Darkroom discoveries

[Fat Controller]

Richard

.

The bomb crater and the nearby building covering a rather deep well disappeared many moons ago, I would wager at least 15yrs probably more.

.

I often wondered whether the same Heinkel was responsible for the crater near the northern mouth of Wenvoe Tunnel - possible when dropping them from several thousand feet.

.

As for the name 'bomb alley' it was something I learned from colleagues in the BTP, due to the large number of reports by drivers of objects thrown at trains between the former Ely (Main Line) and St.Fagans L.C.

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The first photo (1974) is attached for the 'petrol heads' reading this - (according to later colleagues one of the best police vehicles they'd known - I only ever used one on the skid pan ) at the scene of a tragedy along 'bomb alley' in 1974.

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The second photo was taken while I was enjoying the scenic route to the pub !

.

Brian R

That's one of 'our' six-eighters! He's a long way east of the usual limit of Margam (it's one of the small pool of EE Type 3s with an additional headlight for working the Central Wales beyond Pantyffynnon)

[br2975]

Another set of Instamatic memories, a trip to Toton & Tinsley depots on Saturday 2nd. January 1971 - a trip subsidised by  Christmas 1970 and my 15th birthday .......

.

Nowadays, who would allow their son, just turned fifteen to travel by train halfway across Britain and walk along canal towpaths in order to bunk engine sheds by the 'blind side' ?

.

My other passion, aside from railways, is football, and the poignant thing about this particular trip was ...

.  . . . . .that at the other end of the country that same afternoon, five lads of a similar age, made a trip from Markinch to Glasgow in order to watch the 'Auld Firm' derby at Ibrox Park - together with 61 other supporters, all perished as they left the game down 'Stairway 13'.

.

Brian R

[Fat Controller]

A couple of years earlier, I was using the Mystexes organised by Stationmaster Mike and his colleagues to have days out all around the UK. I remember a trip to Speke Junction in early 1969, hoping to see some dead steam, and being rewarded by some ex-LMS diesel shunters, and another to Sheffield, when we thought we'd missed our stop for Tinsley Yard, as South Yorkshire Transport was so much cheaper than Slow, Wicked and Terrible. The only time I got any aggro when train-spotting was at Baglan- 'nuff said.

[TheSignalEngineer]

Another set of Instamatic memories, a trip to Toton & Tinsley depots on Saturday 2nd. January 1971 - a trip subsidised by  Christmas 1970 and my 15th birthday .......

.

Nowadays, who would allow their son, just turned fifteen to travel by train halfway across Britain and walk along canal towpaths in order to bunk engine sheds by the 'blind side' ?

.

My other passion, aside from railways, is football, and the poignant thing about this particular trip was ...

.  . . . . .that at the other end of the country that same afternoon, five lads of a similar age, made a trip from Markinch to Glasgow in order to watch the 'Auld Firm' derby at Ibrox Park - together with 61 other supporters, all perished as they left the game down 'Stairway 13'.

.

Brian R

Been there, done that, like trips to London, Liverpool and Manchester as a group of 14 year-olds.

[br2975]

For those who hanker after such things; this is what the two of us recorded that day 42yrs ago.

.

02/01/1971

Cardiff to Toton / Tinsley

Cardiff Canton 86A

1070,

1597, 1603, 1662, 1912, 1922

6608,

7046, 7053, 7084

 

Cardiff General

1044, 1064,

1715, 1924, 1936,

7090

(55022)

 

Newport, Ebbw Jct. 86B

5181+5182, 7624+7625

6982

 

Severn Tunnel Jct.

3189, 4162, 4170,

7043,

 

Lydney

1738

 

Gloucester

23, 60, 136, 157, 180,

3994,

6327,

 

Bromsgrove

1796,

7027

 

Birmingham New St.

3955,

E3035, E3085, E3130, E3133, E3155, E3163, E3164,

(50312+59123+50335, (50677+59300+50730),

006, 053,

 

Saltley 2E

1713, 1967,

3167,

7515, 7525, 7607, 7644,

 

Washwood Heath

1822,

8040+8047

 

Burton 16F

17,

3050, 3059, 3180, 3400, 3790,

5244, 7508

8043, 8045, 8178, 8162, 8191,

 

Derby

42,

2130,

3246, 3351,

7649,

(50451+59153+50501),

 

Toton 16A

1, 2,3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 29, 42, 43, 46, 48, 55, 56, 62, 65, 67, 72, 76, 77, 82, 103, 116, 127, 128, 145, 163,

1623, 1716, 1802, 1805, 1816, 1823, 1825, 1829, 1941,

3036, 3044, 3090, 3340, 3514, 3996, 3997,

5251, 5270, 7502, 7507, 7510, 7513, 7514, 7520, 7530,

5807+5829

6821+6829,

8003, 8015, 8037, 8038, 8042, 8057, 8066, 8067, 8072, 8115, 8121, 8133, 8139, 8140+8195, 8141, 8144, 8153+8165, 8157, 8158, 8159, 8160, 8169, 8175, 8176,8179,  8181, 8182, 8183, 8192, 8198, 8199,

 

Derby Works

E3033, E3038

 

Derby

20, 40, 44, 191,

1632, 1786,

5227,

5834+5854,

(50652+59281+50709), (50670+59287+50744), (50777+50810),

 

Derby – Chesterfield

7657,

 

Chesterfield

5684+5802, 5803

 

Sheffield Midland

61, 187

(50033+56033), 50372, 51835, 56126, 59092, 59693,

 

Tinsley 41A

47,

281,

1512, 1568, 1731, 1793, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988,

3289, 3336, 3580, 3702, 3707,

4501, 4502,

5229, 5295+7526,

5534, 5538, 5551, 5556, 5567, 5586, 5685, 5822, 5830, 5858,

6782, 6784, 6788, 6789, 6790, 6802, 6803, 6805, 6806, 6812, 6815, 6824, 6827, 6828, 6860, 6861, 6863, 6959,

8007+8057, 8020+ 8025, 8059,

E26018

DB975018+DB975019

 

Sheffield Midland

21, 33, 69, 158,

(50008+56019), (50011+56026), (50016+56038), (50022+56036), (50029+56029), (50048+56048), (51246+56129), (51427+51497), (51444+56141), (51818+59700+51839), (5xxxx+59704+51841), (52071+59810+52081),

 

Sheffield – Burton

1521, 1862,

3571,

 

Burton 16F

3059, 3180, 3789,

8009+8045, 8043+8162,

 

Birmingham New St.

11, 29,

1024,

1643, 1748,

3774,

7517, 7607

E3122

(50074+59016+50110), (50446+59157+50499), (50684+59272+50736), (51354+59506+51396), (55009)

005, 006, 055, 056,

 

Bromsgrove

7026, 7027, 7028

‘Lickey’ bankers

 

Brian R

[br2975]

30th April, 1966 - Bristol Bath Road, Open Day.

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Travelled over with my dad (from who I inherited an interest in railways) and my school chum Jeff Evans (who got me into the spotting game).

.

It was with Jeff I recorded my first 'number' ........ Cardiff East Dock pannier -3790, shunting the yard at Ely (Main Line) early 1965.

.

On display at Bath Road that day were 3758, 48706 & 48760 all made redundant the previous month when the WR "childishly butchered" the S&D.

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The pannier bunker visible in one shot belonged to preserved 1638 (IIRC - I don't have my books for the 60s anymore)

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At Severn Tunnel Jct on the way over I saw my first Q1 - en route to Cashomers to meet its maker.

.

Brian R

[br2975]

A couple of years earlier, I was using the Mystexes organised by Stationmaster Mike and his colleagues to have days out all around the UK.

 

I would dearly like to thank the BR 'bod' who thought up and marketed the 'Mystery Excursion' !

.

We would study the pick-up points and decide which ones we'd travel on.

.

Living in Cardiff - if it picked up at Newport, Cardiff & Bridgend that was a 'no no' !

.

Picking up at Cardiff, Newport & Pontypool in summer meant the North Wales coast, Southport or Blackpool, the same route in winter meant shopping in Liverpool or Manchester.

.

Of course, when the parents fancied a day out, and paid, the destination was secondary !

.

Hence my trip to Teignmouth - which held no interest, but just down the line was Newton Abbot its' shed and workshop.

.

Sunday  22/08/1971

“Mystery Trip”

Cardiff – Teignmouth

 

Cardiff General

1840, 1905,

3268, 3756, 4019,

6957,

 

Newport Ebbw Jct.

1038, 1066, 1068,

1588, 1606,

3998, 4014,

5182,

6876,

7097,

 

Severn Tunnel Jct.

137, 142,

1002,

1613, 1664, 1816, 1942,

3189, 3972, 4162, 4175, 4182,

7050, 7070, 7093,

7624,

 

Patchway

862,

 

Bristol, Stapleton Road

7003,

 

Bristol, Lawrence Hill

2121,

 

Bristol, Temple Meads

1905,

 

Bristol, Bath Road 82A

25, 61, 161,

1022,

1643,

7087

 

Bleadon & Uphill

1338

Ex-Cardiff Railway 0-4-0ST

 

Bridgewater

(British Cellophane)

2133

 

Taunton

1072

 

Taunton

(Great Western Society)

5572

Ex-GWR 4575 2-6-2T

2, 1163

 

Taunton, Fairwater P.W. Depot.

PWM652

 

Exeter

157,

4017, 4160,

6339,

 

Teignmouth

1832,

 

Teignmouth – Torquay

 

Newton Abbot

811, 842,

1737,

4167,

 

Torquay

132, 157,

845,

1027,

1905,

 

Torquay – Newton Abbot

1905,

 

Torre

(51069+59428+51097)+(51578+59437+51587),

 

Newton Abbot

18, 77,

1717,

4017,

(51314+59481+51329),

“Tiny”

Ex-South Devon Railway.

 

Newton Abbot 83A

93, 107, 130, 132, 157, 158, 

807, 814, 818, 822, 839, 842, 851, 853, 855,

1027,

1648, 1737, 1840, 1905, 1917,

3808, 4022, 4167,

6337,

(50865+59372+50918), (51313+51328), (51335+59487+59543+51377)+(51372+59479+51414),

B8W (Wickham Trolley).

 

Teignmouth

157,

1027, 1032, 1039, 1064, 1071,

1717,

 

Teignmouth – Exeter

(51586+59???+515??),

 

Exeter, St. Davids.

812,

1039,

4160,

6330, 6334, 6338, 6339, 6356,

 

Taunton

4122

 

Bristol, Temple Meads.

85,

1655,

7087,

(51056+59415+51084), (51360+59512+51402), (51576+59582+51590),

(60090+60730+60740+60741+60731+60091),

(60092+60732+60742+60743+60733+60093),

 

Severn Tunnel Jct.

137, 142, 162,

1664, 1913, 1942,

4175,

7090,

7624,

 

Newport, Ebbw Jct.

1066,

5182,

6876, 6987,

[br2975]

 

 

 

 

Some more from those 'Instamatic Days' - Derby Works Open Day, Saturday 26th August, 1972 just shy of forty-one years ago !

.

The general consensus was - any spare transport police would be looking out for their monthly quota, of trespassers, at Toton - so we came home via Birmingham, and bunked Bescot and Saltley instead.

.

At Bescot we came across what looked like an AL4 electric, but someone had painted it in a nice new coat of blue and put silly numbers on it that read 84008 . . . . . . . what could that mean ?

.

My notes for the day are as follows ...................

 

 

 

 

Sat. 260872

86A Canton 0745hrs.

1046/60, 1593/95, 1632/53, 1818, 1911/14/20, 3748, 5179, 6875, 6954, 7095,

Cardiff – Derby

Derby Works Open DayCardiff General

21 (our loco), 63,

1043/60, 1632/44, 1926, 3263, 3748, 6601, 6896, 6921/86, 6995+6997 (6V64)

(50855+59363+50908), (50309+59120+50327), (50084+59373+50126), (50896+59355+50843),

86B Ebbw Jct.

1200, 4016, 5182, 6910/25/48, 7514

Newport

3990, 6923

Somerton/East Usk

7510/19

Llanwern

5180, 7675

Severn Tunnel Jct

1687,

4001, 4162/70/75, 5562, 7511/16/69, 7676/77

Gloucester

131, 1561, 1616, 3114, 3255, 3797, 3992/93, 5230, 5827, PWM654.

Bromsgrove

7055

King’s Norton

16, 7563

Birmingham New St.

86, 1880, E3047, E3188

038/57/59

2E Saltley

107, 1539, 1711/19, 3167, 4149, 6510+6552, 7558, 7620/23/51/71,

Wichnor Jct.

8139

16F Burton on Trent

3059, 3790, 5592, 7604, 8070/73/81, 8174/81/89,

Derby

33, 67, 91, 96, 104, 151, 169, 1755, 1942, 2130, 3186, 3351, 3569/72/77, 3771/92,

5232/41/82, 5570 (8V88), 5618, 6869 (1O21), 8072,

Derby Depot

42, 95, 125, 1960, 5270/94, 7534, 7617/39/47,

Derby, Etches Park

(50696+59263+50685), (50697+59301+50692), (51144+59441+51131),

50650/57/70/84,  50709/17/25/31, 59258/72/87

Derby Works

4, 7, 34, 39, 44, 64, 76, 82, 93, 100, 115, 144, 147, 148, 153, 177, 178, 185, 192,

1635, 2381/86/88, 3052/82, 3246, 3530/70, 3764/73/79, 3840, 3910/14, 5013/21/27/35/72,

5029 (cab only), 5162, 5257/58, 5826, 7506/13/37/38/47, 7635/36, 8180

41001 (HST prototype), APT-E, S15705, 2037 (2-Bil), 79151

Derby Midland

117, 139 (our loco)1722, 8047, 8179

Burton on Trent

3050/59, 3790, 5831, 7604, 8070/76/83, 8139

Water Orton

7602+7644

2E Saltley

1539, 5237, 7623/51

 

1734

064/84/92

(50093+59010+50067)

Birmingham New St.

56, 163, 1676, E3151/56/74

013/15

(50161+59xxx+50xxx)

Birmingham N.S. – Bescot

50, 3168, 3951/73

E3114/55

Great Barr

043

Bescot

92, 284, 1540, 1727/42/46/63, 1814/15/52, 1918, 3088, 3106/08/11/15/16/91, 3752/81, 3871, 3977/78, 5086, 5143, 5849, 7630/31/33/41/44, 8143/69/73/85/91/97, 12056/87,

83012, 84008

Vauxhall & Duddeston

4150

2E Saltley

36, 46, 57, 107, 157, 1539, 1676, 1719/31/54, 1848, 3167, 3250, 3974, 4006, 4149,

5225/37, 5570, 5826, 7558/63, 7610/20/43/51/71

Vauxhall & Duddeston

1816, 7644,

E3174

TY407 (50099+59007+50069)+ TY533 (51129+59439+51142)

Birmingham New St.

12, 32, 112 (our loco), 122, 149, 165, 1656, 1731, 3908, E3016, E310667/74/76/95/98

025/36/38/46/58/61/62/79/92

(50258+59527+50160)+(56094+50364), (50914+59341+50052), (50064+59019+50115),

TY051 (55004)+(59000+50061), TY529 (50127+59338+50085), TY516 (50110+59016+50074)

Bromsgrove

7055, 7100

Cheltenham Spa

60

5227+(51360+59512+51402)

C306 (50081+59031+50123)

 

Observations

Normally we would catch the 0705hrs Cardiff-Gloucester, (invariably a Cl.120 unit) and change to a West of England – North East service. The trick was to buy a cheap day return to Birmingham, and then pay excess fare between there and Derby as it worked out cheaper than a day return to Derby  But the notes indicate a ‘Peak’ from Cardiff, so our plans were changed, reason not known.

Initial plans were to ‘bunk’ Toton as well, but due to the number of ‘spotters’ at Derby we decided against it, and returned to Birmingham to ‘bunk’ Bescot and Saltley where we were successful at both .

Sightings of note were the two BR Cl.11 shunters at Bescot, my first two TOPS numbered locos 83012 and 84008, also at Bescot. The MetroVick Co Bo at Derby, also a Derby Lightweight car, 79151.

 

 

.

[Dudley]

Stumbling across this thread quite by chance reminds me that there is great mileage in these shots from albums and 'less technical' cameras. Great stories and shots with ambience that would make a fascinating book in their own right; away from the 'laboratory' perfect images we're used to seeing these days in books and magazines.

 

I too started my photography in the early 'Seventies with a Zorki 4 rangefinder. I feel that railway photography has polarised; back in the '50's, '60's & '70's when most of us had less good film cameras (and probably couldn't afford the film!) there was plenty of fodder everywhere. Today with my Nikon D300 and brace of technically brilliant lenses I find most aspects of the railways that I see provide no inspiration whatsoever; all items of unique interest - all individualism - within the railways has disappeared completely.

 

'Them were the days when you could visit a signalbox and spend a pleasant couple of hours chewing the fat and snapping the odd diesel that rumbled past - of visiting London for the day knowing full well that every terminus would provide unique motive power - when a 47 on the Southern was a thing of wonder - or a freight train made up of more than one type of wagon.

 

Okay, I'll get my coat...

 

Dudley

http://dudleysphotos.zenfolio.com/

[br2975]

A few more 'discovereies' from the 'darkroom'.

.

Again, sorry for the quality (or lack of . . . .)

.

No.1 - Llandaff (for Whitchurch) taken from opposite the box, looking toward Cardiff. YTX551H, my Mini Clubman waits patiently ! (circa 1978)

.

No.2 - Tondu, circa 1979, with the recntly acquired Mrs. R and even more recently acquired Border Collie - 'Ninian' !

.

No.3 - Taken on a family holiday to Butlitz Minehead, circa 1970/71 .... whichever year it was we travelled there by train from Cardiff, with Hymek haulage along the branch from Taunton, passing a LMR Gloucester Cross Country working the branch, and also  a mid-week trip to Taunton produced a brace of Warships on the 'Limited'

.

Brian R

 

[br2975]

Wales v England (Five Nations) - Saturday 18th. March, 1989, Cardiff Central. 

 

Tyseley DMU set T411 one of several foreign units drafetd in to work additional Valley services for the day.

 

55985 (and 55975 out of shot) alongside the 'Fish Jetty' - now Platform '0' at Cardiff Cen

.

33106 leads 4-TC on a Southampton 'Rugex'

.

47513  with a 'Rugex' from West Wales

 

47573  with a 'Rugex' from West Wales.

.

Who remembers Cl.108 units and, the Cl.156 units covering for Cl.155s - the latter units whose doors had a mind of their own and within months of their introduction were stored en- masse, requiring brand new Cl.156s being drafted into the Cardiff - Bristol -Southampton corridor to act as cover ?

.

Brian R

[br2975]

After a lengthy hiatus I thought I'd revisit this thread and occasionally post a few more shots from 1976-ish

.

The first shot emphasises the almost religious adulation awarded the 'Westerns' ( or if you were a senior spotter - 'thousands').

.

1058 Western Nobleman stands at Cardiff's Platform 4 with a recently arrived 'down Padd stopper'.

.

In the period when HST sets were working alongside loco hauled trains on the GWML an unidentified Cl.47/4 struggles up the bank into Cardiff Central with a Padd-Swansea working.

.

The new order - fresh out of the box, two HST sets stand at Cardiff Central.

.

Nowadays, the HST is the only train, a ride on which sends a tingle up the spine - undoubtedly one of the greatest trains our railways have known.

.

Brian R  

[Danemouth]

Nice weathering job on the Western Brian!

 

Keep 'em coming,

 

Dave

[br2975]

_A-ha

_.

_{The humble DMU - which had been hammered to death shuttling up and down the valleys for the previous twenty years.}

_.

_{The windows rattled;  the frames had sagged, so the doors had to be slammed shut (hopefully they'd lock).}

_.

_{The passengers were roasted in summer, and froze in winter.}

_.

_{Sometimes the exhaust fumes would send you too sleep and you'd miss your stop !}

_.

_{But the fitters at Canton performed sterling work, and kept them going.}

_.

_{After all,deliverance was at hand, the Pacer and the Sprinter would eventually enhance the ambience of travelling the 'Valley Lines'}

_.

_{As a stopgap it was decided to 'refurbish' some of these ageing stalwarts.}

_.

_{The decision was made to pain the refurbished units in white, with a blue waiist stripe.}

 

 _{It appears someone with little knowledge of how dirty rolling stock could get in everyday use, and how much effort was required in keeping the stock clean - and the lack of money available to actually recruit staff for the purpose.}

_.

_{The livery didn't last long....... long enough to be caught on film; but not, apparently long enough to attract the attention of many diesel modellers.}

_.

Brian R

[br2975]

It was only at the turn of the 60s that Kings were cleared to Cardiff, to replace Canton's Britannias.

.

 Rumour was that on withdrawal 6023 & 6024 were bought for scrap by one of the West Wales yards e.g. Birds / Wards or Cohens but were diverted to Woodhams (Barry Dock) due to clearance problems.

.

Whatever the real story, the preservation era saw one of rescued Barry pair, 6024,  work to West Wales on a charter.

.

Unfortunately, other than the location - both taken on the western outskirts of Cardiff, near St. Fagans, I have no other info (even date)

.

Brian R.

 

 

[br2975]

Now, something to interest my younger brother aka 'naturol' of this parish.

.

His local station, circa 1989/1990

.

I'm sure someone will (easily) identify the location ?

.

Brian R

[Fat Controller]

Cogan

[br2975]

Cogan

 

"It's a fair cop Mr Williams, you're too good for me !"

[The Stationmaster]

"It's a fair cop Mr Williams, you're too good for me !"

Well it is a bit distinctive Brian!

[jonny777]

What a wonderful thread, so nostalgic. I was persuaded to buy a light meter for my Zenit-B but I ditched the thing after a couple of films had appeared all under-exposed. The problem seemed to be that unless I pointed the light meter towards the track, the light from the sky gave too high a reading.

 

The small photo next to my name on the left is a good example of one of those results. The sky is a great exposure, but the Peak heading east on the GWML near Twyford is too dark.

 

In the end I reached a conclusion that produced a decent enough result for me, at least on CT18 film. If it was overcast, I used F4. If it was sunny then F8, and anything in between it was F5.6, this was with a shutter speed of 1/125th.

 

Once I got used to that mantra, I did occasionally experiment with variations, and things changed slightly when I bought CT20 or Kodachrome.

 

I never owned a tripod in those days, so anything slower than that was not really on. There were only a few times that what ought not to be possible did come off, and this is one (using a cable release and the camera balanced on a parcels trolley).

 

 

My notes say that I guessed at F5.6 and a 2 second exposure - and for once it worked. Both locos were stationary at the time mind, even though the 47 looks as though it might be moving. It wasn't.

 

The old Zenit-B could produce an acceptable result when talked to nicely.

[br2975]

Taken sometime during the 90s, my 'pet' 'six-eighter' leaves Cardiff Central for Canton with the ECS from a North & West route service.

.

Brian R

[br2975]

Well, we're back - with some more lo-res scans.

.

The contact sheet says October 2003.

.

They're all taken in and around Cardiff, so for those who fancy guessing the locations, feel free.

.

Brian R 

[br2975]

Bristol Bath Road - sometime around 1975.

.

On view we have Classes 03, 08, 28, 37, 46, 50, 52 and 119 and several BRUTE trollies

.

Brian R

[hornbyandbf3fan]

I've had a look through the entire thread, the photos are excellent. Keep them coming!

[br2975]

Today we have some photos of Walnut Tree Jct at Taffs Well, taken during the mid-1970s.

.

TTaffs Well was located on the Taff Vale Railway mainline between Pontypridd and Cardiff.

.

The Rhymney Railway seeking a route into Cardiff Docks initially built a line from Aber Jct down the 'Big Hill' to Walnut Tree Jct and then employed running powers along the TVR into Cardiff Docks. This changed when the RR opened it's own route thro' Caerphilly Tunnel.

.

Photo-1 ...shows Taffs Well station and the junction in the mid-1970s with the the former RR line up the 'Big Hill' going off right. The distinctive Walnut Tree Jct  box stands at the down end of the up platform. The up and down goods lines originally ran to the left of the 'box; the coal yard was also to the left of the 'box and was where a banker stabled right up to the end of steam (at Radyr) in 1965.

.

Photo-2... shows the rear of the 'box - note the cut out in the front corner.

.

Photo-3 ...Walnut Tree Jct 'box seen from the front.

.

Photo-4 ...The Walnut Tree Jct up homes, main (left) and branch (right) -  the station can be seen under the overbridge.

.

Photo-5 ...The centre balanced up main, and Nantgarw Colliery branch starters.

.

I hope these are of interest to someone

 

Brian R