Stoke Courtenay

[David C]

There was one of those wonderfully detailed articles that were a speciality of the late and much lamented GWRJ on the Aberayron branch some years ago. During the inter war years, a couple of 4 wheel coaches were parked at the terminus for many years. However, no one could ever remember them turning a wheel. Again, the Wild Swan book on the Looe branch records that there were two B sets in use, but also another 2 "singletons", both non corridor brake 3rds. They were there to be added to service trains should any random (Japanese or other) tourists suddenly appear out of the blue. Passengers to Looe were fairly thin on the ground outside of the tourist season (particularly Japanese!), so whether these coaches were stationed there permanently or only during the summer is moot. 

 

Going off topic slightly, odd singletons were not uncommon on other branch lines. A brake compo was allocated to the Bodmin branch and used on only one service each day (presumably for school children), between Bodmin Road and the terminus, a distance of what is (I think) less than 3 miles! Source is again GWRJ, this time the Special Cornish Issue!

 

David C 

[Bulwell Hall]

5 hours ago, Hal Nail said:

Related, and perhaps might help answer that question, where did strengtheners come from?

 

B sets were often/usually allocated to the specific branch but could you justify having 1 or 2 spare coaches sat there permanently but only used infrequently, or did they run them down from the nearest carriage sidings for busy days?

 

Edit: actually was use of strengtheners ad hoc, eg when a bus load of Japanese tourists arrived at Brent, or scheduled, eg an extra coach every Saturday?

 

The spare coaches certainly were kept at specific locations for use when required.  The Carriage Working Programmes show where spare coaches were to be kept and also specified the class of vehicle that was to be used - 3rd, Bk Compo, etc.  For example, the Bridport Branch had a two train service provided by two B sets. The CWP instructed that a spare coach was to be kept at Maiden Newton and photos sometimes show it in the 'Bridport Siding' by the signal box.  There may also have been a spare at Bridport but I'm not sure about that and my copy of the CWP is not to hand at the moment.  My CWP is for Summer 1947 and the spare coaches may only have been for the duration of the Summer timetable - I can check later if anyone really wants to know.

[melmoth]

@Bulwell Hall is far too modest to note that he is the author of the Wild Swan books on both the Looe and Bridport branches, and should therefore be considered as something of an authority.

[Hal Nail]

3 hours ago, David C said:

Again, the Wild Swan book on the Looe branch records that there were two B sets in use, but also another 2 "singletons", both non corridor brake 3rds. They were there to be added to service trains should any random (Japanese or other) tourists suddenly appear out of the blue. Passengers to Looe were fairly thin on the ground outside of the tourist season (particularly Japanese!), so whether these coaches were stationed there permanently or only during the summer is moot. 

Probably my favourite book!

Several shots in there of trains that don't actually feature the B sets but are made up of one of the spare brake 3rds and a couple of corridor types.

 

Edited January 26 by Hal Nail

[checkrail]

21 hours ago, AlfaZagato said:

  How wild is the variety?

Well, in addition to strengheners and through coaches I'd say siphons for starters but I guess it could include parcel vans, fish wagons, horse boxes and anything else that might need moving down or up a branch line to or from somewhere in the wider world. Milk tankers? Looking back during the last half hour for some of the pictures that inspired me I found:

• Bulldog on Taunton - Barnstaple Jct train, 1936. Clerestory compo. + B set + Van Compo through coach (Paddington - Ilfracombe. (Yarwood, 'Window on the Great Western', p41)
• 45XX at minehead, 1936. Four coach train - B set with strengthener at both ends, one being 'an aging clerestory third'. (Great Western Pictorial No. 2: The Hubback Collection, p59.)
• 51xx with train in carriage siding at Taunton, 1932, described as 'stock for a local train'. Formation includes 2 x 6-wheel Siphon, B set, plus one other coach, possibly a Collett third. (As above, p78)

John C.

 

 

[St Enodoc]

2 hours ago, checkrail said:

Well, in addition to strengheners and through coaches I'd say siphons for starters but I guess it could include parcel vans, fish wagons, horse boxes and anything else that might need moving down or up a branch line to or from somewhere in the wider world.

Just about any type of NPCCS (brown vehicles) in fact!

[BWsTrains]

3 hours ago, checkrail said:

Well, in addition to strengheners and through coaches I'd say siphons for starters but I guess it could include parcel vans, fish wagons, horse boxes and anything else that might need moving down or up a branch line to or from somewhere in the wider world. Milk tankers? Looking back during the last half hour for some of the pictures that inspired me I found:

• Bulldog on Taunton - Barnstaple Jct train, 1936. Clerestory compo. + B set + Van Compo through coach (Paddington - Ilfracombe. (Yarwood, 'Window on the Great Western', p41)
• 45XX at minehead, 1936. Four coach train - B set with strengthener at both ends, one being 'an aging clerestory third'. (Great Western Pictorial No. 2: The Hubback Collection, p59.)
• 51xx with train in carriage siding at Taunton, 1932, described as 'stock for a local train'. Formation includes 2 x 6-wheel Siphon, B set, plus one other coach, possibly a Collett third. (As above, p78)

John C.

 

 

 

Thx John,

 

most useful input for my purposes as well. Have just been delving thru my archives pulling together ideas for train composition on UH.

 

Colin

[Coach bogie]

It also worked the other way with coaching stock added to fitted freights. This is the the weekday daily Bristol Kingsland Road to Swindon fitted fitted with coaching stock for repair at Swindon Coach works at the rear. The front vans are destined for the Eastern.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[Miss Prism]

Milk, horses and passengers.

 

[Fair Oak Junction]

What a wonderfully evocative shot 👌

[checkrail]

Final pic of the C10 shows it acting as a strengthener on a main line  stopping train, just so I could place it next to a gangwayed clerestory to compare profiles. (The second coach is a D33, Hornby donor with Worsley Works sides.)

 

This has been an enjoyable little project, resurrecting such an ancient model. I remember the buzz when these Tri-ang clerestories, made to complement their 'Lord of the Isles' loco,  were first reviewed in RM back in 1961. Would I be right in thinking it was the first time a panelled coach had been produced using injection moulded plastic?  

 

John C.

[Neal Ball]

54 minutes ago, Miss Prism said:

Milk, horses and passengers.

 

 

It looks as if it is carrying a "local passenger" headlamp ..... Just the one below the chimney?

[Coach bogie]

Typical 1930's Bristol Weymouth stopper with vans front and back of the passenger stock. Horse, fish, milk all in one local train. I model several of these trains based on images. When collecting images of this route there are not many trains that do not include non passenger vehicles. Note leading brake third - toplight without the toplights

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

Apologies for quality. I only have a low res here. Original back in Yorkshire.

Edited January 27 by Coach bogie

[checkrail]

10 hours ago, Coach bogie said:

Typical 1930's Bristol Weymouth stopper with vans front and back of the passenger stock. Horse, fish, milk all in one local train.

Great pic Mike. Thanks.

 

Expect to see more pics on here of trains with sundry vans attached!

[MrWolf]

It's certainly given me some ideas to justify the motley collection of stock I've got!

 

I like the idea of mixed trains, it will keep operating the branch interesting.

[Coach bogie]

3 hours ago, MrWolf said:

 

I like the idea of mixed trains, it will keep operating the branch interesting.

It can be a mainline train with a bigger loco.

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

[Miss Prism]

I think that's Castle 100 A1 Lloyds on a running-in turn. (BTM to Swindon?)

 

[Neal Ball]

32 minutes ago, Miss Prism said:

I think that's Castle 100 A1 Lloyds on a running-in turn. (BTM to Swindon?)

 

Yes, you can just make out the numbers on the buffer beam and the cast cab side plate is bigger than usual.

The train looks like a B set and a van. (Perhaps a stores van) I’m guessing.

[Coach bogie]

It is a six wheel siphon. I posted it to show you can have a B Set with mainline locos. 

 

Mike Wiltshire

[checkrail]

Speaking of 6 wheel Siphons here's one destined for the Earlsbridge branch being dropped off at Stoke C. by 5975 Winslow Hall. 

 

 

John C.

[checkrail]

The Hall having left, 5557 has picked up the Siphon and propels it across the main lines to attach it to the branch train.

 

 

John C.

[Jollibob]

On 27/01/2024 at 23:45, Coach bogie said:

Typical 1930's Bristol Weymouth stopper with vans front and back of the passenger stock. Horse, fish, milk all in one local train. I model several of these trains based on images. When collecting images of this route there are not many trains that do not include non passenger vehicles. Note leading brake third - toplight without the toplights

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

Apologies for quality. I only have a low res here. Original back in Yorkshire.

Hi guys, I'm a little late for this one and I don't know if it has already been mentioned, but I was reading up on horse traffic the other day. Horse boxes when loaded were coupled behind the locomotive. When empty, they could be attached anywhere on the train.

Makes shunting a little more interesting.

 

Rob.

[checkrail]

And now they're off to Earlsbridge.

 

 

John C.

[checkrail]

It's funny what a difference little things can make. My workbench (aka B & Q table on castors) lives under the fiddle yard, to be deployed when needed. For several years I've pulled it out and plonked a chair in front of it, giving me this view of the fiddle yard whenever I raise my eyes.

 

While installing a new desk lamp last week it occurred to me that were I to pull it out further, and stick the chair behind it, I could instead watch trains go round while I worked, giving me views like this.

 

 

 

And now and then I'll pick up the hand-held and select a couple of different trains.  Why didn't I think of this years ago?

 

John C.

Edited February 4 by checkrail
typo

[gwrrob]

At least you don't have the domestic authorities in your way at your workbench John.😉