sean hpw Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Ok, I have got several shots of modern stock, so, I think its time to share them. any sugestions, thoughts and so on welcome. First up, a couple of Colas 56's at Heckington Not a good shot, but a pair of DRS Class 20's at York I cannot recall what class this is, again York the same day, a FGW class 185 and on the oppostie side, coming onto platform 3 A class 66, later in the day, on a loaded train of hoppers heading down south and an east coast trains HST Any thoughts people Sean 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSTFAN13 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 The cross country is a class 220 HSTFAN13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted December 29, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 29, 2013 The Class 185's are First Trans Pennine 3 car units that work the main Trans pennine routes. Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2013 The pictures, good as they are, show me why I have no interest in the modern scene. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2013 The pictures, good as they are, show me why I have no interest in the modern scene. Mike. Can we not go over this old ground AGAIN please - some of us ARE interested in the modern scene - live with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DavidLong Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 30, 2013 Nice pics, Sean. I especially like the last two 'going away' shots. I like pictures of Voyagers, I just don't like travelling on them . . . unless I can get a nice cheap first class ticket and don't have to enjoy endure travelling in cattle class. Same goes for Class 185s, lovely units but, thanks to DfT intransigence, one car short of a full set Anyway, as it says on my profile "Steam, diesel, electric, heavy rail, light rail. If it has run on rails between 1825 and 2013 I'm interested". I can change that to 2014 on Wednesday! Class 68s and 88s on the way Any more to come, Sean? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornbyandbf3fan Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Great pictures, I like filming at York, you might want to try something like this next time? (Sorry to hijack the thread, just thought I'd give you a suggestion for something to try) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean hpw Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Thank you to all for the replys, and comments Nice pics, Sean. I especially like the last two 'going away' shots. I like pictures of Voyagers, I just don't like travelling on them . . . unless I can get a nice cheap first class ticket and don't have to enjoy endure travelling in cattle class. Same goes for Class 185s, lovely units but, thanks to DfT intransigence, one car short of a full set Anyway, as it says on my profile "Steam, diesel, electric, heavy rail, light rail. If it has run on rails between 1825 and 2013 I'm interested". I can change that to 2014 on Wednesday! Class 68s and 88s on the way Any more to come, Sean? David I agree David, I share the interst in all things railways, and don't forget the Colas class 70's coming in too! its going to be a very good year for traction.... Yes, there will be more pics soon... Great pictures, I like filming at York, you might want to try something like this next time? (Sorry to hijack the thread, just thought I'd give you a suggestion for something to try) IMG_0694.JPG Oh, I like that Will, I must try that sort of thing at some point OK, the nest batch for the frieght fans out here... At peterbrough. A little slower shutter speed, and a light engine class 66, from A window of an HST EWS class 67, also through a HST window... Grantham is a regular stoping ground of mine, and a good spot to find ECML trafic. Sean 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DavidLong Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 30, 2013 I agree David, I share the interst in all things railways, and don't forget the Colas class 70's coming in too! its going to be a very good year for traction.... Yes, there will be more pics soon... Oh Sean, you went and spoilt it by mentioning Class 70s. Blot on the landscape . . . David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean hpw Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 I LIKE the class 70's! How ever, there should be some nice clasic traction shots next week Colas still run the good old class 47's out my neck fo the woods... Also, I do love the Grids... 56302 is a regular on the Boston steel trains and an unidentified 56 again at Heckington 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2013 Can we not go over this old ground AGAIN please - some of us ARE interested in the modern scene - live with it. Sorry, I didn't realise I wasn't allowed comment or opinion. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2013 Sorry, I didn't realise I wasn't allowed comment or opinion. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 I LIKE the class 70's! How ever, there should be some nice clasic traction shots next week Colas still run the good old class 47's out my neck fo the woods... Also, I do love the Grids... 56302 is a regular on the Boston steel trains and an unidentified 56 again at Heckington Wow, Heckington. It has changed somewhat since I lived there. In fact I had difficulty believing it was actually the same place because the trees have grown up so much. Only the electricity pylon and the Great Hale Fen level crossing in the distance convinced me I was looking at the same station where as kids we used to play around in the goods yard when we could get away with it. Mind you, that was 50 years ago and the staple loco for freight haulage had just been changed from Gresley O2s to Brush Type 2s (or class 30s as they would have been if TOPS had been invented a few years earlier). In "my day" all the signals were ex-GNR somersaults, and the distant and outer home from the Swineshead Bridge direction, were very tall with signal arms mounted at the top of the posts and spectacle plates much lower down. This was to enable engine crews to see the signal setting well in advance, presumably because other structures behind them (probably the windmill) would make a normal height arm difficult to spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean hpw Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Jonny777, Your recolection of Heckington are really something, the old goods shed still stands, in fact, my 2013 challange entry is is based on the shed there... The goods yard is now a car-park and lorry depot, the Pea Rooms are flats, but the building its self is still standing.... The Windmill is out of action at the moment, as the sails need replacing again. the distant and outerhome signals you mention are still on unusally long posts, all be it on BR standard one, and the distant (I think) has a grey background plate now, when I am out there again, i will have to take some pics. Boston still has a somersault signal, ganted not in use, but its there, along with the octaganal signal box on the dock side... Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted December 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) The pictures, good as they are, show me why I have no interest in the modern scene. Mike. Can we not go over this old ground AGAIN please - some of us ARE interested in the modern scene - live with it. Don't worry Beast, I know what Mike EW's problem with modern stock is - he can't remember any more than four digits.................. Also, he can identify what type of traction it is because it has a "D" or "E" prefix................ I'm sure that'll earn me a or a at Stafford Ex. Cheers, Mick Edited December 30, 2013 by newbryford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 31, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2013 Don't worry Beast, I know what Mike EW's problem with modern stock is - he can't remember any more than four digits.................. Also, he can identify what type of traction it is because it has a "D" or "E" prefix................ I'm sure that'll earn me a or a at Stafford Ex. Cheers, Mick No worries Mick, look forward to seeing you, I'll even bring a chair for you to sit on. http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/ph/web-large/DP259724.jpg Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Jonny777, Your recolection of Heckington are really something, the old goods shed still stands, in fact, my 2013 challange entry is is based on the shed there... The goods yard is now a car-park and lorry depot, the Pea Rooms are flats, but the building its self is still standing.... The Windmill is out of action at the moment, as the sails need replacing again. the distant and outerhome signals you mention are still on unusally long posts, all be it on BR standard one, and the distant (I think) has a grey background plate now, when I am out there again, i will have to take some pics. Boston still has a somersault signal, ganted not in use, but its there, along with the octaganal signal box on the dock side... Sean Thanks Shaun, I'm glad that something of the original still survives. The Pea Room was still operational in my day, and there were two long sidings that ran alongside the front of it, usually filled with covered vans awaiting loading. There was also a short siding to a weighbridge much closer to the platform and another off that which went into the goods shed. I remember walking across some complex track at the east end of the station, which I think must have been a single slip, (I doubt that a double slip was necessary), but I am not sure how it was worked - as it was a good way from the station box. There was a long headshunt which went all the way to the home signal, which presumably was interlocked with the Fen level crossing status. There used to be a third home signal in the Sleaford direction, just before the foot crossing that was a continuation of the path from Banks Lane. It was removed around 1964, which we found most inconvenient as we used it as advance warning of trains heading west in our spotting days. I remember my worst Saturday ever was around that time, as my Dad had made me go for a hair cut, and while I was at the barbers an A1 pacific went through on a railtour, or excursion of some kind. Of course, everyone had seen it apart from me, and when I got back home I was furious (and the butt of jokes for weeks afterwards). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean hpw Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 there is a signal still sat on it side in the remains of the goods yard, although not the one you mentioned, it is likely to be one of the Distant's between the Great Hale crossing and the station its self, I have spent a good number of hours there myself, although much less complex now... the slip you mention is indeed a single, I know this is the Heckington MRC has made a model of the station in N and the single slip causes hell for shunting! I share your pain at missing an A1 through Heckington, my friend, I can imagine the stick you would get for such a thing! OK, a mix of steam traction tonight, some Loughbrough, some NRM and a poorish mainline shot, Starting at Loughbrough, GCR SR number 777 Standard two (Ivatt) trying to get away from the clasical 3/4 view of the loco and the Carraige and Wagon sidings at the GCR Now off to the NRM With 5XP and 5MT's in view in the great hall some time ago GWR City of truro, an old friend of mine 5XP again Ex LNER Great Marques preping for a steam tour, I wonder how long all that coal would have stayed put! And a lady that has been more trouble than any other I know of the ex LNER A3 flying scotsman, in the works As a final trip for tonight, we head to Grantham about 4 weeks ago, we see Bittern at speed in p**s poor lighting conditions, And an east Coast trains HST, also at Grantham Thats all for tonight my friends, hopefully some more as i upload them off varying memory cards and so on! Sean 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Some nice pictures there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 there is a signal still sat on it side in the remains of the goods yard, although not the one you mentioned, it is likely to be one of the Distant's between the Great Hale crossing and the station its self, I have spent a good number of hours there myself, although much less complex now... If the signal is a distant, it could only be the one from the westbound side (not sure which is up and down on that route), because the distant by Burton road crossing was on a concrete bracket post to make it more visible. I always meant to take a close-up photo of it while still a somersault, but never did - mainly because I really wanted it to be in the 'off' position, which it rarely was. It must have been a hefty pull from Heckington box as it must have been nearly a mile away, and only the summer holiday excursions may have been given that privilege. My favourite train in those days was a WD hauled train of oil tankers. After the closure of the direct Boston-Lincoln line in 1963, and due to complaints about the extra time it would take the regular passengers travelling between these two stations, BR added some services running via Sleaford. These did not stop at any intermediate stations, apart from Sleaford, and one used to pass Heckington at just after 9pm. I have no idea what the WD train was, as I have yet to find the right WTT, unless it was a 'runs as required' train, but it used to clank by at just before 9pm. Some days it would continue on its way east, but most evenings it would stop just east of the station and reverse the train over the crossover onto the opposite running line and continue reversing until it was clear of the crossing gates. There it would wait for the 2-car 114 unit to race by, and then continue its journey. The whole process could take 15-20 minutes and was usually in the dark. It was a marvellous combination of hissing steam, that metallic 'ringing' sound WDs made, clanking coupling rods and the regular clanking of buffers along the length of the train (and often back again) as the loco either stopped or re-started. I don't think the train was fitted; it certainly did not sound like it, and I presume the tanks were empty bound for Immingham, but where they originated I have no idea. If someone can shed any light on this working - which may have only been for a year or so, 63/64, I would be most grateful. Sorry Sean, I am not trying to hi-jack your photo thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean hpw Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 well, Jonny777 That strikes true with what is left in the area, on the Eastbound side there is still a distant, so the one in the remains on the 'yard is most likely to be the distant you recall, it is also on an aged concrete post. I can imagine the signalmans joy at having to pull off a signal located over a mile out, unfortunatly, the only other somersault I know of is at Boston, and that has been out of use for some time, so the odds of catching that in the off possition is minimul. I can imagine the joy caused by the removal of the link you mention between Boston and Sleaford, and the working of the Dub you mention is highly interesting, I have added it to my note book, when I get to the Search Engine next, I will see if I can find anything about it, as i have always been a local lad to Heckington, and am really interested in railways history, in all honesty, I prefer steam traction, but that is in rather short supply now I can just imagine how that would see, damn its enough to give a young lad goosebumps. I have always had a love of the WD locos (well the 2-8-0 and 2-10-0's at least, I was never much of a tank engine fan!) I admit, I have only ever seen old cine footage of loose coupled working, so I would dearly love to see a proper loose coupled freight the WD clank is one sound that is iconic to the class, as I recall, its to do with the amount of side play in the motion work and wheel base, however, the preserved examples always look strange, compaired to the pictures of them in use, usually with oil leaking profusely, and a healthy coat of grime... Please, do not appologise, I am rather glad that the photos are triggering some memories, and it is always interesting to here things like this, as no amount of books, photos and film can replicate the memories people still harbor of steam in its working function. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) I have visited Streetview, and from the Burton Road crossing, the current eastbound distant is a complete replacement to the one that used to be at that location. The current one is on a tubular post with a white sighting board. There are so few photos of that area from 50 years ago, that I have yet to find one with the original signal showing, but it was a cast concrete post and a bracket doll, almost like a junction signal, but with the left hand side missing, if my memory is working properly. The right side protruding out towards the track made the signal more prominent, and all Heckington's signals were somersault 50 years ago. Just to show how things have changed since then, this link should show how the level crossing and signal box looked from the west in 1963 - http://www.railphotolibrary.com/static2/preview2/stock-photo-m99600024-13044.jpg As you can see, the station appears to be very isolated in that photo, although the station hotel - which was then a pub is just out of shot on the left and the windmill on the right, so it is not quite as it looks there. A school friend of mine lived in the station hotel for a while and going O/T it was fun to be invited to his place for tea and eat spaghetti on toast at the bar on stools (opening time was 7pm - 10pm in those days). If you look very hard you can see the westbound outer home above the first carriage of the train. The westbound distant was a similar height and almost identical post/spectacle plate configuration, but another few hundred yards towards Swineshead Bridge. Edited January 5, 2014 by jonny777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean hpw Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Well, Jonny777, that is a highly interesting photo, I notice it is still double traced between Heckington and Sleaford there... I have a photo of the 'box at Heckington taken tonight to show you momentarily, I admit, the N gauge layout at the Heckington club makes use of the signal kits available, so knowing its somersault signals could be highly useful for other projects of mine... I did not know where the railway hotel was, so thank you for telling me, and the signal type you mention seems to be a common enough type out here, I know there is one on a disused line out of Spalding, as you say, a Junction signal with just the one doll, something to do with improving visibility I think... Anywho, on a soggy night at Heckington we have the signal box and the modern signal there. Not a good shot I know, but still, does anyone know what causes this noise in the shot??? there was reason for my standing on a wet Heckington station tonight, can you tell what it is yet? If you said class 47 giving it some serious welly, give yourself a pat on the back! with a shutter speed of 1/20th of a second we see Colas liveried 47727 Rebeca with 10 steel coil wagons, you could hear the engine struggling for over a mile away! Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Excellent photos. The 'noise' on the signalbox shot may just be light being reflected off raindrops if you say it was a wet evening. Mentioning the fact that you could hear the 47 coming from a mile away, reminds me of the late 60s, when single class 25s were put in charge of Skegness to Nottingham/Derby/Leicester excursions on some weekends. They really struggled with 10 or 11 coaches and also could be heard thrashing away in the distance long before they reached the station. What may not be apparent is that the gradient is uphill between Swineshead Bridge and just to the west of Heckington. Not quite of Lickey proportions, I admit, but the line does rise from 4 metres amsl to around 15 metres just west of Burton Road crossing. Not a lot, but enough to make a type 2 with a full train of holidaymakers do some hard work for a couple of miles. The 47 was not the only loco to find the "gradient" rather more than it bargained for with a steel train from the docks, here is a recording that I made of 20060+20164 with a similar train just west of the station on an August evening in 1978. 20064+20160.aiff.mp3 Hope this works, as luckily the mp3 file size is just below 1mb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I have been rummaging through my drawers, and finally came across one of my earliest colour photographs taken with the poorest quality box camera possible (it was all I could afford). It shows a class 114 unit approaching Heckington in 1968 and if you look carefully just by the telegraph pole, you can make out the Burton Road distant on its bracket post. The signal arm is off, which was rare for a local service, and the somersault arm pointed vertically downwards in that position which makes it rather hard to discern. Apologies for the poor quality, but that is the best that I can do with my scanner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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