The human side of the railway...

[Vanfit]

Basingstoke Linemen Frank Brooks -Lineman, Dennis Upton (my father) - Assistant Lineman, outside the Lineman’s mess room and workshop at Basingstoke station before the PSB was opened in 1966 and the linemen, then renamed Technicians moved to the PSB.

 

Their district comprised the ex GWR SBs on the Reading branch, Basingstoke C, Bramley, with level crossing, Mortimer and Burghfield, this included about 15 miles of pole route. For faults across the regional boundary, they would sometimes go to Southcote SB and meet up with the lineman there Jim Fuller.

 

There were other Linemen based at Basingstoke who looked after the Main Line SBs.

 

Early and late turns worked week and week about with the late turn covering any on call commitments for faults at night, generally for the whole Basingstoke maintenance area. No BR road transport in those days, during the week, walk, travel by passenger train, sometimes dropped off by a goods train, or cycle along the cess, yes you could do that pre CWR and the abolition of gang lengths.

 

Any faults at night were generally notified to Stowells the main Basingstoke taxi firm, they would send a car to pic up Dad and his mate from their houses and then proceed to the fault. The regular taxi driver always worked nights and knew many of the access points without prompting. He would wait while the fault was fixed then drive them home.

 

Before the PSB was opened the lineman who could not drive had lessons and tests paid for by BR so that they could then drive the van provided for the resignalling. There was also consequent regrading and reorganisation of maintenance/faulting areas.

 

Interesting how one picture can bring back memories.

 

[John Besley]

Further photos from my Fathers collection JR Besley 

 

1470 in lined green returns to the Ashburton branch, having been displaced from the Brixham branch by diesel rail cars 6 March 1961

 

 

4574 in unlined green shunts Ashburton 9 July 1962

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2023 by John Besley

[The Stationmaster]

23 hours ago, Vanfit said:

Basingstoke Linemen Frank Brooks -Lineman, Dennis Upton (my father) - Assistant Lineman, outside the Lineman’s mess room and workshop at Basingstoke station before the PSB was opened in 1966 and the linemen, then renamed Technicians moved to the PSB.

 

Their district comprised the ex GWR SBs on the Reading branch, Basingstoke C, Bramley, with level crossing, Mortimer and Burghfield, this included about 15 miles of pole route. For faults across the regional boundary, they would sometimes go to Southcote SB and meet up with the lineman there Jim Fuller.

 

 

Mike I've more than an inkling that  Jim Fuller was related to a Relief Signalman called Ken Fuller as I know he had at least one relative working on the railway in the Reading area.  Ken when i knew him was a member of what was known as the Tamping Gang originally formed for various signalling duties connected with yes, tamping possessions.  In the late 1960s they knew just about every surviving mechanical box in the London Division except the larger ones at Oxford and they relieved all over the place - Risborough one week, Bedwyn the next type of thing.   I think Ken Fuller ended up in Reading panel as a Signalman, Stan (can't remember hs surname) I think became a Supervisor in Reading panel, Tony Barry, Chaorman of Reading BRSA, also became a Supervisor in Reading Panel and Bob Bowden became a Supervisor in Old Oak panel.

 

I visited Tony for a chat one evening when he was relieving at Shiplake not long before it was closed.  There  you could hear one of the best time saving bell codes I've ever heard.  After the branch train arrived at Henley, and no messing with Call Attention,when the Henley Signalman sent 2-1-3-1-2 and Shiplake acknowledge it by repettion and then pulled his Acceptance Lever, offered the train to Twyford (accepted immediately) and pulled off

his signals.  I bet that didn't happen if oficialdom were about!

[Vanfit]

Mike,

I remember those guys, not sure if Ken Fuller was related to Jim, I do recall Ken drove a Triumph Stag, us young guys looked on enviously!

Tony Barry, 'The Emperor' and ran his shifts accordingly.

I think Robbie Bowden may have been the signalman on duty at Hungerford when an up stone train derailed and demolished the box. The story put about was that one moment he was looking at the train for tail lamp, the next moment he was sitting on top of a wagon.

As for Shiplake, trust a signalman to find a way to make life easier, when the governor is not about!

Happy days

 

 

 

 

[The Pilotman]

On 04/11/2023 at 15:22, The Stationmaster said:

Stan (can't remember hs surname) I think became a Supervisor in Reading panel,

That’ll be Stan Thompson you’re thinking of, Mike. And yes, he did.

[The Pilotman]

On 07/11/2023 at 17:12, Vanfit said:

I think Robbie Bowden may have been the signalman on duty at Hungerford when an up stone train derailed and demolished the box.

Yes, he was. He was one of the supervisors in Reading Panel when he retired.

[Rugd1022]

On 04/11/2023 at 15:22, The Stationmaster said:

Mike I've more than an inkling that  Jim Fuller was related to a Relief Signalman called Ken Fuller as I know he had at least one relative working on the railway in the Reading area.  Ken when i knew him was a member of what was known as the Tamping Gang originally formed for various signalling duties connected with yes, tamping possessions.  In the late 1960s they knew just about every surviving mechanical box in the London Division except the larger ones at Oxford and they relieved all over the place - Risborough one week, Bedwyn the next type of thing.   I think Ken Fuller ended up in Reading panel as a Signalman, Stan (can't remember hs surname) I think became a Supervisor in Reading panel, Tony Barry, Chaorman of Reading BRSA, also became a Supervisor in Reading Panel and Bob Bowden became a Supervisor in Old Oak panel.

 

I visited Tony for a chat one evening when he was relieving at Shiplake not long before it was closed.  There  you could hear one of the best time saving bell codes I've ever heard.  After the branch train arrived at Henley, and no messing with Call Attention,when the Henley Signalman sent 2-1-3-1-2 and Shiplake acknowledge it by repettion and then pulled his Acceptance Lever, offered the train to Twyford (accepted immediately) and pulled off

his signals.  I bet that didn't happen if oficialdom were about!

 

Those relief Bobbies must have racked up some miles getting to and from the 'boxes on their patch - I know David Canning did in his trusty Austin 1100 down on the Berks & Hants. Pete 'Pinkie' Salmon was one of the highest paid relief men on the Midland, a local legend in the East Mids, he didn't half get about and worked as many rest days as possible to keep the job afloat. I posted some photos of him at Bardon Hill earlier in the thread - he was known for keeping the kettle on the go wherever he went and wearing cycle clips when riding one of his many motorbikes to work. He retired at 62 but came back for another stint, just to get away from his mother-in-law!

[The Stationmaster]

On 07/11/2023 at 17:12, Vanfit said:

Mike,

I remember those guys, not sure if Ken Fuller was related to Jim, I do recall Ken drove a Triumph Stag, us young guys looked on enviously!

Tony Barry, 'The Emperor' and ran his shifts accordingly.

I think Robbie Bowden may have been the signalman on duty at Hungerford when an up stone train derailed and demolished the box. The story put about was that one moment he was looking at the train for tail lamp, the next moment he was sitting on top of a wagon.

As for Shiplake, trust a signalman to find a way to make life easier, when the governor is not about!

Happy days

 

 

 

 

Bob was actually left ja hanging ion to theh back wall of the 'box which was the only bit still standing upright.  Fortunately the Fire N Brigade arrived fairly quickly and they rescued him.  i'd known - albeit not very well - when j he was a Signlamn in Reading West Goods 'box.

 

9 hours ago, Rugd1022 said:

 

Those relief Bobbies must have racked up some miles getting to and from the 'boxes on their patch - I know David Canning did in his trusty Austin 1100 down on the Berks & Hants. Pete 'Pinkie' Salmon was one of the highest paid relief men on the Midland, a local legend in the East Mids, he didn't half get about and worked as many rest days as possible to keep the job afloat. I posted some photos of him at Bardon Hill earlier in the thread - he was known for keeping the kettle on the go wherever he went and wearing cycle clips when riding one of his many motorbikes to work. He retired at 62 but came back for another stint, just to get away from his mother-in-law!

Heck of a lot of mileage Nidge - and they claimed for it or they claimed Travelling Time (or Walking Time in some cases) from their Home Station (Reading) plus Lodging Allowance - seems to have depended on where they were working as to which they claimed.  As a result when I knew them in the late '60s they all ran big cars - 3 litre Rovers were a particular favourite with a couple of them at one time.

 

Travelling Time was a nice little earner.  When I was in the DMO at Reading  I was one of a small group who were called upon by local managers to cover awkward booking office shifts - normally back end of the late turn. But we all booked Travelling Time to/from Reading.  At one time I was also covering a hard to fill vacancy at Henley before heading in to the Tower to do my own job (arriving just over an hour later than normal) but to get to w Henley I had to book Travelling Time on the empty branch DMU from Reading, irrespective of the fact that I was still in bed some while after the bubble car had left Reading!! 

 

Another chap was a regular covering the back end of the late turn at Maidenhead and he of course booked Travelling Time back to Reading - although he happened to live within easy walking distance of Maidenhead station.  But it worked the other way for me off that job , or Slough, as I got home after I would have got to Reading.

[Rugd1022]

Burt Lancaster enjoys a laugh with the train crew whilst filming 'The Train' in 1964...

 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Hardly any trains as lines flooded on Monday evening, but the bins still need to be emptied at Westbury.

[Rugd1022]

Photo by John Marsh...

 

[Peter Kazmierczak]

A Gateshead loco in typical work-a-day condition...

[david.hill64]

19 minutes ago, Peter Kazmierczak said:

A Gateshead loco in typical work-a-day condition...

I thought it was too clean for one of theirs...............

[Rugd1022]

D6xx at Swindon Works...

 

[russ p]

2 hours ago, Rugd1022 said:

D6xx at Swindon Works...

 

 

 

That looks a nicely laid out cab Nidge . Any idea why they used the BTH pedestal controller,  did the very early D63xx have the same.

I presume that multi working used an air throttle like blue star

[Rugd1022]

Mick Jagger and Brian Jones en route to Marseilles on 30th March 1966...

 

 

 

[Not Jeremy]

Passing Ais Gill with Captain Kernow recording  proceedings.....

 

 

And in the same sort of era, the new running in board at Midford. Dave at left (brilliant friend, creator of the running in board and much more), Jasper Cox, now big in military surplus, and Brian Clarke, of "Saltford Models" fame.

 

 

Happy days, apart from the day job(!)

[Ray M]

Brew time

[Southof1E top tmd]

Drivers chat in time honoured style as 47598 strums away at Cambridge with a Liverpool St to Kings Lynn service in December 89 (probably...)

 

NR

[KeithMacdonald]

On 25/11/2023 at 12:37, Rugd1022 said:

Burt Lancaster enjoys a laugh with the train crew whilst filming 'The Train' in 1964...

 

 

Still an impressive film 60 years later.

[Rugd1022]

These are all from British Railways Staff Magazines of the '50s...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 27 by Rugd1022

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, Rugd1022 said:

 

The film was made in 1955, and it bombed.

[Matt37268]

The Lion is facing the wrong way in that photo 🤫 BR only submitted a left hand facing lion for approval by the college of heraldry, and didn’t get permission for a right hand version. 

[Dunsignalling]

11 minutes ago, Matt37268 said:

The Lion is facing the wrong way in that photo 🤫 BR only submitted a left hand facing lion for approval by the college of heraldry, and didn’t get permission for a right hand version. 

 

But it was several years before the right facing ones disappeared.

 

John

[Matt37268]

6 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

 

But it was several years before the right facing ones disappeared.

 

John

I don’t disagree with that, I do find it a tad amusing though that ‘the new badge’ shown in the photo isn’t the one that was approved.