Waverley Route new image links and discussion

['CHARD]

That Mirrlees Bickerton & Day "-powered" confection made me so uneasy I temporarily gave up modelling for good.

 

In order to recover my composure, let's fast-forward some six years to Sir Nige at 'oik.

http://geoff-plumb.f.../p47213951.html

['CHARD]

As casual observers may have noticed, I'm somewhat driven by the human/ social element where railways are concerned. With this in mind, the caption to this takes some beating:

http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26271

 

And this:

http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=27072

 

And a quickie from a lesser-photographed location: the elusive, to me anyway, Penton, and a B16/3:

http://www.davidheys...erley-route.jpg

['CHARD]

Sick of editing into the previous entry, here's a new one to showcase a Clayton doing what it does best, covering The Cheviots in smog:

http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=27194

 

bookended with this sad indictment of transport policy

http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=27193

 

Not sure if we've had this one before, but 24s and wayside Waverley stations aren't something to tire of:

http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=26561

 

And last for now, another of Bruce McC's genre-defining captions:

http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=28313

 

EDIT: make that last the second-to-last, because this vista is one we've not featured previously, and I put it to you that the loco heading off into the hills is a 64B BR-Sulzer from the range 7602-8. This batch of 7 did a lot of work on the freight-only branches radiating from Edinburgh, in 1967-70, which makes them a bit of a signature dish:

http://www.railbrit....e2.php?id=28979

[Guest Max Stafford]

Another quality serving 'Chard, thanks again. Good shot of the blue Clayton on what the cynic in me suggests is in reality a budget skewing mission with the intent of making the upkeep figures for the route swing further in favour of pulling the plug.

Beautiful, yet heartbreaking images.

 

Dave.

['CHARD]

Fair comment sir, and it reminds me of something I noticed last week. In Steam Railway's article on the SVR, mention is made of the condition of Bewdley station on takeover, and the fact it had received a repaint in '68 or so in the 'new standard electrification colours of grey and off-white.' Budget-skewing was clearly widespread, as we know, and all my research on Galashiels (in connection with my near-complete footbridge) indicates that (along with Hawick) the woodwork had received the new corporate colours sometime before the end. If Bruce McC happens to read this, I know you probably weren't explicitly looking out for this sharp practice at the time, but does the above jog the memory any?

 

When I saw the caption of the smoking Clayton shot, my first thought was that it was track relaying after the collision and derailment of the Class 40 in the locality, but that was the other side of the viaduct in cutting. And a full year earlier IIRC. If anyone reading this can shed more light on the Shankend derailment, impact to services, recovery, accident report link etc, here's another timely request for sharing

['CHARD]

Isn't that a rake of Grampus the Clayton's menacing?

[Guest Max Stafford]

Possibly mate, they were by no means rare in this part of the 1960s world. However, they look just a wee bit on the short side, so my money's on ex-revenue Medfits. These seemed to go over en masseto the engineers' fleet in the mid '60s.

I don't even think they bothered 'doing a Jagger' on them in spite of their new role.

 

Dave.

[Bernard Lamb]

Any one help identify the brake van?

It looks to be light grey so an unfitted vehicle?

Bernard

['CHARD]

Any one help identify the brake van?

It looks to be light grey so an unfitted vehicle?

Bernard

My thoughts entirely. We've not explored the provenance of the road vehicles yet (wake up at the back, Mervyn!) but this seemingly innocuous shot is certainly full of interest.

 

Where has the train hailed from, I wonder - Hawick (Lochpark was shut by this time I think), Galashiels, Millerhill? It does seem to be eminently modellable, can anyone suggest any pics of the wagons Dave suggests - Paul Bartlett presumably - if so, what would be their designation?

 

 

[Fat Controller]

My thoughts entirely. We've not explored the provenance of the road vehicles yet (wake up at the back, Mervyn!) but this seemingly innocuous shot is certainly full of interest.

 

Where has the train hailed from, I wonder - Hawick (Lochpark was shut by this time I think), Galashiels, Millerhill? It does seem to be eminently modellable, can anyone suggest any pics of the wagons Dave suggests - Paul Bartlett presumably - if so, what would be their designation?

These are Medfits:-

http://gallery6801.fotopic.net/c87052.html

Parkside do a model. They're a type that didn't spend long in revenue use, but lasted in departmental use into the 1980s- there were a couple of the 'Pooley' ones rotting away in Pinnox sidings, Longport, until fairly recently.

The van looks as though it could be the same length as the wagons, in which case it's probably one of the original design of LNER brake that Mainline used to model.

Doing routine work, even when closure was imminent, was a feature of many of the nationalised industries- indeed, the arrival of the painting gang was often regarded as a portent. Part of it was probably due to the principle that, once money was budgetted to a certain project in a given year, then it had to be spent, or the following year's budget would be reduced by a corresponding amount. There was no possiblity of saving that money for the following year, or using it on another project without masses of paperwork.

[Guest Max Stafford]

That brake is an SWB unfitted type of what I suspect is LMS origin. If so, there's a Parkside kit for it. If not, it'll be the old LNER design, currently out of production, but also a Parkside kit.

 

Dave.

[Bernard Lamb]

My first thought was an LNER Toad B as I think I can just make out the line of the ducket.

But lasting until 1968?

I know all about spending your annual budget to the last penny. I used to deal with the MOD.

Bernard

[Fat Controller]

My first thought was an LNER Toad B as I think I can just make out the line of the ducket.

But lasting until 1968?

I know all about spending your annual budget to the last penny. I used to deal with the MOD.

Bernard

I think a few Toad B did last in departmental service until quite late- I'm sure I've seen photos of one somewhere, but I couldn't find one in the usual place.

[Merfyn Jones]

My thoughts entirely. We've not explored the provenance of the road vehicles yet (wake up at the back, Mervyn!) but this seemingly innocuous shot is certainly full of interest.

 

Did I hear my name mentioned ? I have been following the thread, a nice part of the world, I know little about.

The train looks easily modeled with Heljan and wagon kits (My money on the brake van being LMS) The Morris Minor van by Pocketbond and a standard BMC FG personnel carrier in green livery by the soon to be available Base Toys model.

Merfyn.

['CHARD]

Did I hear my name mentioned ? I have been following the thread, a nice part of the world, I know little about.

The train looks easily modeled with Heljan and wagon kits (My money on the brake van being LMS) The Morris Minor van by Pocketbond and a standard BMC FG personnel carrier in green livery by the soon to be available Base Toys model.

Merfyn.

 

linky here:

NEW from Base Toys.

Postman just arrived with somthing for me for a change. Thought you might like to see. They seem to have made a good job.

Merf.

 

 

[Tim Lewis]

And a quickie from a lesser-photographed location: the elusive, to me anyway, Penton, and a B16/3:

http://www.davidheys...erley-route.jpg

 

Now that's interesting: never seen a picture of a B16 that far north before. Any idea of the date of the picture? And anybody know whether they were regular visitors to the line?

[Guest Max Stafford]

Well Tim, as Canal was responsible for the N&C route engines, I'm sure it wasn't above borrowing NER locos. Maybe this could have been part of a circular diagram for a Blaydon or Tweedmouth engine - 52D certainly had the odd B16 in the '50s AFAIK.

 

Dave.

[60B]

The brake van appears to be quite short. The only one I can think of is the NER V4: http://www.jimmcgeown.com/Wagon%20Kit%20Pages/NER%2010%20Ton%20Brake%20Van%20Dia%20V4.html. Most of which were un-fitted.

['CHARD]

Now that's interesting: never seen a picture of a B16 that far north before. Any idea of the date of the picture? And anybody know whether they were regular visitors to the line?

 

They certainly were not frequent visitors. That's the only known/ confirmed B16/3, of a half dozen B16s of the class's various nano-genres.

[Guest Max Stafford]

I found this group on facebook. Brought a few memories back and though it concentrates on the eastern side of the Borders, there's a fair bit of Waverley interest.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=274060&id=1754727233#!/group.php?gid=110241279016234

 

Dave.

['CHARD]

I found this group on facebook. Brought a few memories back and though it concentrates on the eastern side of the Borders, there's a fair bit of Waverley interest.

http://www.facebook....110241279016234

 

Dave.

Oh that's a great spot Dave, excellent work.

 

It's pretty high quality throughout, the stand-outs for me being:

 

Photo 163, the much commented tracklifting (or replacement) at Whitrope, featuring a distant pair of Claytons and a 350.

73, 60153 in a rarely photographed spot on Borthwick bank in the early fifties.

275-277 the unfolding story of how D181 came to grief at the outpost of Duns, implausibly enough!

175, D9007 alongside a Met-Cam twin at Hawick on the last day, tantalisingly the DMU number just illegible.

203, Riccarton Jct building

206, Eyemouth Viaduct wash-away.

189, Kelso station, disused, 1977.

104, route map from Railway World special.

141, the infamous closure notice featuring 'Riccarton' without its suffix, Whitrope and Kershope Foot (two words) and obviously no Riddings.

182, a deserted Melrose, allegedly in its 'heyday' but looking somewhat forlorn to me.

 

 

[Bernard Lamb]

I do like the caption on the photo of the foreigner. 'Alleged record breaker'.

Seen various shots of Merlin in late and dirty condition but never before seen one in colour.

Bernard

['CHARD]

The caption to this shot taken at Upperby is legendary, it should probably be in the 'Trainspotting - how did you used to do it?' thread

http://www.flickr.co...N02/3811173515/

 

Here's a 64B Clayton at home with a Millerhill - Kingmoor class 4 wound-up:

http://www.flickr.co...57622477930595/

 

Have we had this one of D5066 at Kershopefoot before?

http://www.flickr.co...57622477890057/

 

Two of 64B's finest tartan Sulzers at Canal shed (sit down Dave!)

http://www.flickr.co...57622602429982/

 

Passing 64A on 2S52

http://www.flickr.co...57622602429982/

 

D5340, Riccarton, 2nd January 1969, if you could bottle the atmosphere in this incredible shot:

http://www.flickr.co...57622602429982/

 

And a last look at 12A

http://www.flickr.co...57622560703286/

[Tim Lewis]

Maybe this could have been part of a circular diagram for a Blaydon or Tweedmouth engine - 52D certainly had the odd B16 in the '50s AFAIK.

 

Dave.

 

B16s allocated to Tweedmouth - are you sure? If you do have any numbers/dates I'd be really interested to know (I don't have the RCTS Green Book or Yeadon for the B16s). I always thought that they spent their time south of Newcastle.

[Guest Max Stafford]

A poignant shot of Kingmoor's 'death row' there, 'Chard. I walk right past those shadowy ghosts every day and I can almost sense the presence of the old giants...

 

Dave.