Flood Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Reading through old Rail Enthusiasts I've found out that there were three weed killing trains on B.R. in the 1980s, a Fisons' one , a Chipman's one and a B.R. Eastern Region owned one. Did they all work all over the country as required or were they used in specific areas? Thanks in advance. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Whilst conducting research into the same topic I found this thread. I might as well bump this one. I'm after any info or photos of weed-killing trains in the 80s and early 90s. I'm particularly after details about what types of MK1 carriages were used, regards, Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkerr Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Now, this brings back memory, almost forgotten about this The only time I ever saw it, it was a pair of Class 20 in Hunslet-Barclay livery, top and tailing the coaches I was invited onboard the set whilst it was idle for a few hours in Aberdeen I've had a basic search (so far), but could search later on today http://www.flickr.com/photos/justindperkins/4432949525/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisboon/4238596386/ This looks like the Eastern region one, operated by Chipman, possibly converted from an EMU However the one used in Scotland appeared to be green in colour, so may have been the Fisons, but also had several TTA tanks (which carried water) From memory, Rail Magazine did an article shortly after the Class 20 locos were released in this livery, and included all of the contractors that were to be used Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 1985, Strood, a Chipman's one. The coaches are SR GUVs I think. Might have the numbers somewhere. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 My collections of weedkiller rolling stock, which are mainly 1980s photograph are Chipman http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/chipmanweedkiller Fisons http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/fisonsweedkiller BR http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/weedkillerbr I'm not sure many Mk1 coaches were used in these trains. Regards Paul Bartlett Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 My negs are in the attic and so I am working from memory here. A weedkilling train I photographed near Chester, on the Wrexham-Bidston branch and at Llong (Mold) circa 1978 had ex GWR coaches and an ex DMU coach in its formation. The train was chocolate & cream (under a coating of white spray!), and the loco was a Class 25. My next memory jumps beyond the 1980s to 1992 with two Hunslet-Barclay 20's hauling a weedkilling train in the Conwy Valley. The coaches were mid green with a white stripe. By the late 90's the coaches were light green, an au-de-nil shade. Photographed on the Trawsfynedd branch, it was top & tailed by EWS maroon and Mainline blue 37's. PS : I was told by local station staff the spraying was more hand controlled in steam days to avoid killing carefully tilled flower beds at stations! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merfyn Jones Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 The old trains last ran in the 1988 season. The new train with Class 20s and mark 1 coaches first ran in the 1989 season. Stock details available if you need them. Merf. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted May 15, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 15, 2011 My next memory jumps beyond the 1980s to 1992 with two Hunslet-Barclay 20's hauling a weedkilling train in the Conwy Valley. The coaches were mid green with a white stripe. By the late 90's the coaches were light green, an au-de-nil shade. Photographed on the Trawsfynedd branch, it was top & tailed by EWS maroon and Mainline blue 37's. More 1990's with HB 20's. Type in any of 20901-20906 in the usual photo sites. Although you will have to look for earlier pics as most of them will come up with the 20/9's in later guises - I used "20902 weedkiller" as a search. using hunslet/barclay/fisons/chipman may also yield results is a quick example from 1990 This should give you a few ideas. The Fisons green, later Agrevo (as mentioned/pictured above), set is easily accomplished using TTA's, Hurst Models overlays and Mk1's. ISTR 20901/904 were used on the Chipman's train and 20902/903 on the Fisons, with 905 and 906 as "spare" locos, although 906 pics on weedkiller duty seem hard to come by. Cheers, Mick 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Dozy me I forgot to add that I model in O gauge and it's a 7mm project I'm researching And it's the Northern England/Scotland train I'm researching so i think that it's ex-LMS stock. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkerr Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 is a quick example from 1990 Yes, this looks very much like the one I saw operate around the Strathclyde area in 1989 and was then invited on board in 1990 whilst it sat in Aberdeen Although it was not as clean as that, due to several weeks of use Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazza 50 015 Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Does anyone know if Kernows are still doing the coaches for this weedkilling train? I purchased the class 20 loco pack and the water tanks under the impression the coaches were to follow, but its all been a while and its gone very quiet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted May 15, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 15, 2011 Dozy me I forgot to add that I model in O gauge and it's a 7mm project I'm researching And it's the Northern England/Scotland train I'm researching so i think that it's ex-LMS stock. The Fisons train with the Mk1's was predominantly used in the Midlands/North. Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 The Fisons train with the Mk1's was predominantly used in the Midlands/North That's the train I'm after. I really want to know what type carriages were used to convert into the weedkilling coaches Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 A couple of pictures of the Fisons, ( FA99900 leading ) Passing Parkside, Liverpool / Manchester line, 16 June 1975 Stabled at Southport, 29 July 1988. Tom. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowvanman Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Weedkiller at St Denys heading down the Netley line towards Portsmouth..1980s. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merfyn Jones Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 For Mark and anybody else doing the 1989 train with it's Mark1 coaches. 99907 ex CK 7203 as marshaled next to the water tanks. The spray coach. As running 1989. 99908 ex CK 7160, tool van. 99909 ex SK 18401, office & mess coach. the complete train in the later livery in 1995, showing the order and which way round the vehicles were. 99910 ex SK 18574 , the dormitory coach. Merf. 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Did staff stay/lodge on the train itself? Just curious having seen the final vehicle there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Thanks Merfyn, you're a star Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 For Mark and anybody else doing the 1989 train with it's Mark1 coaches. Merf. Interesting set of pictures, which allows searching of http://www.departmentals.com/ for additional photographs. The train appears to have been exported to Belgium in 2003 What tanks did this train work with? Paul Bartlett Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plarailfan Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Another photo here http://www.flickr.com/photos/barrytaxi/4538963886/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekEm8 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Some shots of the Weed killer trains in the 1980's 25302 and train at Chester 12 July 1981 Fisons at Guide Bridge 1981 Eastern Region train York 1985 (taken on an 'all nighter' at Holgate Bridge) 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted May 16, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 16, 2011 The Chipmans one was based out of Horsham and the three TTA water tanks and two ex SR Elephant Vans are still there over on the far side of the yard gradually disappearing into the weeds ironically. The vans are reportedly up for sale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
(The) Youth Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Fisons train http://www.railphotoarchive.org/search_engine_2.php?_format=4&img=0219020995000&_PAGE=1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsa69 Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Thanks for all the feedback so far gentlemen tis much appreciated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeh Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Some more 1980s pics: 25211 near Mold Junc 20th August 1986 31247 at New Bilton and Marton Jnc 20th Jujne 1985 and 31206 at Burton Dassett 25th June 1985 Appolgies for the appalling choice of motive power in the last three pics.... Regards Mike 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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