Chris T's photo archives

[br2975]

Interesting shots. I'm a bit puzzled by the shots of the fairburn tank in red oxide, and what seems to be a red standard tender engine behind it. Surely it's a bit late for them to be painted, or are they being tarted up for preservation?

 

Both locos were/still are preserved, being stored initially at Carnforth (with others e.g. B1 61306) .

 

46441 was still in an un-authentic livery in recent years.

.

The Fairburn tank is currently at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.

.

Brian R

[pH]

Interesting shots. I'm a bit puzzled by the shots of the fairburn tank in red oxide, and what seems to be a red standard tender engine behind it. Surely it's a bit late for them to be painted, or are they being tarted up for preservation?

 

Andy G

Andy, the tender belonged to an Ivatt small mogul (4)6441. It had been painted in an LMS-type colour scheme in peparation for preservation - https://www.flickr.com/photos/80572914@N06/7531433192/in/set-72157630154802550/lightbox/. The Fairburn had had work done on it as well, and I saw it in September 1968, but I can't remember what colour it was then.

[uax6]

Thanks for that info, I haddn't realised that the MPD was being used as a steam base while Steam was still being serviced there.

 

Andy g

[New Haven Neil]

One of the Fairburns was Caledonian blue, the other Furness red IIRC when I first went to Steamtown.  There was a 'Green 5' too!  Or was it  'Ba;ck' 5 that was Furness red....memory fades, no camera in those days!!

[stewartingram]

 

44932 at Carnforth.

 

Stewart

[cctransuk]

03_002_0018_44932 Carnforth..jpg

 

44932 at Carnforth.

 

Stewart

Yuk !! Not even the correct BR green.

 

That's what always deterred me from visiting the Lakeside & Haverthwaite - the locos always looked decidedly odd in their wierd liveries.

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

[jonny777]

Yes, I had the same feeling after visiting Carnforth in 1970. 46441 was in steam and running up and down one of the tracks alongside the shed area, giving brake van rides - but its red paint and LMS insignia somehow put me off going again.

 

It was as if steam had suddenly become a quirky novelty, which was not how I saw it.

[corneliuslundie]

Yes, real coal, not nutty slack. If that was for locomotive use the firemen must have been in heaven (unless it was a type which clogged up the firebars and had to be removed with a great deal of brute force).

 

I had the same reaction when I visited Lakeside and saw a Caledonian blue tank loco at least a generation too young to have carried the livery. Never been again.

[LMS2968]

Several preserved lines ran locos I fictitious colour schemes at that time, the KWVR among them. A problem was a prohibition by BR of using any logo of the BR logos: BRITISH RAILWAYS, ferret and dartboard or the 1957 logo. They were trying to rid themselves of the vision of the old fashioned steam engine and were madly pushing forward the ultra-modern diesel and electric image. Engines could not therefore be turned out in correct livery, not if built in the BR era, at least, and there seemed to be a sort of 'What the Hell' reaction. Most lines have grown up a bit since.

[Chris Turnbull]

Down the west side of the shed ran a public footpath.  This provided a great vantage point especially on a summer's evening with the sun behind you.

 

 

Taken from that footpath, this is "Black 5" 45025 basking in the evening sun on 9th July 1968.  My notes say that, at the time, this was the oldest locomotive running on BR and must be something I had read in either "Railway World" or "Railway Magazine".

 

 

Next to 45025 here's Class "8F" 48348.  Unlike 45025 she hasn't had the benefit of an oily rag wiped over her.  A common trick at the end of steam was for the shed staff to clean the smokebox and one side of the locomotive.  If you saw the cleaned side you were lucky.  At the time I had a Hornby-Dublo "8F", 48158 I think it was, that I painted a mucky brown colour based on this photograph.  My colleagues at the local model railway club laughed their socks off but I reckoned it was a good representation of what I had seen running.

 

 

At the other end of the shed this is Clayton Type 1 D8509.  No wonder they didn't work well, stuck in a filthy steam shed.

 

 

Back on the footbridge here's Stanier Class "5" 44709 headed southwards with a freight.  An unidentified 0-6-0 shunter is next to the breakdown crane.  

 

 

The shunter has gone and headed out of the yard past the crane is Metropolitan Vickers Type 2 D5714, commonly known as a Co-Bo due to its unusual wheel arrangement.

 

More tomorrow, all being well.

 

Again, thanks to Jonny777 for vetting these photos.

 

Chris Turnbull 

Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull

[keefer]

Great pics again Chris.

Interesting weathering on the Clayton, especially the solebar - presumably the paxmans have been chucking out a fair bit of oil

[Chris Turnbull]

We're still at Carnforth on 9th July 1968 with but three weeks to go before the demise of steam power on BR.

 

 

In the morning, taken into the sun, is "Black Five" 44963 taking the Furness & Midland Joint line to Wennington and the Settle and Carlisle.

 

 

Whilst in the yard British Railways Type 2 D5084 awaits departure.

 

 

Meanwhile "Black Five" 45390 heads toward Barrow on the Furness line.

 

 

It's now the evening and Standard Class "4" 75048 has had a wipe over with an oily rag.  Compare this to the photograph of this loco being turned earlier in the day in post #275

 

 

Also on the evening of the 9th here's a view of the withdrawn locomotives at Carnforth.

 

 

South of Carnforth station there was another footbridge from Grosvenor Place across the WCML.  This is Co-Bo D5714 headed south on the WCMLwith a train of oil tanks on 10th July.

 

Thanks again to Jonny777

 

Chris Turnbull

Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull

[Old Gringo]

Super photos Chris that bring back lots of happy memories for some of us older folk!

 

In post 288, you mention the cleaning of some locomotives and the fact that occasionally only one side received the attention of an oily rag.  Often, in the final two years of B.R. steam, this was undertaken by enthusiasts rather than shed staff, especially by the most famous group known as 'the Master Neverers Association'.

 

 After arriving on shed late at night and ascertaining which engines were diagrammed to perform certain duties on the following day (armed with the knowledge of where the most likely places were to obtain the best photos, regarding possible sunlight and gradients, etc.), a few of the lucky locomotives would have an oily rag wiped over the smokebox, or the side which would face the sunshine, etc.   Sometimes the complete engine would get the full treatment, for example if it was a Jubilee in summer 1967 and if enough enthusiasts were present.  Hence some locomotives got the full treatment and some just the minimum a clean smokebox.

 

By 1967, the practice was tolerated by some of the shed-staff at the remaining steam depots and quite a few crews were pleasantly surprised when confronted with a smart engine for what was considered by then as an ordinary turn in a dirty and un-cared-for environment.  

 

Prior to 1967, just occasionally, when a really unusual engine was to be used for a special train, like 60019 'Bittern', diagrammed for a special train from Manchester in March 1966, the word got out to the local enthusiasts.  And on the day before the special, a whole crowd of youngsters were found applying oily rags to the mucky 'Streak' sent down from Aberdeen Ferryhill.  Nowadays, the 'Elf and safety' people would go nuts at 15 year old school-boys standing on the handrails and reaching across the warm casing of an A4 still in light steam to give it a bit of a sparkle.  By gum, it was in the last century and nearly fifty of our earth years ago!

 

Please keep the photos coming.

 

All the best,

John

[Chris Turnbull]

Super photos Chris that bring back lots of happy memories for some of us older folk!

 

In post 288, you mention the cleaning of some locomotives and the fact that occasionally only one side received the attention of an oily rag.  Often, in the final two years of B.R. steam, this was undertaken by enthusiasts rather than shed staff, especially by the most famous group known as 'the Master Neverers Association'.

 

 After arriving on shed late at night and ascertaining which engines were diagrammed to perform certain duties on the following day (armed with the knowledge of where the most likely places were to obtain the best photos, regarding possible sunlight and gradients, etc.), a few of the lucky locomotives would have an oily rag wiped over the smokebox, or the side which would face the sunshine, etc.   Sometimes the complete engine would get the full treatment, for example if it was a Jubilee in summer 1967 and if enough enthusiasts were present.  Hence some locomotives got the full treatment and some just the minimum a clean smokebox.

 

By 1967, the practice was tolerated by some of the shed-staff at the remaining steam depots and quite a few crews were pleasantly surprised when confronted with a smart engine for what was considered by then as an ordinary turn in a dirty and un-cared-for environment.  

 

Prior to 1967, just occasionally, when a really unusual engine was to be used for a special train, like 60019 'Bittern', diagrammed for a special train from Manchester in March 1966, the word got out to the local enthusiasts.  And on the day before the special, a whole crowd of youngsters were found applying oily rags to the mucky 'Streak' sent down from Aberdeen Ferryhill.  Nowadays, the 'Elf and safety' people would go nuts at 15 year old school-boys standing on the handrails and reaching across the warm casing of an A4 still in light steam to give it a bit of a sparkle.  By gum, it was in the last century and nearly fifty of our earth years ago!

 

Please keep the photos coming.

 

Thank you for your kind comments.  I intend to keep the photos coming although they won't all be the 1960s.  Apologies for the break in transmission last night but my wife and I decided to go out for a curry and when we got back Mr Portillo was on.

 

It's interesting what you say about enthusiasts cleaning the locomotives.  I witnessed a loco being cleaned from the bridge at Carnforth - it may have been 75048 - and as it was the middle of the afternoon I assumed it was a couple of the shed staff.  If I had thought for a moment that I could have joined them I would have done so like a shot!

 

Chris Turnbull

[corneliuslundie]

Even that shot of withdrawn locos as Carnforth looks much better than the current scene with whole rows of rotting passenger rated vehicles. It is only at the north end that there seems to be anything likely ever to move again. I really think most of it is now just scrap, long beyond preservation. Hardly even anything under a tarpaulin. And even the stock in current use looks very dismal and unkempt.

 

Please keep the photos coming. It's all history if it wasn't taken this morning.

[50A55B]

Steam wasn't the only thing drawing to an end - D5714 had just under two months left in traffic at the time of the photos.

Thanks for some wonderful material.

[Chris Turnbull]

I can't remember where it was, perhaps on the footbridge to Carnforth shed, perhaps in the pub where I was staying, but somewhere I made the acquaintance of a chap who was on the same mission as I.  You know how it is, you get chatting and before you know it a certain railway camaraderie has taken hold and you're firm friends.  This chap was a bit older than I and it transpired he had a CAR!  This was brilliant as he was able to take me to places it hadn't been easy to get to and that's how I ended up at Rose Grove on 10th July 1968. 

 

 

And here he is getting ready to photograph Class "8F" 48448 as she leaves Rose Grove yard.  I can't remember his name after all these years but I owe him a big debt of gratitude.  If anyone knows who it is or, even better, you recognise yourself then do let me know.

 

 

This is Class "8F" 48191 working hard leaving the yard.

 

 

Old Gringo makes reference to a "dirty and uncared-for environment" and this shot of Class "5" 45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry" on shed at 10F Rose Grove typifies just how dirty and uncared-for it was.  Piles of ash, clinker and coal everywhere that would have been cleared up in previous years was just left lying around.  And who can blame the staff?  Steam was due to finish in three weeks and some of them could well be facing redundancy.

 

 

The station wasn't much better either.  This is English Electric Type 3 D6916 alongside "8F" 48340.  Note the tatty station valancing; hardly a good advert for train travel.

 

Thanks to Jonny777 again.

 

Chris Turnbull 

Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull

[Phil Bullock]

These are some very special photos Chris

 

Not only did you capture steam's last breaths but rarely you also captured the rest of the scene - the Clayton and Co-Bo at Carnforth are pricelss

 

Many many thanks for sharing them.

 

Phil

[Chris Turnbull]

Staying at Rose Grove for one final batch, here we are still on 10th July 1968

 

 

Class "8F" 48191 drifts through the platform road while 48448 (with snowplough) is held at signals.  I think this photograph is as interesting for the depressing state of the station facilities as it is for the locomotives. 

 

 

One locomotive that was kept in reasonble condition was Class "5" 45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry", probably because she was a "namer" albeit devoid of nameplates by this time.  Here she is entering the shed.

 

 

Class "8F" 48730 rests on shed with the coaling tower in the background.

 

 

Standard Class "4" 75027 is shunted into the withdrawn locomotive road alongside the shed her BR working life over.  She may now be found on the Bluebell Railway, I believe.

 

Thanks to Jonny777 as usual

 

Chris Turnbull.

Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull

[steve4rosegrove]

Staying at Rose Grove for one final batch, here we are still on 10th July 1968

 

680710 Rose Grove 48191, 48448 8.12.jpg

 

Class "8F" 48191 drifts through the platform road while 48448 (with snowplough) is held at signals.  I think this photograph is as interesting for the depressing state of the station facilities as it is for the locomotives. 

 

680710 Rose Grove 45156 8.15.jpg

 

One locomotive that was kept in reasonble condition was Class "5" 45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry", probably because she was a "namer" albeit devoid of nameplates by this time.  Here she is entering the shed.

 

680710 Rose Grove 48730 8.11.jpg

 

Class "8F" 48730 rests on shed with the coaling tower in the background.

 

680710 Rose Grove 75027 8.10.jpg

 

Standard Class "4" 75027 is shunted into the withdrawn locomotive road alongside the shed her BR working life over.  She may now be found on the Bluebell Railway, I believe.

 

Thanks to Jonny777 as usual

 

Chris Turnbull.

Some of the best quality photos of Rose Grove I have seen.  So useful for the modelling, and fantastic memories of the station from my visit in 1967.  Really hope you have more of 10F, but still enjoying others especially around Manchester.  Thank you for posting, Steve

[Chris Turnbull]

Hanging around depressing stations and bunking uncared-for sheds is all very well but to see steam locomotives really working you need to get out on the line.

 

 

This is Class "5" 45394 working hard with a train of mineral wagons climbing the bank at Hoghton between Lostock Hall and Blackburn on 11th July 1968

 

 

Of course, steam locomotives still required servicing right up to the end.  This is "Black Five" 45268 on the turntable at Carnforth...

 

 

...and this is sister engine 44758 receiving a tender full of coal, probably that which we saw in the photographs taken on the two preceding days.

 

 

By the 11th the weather had turned.  Gone was the balmy July weather I had enjoyed on my first two days to be replaced with damp, cooler weather.  However the dismal weather was more than made up for by goings-on in Carnforth station.  The DMU forming the 9.51 Morecambe service had failed and was towed away by 45134.  44735 waits in the platform.  

 

 

A rake of coaches was found (something that couldn't be done today), 45258 was coupled up and set off for Morecambe.  Did I have time to buy a ticket?  No!

 

Was this the last steam-hauled service train to run on standard-gauge BR metals?  Stay turned to find out.

 

Thanks to Jonny777 for his valued vetting once again.

 

Chris Turnbull

Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull

[Chris Turnbull]

This is an article that appeared in the October 1968 Railway Magazine.  Entitled "Reflections of the Last Night" it was written by "A Mourner".  It is highly evocative and poignant so I have reproduced it in full.

 

"On Saturday, August 3^rd 1968, from eight o’clock onwards, railway enthusiasts from many parts of the British Isles began to assemble at Preston Station.  Two taxi-drivers remarked about the unusually long queue formed at the ticket office, oblivious of the real significance of the occasion.  Mostly only two destinations were being booked – Blackpool South and Liverpool Exchange – by the last two ordinary-service trains on British Railways standard gauge metals to be hauled by steam engines.

The platforms were a seething mass of humanity, sporting numerous cases carrying cameras and tape-recorders, while two bearded gentlemen clad in top hats and tails, and carrying a mock coffin draped with slogans on the impending demise of the steam locomotive, marched in sombre style past the Brush type “4” and coaches of the 17.05 from Euston, the rear of which was to form the 20.50 to Blackpool.

As Stanier class “5” 4-6-0 No. 45212 backed on to this train, packed to capacity, photographers jostled with each other for suitable positions, and tape-recordists started the reels turning in an attempt to record her every beat and hiss.  Soon No. 45212 was gone, the last of a great pageant of steam locomotives which have carried thousands to the Fylde Coast over the years.

Pending the expected arrival at 21.12 of the 17.25 from Glasgow, many people went to the other end of the station to photograph and admire another Stanier class “5”, No. 45318, waiting to take the Liverpool portion.  As the train came in the tape-recordists rushed to get into the front coaches of the section due to depart at 21.25 for Liverpool, while photographers fortunate enough to possess flash stood ready to take their final shots of steam at Preston Station.

With a blast from the exhaust, and to a battery of flash guns, No. 45318 pulled her train gently out: this was the moment of no return.  As she climbed steadily up the West Coast main line to Farington Curve Junction there were still isolated flashes of blue light from photographers at strategic vantage points on the lineside.  Once over the short sharp climb to Moss Lane Junction, No. 45318 began to hurry her train along into the night in the best traditions of steam (time-recordists noted an “80” at one point).

All too soon we were passing through the Liverpool suburbs, past Aintree where the outline of the now-silent engine shed, its coaling plant still towering into the sky, appeared a silent tribute to the golden age of steam.  Three miles farther on hardly a trace could be seen of Bank Hall shed, another former mecca of the steam enthusiast – a stark reminder that an era was drawing to a close.

 

As No. 45318 proudly brought her train slowly to a standstill in Liverpool Exchange the enthusiasts gathered round to pay their last respects: the few ordinary passengers filed past with hardly a look at the engine, mildly surprised, partly amused at all the fuss.  There was a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” and three cheers for the steam Locomotive. 

There was a carnival atmosphere about the whole affair, yet it was tinged with sadness.  There were still the six enthusiasts’ specials to come on the next day and the very last train of all the following Sunday.  There are steam visits to private lines and industrial systems to look forward to, but this was the last occasion on which one could pay one’s fare at a British Railways booking-office window, and travel behind a steam locomotive on an ordinary service train." 

Edited December 7, 2014 by Chris Turnbull

[eurotrack]

Thanks Clive & Fat Controller

 

They look like standard 45t GLW tanks (except the first, which looks like the earlier 35t GLW type) carrying Class A liquids, as Clive has just said... The two goods vans are barrier vehicles, mandatory for Class A liquids at this time whilst the brake van is there to reduce the shunting (a double run-round) at the terminal; there'll be another one at the other end. The absence of identifying labels is unusual, as the oil companies were keen on advertising their wares at this time; I wonder if they could belong to, or be leased by, Carless, for traffic from Harwich, as they went for painted lettering on the tank, rather than the separate boards used by others.

 

Thanks chaps for commenting on the tank wagons in Chris picture of  2 x Cl 15  at Bury St Edmunds in 1968 .  I suspect FC you may well be right  as the Carless refinery had open at Harwich in 1964   see attached link  for shot of some old MP and a 1960's Carless lorry.      http://fueloilnews.co.uk/2014/06/a-golden-moment-for-hcs-harwich-refinery/

 

 

Thanks to Chris for the thread. 

 

kr

 

Keith

[Fat Controller]

Thanks Clive & Fat Controller

 

 

Thanks chaps for commenting on the tank wagons in Chris picture of  2 x Cl 15  at Bury St Edmunds in 1968 .  I suspect FC you may well be right  as the Carless refinery had open at Harwich in 1964   see attached link  for shot of some old MP and a 1960's Carless lorry.      http://fueloilnews.co.uk/2014/06/a-golden-moment-for-hcs-harwich-refinery/

 

 

Thanks to Chris for the thread. 

 

kr

 

Keith

'Fuel Oil News'- has this one been on 'Have I Got News For You' yet?

[LNERGE]

'Fuel Oil News'- has this one been on 'Have I Got News For You' yet?

I halways thought this would be a good candidate for that show...

 

http://www.velocipedes.co.uk/