RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted January 24, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 24, 2016 D1071 Western Renown heads a van train through Temple Meads, 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I am currently adding detail to my Flikr captions with the aid of some 1970's working timetables. In this picture, I see that 7B26 indicated the 09:00 Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Kingsland Road, and that this train was scheduled to turn left at Doctor Day's and reverse at Bristol East Depot to reach Kingsland Road. So normally it wouldn't have appeared at Temple Meads. I am wondering if in this case it might for some reason it might have turned right at Doctor Day's and reversed at Temple Meads. The fact that the driver is looking back along the train suggests that he might be about propel back out of the station. I am just wondering if this is plausible: would a propelling move for this distance along the main line have been allowed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 I don't know the answer, but judging by today's Ebay results - if it is that slide may be worth £100+ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted January 24, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2016 He could just be looking back for right away or the shunter to uncouple. Hard to say as while propelling distances was common it's not going to be popular over busy junctions unless absolutely necessary. That said what was permitted and what was done, before the days of data recorders, can have hazy boundaries. Hopefully someone might remember the working in this or other occasions to say what happened next Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 I have a West of England Sectional Appendix for 1980, 6 years after the photo, there is no reference to a propelling move from Temple Meads, but it shows that at that date it was permitted to propel a max of 25 SLUs in the other direction from Kingsland Road to Bristol (T.M.) Goods. Does the WTT indicate how the train reversed at East Depot, by loco run-round? In the 1970s at certain times of the day as well as the Kingsland Road pilot there was an additional 'top and tail' pilot that was used to haul trains between Kingsland Road and East Depot to avoid the need for run-rounds. It may be that the Kingsland Road pilot has come out and is attaching on the rear to haul the train in, or it may be that there was a legitmate propelling move in that direction in those days, or as Paul says it may just have been done anyway. There could be several reasons why the train may have come via Temple Meads, perhaps congestion at North Somerset Junction, or a points failure, or bridge bash at Whitby Road (or did they not worry in those days?). Also, consider Kingsland Road as a minor marshalling yard on one side of a triangle, it may be that arriving via Temple Meads keeps westbound traffic formed in the right order. So many questions.... cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted January 24, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2016 D1071 Western Renown heads a van train through Temple Meads, 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I am currently adding detail to my Flikr captions with the aid of some 1970's working timetables. In this picture, I see that 7B26 indicated the 09:00 Severn Tunnel Junction to Bristol Kingsland Road, and that this train was scheduled to turn left at Doctor Day's and reverse at Bristol East Depot to reach Kingsland Road. So normally it wouldn't have appeared at Temple Meads. I am wondering if in this case it might for some reason it might have turned right at Doctor Day's and reversed at Temple Meads. The fact that the driver is looking back along the train suggests that he might be about propel back out of the station. I am just wondering if this is plausible: would a propelling move for this distance along the main line have been allowed? Effectively 'yes' as propelling was authorised between 'Bristol' and North Somerset Jcn - limited to 25 wagons in the Up direction, maximum speed 10 mph. - It was a signalled move with only two signals involved from where the train is standing and no doubt the rear of the trains is much nearer to signal B63 which was the one that routes into Kingand Road. Propelling was also authorised between Temple Meads Good and Kingsland Road but with only 10 wagons if a trip engine was used (more were allowed with a 350). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Another thought, if it was a Saturday morning and those vans are loaded from York to Avonmouth Rowntrees they would have been brought into Temple Meads for safe keeping over the weekend. cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Kirkham Posted January 24, 2016 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 24, 2016 Does the WTT indicate how the train reversed at East Depot, by loco run-round? The WTT has RR at East Depot, which according to the legend indicates either reversing or running round. Many thanks to everyone for your informative replies so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Whatever the answer, superb photo! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Miles Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 There are instances on former Midland lines where propelling was allowed for quite long distances. For examples, trains from Barrow Hill to the Hope Valley line were allowed to propel to Tapton Junction (just north of Chesterfield). There are other examples on the ex-Swansea Vale line where propelling was allowed for several miles. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tractionman Posted January 26, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 26, 2016 Love the pic, that little fella on the platform would have been about the same age that I was in '74 (and now of course!). Cheers, Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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