RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted January 26, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 26, 2017 Any details on the above. Is it 9009? No, 55022 RSG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted January 26, 2017 Share Posted January 26, 2017 The Class 31 Having had a look at the Class 25 in Devon I thought the 31 ought to have it's turn. Possibly even less pictured on the mainline than the 25s were, their only defined role seems to have been on the Barnstaple line. Were they all Bath Road allocated? Hardly ever straying into Cornwall but by default encouraging exotic pairs into the area on the Saturday dated Liverpool to Paignton as crews were familiar with them. This one I have no record of the number, but it's ready for snow. It is at Newton Abbot on the Royal Train. I can't fathom what's going on or why someone is confidently standing in the four foot with his back to oncoming traffic holding a spanner! It's a visit of Charles and Diana to Tavistock in 1983. I would guess that they have overnighted up the Heathfield line. I think Bath Road allocated class 31s were the most common visitors. The 1975 Exeter local trip booklet shows one class 31 turn, trip No. 9 (extract of Bath Road 80) working between 11.00 and 15.00 SX including assisting trip 4 with the 11.05 Exeter Riverside to Exmouth Junction, (which was booked for a Laira class 25), and working a trip to Newcourt, before working the 15.58 passenger to Barnstaple, Old Oak Common class 31s appeared on parcels trains and sometimes on the empty news vans to Old Oak Common. Stratford class 31s worked the Ripple Lane to Exeter City Basin bitumen traffic cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 (edited) I think Bath Road allocated class 31s were the most common visitors. The 1975 Exeter local trip booklet shows one class 31 turn, trip No. 9 (extract of Bath Road 80) working between 11.00 and 15.00 SX including assisting trip 4 with the 11.05 Exeter Riverside to Exmouth Junction, (which was booked for a Laira class 25), and working a trip to Newcourt, before working the 15.58 passenger to Barnstaple, Old Oak Common class 31s appeared on parcels trains and sometimes on the empty news vans to Old Oak Common. Stratford class 31s worked the Ripple Lane to Exeter City Basin bitumen traffic cheers Interesting you quote the Newcourt turn. My second day as a Secondman (upgraded Traction Trainee) at Exeter 24/9/74 saw me booked on Turn 109 12.15 Riverside yard,7B71 Riverside to Newcourt also shunt Central yard then as said 15.58 to Barnstaple and 17.55 return with driver Bob Dak who I remember was very accomodating of this rookie. A further note off the information board in the movements supervisors office is...Engine then either left for Basingstoke or take to shed. We had 31110 that day. Edited January 26, 2017 by Garry Morris 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) Carrying on from #432 and #442. here's possibly the first diesel on rail in Devon. HSTesq in style; a very modern looking loco awaits departure at Paignton Zoo on 'The Jungle Express'. Edited January 27, 2017 by Garry Morris 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 The 1980's era at the Paignton Zoo miniature railway. An early spring test run? Clearly no customers. A very non descript diesel based on an American design. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 (edited) I do not have very many photos of class 31s in Devon, but here is one at Plymouth, whether it got any further west that day I do not know One of Bath Roads class 31 allocation 31230 on the Down Through Road at Plymouth with inspection saloon KDW150266 21/4/82 cheers Edited January 28, 2017 by Rivercider 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted January 28, 2017 Author Share Posted January 28, 2017 Next in the number series 31231 with the Heathfield tanks at Newton Abbot. 19/5/83 and again in Goodrington Yard on an Engineers working two days later. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted January 28, 2017 Author Share Posted January 28, 2017 A 31 on Power Car transfer duties coming past Stoneycombe. I have no date or number for this. Poor camera, poor conditions,caught short! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 On a visit to Newton Abbot in November 1981 I was lucky enough to see three eth fitted class 31/4s at work, Old Oak allocated 31415, and 31419 and 31424 both of Bath Road, a couple of photos have been posted in other thread but not, I think, these two. 31419, is seen in the former carriage sidings at Newton Abbot assembling an engineers train, 5/11/81 White stripe 31424 takes the 11.25 departure for Paignton under the impressive signal gantry at Newton Abbot West, 5/11/81 cheers 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 ISTR there was a summer SO train booked for 2 x 31's to Paignton ?? in the mid 80's Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Smeeton Posted January 28, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 28, 2017 The Class 31 Having had a look at the Class 25 in Devon I thought the 31 ought to have it's turn. Possibly even less pictured on the mainline than the 25s were, their only defined role seems to have been on the Barnstaple line. Were they all Bath Road allocated? Hardly ever straying into Cornwall but by default encouraging exotic pairs into the area on the Saturday dated Liverpool to Paignton as crews were familiar with them. This one I have no record of the number, but it's ready for snow. It is at Newton Abbot on the Royal Train. I can't fathom what's going on or why someone is confidently standing in the four foot with his back to oncoming traffic holding a spanner! It's a visit of Charles and Diana to Tavistock 9/3/83. I would guess that they have overnighted up the Heathfield line. Looks very scruffy for a loco on Royal duties. Late replacement? Regards Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 I do not have very many photos of class 31s in Devon, but here is one at Plymouth, whether it got any further west that day I do not know scan0040.jpg One of Bath Roads class 31 allocation 31230 on the Down Through Road at Plymouth with inspection saloon KDW150266 21/4/82 cheers Bet that cab was draughty with no headcode box glass in place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 (edited) Here is a faded instamatic photo of a pair of Stratford allocated class 31s with the discharged bitumen tanks from Exeter City Basin to Ripple Lane 31112 and 31107 pass through platform 5 at Exeter St Davids, 15/5/79 Another view of the Ripple Lane tanks in the 1980s 31138 and 31123 approach Exeter St Davids with discharged tanks from City Basin, 24/7/80 cheers Edited January 29, 2017 by Rivercider 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tavy Man Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 Looks very scruffy for a loco on Royal duties. Late replacement? Regards Ian The 31 in the photo has been used to return the train to Newton Abbot from Teigngrace, where it was stabled. The "pretty" train engine would of been on the other end. Top and tail operation was always used on these workings as there was no run round facilities at Teigngrace. 31's were quite common working out of Exeter in the 1970/80's with at least 3 or 4 stabled at Exeter on most days. regular workings were the daily Barnstaple Goods, the Heathfield trip working, and local stopping trains to Paignton & Barnstaple. They also were booked to work the 02.56 Taunton to Paignton Newspaper train, the 06.15 Plymouth to Old Oak Common Empty Newspaper train and the 05.20 Paddington to Plymouth parcel train in the week as well as the workings already mentioned. I must admit to having a soft spot for the 31's as they were ideal on these workings. They didn't like the South Devon banks though. I booked on spare at Exeter one day and was asked to work the 07.30 Paddington down to Plymouth as Old Oak had nothing better than a 31/4 to work the train and Laira men didn't know them. With 10 coaches on the speedo was barely at 10mph going over the top. Happy days... Please keep posting these lovely photographs. Marvellous stuff. Regards 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted January 30, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 30, 2017 They also were booked to work the 02.56 Taunton to Paignton Newspaper train A duty that they seemed to share with an Exeter-based Class 33, certainly during the 1983 - 85 period, when I was working at Taunton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 (edited) July 1988 ( I think based on my recollection of holidays) and an immaculate Windsor Castle passes Dawlish Warren with the royal train. HRH Lizzie is on board for an event in Torquay if memory serves me correctly. Note all the white shirts in the cab. Edited January 31, 2017 by Chris M 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerald Henriksen Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 July 1988 ( I think based on my recollection of holidays) and an immaculate Windsor Castle passes Dawlish Warren with the royal train. HRH Lizzie is on board for an event in Torquay if memory serves me correctly. Note all the white shirts in the cab. The Queen visited Torquay by train on July 21st 1988 to mark the 300th anniversary of the landing of William the Orange. She left the train at Torquay at which point the train moved to Paignton where it sat for an extended period of time at platform 1 with the crossing gates on Torbay road down (which didn't inconvenience anyone as Paignton was a ghost town). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 This is not my own picture but it has no acknowledgement of who's it is on the back. The 02.56 Taunton to Paignton with 33049 on. 30.10.86 at Paignton. This train always arrived on the Down side to gain direct access to road vehicles. In the 1970's one single van would come off the down papers at Exeter and work to Newton Abbot where it was routed on the Down Relief and over the scissors crossover into the Paignton platform. It was then backed onto a couple of vans positioned in the platform with other parcels, coupled up and away to Paignton often chasing the tail of the main train down to Aller Junction. There can't be many shots of this train which is why I bought the picture. Possibly Peter Gray? . 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 Exeter St David's 30.6.73 5823 having been removed from the Paddington to Barnstaple service (in platform 3). 4158 had dragged the train in from Cowley Bridge Junction where it may have run out of fuel. it was then positioned on the through road to await a passage to the stabling point. Not easy on a Summer Saturday! Green 31's weren't too common in Devon. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted January 31, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31, 2017 Thanks for all those class 31 photos, folks - very helpful in getting ideas of what was in the area (and possibly working along the Barnstaple line) in the early 80s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 The 31 in the photo has been used to return the train to Newton Abbot from Teigngrace, where it was stabled. The "pretty" train engine would of been on the other end. Top and tail operation was always used on these workings as there was no run round facilities at Teigngrace. 31's were quite common working out of Exeter in the 1970/80's with at least 3 or 4 stabled at Exeter on most days. regular workings were the daily Barnstaple Goods, the Heathfield trip working, and local stopping trains to Paignton & Barnstaple. They also were booked to work the 02.56 Taunton to Paignton Newspaper train, the 06.15 Plymouth to Old Oak Common Empty Newspaper train and the 05.20 Paddington to Plymouth parcel train in the week as well as the workings already mentioned. I must admit to having a soft spot for the 31's as they were ideal on these workings. They didn't like the South Devon banks though. I booked on spare at Exeter one day and was asked to work the 07.30 Paddington down to Plymouth as Old Oak had nothing better than a 31/4 to work the train and Laira men didn't know them. With 10 coaches on the speedo was barely at 10mph going over the top. Happy days... Please keep posting these lovely photographs. Marvellous stuff. Regards Interesting that a class 31 often worked 5A06 the empty news vans to Old Oak Common, I photographed the train at Exeter in 1985. 31260 is shunting an empty news van that it just collected from either platform 1 or the dock siding. 50017 Royal Oak stands in platform 3 having arrived at Exeter St Davids on the 06.41 from Salisbury, 9/7/85 cheers 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted January 31, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 31, 2017 This would seem to be a good occasion to share this: MAY 74 36. Exeter St Davids, April 22 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr This was on April 22 1974 and I think I was travelling on the 14:00 Penzance-Birmingham, which must have stopped to swap a Western for a Peak before departing Exeter at 17:39. The timetable shows that no other direct passenger train departed Exeter for Bristol between 17:39 and 21:29. There has been a suggestion that the 31 is 31258. Would anyone care to speculate on the working it is in charge of? 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Morris Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 Given that it is at platform 4 The tarpaulined wagon could have originated from Newcourt and is being tripped to Riverside. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted February 2, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 2, 2017 (edited) Exeter St David's 30.6.73 5823 having been removed from the Paddington to Barnstaple service (in platform 3). 4158 had dragged the train in from Cowley Bridge Junction where it may have run out of fuel. it was then positioned on the through road to await a passage to the stabling point. Not easy on a Summer Saturday! Green 31's weren't too common in Devon. I do admire your assumption that the 31 has run out of fuel rather than the more likely mechanical failure. Edited February 2, 2017 by brushman47544 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Here are some more class 31s at Exeter in the 1980s. 31118 of Old Oak Common stands in platform 4 at Exeter St Davids with the stock of a recently arrived service from Waterloo which it will shortly work ecs to Newton Abbot, 16/7/80. Bath Road's 31424 stands in the yard at Exeter St Davids with a set of mk1 stock alongside 50038 Formidable with a set of Waterloo stock, 5/11/81 cheers 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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