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

[DaveF]

The last set today were taken at Abbots Ripton in June and July 1975.

 

 

Abbots Ripton Class 47 08.05 York to Kings X June 75 J4469

 

 

Abbots Ripton Class 47 09.10 Kings X to Leeds and Hull June 75 J4499 likely to be 47432 - see post below by brushman47544.

 

 

Abbots Ripton Class 47 09.00 Hull to Kings X July 75 C2196

 

 

Abbots Ripton Class 47 10.20 Kings X to Leeds July 75 C2198

 

 

Abbots Ripton A distant view of Class 55 up XP, Class 47 down XP July 75 J4537

 

David

Edited October 23, 2023 by DaveF

[Brit70053]

A wonderful set of photos from Tanfield Dave, I visited on the Sunday and as always at this wonderfully friendly railway, I had a really enjoyable, though chilly, day. The sight of the vertical boiler loco in action was a real bonus.

 

             Regards,

 

                             John  

[Market65]

Good evening, David. That’s a fantastic set of photo’s of St Avold, in the North East of France, in 1967, and on the 13th August, 1990. C15219, of SNCF X4300, on a St Avold to Sarrguemines service, on the 13th August, 1990, is a fabulous three quarter shot of the two car unit.

 

The bonus photo’s from Saturday, the 14th October, 2023, of the "Run It Gala" at the Tanfield Railway, are a superb selection. The last photo’ at Marley Hill, with Hudswell Clarke Renishaw Ironworks, No 6, shunting, is an excellent shot of the locomotive in the October sunshine.

 

Lastly, the photo’s of Abbots Ripton in June and July, 1975, are a most interesting and nostalgic set. In J4499, of a Class 47, heading the 09.10 Kings Cross to Leeds and Hull service, in June, 1975, your Dad has taken a most excellent and well composed photo’, and I can see a light, of some kind, on the driver’s side, underneath the marker light. 
 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[keefer]

1 hour ago, DaveF said:

Abbots Ripton Class 47 09.10 Kings X to Leeds and Hull June 75 J4499

 

54 minutes ago, Market65 said:

I can see a light, of some kind, on the driver’s side, underneath the marker light

A few locos were fitted with what is usually called a 'quartz' sealed-beam headlight (similar to those on cl.87 and some 86s).

47523 was one and although it was removed at some point, it retained the plated-over surround.

Close-up pic in 1977:

http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_zoom_v3.php?img=0492051042200

 

I don't know if there's a list of so-fitted 47s or definitive fitted/removed dates.

Edited October 22, 2023 by keefer

[brushman47544]

7 minutes ago, keefer said:

 

A few locos were fitted with what is usually called a 'quartz' sealed-beam headlight (similar to those on cl.87 and done 86).

47523 was one and although it was removed at some point, it retained the plated-over surround in later years:

http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_zoom_v3.php?img=0492051042200

 

I don't know if there's a list of so-fitted 47s or definitive fitted/removed dates.

There were two, 47432 and 47523. 47432’s were plated over when the standard headlight was fitted around 1984/5, 47523 lost them in 1980, but had raised discs fitted covering the hole. The loco in J4499 looks like it has an oval Brush builders plate on the cab side which would mean it’s 47432 (Crewe built locos like 47523 had rectangular builders plates).

[Dagworth]

1 hour ago, brushman47544 said:

There were two, 47432 and 47523. 47432’s were plated over when the standard headlight was fitted around 1984/5, 47523 lost them in 1980, but had raised discs fitted covering the hole. The loco in J4499 looks like it has an oval Brush builders plate on the cab side which would mean it’s 47432 (Crewe built locos like 47523 had rectangular builders plates).

I've seen reports that 434 also had them

 

Edit: I have photos here of 434 with the plated over hole of a quartz headlight in that position.

Of all the photos I have of them all, only 523 has tanks between the battery boxes in any of the pictures, but that could well be a red herring 

 

Andi

Edited October 22, 2023 by Dagworth
Additional info

[35A]

2 hours ago, Dagworth said:

I've seen reports that 434 also had them

 

Edit: I have photos here of 434 with the plated over hole of a quartz headlight in that position.

Of all the photos I have of them all, only 523 has tanks between the battery boxes in any of the pictures, but that could well be a red herring

 

47 434 did, indeed, also have the quartz headlight fitted. At that time, 432 was a York loco and 434 a Holbeck loco. However, the photographs that I can find of 47 434 show that the headlight was blanked off in April and May 1975 (and may still have been in June). Also, the number 2 end drivers-side cab doors of 47 432 were fitted with the white "Experiment DL/xxx" information plaque - which you can just see in J4499 (I haven't found an equivalent for 47 434 - although it would very likely have carried them at one end). I'd tend towards it being 47 432, myself.

[DaveF]

Grayrigg, Milnthorpe for the first thre in the north west then "Repton and Willington".

 

 

Grayrigg Class 47 D1839 up ex pass April 68 J1251

 

 

Milnthorpe LMS Class 5 45232? down freight April 66 J486

 

 

Milnthorpe LMS Class 5 45232? down freight April 66 J487

 

 

Repton and Willington Class 37 6807 and Class 31 D5671 down freight June 69 J1718

 

 

Repton and Willington Class 37 6807 and Class 31 D5671 down freight June  69 J1719

 

David

Edited October 24, 2023 by DaveF

[DaveF]

A bit later than planned as the server did not co-operate.

 

The photos are from Nottingham Victoria.

 

Nottingham Victoria Class 5 44912 Newcastle to Bournemouth June 54 JVol7030

 

 

Nottingham Victoria Class 5 45043 York to Bournemouth note reversed headboard c1951 JVol7100

 

 

Nottingham Victoria J6 le c1951 JVol7106

 

 

Nottingham Victoria K2 61729 pass Nottingham to Grantham c1952  JVol3049

 

 

Nottingham Victoria K3 down pass c1951 JVol4191

 

David

[Market65]

Good evening, David. That’s a superb selection of photo’s of Grayrigg, and Milnthorpe, in the north west, and "Repton and Willington". J486, at Milnthorpe, of LMS Class 5, 45532, on a down freight train, in April, 1966, is an excellent photo’, and is expertly composed by your Dad. 

J1718, at Repton and Willington, with Class 37, 6807 and Class 31, D5871, double heading a down freight train, in June, 1969, is a fantastic photo’ by your Dad, and that bridge looks very low. 

 

The black and white photo’s of Nottingham Victoria, are a fantastic set, which are all gems. JVol3049, of K2, 61729, on a passenger train from Nottingham to Grantham, in c1952, is a splendid photo’, by your Dad, and what a shame no K2’s were preserved.
 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[RFS]

Hi Dave - great pictures as ever.  J486 and J487 can't be 45532 as that's a rebuilt Patriot. Looks like it might be 45232.

[35A]

The caption on J1718 has a typo, David. D5871 vice D5671 (the Brush 2's ended at D5862) - as per the following image, J1719.

[Stoke West]

11 hours ago, DaveF said:

Grayrigg, Milnthorpe for the first thre in the north west then "Repton and Willington".

 

 

Grayrigg Class 47 D1839 up ex pass April 68 J1251

 

 

Milnthorpe LMS Class 5 45232? down freight April 66 J486

 

 

Milnthorpe LMS Class 5 45232? down freight April 66 J487

 

 

Repton and Willington Class 37 6807 and Class 31 D5871 down freight June 69 J1718

 

 

Repton and Willington Class 37 6807 and Class 31 D5671 down freight June  69 J1719

 

David

J487 thats a brand new sheet on the hyfit

[DaveF]

Photos from trips to Ratcliffe on Soar,which is still between Trent and Loughborough on the Midland.

 

The two photos taken in the snow would have been in the first week of January 1979.  It was a very cold day, on the way from Mum and Dad's where I was staying I passed a number of lorries which had broken down as their diesel had frozen, one had a small fire going under its tank.   At the time I was driving a Citroen Dyane which had an air cooled engine and a starting handle which was useful when it was really cold and the battery became a bit feeble.

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 up June 76 C2825

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 47 47488 down Nov 77 C3625

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 up Jan 79 C4252

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 down Jan 79 C4254

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 down April 80 C4988

 

David

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, DaveF said:

C4252

No wonder you were cold with a fresh easterly like that!

[Stoke West]

25 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

No wonder you were cold with a fresh easterly like that!

You can feel the cold just looking at it ! C4988 can see an mgr running into Ratcliffe

[62613]

5 hours ago, DaveF said:

Photos from trips to Ratcliffe on Soar,which is still between Trent and Loughborough on the Midland.

 

The two photos taken in the snow would have been in the first week of January 1979.  It was a very cold day, on the way from Mum and Dad's where I was staying I passed a number of lorries which had broken down as their diesel had frozen, one had a small fire going under its tank.   At the time I was driving a Citroen Dyane which had an air cooled engine and a starting handle which was useful when it was really cold and the battery became a bit feeble.

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 up June 76 C2825

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 47 47488 down Nov 77 C3625

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 up Jan 79 C4252

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 down Jan 79 C4254

 

 

Ratcliffe on Soar Class 45 down April 80 C4988

 

David

C4254 just oozes cold!

On 16/10/2023 at 08:55, russ p said:

Morning David, just take it easy.  Hope you are feeling better soon

 

On 16/10/2023 at 07:56, JeffP said:

Ah, sorry, you're right.

I must have a blind spot towards Ilkeston after the last nine month's goings on at my football club...

 

[Southernman46]

C4252 & C4254 - stunningly atmospheric pictures

[DaveF]

York in 1965/6 next.

 

 

York Class 40 up goods Aug 65 J217

 

 

York Class 03 D2351 light engine Aug 65 J234

 

 

York Class 03 D2151?  and Class 04 D2231 and Class 08 up Aug 65 J238

 

 

York  35026 Lamport and Holt Line and 4472 Flying Scotsman Newcastle to Kings X Oct 66 J676

 

 

York Class 47 D1977 Kings X to Newcastle Oct 66 J683

 

David

Edited October 24, 2023 by DaveF

[Stoke West]

14 minutes ago, DaveF said:

York in 1965/6 next.

 

 

York Class 40 up goods Aug 65 J217

 

 

York Class 03 D2351 light engine Aug 65 J234

 

 

York Class 03   and Class 04 D2231 and Class 08 up Aug 65 J238

 

 

York  35026 Lamport and Holt Line and 4472 Flying Scotsman Newcastle to Kings X Oct 66 J676

 

 

York Class 47 D1977 Kings X to Newcastle Oct 66 J683

 

David

That timber looks like its going to be a stop and examine further down the line as the load settles and ropes get loose

[keefer]

2 hours ago, DaveF said:

York Class 03 D2351 light engine Aug 65 J234

Wondered how the vacuum pipe is off its seat but presumably the loco has a straight-air brake?

Edited October 24, 2023 by keefer

[Market65]

Good evening, David. That’s a great selection of photo’s of Ratcliffe on Soar. The first photo’ of a Class 45, on an up express, in June, 1976, is a fantastic shot, and how the train is overwhelmed by the pylons.

 

That’s an excellent set of photo’s of York, from 1965 and 1966. In J238, of a Class 03, and Class 04, D2231, also with a Class 08, on an up movement, in August, 1965, that’s a well composed photo’ by your Dad, and, on enlarging the photo’, the 03 looks as if it might be D2151.
 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[33C]

10 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

No wonder you were cold with a fresh easterly like that!

It's no fun clipping and scotching points, flagging and passing messages in a blizzard during single line working...

My old chargeman nearly died of hypothermia. Great days and a job well done! C4254 brought a shiver....

[The Johnster]

1 hour ago, 33C said:

My old chargeman nearly died of hypothermia

 

Nearly happened to one of our drivers, a cautionary tale.  Early 70s, freezing cold night, and a group of about eight of us Canton blokes had fetched up in the traincrew messroom at Newport High Street in the small wee hours, one crew 'over their day' and likely to miss their booked turn later that avo (in those days we had to have 12 hours rest after booking off duty before booking on again).  They'd informed Control, who arranged to stop a light engine coming down from STJ.  Yay, we had a lift home, more to the point we could book home on a later passenger train and book walking time to Canton from Cardiff Central, which put some of us on night rate overtime, every little helps as Tesco hadn't started saying yet!

 

The loco, a 47, pulled up in the platform road and we all climbed on.  It was going to be a bit crowded in the cab, but hey ho, them's the breaks.  One driver decided he wanted to have a seat and made for the back cab, and off we went.  Down the Main, 70mph, top speed for a light engine, dropped on to the reception at Canton, someone looked back to see the other driver on the steps presumably getting off, and then, as we were all booking off, someone says 'where's Ron?'.  'Gone home over the bridge probably', 'no, he drove in, I had a lift with him, he's my lift home, his car's in the car park'.  At this point we realised he was a bit missing, and I went with my driver back down to the running shed to look for him.

 

He was still getting off the back of the loco, or more precisely, still getting on it.  He'd climbed up the steps at Newport and found the cab door jammed (this didn't happen on locos built properly with separate framed chassis, but this was a 47).  He'd kicked the carp out of the door, shouted, but nobody up our end took any notice.  He reckoned he passed out somewhere around Marshfield, his last thought being that he wouldn't fall off with his hands frozen solid around the handrails.  He thought he was going to die, and he nearly did...

 

Took about a dozen of us, me, driver, few fitters, running shed foreman, to get him off, stiff as a board, frozen solid.  We were pretty convinced he was dead, there were no signs of life at all.  We got him into the warm office and called an ambulance, and started trying to warm him up.  The parameds pitched in with barbiturates (I assume, administered by injection and difficult through hard frozen skin) and there was some movement, then perceptible breathing, attempts at speaking, and, eventually, to everyone's immense relief, the most powerful and sincere stream of invective I have ever heard, directed at your intrepid reporter and his mate...

 

And we deserved it of course, someone should have checked he was properly aboard the loco, glances in the general direction and assuming somebody else did it are not good enough.  Lesson learned, but we nearly killed somebody, which has stayed with me...

[DaveF]

A few photos fairly close to home at Alnmouth in Northumberland from 1980 and 1981.  Alnmouth was the junction for Alnwick, if the plans of the Aln Valley Railway eventually come to fruition it will once again be a junction for heritage trains to Alnwick Lionheart station.

 

 

Alnmouth viaduct Class 254 down Aug 80 C5153  This is just to the north of the station.

 

 

Alnmouth Class 254 up Aug 81 C5491

 

 

Alnmouth Class 254 down Aug 81 C5492

 

 

Alnmouth Class 40 down ICI tanks Aug 81 C5493

 

 

Alnmouth Class 47 up Edinburgh to Newcastle Aug 81 C5494

 

David