Dave F's photos - ongoing - more added each day

[DaveF]

2 hours ago, tanatvalley said:

I found it interesting to see the mix of maroon and blue/grey coaching stock on these trains in April 1967.

 

 

It was a very interesting period.  I've often wondered why it seems to be rarely modlled.

 

David

[DaveF]

Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway in April 1964.  I was 14 and had just come back from a month in France staying with friends in Albi, near Toulouse - travelling there and back by myself as one did in those days.  Mum and Dad met me when I got back to Newhaven and we decided to stay for a couple of nights and visit the Bluebell Railway.  I particularly remember it as I was having some difficulty speaking English as I hadn't spoken any English while I was away.

 

In those days you could just walk around anywhere as long as you didn't get in the way.

 

 

Sheffield Park view from cab of Stepney April64 J101

 

 

Sheffield Park LSWR Adams Radial Tank 488 April 64 J102

 

 

Sheffield Park SECR Class P No 27 April 64 J105

 

 

Sheffield Park ex Beckton Gasworks Neilson No 25 April 64 J109

 

 

Sheffield Park Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0T No 3 Baxter April 64 J110

 

 

David

 

 

 

[DaveF]

Something very different now.  Living in Northumberland there is a lot of countryside with few very small villages and (by the standard of much of the UK) tiny towns.  There are also lots of railway remains, both industrial and ex passenger lines. 

 

A long time ago I started to try to get photographs - one of the problems is that in a surprising number of places you can look in any direction and see the remains of a railway.  For example, in just over a mile from my house to a supermarket I cross the routes of 3 railways, a waggonway and some narrow gauge lines used for moving night soil.

 

This batch of photos shows what one disused station and the area round it looked like on 30th July 2014.  The place is Eweseley.  Unless you know Northumberland well you will need a map.  It had a population of 19 in 1870 when the line opened, the station was on the North British Railway's line from Scotsgap to Rothbury.

 

The station building still exists, it is now a house.

 

More information is at:  http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/e/ewesley/index.shtml

 

 

Eweseley station bridge abutments over B6342 

 

 

Ewesley looking towards Simonside

 

 

Ewesley south of the station

 

Ewesley station  - behind the trees.

 

 

Ewesley trackbed in the trees 2

[DaveF]

Staying in the north east, but quite a bit further south we move to the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

 

All but one of the photos were taken in May 1975 when Dad and Mum went on a weekend trip led by Ken Hoole visiting a lot of the early railway sites as a part of the S&D 150 celebrations..  The last photo was taken at the Shildon 150th exhibition in August 1975.

 

I find it hard to believe that this was 48 years ago!  Many of the people in the third photo will be dead now.

 

 

Darlington North Road goods shed May 75 J4425

 

 

Darlington North Road Kitchings works May 75 J4418

 

 

Heighington left by and just beyond the white fence remains of S&D Aycliffe Lane station, right down platform May 75 J4468

 

Heighington up platform May 75 J4466

 

 

Heighington rear of down platform May 75 J4467

 

 

Shildon prototype HST 252001 24th Aug 75 C2315

 

 

David

[DaveF]

For today's final set we visit Stratford on the Great Eastern to look at an Open Day in July 1979.  There is also a photo at Colchester.

 

 

Stratford MPD snowplough ADE330970 July 79 C4639

 

 

Stratford MPD MPD Class 31 converted to train heating unit July 79 C4638

 

 

Stratford MPD engine from Class 31 July 79 C4650

 

 

Stratford MPD Classes 40,31, 47 July 79 C4651

 

 

Colchester Class 47 down ex pass May 81 C5364

 

 

David

 

 

 

 

[Market65]

Good evening, David. That’s a delightful selection of photo’s of Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway in April, 1964. J109, of the ex-Beckton Gasworks, Neilson, No 25, is a splendid view of one of the more unusual locomotives. 

 

The photo’s of the remains of the line at Ewesley, as on the 30th July, 2014, are so atmospheric and sad that there is not much left. The second one of Ewesley, looking towards Simonside, is a photo’ which you really have to look hard at to find where the line used to go. Unless you knew, it would otherwise just be a photo’ of the countryside.

 

In the photo’s of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, in May, 1975, with last one from August, 1975, which are an excellent set and reminder of that historical time, J4418, at Darlington North Road Kitchings works, in May, 1975, your Dad has captured a great view of the works building. Plenty of details can be seen, and it should be of help for those wishing to model it.

 

Finally, that’s a fantastic set of photo’s at Stratford to look at an Open Day in July, 1979, with also a photo’ at Colchester. C4638, of the Class 31 converted to a train heating unit, is a superb portrait shot of the sparkling, green liveried locomotive, with the royal train headcode. 
 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[DaveF]

Today starts with some Scottish photos, a murky day at Leuchars and a dull day at Millerhill.  

 

The trains are interesting, despite the weather.

 

 

Leuchars Junction Class 101 down pass Aug 74  J3937

 

 

Leuchars Class 105 Dundee to Edinburgh Aug 74 J3978

 

 

Leuchars Class 40 down freight Aug 74 J3979

 

 

Millerhill 26002 coal to Cockenzie 21st Aug 86 C7918

 

 

Millerhill 37185 dolofines in Russell containers 21st Aug 86 C7922

 

 

David

[keefer]

1 hour ago, DaveF said:

Leuchars Class 105 Dundee to Edinburgh Aug 74 J3978

Front twin unit and the trailer car look to be cl.101.

At this time there were still some twin-units diagrammed and trains still had some 1st class provision.

That seems to have gone c.1975 and any Composite vehicles were downgraded to all 2nd class. Formations then tended to settle on DMBS/TS/DMS triples.

[Artless Bodger]

J3979, the sheeted opens near the front look as though they may be china clay for the papermills near Aberdeen - Stoneywood (now closed).

[DaveF]

A few photos from 27th and 18th September 2014 at Acton Bridge which is south of Weaver Junction.

 

 

Acton Bridge 350110 down 27th September 2014

 

 

Acton Bridge 350265 down 27th September 2014

 

 

Acton Bridge Class 390 Pendolino 27th September 2014

 

 

Acton Bridge Class 390 Pendolino down 27th September 2014

 

 

Acton Bridge Cliff Lane Class 350 down 28th September 2014 DSC_4381

 

 

Acton Bridge Cliff Lane Class 390 down 28th September 2014 DSC_4389

 

 

David

 

 

[DaveF]

The next set are from Derbyshire, with four taken on 24th August 1990 and one from April 1963 showing me in the Peak Forest signalbox.  

 

 

 

Peak Forest David (me) pulling off distant signal April 63 J050  I don't think this would happen now.

 

 

Great Rocks 47532 down goods 24th Aug 90 C15302

 

 

Chinley 156411 down pass 24th Aug 90 C15312

 

 

Chinley 37425 westbound limestone 24th Aug 90 C15314

 

 

Chinley Class 150 track recording cars up 24th Aug 90 C15315

 

 

David

[corneliuslundie]

"I don't think this would happen now." Certainly not without a signalman's cloth in your hands to protect the steel lever.

C15312 is a really great shot. You and your wife much have done quite a bit of hill walking looking for sites for photography.

Jonathan

[DaveF]

26 minutes ago, corneliuslundie said:

"I don't think this would happen now." Certainly not without a signalman's cloth in your hands to protect the steel lever.

C15312 is a really great shot. You and your wife much have done quite a bit of hill walking looking for sites for photography.

Jonathan

 

Funnily enough one thing I remember about that day is that the signalman was not using a cloth, even then that surprised me as when I was younger and was allowed into a box on the Great Central a cloth was always used.

 

By there way, there isn't a wife, it's just me.

 

David

[DaveF]

 

Harrogate and a bit of the line to York together with one Western Region photo which is all by itself, it has a full caption.

 

 

Harrogate Class 24 D5096 Yorkshire Pullman Harrogate to Kings X March 67  J845

 

 

Harrogate Class 101 York to Harrogate Feb 67 J766

 

 

Harrogate Goods Class 08 Aug 65 J281

 

 

Cattal Signal box, station building and crossing Nov 67 J1172

 

 

Tetbury  16xx 1664 running round July 1963 J060

We were on our way to Bigbury, in Devon for out family holiday and decided to stop at Tetbury to see if there was a train to photograph.

 The normal railbus had been replaced by a steam hauled train as it was the end of term at a local boarding school and a railbus would not have been big enough.

The staff were a bit out of practice and stopped the train a few feet to far forward, a few seconds after Dad took this photo the loco caught the Gresley coach and removed quite a lot of beading .

Dad assured the driver and others that he had not taken a photo of the incident!  We then left while they tried to cover up the damage.

 

David

[Artless Bodger]

The first photo at Acton Bridge, an interesting comparison of the weathering on the platform building rooves, moss and debris on the down side under the trees, the up side looks comparatively clean.

[Market65]

Good evening, David. That’s a fascinating set of Scottish photos, at Leuchars and Millerhill. In J3979, at Leuchars, with a class 40, on a down freight, in August, 1974, that is a great photo’ taken by your Dad, and it is a good example of a mixed freight train.

 

The photo’s of Acton Bridge, on the 27th and 18th September, 2014, are an excellent selection, and the third photo’ of a class 390, Pendolino, is a superb three quarter shot of the train at speed.

 

In the photo’s of Derbyshire, with four on the 24th August 1990, and one from April 1963, of you inthe Peak Forest signalbox, are simply superb, and that first one of you, is an excellent family portrait shot. You are right that it would not be allowed today. C15302, at Great Rocks, with 47532, on a down goods train, on the 24th August, 1990, being a delightful shot of the short train about to enter the tunnel.

 

 Finally, that’s a fantastic set of photo’s of Harrogate, and the one of Tetbury, which are an excellent set. The first photo’ of Harrogate, with class 24, D5096, on the Yorkshire Pullman, from Harrogate to Kings Cross, in March, 1967, is a delightful photo’ of the 24, before it departs on that Pullman train. 

The last photo’, of Tetbury, with 16xx, 1664, running round, in July, 1963, is beautifully composed, and what a story of 1664, catching the side of that Gresley carriage, and removing some of it’s beading! 
 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[DaveF]

Photos in South East England this morning.

 

2 of Southern electrics at St Mary Cray plus 3 of the locos at Sheerness Steel on the Isle of Sheppey.

 

The Sheerness Iron and Steel Company had three shunters at the time, all built by Yorkshire Engine Co.  One was a 0-6-0 diesel elecrtic, the other two were 0-4-0 diesel hydraulics, the works numbers were 2759, 2804 and 2806.  The locos did not have visible numbers when they were photographed in 1975 and 1978.

 

 

St Mary Cray Class 414 6121 Margate to Victoria Nov 79 C4882

 

 

St Mary Cray Class 423 7889 Margate to Victoria Nov 79 C4885

 

 

Sheerness Steel  2 0-4-0 shunters June 75 C2124

 

 

Sheerness Steel 0-6-0 shunter June 75 C2125

 

 

0Sheerness Steel 0-6-0 shunter July 78 J6150

 

 

David

Edited April 20, 2023 by DaveF

[franciswilliamwebb]

16 hours ago, DaveF said:

Peak Forest David (me) pulling off distant signal April 63 J050  I don't think this would happen now.

 

I do believe that hairstyle has been back in fashion in more recent times.  I bet you wish you'd kept it 🤪

[corneliuslundie]

I wasn't referring to just that photo, but over the many thousands of photos you have taken there are a lot where you were a long way from the railway line, and sometimes I get the impression a long way from your car. Close=-ups are great but those distant shots are often the ones which I really like. And the ones which would be impossible to model in anything larger than T gauge. Perhaps it says something that one of my all time favourite layouts is Chee Tor.

Again, many thanks for all the effort and your family (I hadn't forgotten your father's work) over the years.

Jonathan

[DaveF]

26 minutes ago, corneliuslundie said:

I wasn't referring to just that photo, but over the many thousands of photos you have taken there are a lot where you were a long way from the railway line, and sometimes I get the impression a long way from your car. Close=-ups are great but those distant shots are often the ones which I really like. And the ones which would be impossible to model in anything larger than T gauge. Perhaps it says something that one of my all time favourite layouts is Chee Tor.

Again, many thanks for all the effort and your family (I hadn't forgotten your father's work) over the years.

Jonathan

 

 

You are quite right, a number of photos were taken a good distance from my car - I enjoy a gentle stroll in nice weather.  Some months ago I put a pedometer app on my phone, it surprises me how far it says I walk.  Yeterday I was out in the emptier bits of Northumberland and it tells me I walked 6 miles - I thought perhaps 2 or 3 at most so I must do more than I think.

 

You also have to remember that a lot of the photos were taken when roads were much less busy so it was often possible to find a good viewpoint and park - it is much harder now.

 

David

[DaveF]

Now we travel a little way along the Midland from Trent towards Loughborough.

 

Trent 47235 down empty coal April 80 C4986

 

 

Trent 31421 down freightliner to Beeston terminal Aug 83 C6139

 

 

Trent 20102 and 20092 up le 9th April 90 C14260

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45  probably D50 Kings Shropshire Light Infantry up ex pass Sheffield to St Pancras Ratcliffe on Soar September 1967 J1135

 

 

Hathern Class 45 81 up ex pass Aug 72 C1046

 

 

David

 

 

 

 

 

[DaveF]

3 hours ago, franciswilliamwebb said:

 

I do believe that hairstyle has been back in fashion in more recent times.  I bet you wish you'd kept it 🤪

 

 

These days it is "what hair" not "what hairstyle"!   Actually I still have some hair at the sides and back.

 

David

[DaveF]

Some more Swiss photos, this time on the BLS - Bern Lötschberg Simplon Bahn - at Kandersteg at the north end of the Lötschberg Tunnel.  They were taken before the base tunnel opened so all traffic went through it as well as the car shuttle trains from Kandersteg to Goppenstein.

 

 

Kandersteg BLS Re4/4 186 loading cars 14th Aug 91 C16413

 

 

Kandersteg BLS Tem2/2 41  14th Aug 91 C16414

 

 

Kandersteg SBB Re4/4iv 10102 IC Brig to Basel  14th Aug 91 C16415

 

 

Kandersteg BLS Ae6/8 207 14th Aug 91 C16420

 

 

Kandersteg BLS Bt 915 driving trailer for car train 14th Aug 91 C16421

 

 

David

[Re6/6]

Lovely stuff again Dave!

[Dan Griffin]

this is my 'go to ' thread when i log on, always excellent pictures on here.

 

it is interesting to see the weathering on  J281 where the handrails on the 08 are white lower down where the shunters hands have kept them clean. 

 

excellent

 

Dan