e23.jpg

 

 

 

and rattling the furniture in Foxdale Carr Hall

 

large.20210613_125146.jpg.14f0224f04569c36aa988b350fa9df4c.jpg

 

 

 

before crossing the Northern Viaduct

 

large.20210613_141311a.jpg.a4886dd9437b93738acf0df7ddf4a172.jpg

(really must add those fiddly hoses onto the front)

 

 

Having reached the port, the loco duly retraces its steps with another train of containers for Throstlebeck

 

large.20210613_142321.jpg.79d9582632b03d5471a79766102cce17.jpg

 

 

 

and was last seen returning across Foxdale Bank, soon to be home:

 

large.20210613_145133.jpg.ac71c2065b809893979e03d5ed31bef9.jpg

 

 

large.20210613_145322.jpg.c82b94189abb2110e3ea30155326b5dc.jpg

 

 

 

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A glimpse of Dorking limeworks

 

Operating pictures of the standard gauge vertical boilered "Coffee Pot" engine that arrived at Betchworth near Dorking in 1871 are few and far between, so we are fortunate to have these which have just come to light, courtesy of Julian.

 

 

large.20210615_131757a.jpg.a175d5ec8af1029e1fa7a6d5d9279576.jpg

 

 

The engine was built on Teesside by Head Wrightson and spent the first 80 years earning its keep with the Dorking Greystone Lime Company Ltd.  It later found its way back to the North East where it has been lovingly restored at Beamish, the venue for celebrating its 150th birthday this year.  See: http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/2009/01/1871-coffee-pot-no-1-rebuild/

 

The second photo suggests that the Greystone company was probably very particular about buying its coal from a reputable source, and on this occasion the fuel seems to have been delivered along the North Downs line from Reading by a suitably gleaming GW Pannier tank engine.

The Coffee Pot driver has probably gone off for a quick ciggy while the Pannier pops the coal wagon into the exchange siding.  Both crews would be hoping the foreman is having lunch so they can then chat in the sun for a bit.

 

large.20210615_131633a.jpg.351100c179ae7db47fe9a7585ba9c442.jpg

 

 

Happy Birthday dear Coffee Pot!

 

 

 

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On 14/06/2021 at 21:59, Dorkingian said:

Yesterday's activity

 

Better to take the photos in historical order, although there's a story about the C21st images below.  So, we begin in the 1950s with the Jubilee taking its train through some idyllic parts of northern England in high summer.  Listen to the birdsong!

 

First, passing Throstlebeck Sidings

 

large.20210613_162741a.jpg.bf8c5524a7c07d3bc189b9bf57d1a413.jpg

 

 

 

Crossing Foxdale Bank

 

large.20210613_171319.jpg.e020da6ef349963f35cc2f70fe586160.jpg

 

 

 

Coasting across the girder bridge

 

large.20210613_162549a.jpg.7ff93d0f8e76852a8f03e88b262f9361.jpg

 

 

 

and romping down Bamboo Curtain Straight

 

large.20210613_162718c.jpg.378fa62917ea9897c0e357f4a01b0432.jpg

 

 

 

Moving on, the twentyfirst century proved to be most frustrating as the Bachmann intermodal wagons are particularly demanding in terms of track quality.  The aged and warped timber which constitutes the DGR trackbed really is not to their liking.  It proved impossible to get the rake to do anything like a complete circuit of the line without derailments left, right and centre.  There seems to be very little play on the bogies, so any vertical twisting of the track just sees several bogies bouncing along on the sleepers. 

Having tried things in both directions, eventually I gave up trying to run the intermodal train and just took photos of it.  At least they don't indicate the extent of the aggrevation.  Then, for consolation, out came the Jubilee and nine coaches - which somehow seem to ride much more successfully than those container flats - so the day provided some enjoyment after all.

 

We start with the Class 66 making an adjustment to the rake at Throstlebeck international container depot:

 

large.20210613_121956.jpg.2cf844fc754a5431988e71b8e34d8378.jpg

 

 

 

Then heading away down Bamboo Curtain Straight towards the coast

 

large.20210613_123125a.jpg.0a7d7c4bc5f482592cbe866f8643ab2d.jpg

 

 

 

Powering across Foxdale Bank

 

large.20210613_124329a.jpg.88c1d480910fd7373a9f6944e7da7e23.jpg

 

 

 

and rattling the furniture in Foxdale Carr Hall

 

large.20210613_125146.jpg.14f0224f04569c36aa988b350fa9df4c.jpg

 

 

 

before crossing the Northern Viaduct

 

large.20210613_141311a.jpg.a4886dd9437b93738acf0df7ddf4a172.jpg

(really must add those fiddly hoses onto the front)

 

 

Having reached the port, the loco duly retraces its steps with another train of containers for Throstlebeck

 

large.20210613_142321.jpg.79d9582632b03d5471a79766102cce17.jpg

 

 

 

and was last seen returning across Foxdale Bank, soon to be home:

 

large.20210613_145133.jpg.ac71c2065b809893979e03d5ed31bef9.jpg

 

 

large.20210613_145322.jpg.c82b94189abb2110e3ea30155326b5dc.jpg

 

 

 

 

What's the plant growing next to the track bed? A variety of Thyme? 

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Locomotive failures

 

Robert came to visit this week with a couple of new engines, the first (continuing with our theme of 0-4-0s) was a B4 LSWR shunter.  She was a good-looking lady as these photos of her shunting down at the docks show.  Sadly, despite being almost straight out of the box her performance was abyssmal and she will soon be wending her way back to Dapol's agents for repair or replacement.

 

 

large.20210623_175237a.jpg.1f946fe5a07ae4874c5683625dffe827.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210623_175542a.jpg.7dc51681bb3e4f05ab89d0ff3e88aaf5.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210623_181209.jpg.0f14d4084affc1789c09cb40fb5f5a80.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210623_181323.jpg.bb2cef70359deab2aeb177e38341f4ab.jpg

 

 

 

Staying with the Southern, we then ran resident Hornby West Country Ottery St Mary, seen here in a traditional composition on Foxdale Bank:

 

large.20210623_173435.jpg.e5c54804ce60fbe3ebdf635974df611e.jpg

 

 

 

But it wasn't her day either, as the second axle on the front bogie kept derailing.  Closer inspection showed that the metal tyre had separated from the plastic wheel insert:

large.20210623_221833.jpg.a64fc0f8a73aeafbdd981c29353f7f5e.jpg

 

so that probably needs careful application of superglue.

 

 

Last up here is tender-drive A4 Bittern, again by Hornby.  She ran very well but also had minor problems with one front bogie axle on which the plastic inserts seemed to have difficulty remaining in true alignment, although this didn't affect the ability to stay on the track.

First photo shows her with an express on the East Coast Main Line near Peterborough:

 

large.20210623_171128a.jpg.43b19169827f89f45a9ed150e7b1170d.jpg

 

 

After that we submitted to the inevitability of the implausible fixed headboard sticker and ran her on the Tyne-Tees Pullman, although in some photos she seems to have wandered off the ECML into the wilds of County Durham or beyond:

 

large.20210623_155409.jpg.d9385577b4ee55064e21131e722f91fe.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210623_155901b.jpg.e760919148bacd9c595c71eb75ace81f.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210623_160329.jpg.f1b2ccff89ef569d9fdcd5d6060509bb.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210623_160755.jpg.714aab660d6772b72995a8b57141d9ec.jpg

 

In the interests of accuracy, it's only fair to point out that the tender drive didn't actually have sufficient adhesion to haul nine sluggish coaches all the way round the layout.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Update

 

Geoff and Josh came over yesterday, as usual bringing a whole range of exciting models to run.  Here by way of a foretaste is a shot of Josh's finely detailed (and high quality sound fitted) "Clan Line" on one of the Surrey Hills excusions that are once more coming through Dorking every few weeks:

 

 

large.20210716_123508.jpg.edf72209c0c93dc67e45d5458af39708.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Continuing with the Southern theme from Geoff and Josh's visit

 

I may have got some of my Clan Line slides mixed up:

 

large.20210716_123431a.jpg.de34a6797df084c1b1d58de245c1a4ed.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210724_145923(0)a.jpg.db6a89fb493703ede4898cde8fd64919.jpg

 

 

 

Here's a Class 73 on what looks almost like a Gatwick Express:

 

large.20210716_142714.jpg.5b24def84fe99b5acac34e063808c396.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210716_143130a.jpg.a730d91cbf603bc5bc1a2074f1c6f728.jpg

 

 

 

 

After which we move to the Uckfield branch where this Turbostar, having left Victoria far behind, cruises through the Kent countryside on the single track section near Cowden:

 

large.20210716_172501.jpg.ed75b79c03d110ec5eae5caf92dfe105.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210716_172625a.jpg.764104f0dd0b151673e71bd5848f3297.jpg

 

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Moving away from the Southern Region...

 

 

from much further afield is this DB Class 216 diesel:

 

large.20210716_145515a.jpg.4c38d686739effc6ec0e242090cfdd64.jpg

 

 

 

Josh's sound fitted Class 66 looked and sounded good but his intermodal wagons were a bit of a handful to keep on my ropey track:

 

large.20210716_155533a.jpg.5f8da7da55795231b9666ec82b74491c.jpg

 

 

 

Finally, in the absence of any conductor rails to clean, it was time for a bit of weedkilling:

 

large.20210716_182908.jpg.48501587765043bc0f7c5d572458a32a.jpg

 

 

 

large.20210716_183002a.jpg.3584fd594e8d8ad67b8a576807fd2e79.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...

An engine, a few coaches and a bit of sunshine

 

Who could ask for anything more? 

 

In this instance, it's just the Black 5 stretching her legs after too long a break.  Seen here running off the Northern Viaduct onto Foxdale Bank:

 

large.20210822_145654a.jpg.d54fe471e8e639a46ae00258fb459c87.jpg

 

 

 

On the Bank

large.20210822_150120.jpg.d00778e61f0dd294c982e925a90f5ce7.jpg

 

 

 

further along

large.20210822_150338.jpg.a93b5067d0cb71f6848e308c9a9e095a.jpg

 

 

 

Passing Throstlebeck Sidings

large.20210822_152548a.jpg.4f81c8d8df8650781e0c7415acc524bf.jpg

 

large.20210822_152516a.jpg.6fe57425ef589bceb004d3c43fb0b846.jpg

 

 

 

And on down Bamboo Curtain Straight

large.20210822_173429a.jpg.4d4826266db71c801e7f482f0c713234.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

Old French photos discovered

 

Yesterday, courtesy of my friend Philip, I came across these railway scenes which look as if they were taken around the fin de siècle period, mostly on the Paris-Orleans railway:

 

large.20210905_120811a.jpg.ef4a96447cf43168e13799d534240d63.jpg

 

 

 

 

large.20210905_120619a.jpg.fbd96617128a0f5e83bfeea5ef53face.jpg

 

 

 

 

large.20210905_122030a.jpg.beaca0343a22f23c13f05c25bbbdc5b8.jpg

 

 

 

 

large.20210905_160956a.jpg.a396ed597cc105028e3baf0815126c60.jpg

 

 

 

 

large.20210905_161049a.jpg.d6891692db98a5d1b4982b7807033b01.jpg

 

 

 

 

large.20210905_161115b.jpg.85ec64497782593a3f5e399ce8442866.jpg

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

You can wait a long time for a train to come along...

 

so when it does, better have the camera ready.  Earlier in October after a lot of maintenance work on clearing the track, here is the 4MT on a local train, first heading along Bamboo Curtain Straight:

 

large.20211009_164722a.jpg.f1b8f0153ee8cc7b4df121dc1de91bb3.jpg

 

 

 

Catching the driver passing Throstlebeck Sidings:

large.20211009_171902b.jpg.47a1c7c42a9725a02dc7c1331865e3c3.jpg

 

 

 

Rounding Sycamore Curve

large.20211009_164948a.jpg.82767db1508e060fa023e530733e88c3.jpg

 

 

 

Three shots at different points on Foxdale Bank

large.20211009_165526b.jpg.2a4bbd3c5e494fbc745370d5cf7fb37a.jpg

 

 

 

large.20211009_165642.jpg.0493d66d3a8d3fcc4f56e37ccabc3eae.jpg

 

 

 

large.20211009_170848a.jpg.cb8201fa74f227ef09cf1bee74f8dba4.jpg

 

 

 

And finally heading into the sun across the Northern Viaduct

large.20211009_165857b.jpg.8fe6fab43e93951f419219ef32b25d1e.jpg

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Memories of the Metropolitan Line

 

After the end of steam on BR in 1968, some of us were fortunate enough to live within reach of London Transport's ex-GWR Pannier tanks which were used on works trains on parts of the surface network.  In fact I used to hear one puffing along the Piccadilly Line towards South Harrow if I lay awake after midnight.  And I used to borrow my father's car to photograph the daytime services taking wagons of spoil to Croxley Tip near Watford.

 

Earlier this week Robert brought his Metropolitan engines for a run in the fresh air to recreate those days from long ago.  First we see L.97 taking a spoil train towards the delightful countryside of the Chilterns:

 

large.20211027_124421.jpg.85d0552b693229f4420871a8c71f4645.jpg

 

 

 

large.20211027_124842.jpg.a5b9021101164e8a96ef25617f20daf0.jpg

 

 

 

Here it is on the return leg:

large.20211027_130359a.jpg.349f39f97b5da14324730d9e02cabe80.jpg

 

 

 

Somewhat earlier, London Transport also ran the former Metropolitan Railway's electric locos for various purposes, and in this instance we see "John Hampden" on what looks like a railway enthusiasts' brakevan excursion:

large.20211027_144955.jpg.d81d03e6a7f18615889cf38ce5d7ceab.jpg

 

 

 

...which on its return passed spoil wagons being shunted:

large.20211027_151633a.jpg.e540f87c0800ef992c276d052af2c7d3.jpg

 

 

 

With a closer view here:

large.20211027_152352a.jpg.bc3ded02d7e631a2eaa50ce1b09b6d11.jpg

 

 

 

And here's John Hampden again with a train of (almost!) Metropolitan Railway compartment stock heading for Baker Street with an afternoon service from the outer Chilterns:

large.20211027_155911a.jpg.c84ffe134560e4e45a88524a684b107e.jpg

 

 

 

Finally, this is one of my photos of the real thing - L.89 at Croxley Triangle on 19 July 1968:

large.1610332743_19680719L89atCroxleyTriangle.JPG.dbe436580235951a518a6c01f83aa069.JPG

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

The sound of Class 66 music

 

Josh, who is a regular visitor to the DGR, has very kindly fitted my Class 66 with top quality sound.  Here's a video of it running on his layout - which is well worth a listen.  Looking forward to letting her out on the DGR again...

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

The Long Way Home

 

The Bachmann Class 66 has been away for a works visit to have superb sound installed (ESU LokSound chip, Jamie Goodman sound files and two speakers), the result of Josh being generous with his skills, time and advice.  This evening we tested her out on Wellbridge, a layout belonging to the Crawley Model Railway Society, and the result was impressive.  I'm hoping to get her out onto DGR metals again soon.

Here's a nice photo of her attracting professional attention from the station staff (thanks to Ewan for the pic):

 

 

large.20220121_210005.jpg.935713b806b6a57fa83a066fce450138.jpg

Edited by Dorkingian
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  • 2 weeks later...

Back at the Ranch

 

I like to get some winter running done, partly to show the doubters that it's nothing special.  Outdoor operation is down to the weather, not the season.  Today's chilly sunshine following a dry period was ideal.  Mind you, I had to do quite a bit of gardening first to clear growth and debris off the track, but once the rails were rubbed clean and vacuumed the Class 66 with her newly acquired sound chip had a good day out, as did I.  Now that the loco has a chip, photos can be taken with the headlights on which looks much better.  Thanks, Josh.

 

Memo to self: need to weight the containers to improve the poor riding - and to weather the wagons and containers...

 

Not sure the pictures need any captions, except to say that the loco is shown hauling two different intermodal trains.

 

 

large.20220130_143703.jpg.a3e3deb288e7e6bb99113c99833cfe75.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220130_145206.jpg.61b1a27081c9221dbdff4b08dcf0520b.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220130_145616a.jpg.03aa6cdc6c031bd6021e1faa8d702494.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220130_150259.jpg.df8b0503e692699a1870f07d36f6486d.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220130_151305a.jpg.08eccd302d25b7ae33e39148731408e9.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220130_151811.jpg.55e9f83caf8cf1e6670682b55ea6df31.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220130_152259a.jpg.6aef62565cf498b69dc89ab0032dde81.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220130_152452.jpg.c71ca36903772321eef605f47dda68ba.jpg

 

 

 

Edited by Dorkingian
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  • 2 months later...

Goods to Go

 

Before we were so unfortunately interrupted (and service so masterfully restored, thank you guys), there was a freightful day in Dorking.

 

First, a 9F came through Throstlebeck with a mixed goods train:

 

large.20220320_125825a.jpg.2dc95932093c10dfded4bddbf6fc2cc5.jpg

 

 

 

large.20220320_122958.jpg.a25c39ea0219acd84d7b4c30274e75df.jpg

 

 

 

It was then seen passing Foxdale Carr Hall

large.20220320_123432.jpg.29699a91266f3f1d35d57d2473312611.jpg

 

 

 

and crossing Foxdale Bank

large.20220320_125029.jpg.f486116d49e86c3c02d16096bdfe821d.jpg

 

 

 

and rounding Sycamore Curve

large.20220320_122756a.jpg.afe33abfdea41219832399494f27cd7f.jpg

 

 

 

Meanwhile, back at Throstlebeck Sidings a Black 5 was assisting with shunting

large.20220320_144221a.jpg.c34444b3d14b5aa90fec0f57883076b3.jpg

 

 

 

and after being turned, departed with a rake of coal wagons

large.20220320_155852.jpg.c1c0484d4971623726b5b90867ffbd41.jpg

 

 

 

Here seen running off the Northern Viaduct

large.20220320_155027.jpg.d3586d8ec3bfba973132e25668a7bb6f.jpg

 

 

 

across Foxdale Bank

large.20220320_165751.jpg.e4222c975acd858549f5343a910320a2.jpg

 

 

 

and passing beneath Black Ghyll

large.20220320_162027.jpg.d017b5264e541d76e6c0fb299af86a06.jpg

 

 

 

Not long after, the 9F returned with another mixed goods

large.20220320_171836.jpg.b62f67e9c58ed1efc72f5f7d003e179c.jpg

 

 

 

which was last seen heading away from Foxdale Bank...

large.20220320_172516.jpg.e7778006dc77737f62e7c9ca52cdbb58.jpg

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Sleeping Cars for Fort William

 

It being high summer(!), photos can more easily be taken of sleeping cars in daylight.  So here are a few taken on the West Highland Line of a train carrying drowsy passengers towards the Western Isles...

 

The first photo shows the sleepers arriving from London in the suburbs of Glasgow, to be joined to a local portion for the onward journey.

large.20220410_151109.jpg.04bed8b62e00ee70e2237e2936f9e693.jpg

 

 

 

The two portions are gently combined into a 9 coach train...

large.20220410_152912.jpg.ebad8e0ad435b77b8df04a94481006d0.jpg

 

 

 

Quite a challenge for a Class 4 engine on what will be an arduous route

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Listen to those exhaust echoes ringing off the rocks...

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But the footplate crew enjoy the downgrades...

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And glance out at the dramatic scenery...

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While keeping careful eyes on the road ahead...

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So all is looking good for an on-time arrival:

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  • 1 month later...

1952 Jubilation (well, I haven't got a Coronation)

 

I managed to dig out and scan some 70 year-old slides of Jubilee 45611 taking an excited crowd of people to London for a special occasion in 1952!

 

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Note trespasser on roof of first coach in final photo.

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  • 1 month later...

London Transport steam

 

The DGR is rather suffering from rot in the decking which operators have to stand on, such that SWMBO has forbidden visitors until restoration work is implemented.  Separately some track maintenance is needed, so the following photos are just posed and sadly don't show a real operating session.

 

In the late 1960s and early 1970s after the end of BR steam, it was still possible to see steam workings in the London area as LT Pannier tanks used to work spoil trains out along the Metropolitan Line to Croxley Tip near Watford.  Robert and I sometimes used to go and see them, so with my new Oxford 'Pilchard' wagons and his Bachmann L97 we decided to do a re-enactment of those scenes from long ago.

 

Here is the morning's Down working, heading out into rural Hertfordshire...

 

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Then at Croxley there's a bit of shunting to get things the right way round...

 

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Before setting off back Up the line with the empties for Neasden:

 

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Edited by Dorkingian
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