Chris Turnbull Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 (edited) In 2004 Ipswich tunnel was closed to all traffic between 11th July and 5th September. During the closure there were no main line trains to London from Ipswich, a coach service being operated between Ipswich and Manningtree. The £5m Ipswich tunnel improvement project allowed 9ft 6in containers to W12 gauge to pass through by removing the slab track installed for the route's electrification 20 years previously, and the installation of a new concrete base and track about 12 inches lower than before. During the works the invert of the tunnel was exposed, possibly for the first time since construction in 1846, and was found to be in good condition and repairs that had been provided for were not required. The line re-opened to programme on 6th September. This is the blockade from the station footbridge looking south towards the tunnel mouth And here is a view of the works looking north. The station footbridge may be seen in the background. This is the tunnel mouth with the track removed awaiting excavation to a lower level. An Anglia-liveried Class 86 can go no further. During the works platform 4 was used to stable various units. This is a couple of 153s and a 170/2 in the platform. A very limited direct train service was provided between Norwich and Liverpool Street via Cambridge. This is Class 47, 47818 piloting Class 90 90006 at Ely. Note that Chris Green's red lamp posts are still extant, albeit somewhat faded! All the above photographs were taken on 17th July 2004 Chris Turnbull Edited May 20, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 (edited) Two years prior to the last batch of photographs, over the weekend of 27th and 28th July 2002, Freightliner locomotive No. 90042 ran six trial trips with a full rake of Anglia Railways Mk 2f stock between Norwich and Stowmarket. The trials were deemed very satisfactory: there were some minor hiccups with the TDM (time division multiplex), but excellent acceleration and braking. The train was driven by an Anglia driver with a Freightliner driver from Crewe in attendance. All the following photographs were taken on 27th July 2002. This is 90042 at the rear of the train at Haughley headed towards Stowmarket on the first trial trip of the day. And here she is, again at Haughley, on the return leg of the first trip. Meanwhile service trains continued as normal. This is 86221 on an Up express at Haughley. The line to Bury St Edmunds can be diverging to the left. This is 153335 about to take the Bury line on a more mundane Ipswich to Cambridge service. A brace of 170/2s forming one of the innovative but short-lived Norwich to Basingstoke services heads towards Norwich with 170204 leading. This is a Down passenger with Driving Open Brake Standard coach 9702 leading: the train locomotive, a Class 86, is at the rear. Here is recently named 86227 "Golden Jubilee" at the rear of a Down express at Stowmarket. This is 153335 at Stowmarket headed towards Ipswich with the return working of the Cambridge train seen earlier at Haughley. 90042 and her train were stabled in the Down Goods Loop that can be seen to the right at the end of the Down platform. A visit to Stowmarket would not be complete without a shot of the ornate Ipswich and Bury Railway architecture of the station. For more details see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stowmarket_railway_station Chris Turnbull Edited May 20, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 (edited) On 5th November 2004 the Railway Study Association organised a trip to the Bicester Military Railway. Photographs were permitted provided we avoided photographing certain buildings; fortunately that didn't include the railway. The day started with a demonstration of loading containers onto wagons. We were then taken the see the railway itself starting with the loco shed... ...followed by a trip around the railway in this coach. Here's the complete train awaiting departure. This is Graven Hill Signal Box. I wonder if LNERGE has a signalling diagram of this one? Bicester also acted as a storage depot for Virgin HSTs, free from the attentions of graffiti artists Finally we were treated to a display of how to rerail a wagon (and derail it again). The soldiers giving this display had just returned from Basra where they had worked on the Iraqi railway. Their one regret was that they hadn't managed to get to Baghdad by train! Chris Turnbull Edited May 20, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted December 10, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 10, 2014 I wonder where that Ironclad coach had come from? Longmoor I suppose. Interesting juxtaposition with the HST's mind! Great shots, Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted December 10, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 10, 2014 Two years prior to the last batch of photographs, over the weekend of 27th and 28th July 2002, Freightliner locomotive No. 90042 ran six trial trips with a full rake of Anglia Railways Mk 2f stock between Norwich and Stowmarket. The trials were deemed very satisfactory: there were some minor hiccups with the TDM (time division multiplex), but excellent acceleration and braking. The train was driven by an Anglia driver with a Freightliner driver from Crewe in attendance. All the following photographs were taken on 27th July 2002. 020727 Haughley 90042 21.jpg This is 90042 at the rear of the train at Haughley headed towards Stowmarket on the first trial trip of the day. 020727 Haughley 90042 22.jpg And here she is, again at Haughley, on the return leg of the first trip. 020727 Haughley 86221 19.jpg Meanwhile service trains continued as normal. This is 86221 on an Up express at Haughley. The line to Bury St Edmunds can be diverging to the left. 020727 Haughley 153335 17.jpg This is 153335 about to take the Bury line on a more mundane Ipswich to Cambridge service. 020727 Haughley 170204 18.jpg A brace of 170/2s forming one of the innovative but short-lived Norwich to Basingstoke services heads towards Norwich with 170204 leading. 020727 Haughley DVT 9702 20.jpg This is a Down passenger with Driving Open Brake Standard coach 9702 leading: the train locomotive, a Class 86, is at the rear. 020727 Stowmarket 86227 Golden Jubilee.jpg Here is recently named 86227 "Golden Jubilee" at the rear of a Down express at Stowmarket. 020727 Stowmarket 153335 24.jpg This is 153335 at Stowmarket headed towards Ipswich with the return working of the Cambridge train seen earlier at Haughley. 90042 and her train were stabled in the Down Goods Loop that can be seen to the right at the end of the Down platform. 020727 Stowmarket 23.jpg A visit to Stowmarket would not be complete without a shot of the ornate Ipswich and Bury Railway architecture of the station. For more details see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stowmarket_railway_station Chris Turnbull Stowmarket station? Now theres a memory jerker! Anyone else on here on the ill fated East Anglian Railtour in the 70s? The local Stowmarket chippie didn't know what hit them when the train was terminated there rather than running on to Lowestoft. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chris Turnbull Posted December 12, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 12, 2014 (edited) It has occurred to me that I have been most remiss; I have only posted one photograph of Ely. This is when I now make amends. This is Class 31 D5800 in Platform 3 on 8th March 1969. The rubble is from the rebuilding of the building on the island platform. Note how it is open to the public, not fenced off as it would be today. On the same day here's Class 37 D6721 entering Ely on the Down "Fenman". Also on 8th March 1969 here's D6727 on a Down passenger. Note the fine array of semaphore signal that Ely used to have. 39 years later this is 158780 at Ely on a Norwich to Liverpool service (or it could be the other way round as the service reverses at Ely). Entering Platform 1 from the south on a Birmingham service here's 170156 And here is 170156 in Platform 1. Notice that there are only two roads through Ely in these shots. In connection with the electrification from Cambridge to Kings Lynn in the early '90s the road serving Platform 1 was removed and the platform extended out to the centre road. Unfortunately the canopy did not follow suit. The 1960s-style island platform building can be seen to the right; it hasn't changed much in 39 years. This is a view looking northwards with a couple of Class 66s headed in that direction. They are passing over the second most bashed road underbridge in the country, being beaten to the top spot by a low bridge in Swindon. Here's an electric cattle truck, sorry, Class 317. Ghastly things these are with the window pillar right in the middle of the pairs of seats so your view is restricted no matter where you sit. This is a Stansted service in Platform 2. This is an unusual shot as these services often seem to be turned back before they get to Ely especially in times of perturbation. You can clearly see from this shot how Platform 1 was extended out to the centre road but the canopy wasn't. This electrification was done on the cheap and this is one example. All the "modern" photographs were taken at Ely on a dull 30th August 2008 My thanks to Jonny777 for vetting the 1969 colour slides. Chris Turnbull Edited May 20, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chris Turnbull Posted December 13, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 13, 2014 (edited) In post #305 I shew some photographs of Haughley in 2002. Here's some shots taken in earlier years. On 31st May 1968 D5628 is caught in the evening sunlight on an Down Up passenger. The station had closed by this time and the footbridge had been removed but the station buildings and island platform were still intact. The goods signal that can be seen above the roof of the carriages controlled access to sidings and to the remains of the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway. The railway itself closed in 1952 on 26th July but a 600 yard section was retained at Haughley to provide a refuge for goods trains to set back into. I did witness this being used as such on one of my trainspotting trips in the early '60s but this was long before I possessed a camera. Two years later the station was being demolished; 24th September 1970 This is the other end of the Up platform station building. The grain silo was built on the site of the former MSLR station in the late '40s, MSLR trains having been accommodated from November 1939 in a newly-constructed bay platform at the back of the Up main line platform using the alignment of the former GER headshunt siding - that's where the rubble is in this photograph. Here's the front of the station building. Note how even a humble country station had an ornate, imposing facade. The Victorians knew how to impress! Here's a view looking northwards towards Norwich. The MSLR diverged to the right towards the white farm building that can just be seen in the trees in the centre background whilst the Bury line diverged to the left behind the loop platform starter. For over forty years Haughley was where the Up and Down night mail trains crossed and detached and attached the Norwich mail vans. The Up mail used the loop platform. By the time I used the late-night mail train from Liverpool Street this manoeuvre took place at Ipswich. To the north of Haughley station runs Haugh Lane which provides access to Haugh Farm (imaginative lot, us Suffolk chaps). This is the underbridge of the main line to Norwich. And this is the remains of the underbridge of the erstwhile MSLR. Thanks to Jonny777 for vetting these photos. Chris Turnbull Edited May 20, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted December 13, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 13, 2014 Thanks for these, Chris! I particularly like the 1968 shot - the station was so intact at the time that it looks as though the train is making a stop there (but isn't it an up train?)! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted December 13, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2014 Haughley had changed a lot by the time I got there in 1979! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Thanks for these, Chris! I particularly like the 1968 shot - the station was so intact at the time that it looks as though the train is making a stop there (but isn't it an up train?)! Of course it is. Silly me! That just goes to show you should never read over your own work. Many thanks, caption changed. Chris Turnbull 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Haughley had changed a lot by the time I got there in 1979! David Any chance of a link to what I am sure are excellent photos? Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I can't manage a box diagram for Haugley Junction but i have Trimley panel. Legend has it it was first used at Haughley Junction. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 It has occurred to me that I have been most remiss; I have only posted one photograph of Ely. This is when I now make amends. This is a view looking northwards with a couple of Class 66s headed in that direction. They are passing over the second most bashed road underbridge in the country, being beaten to the top spot by a low bridge in Swindon. More intreresting photos Chris, many thanks The bridge at Swindon winning first prize must be the White House Road bridge, there is/was a pub with a sign featuring the White House, cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted December 13, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2014 Any chance of a link to what I am sure are excellent photos? Chris Turnbull Haughley - some of mine on flickr here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/sets/72157626256432619/ David 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Removal of the canopies and alterations to the site may have taken place between 1968 and 1970, but the station buildings at Haughley survived for a number of years afterwards. Contemporary photos show only a remnant of the single storey section nearest the level crossing - but I haven't visited the site recently. My only view of the station buildings was taken from a passing train in August 1975. I'm intrigued by the lean-to with the legend "Haughley Junction" which appears to have been added after ChrisT's 1970 shots. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted December 13, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2014 It was the signalbox until Colchester took over Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 The lean to bit is the signalbox by this date containing the aforementioned panel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted December 13, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 13, 2014 I spent many an interesting evening sat on the old Ely station, in the days the European used to run. Watching trains their was always interesting, watching the semaphores coming off, or just sitting there watching their lamps sat at red. Sadly Ely today has lost some of this magic.... The lads I work with rate the Ely boxes as the best boxes they worked..... Andy G 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chris Turnbull Posted December 14, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) For today's offering I thought we might venture to the northeast, Newcastle and Gateshead to be precise. The traditional view of Newcastle taken from the top of the castle on 6th November 1970 with filthy Class 17 on a freight snaking its way across the famous Castle Junction, somewhat simplified by this time. The lines diverging to the left cross the Tyne on the High Level Bridge whilst the ECML tracks diverge to the right. This is the view looking northwards towards Manors on the same day with another Class 17 in the foreground. Here's another view of the junction, again on 6th November 1970 Eighteen months earlier on 26th August 1969 here is the station pilot, Class 03 2108 Crossing the river, we see Class 45 No. 35 at Gateshead on 12th June 1971 Finally, on the same day, this is Gateshead shed with Class 47 1780 in the foreground. Thanks to Jonny777 for vetting these photos. Chris Turnbull Edited May 20, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 35 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted December 14, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2014 Excellent Chris, all you need is Michael Caine flying about in a mk2 cortina!! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) For today's offering I thought we might venture to the northeast, Newcastle and Gateshead to be precise. 701106 Newcastle Class 17 Clayton K11.17.jpg Chris Turnbull Super classic view from the Castle but there's something in there i've not noticed before.. The wide to gauge trap has two point machines. This layout also had several point machines in the four foot. In these shots only one is visible. Edited December 14, 2014 by LNERGE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 I recollect that, as you looked from the High-Level Bridge towards the station, there was an electrical suppliers called 'Turnbulls'- they weren't family, were they, Chris? In that second shot of a Clayton (probably hauling scrap from Shepherds of Byker), you can see the footings being laid for Swan House, which dominated the approach from Tyne Bridge towards the city; one job I had when working for Manpower was a glorified caretaker for Storey Sons and Parker, who managed the building. This meant I had access to the roof, which was a great place to watch the passing trains from.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) I recollect that, as you looked from the High-Level Bridge towards the station, there was an electrical suppliers called 'Turnbulls'- they weren't family, were they, Chris? Turnbull is a very common name in Newcastle actually deriving from southern Scotland. (Allegedly a strong man who saved the life of Robert the Bruce by turning the horns of a charging wild bull into the ground; Robert the Bruce called him "Turn-e-bull". The genes have been somewhat diluted since then). There were more Turnbulls than Smiths in the Newcastle telephone directory at one time but very few "down south". When we first had a telephone in 1967 my father was thrilled that he was the only Turnbull in the Bury St Edmunds directory. Chris Turn-e-bull Edited December 14, 2014 by Chris Turnbull 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 14, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) Turnbull is a very common name in Newcastle actually deriving from southern Scotland. (Allegedly a strong man who saved the life of Robert the Bruce by turning the horns of a charging wild bull into the ground; Robert the Bruce called him "Turn-e-bull". The genes have been somewhat diluted since then). There were more Turnbulls than Smiths in the Newcastle telephone directory at one time but very few "down south". When we first had a telephone in 1967 my father was thrilled that he was the only Turnbull in the Bury St Edmunds directory. Chris Turn-e-bull What a load of bullocks Mike. (Sorry Phil) Edited to add apology! Edited December 14, 2014 by Enterprisingwestern 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted December 15, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 15, 2014 Don't worry Mike I've heard em all!!!! Hee hee Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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