RMweb Premium 31A Posted October 6, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 6, 2014 The linkspan itself is listed, though, I believe? I'm not sure how far that extends to the supporting infrastructure. In the 1990s I sometimes had cause to visit Harwich Town station in the course of my work, and was told by the staff there that the train ferry link span was retained for strategic reasons. At that time (as I remember), the railway infrastructure leading to it had been reduced to a single line running across a new road without any proper level crossing and through a very solid new security fence (can't remember whether or not there were gates in the fence). In other words, it COULD have been put into use in an emergency but couldn't be used regularly. The 1998 Quail map shows this simplified layout, but the 2006 version doesn't show any sidings at Harwich Town at all. I wonder whether the end of the Cold War had anything to do with it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Great pics of Cambois, Dave. The photo showing wagons under repair is the same pic featured in Rail Express last year which gave me the inspiration to start building a Blyth & Tyne layout. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ressaldar Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Hi Dave, here are a few of the Bluebell taken in July 1984 - almost exactly 20 years after yours. cheers Mike 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 7, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 7, 2014 In the 1990s I sometimes had cause to visit Harwich Town station in the course of my work, and was told by the staff there that the train ferry link span was retained for strategic reasons. At that time (as I remember), the railway infrastructure leading to it had been reduced to a single line running across a new road without any proper level crossing and through a very solid new security fence (can't remember whether or not there were gates in the fence). In other words, it COULD have been put into use in an emergency but couldn't be used regularly. The 1998 Quail map shows this simplified layout, but the 2006 version doesn't show any sidings at Harwich Town at all. I wonder whether the end of the Cold War had anything to do with it? The Harwich train ferry ended in 1987 when services were concentrated on Dover as part of a BR rationalisation scheme. The linkspan and hoist at Harwich have considerable historic interest having been recovered from the kit originally in use elsewhere (Southampton and Richborough) during WWI and unlike Dover could only work a single deck on the ship thus offering much less capacity. Effectively any rail need vanished with the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 although it was hoped at the time that the Dover-Dunkerque ferry would survive for traffics which are not allowed in the Chunnel - it didn't. The rail connection to the Harwich linkspan had the new Trinity House buoy maintenance workshop built on top of it in 2005 as part of the modernisation of TH facilities at Harwich; Google Streetview shows just how effectively that building blocks it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I have a feeling the Harwich linkspan gear came from Richborough - via the seabed, it sank while being transferred - while the Southampton gear went to Zeebrugge. I may have that the wrong way round - see Ransome-Wallis, Train Ferries of Northern Europe for chapter and verse. It's always puzzled me why the French didn't show more interest in the idea after WW1. Their strategic importance has always been realised: Hitler issued orders that the Zeebrugge and Harwich train ferry berths were to be left undamaged and built new railway wagons to the UK loading gauge in 1940 for expected traffic which never materialised. I'm pretty sure I've read that the order regarding the Zeebrugge linkspan was never rescinded and it was left undamaged in a wrecked port when the Allies captured it although it was 1947 before ferries could access it again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 7, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 7, 2014 I have a feeling the Harwich linkspan gear came from Richborough - via the seabed, it sank while being transferred - while the Southampton gear went to Zeebrugge. I may have that the wrong way round - see Ransome-Wallis, Train Ferries of Northern Europe for chapter and verse. It's always puzzled me why the French didn't show more interest in the idea after WW1. Their strategic importance has always been realised: Hitler issued orders that the Zeebrugge and Harwich train ferry berths were to be left undamaged and built new railway wagons to the UK loading gauge in 1940 for expected traffic which never materialised. I'm pretty sure I've read that the order regarding the Zeebrugge linkspan was never rescinded and it was left undamaged in a wrecked port when the Allies captured it although it was 1947 before ferries could access it again. According to one online source the Harwich installation was part Southampton (which sank enroute and was only partially recovered) plus part from Richborough to replace what was lying on the seabed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) A highly informative site here - will need translating, but includes a working model of a train ferry - and a page devoted to the wreck of HMS Daffodil (Train Ferry No 2) here. I'll try to remind myself what Dr Ransome Wallis had to say about linkspans this evening, without diverting Dave's thread too far. Edit - Ransome-Wallis doesn't mention the sinking, but does say that the span from Southampton and the gantry from Richborough were installed at Harwich, while the Richborough linkspan went to Zeebrugge. Edited October 7, 2014 by jwealleans 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted October 7, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) A few from Greenholme, part of the way up Shap heading north from Tebay, for this afternoon. Greenholme DRS 66429 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4409 Greenholme 390 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4418 Greenholme Class 390 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4422 Greenholme Class 390 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4423 Greenholme Cass 221 up Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4429 Greenholme 350407 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4433 Edit: Just ignore the Sunday 28th on the actual image files, I forgot which day it was when I captioned them. Monday 29th is correct. David Edited October 7, 2014 by DaveF 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Stunning stuff, Dave! You be the man (Bronx argot).... Best, Pete.! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post DaveF Posted October 7, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) A look at Belvoir Junction and the branch line to the iron ore quarries, on the Grantham Nottingham line and the associated British Steel Lines around the Harlaxton area. Belvoir Junction Class 20s D8182 and ano up iron ore Dec 68 J1517 Stenwith near Woolsthorpe 2 x Class 20s & brake van returning from Harlaxton Grantham Canal on right Aug 70 C303 Denton Gunby at level crossing Sept 70 J2330 Harlaxton Quarries BSC much rebuilt Drewery diesel Phoenix on engineers train July 73 J3235 Harlaxton Quarries Rhondda and Ajax Sept 70 J2326 Edited to add a date to a photo. David Edited October 7, 2014 by DaveF 32 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted October 7, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 7, 2014 Hi, Dave. Outstanding photo's today. Again, terrific views of the WCML as it was in late September. Then we have great photo's of Belvoir Junction and the branch to the iron ore quarries.Good weathering of the two class 20's can be seen in the first photo' J1517. Then in C303, at Stenwith, near Woolsthorpe, another two 20's make their way along the branch through some lovely countryside. Excellent shots of various industrial loco's are then to be seen - all modellable. I particularly like the one of the rebuilt Drewery diesel 'Phoenix', in photo' J3235. Please keep these photo's coming. All the best, Market65. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 A look at Belvoir Junction and the branch line to the iron ore quarries, on the Grantham Nottingham line and the associated British Steel Lines around the Harlaxton area. a Belvoir Junction Class 20s D8182 and ano up iron ore Dec 68 J1517.jpg Belvoir Junction Class 20s D8182 and ano up iron ore Dec 68 J1517 e Stenwith near Woolsthorpe 2 x Class 20s & brake van returning from Harlaxton Grantham Canal on right Aug C303.jpg Stenwith near Woolsthorpe 2 x Class 20s & brake van returning from Harlaxton Grantham Canal on right Aug 70 C303 g Denton Gunby at level crossing Sept 70 J2330.jpg Denton Gunby at level crossing Sept 70 J2330 k Harlaxton Quarries BSC much rebuilt Drewery diesel Phoenix on engineers train July 73 J3235.jpg Harlaxton Quarries BSC much rebuilt Drewery diesel Phoenix on engineers train July 73 J3235 k Harlaxton Quarries Rhondda and Ajax Sept 70 J2326.jpg Harlaxton Quarries Rhondda and Ajax Sept 70 J2326 Edited to add a date to a photo. David That looks like the "Ajax" thats now on the Isle of Wight steam railwayCheers JonF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Fantastic photos, as usual. Do you have any shots of where the Belvoir branch crossed the Grantham Canal, just past the Dirty Duck (sorry Rutland Arms!) pub? ROB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted October 8, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 8, 2014 Fantastic photos, as usual. Do you have any shots of where the Belvoir branch crossed the Grantham Canal, just past the Dirty Duck (sorry Rutland Arms!) pub? ROB I don't think so but you never know I may come up with one when I look at the photos I've not yet used. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted October 8, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 8, 2014 A second attempt at some more photos at Greenholme, this time with the correct date. While I was there the sun finally put in an appearance. Greenholme Class 390 up Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4407 Greenholme DRS 66429 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4411 Greenholme Class 221 up Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4430 Greenholme Class 350 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4448 Greenholme Class 350 up Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4449 Greenholme Class 390 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4458 David 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post DaveF Posted October 8, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted October 8, 2014 A trip to Wolverhampton this evening with photos taken by the canal around sunset - usually on the way back home from a visit to the Severn Valley Railway. Wolverhampton Class 87 up pass Oct 76 C3061 Wolverhampton 310064 up pass Oct 76 C3063 Wolverhampton 86260 down pass crossing Lock Street bridge April 77 J5693 Wolverhampton Class 120 up pass September 80 J7240 Wolverhampton 86227 down pass Sept 80 J7241 David 28 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 J5693.....layout picture amongst real ones...discuss!! Superb shot! JF 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthnut Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 J5693.....layout picture amongst real ones...discuss!! Superb shot! JF Was going to say the same thing! I think perhaps the weathering on the 86 is a little too heavy on the airbrush.... Love that shot though, really top stuff. Keep 'em coming! TTF Ben 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted October 8, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 8, 2014 Hi, Dave. Excellent photo's. I also particularly like photo' J5693. It is a very modellable view. Please keep the photo's coming. All the best, Market65. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Lock street today! Compare the two... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.5897088,-2.1226623,3a,75y,76.14h,75.9t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1stZUTzXjN2TBZ1tmaIX5zAQ!2e0 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted October 8, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 8, 2014 Oh, dear! Very overgrown. Market65. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
talisman56 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 The headroom on the bridge in Lock Street must be about 6ft - no wonder it's closed to vehicles... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Well, all I can say to anyone who takes photos near to the canals in Wolverhampton, is that they are braver men than me. I passed through that area on a narrowboat some years ago and appeared to be target practice for an idiot with an air gun. I haven't been back since, and was so un-nerved that evening, I moored the boat overnight on the opposite side of the canal to the towpath, just in case. But that's enough about me. Great pictures, as usual. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted October 9, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) This afternoon we'll move a little further up Shap to a position very close to the site of Scout Green signal box. By now the sun was shining strongly and it was hot rather than just warm. Scout Green 390 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4462 Scout Green Class 390 down Monday 29th September 2014 DSC_4463 Scout Green Class 390 down Mondayth September 2014 DSC_4464 Scout Green Class 350 down 29th September 2014 DSC_4475 Scout Green Class 350 down 29th September 2014 DSC_4478 Scout Green Class 350 down 29th September 2014 DSC_4480 Edited to correct dates - I think I must be using last year's calendar or something. David Edited October 9, 2014 by DaveF 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post DaveF Posted October 9, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) The Midland mainline to London tonight, at Kegworth. Kegworth is between Trent and Loughborough and used to have a station. When the photos were taken the road was fairly quiet, it was possible to park at the side the road on the overbridge. Last time I visited there, about three years ago was more traffic, I parked a short distance away and walked up the hill to the railway. Kegworth Class 25 and another down goods April 66 J456 Kegworth Class 45 D101 in early blue up iron ore hoppers, Class 27 in yard April 69 J1629 Kegworth Class 27 D5374 up gypsum leaving goods yard April 69 J1630 Kegworth Class 44 up coal Dec 69 C190 Kegworth Class 45 down ex pass March 75 C1914 David Edited October 9, 2014 by DaveF 34 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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