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

[The Johnster]

J670; thought I recognised that headcode.  Wonder if the loco worked through; 45s worked to Cardiff in those days were on the rare side, enough to cause minor excitement on the platform ends among us spotters, as Canton did not yet have traction knowledge of the type, a situation which would not last much longer!  This train has family connections, as the remnant of the 'Ports to Ports Express' which plied it's trade in pre-grouping days and the inter-war years between Barry and North Shields, merchant seamen and officers transferring between ships being a major part of the clientele.  It sported a full restaurant service with a very high standard of breakfast.

 

My great uncle Ted was a steward on the GW rake's restaurant car after coming out of the army catering corps demobbed after WW1.  Ted was something of a character, who regaled me as a child with war stories of how he blew up Hill 60, or shot down the Red Baron, or invented the tank on the back of a packet of Woodbines and sent it to Field Marshall Haig; in short, how he won the war singled handed.  In fact he never got further than Aldershot or saw a shot fired in even a fit of pique, never mind anger, though of course he may have killed more of our own soldiers than most Germans did.

 

But he had the gift of the gab, and a streak of criminality in his very soul that I later found was shared by all railway catering staff.  He worked the Ports to Ports 'double home', out on one day, book off in Newcastle, lodgings overnight and work the precursor of the train in the photograph back home the following day while a Newcastle crew worked the balancing working with NER stock.  It was a long working day; the train left Barry at 7.30 ish but worked down ecs from Canton while breakfast was being prepared, and the car had to be cleaned and supplied before it went off shed. then of course cleaned ready for the following day's work while being worked back ecs from North Shields to Gateshead.  His lodging arrangements turned into a bigamous marriage with the landlady, and the day she turned up in Cardiff with a couple of kids in tow to be seen off by great aunt Julia with an umbrella is family legend, though before my time,

 

This was the end of his railway career on Julia's orders, which you disobeyed at your peril, and he subsequently developed a professional bad back as insurance in case he was ever asked to do any work.  He supported himself with the dole and money raised by becoming a bookie's runner; in those days there were no high street betting shops and off-course betting on horses was highly illegal, which never prevented it and media reporting of race meetings was endemic.  Bookie's runners went around collecting illegal bets, delivering them to the bookie in some dodgy pub where they awaited the results of the days action, and distributed the winnings. the bookie bought the beer and the winners tipped him.  He and Julia lived rent free in our house.

 

I would be allowed to accompany him on Saturdays as a child, bets being picked up from various shops on his rounds which finished at Cardiff General.  I would be furnished with ice cream from a stall in Cardiff Market, and we would often go home with fish, meat, flowers, and I was never short of shoes.  We would be on the station for the highlight of my day, the 10.00 departure of the Red Dragon that still gets my heart racing at the sight of a clean Britaania.  I would sometimes be left in the care of the driver of the down side pilot, usually a 94xx, for an hour or so while Ted went off on business of what I was not wont to wot of and collected later; this involved a transfer of vans from the Riveside sidings to the up side and I would be picked up on the up side on the 'fish dock'. 

 

I remember the old rogue with a huge degree of fondness, and blame him for my interest in railways; he was a lifelong enthusiast himself!

Edited March 21, 2018 by The Johnster

[Andy Louch]

J670; thought I recognised that headcode.  Wonder if the loco worked through; 45s worked to Cardiff in those days were on the rare side, enough to cause minor excitement on the platform ends among us spotters, as Canton did not yet have traction knowledge of the type, a situation which would not last much longer!  This train has family connections, as the remnant of the 'Ports to Ports Express' which plied it's trade in pre-grouping days and the inter-war years between Barry and North Shields, merchant seamen and officers transferring between ships being a major part of the clientele.  It sported a full restaurant service with a very high standard of breakfast.

 

My great uncle Ted was a steward on the GW rake's restaurant car after coming out of the army catering corps demobbed after WW1.  Ted was something of a character, who regaled me as a child with war stories of how he blew up Hill 60, or shot down the Red Baron, or invented the tank on the back of a packet of Woodbines and sent it to Field Marshall Haig; in short, how he won the war singled handed.  In fact he never got further than Aldershot or saw a shot fired in even a fit of pique, never mind anger, though of course he may have killed more of our own soldiers than most Germans did.

 

But he had the gift of the gab, and a streak of criminality in his very soul that I later found was shared by all railway catering staff.  He worked the Ports to Ports 'double home', out on one day, book off in Newcastle, lodgings overnight and work the precursor of the train in the photograph back home the following day while a Newcastle crew worked the balancing working with NER stock.  It was a long working day; the train left Barry at 7.30 ish but worked down ecs from Canton while breakfast was being prepared, and the car had to be cleaned and supplied before it went off shed. then of course cleaned ready for the following day's work while being worked back ecs from North Shields to Gateshead.  His lodging arrangements turned into a bigamous marriage with the landlady, and the day she turned up in Cardiff with a couple of kids in tow to be seen off by great aunt Julia with an umbrella is family legend, though before my time,

 

This was the end of his railway career on Julia's orders, which you disobeyed at your peril, and he subsequently developed a professional bad back as insurance in case he was ever asked to do any work.  He supported himself with the dole and money raised by becoming a bookie's runner; in those days there were no high street betting shops and off-course betting on horses was highly illegal, which never prevented it and media reporting of race meetings was endemic.  Bookie's runners went around collecting illegal bets, delivering them to the bookie in some dodgy pub where they awaited the results of the days action, and distributed the winnings. the bookie bought the beer and the winners tipped him.  He and Julia lived rent free in our house.

 

I would be allowed to accompany him on Saturdays as a child, bets being picked up from various shops on his rounds which finished at Cardiff General.  I would be furnished with ice cream from a stall in Cardiff Market, and we would often go home with fish, meat, flowers, and I was never short of shoes.  We would be on the station for the highlight of my day, the 10.00 departure of the Red Dragon that still gets my heart racing at the sight of a clean Britaania.  I would sometimes be left in the care of the driver of the down side pilot, usually a 94xx, for an hour or so while Ted went off on business of what I was not wont to wot of and collected later; this involved a transfer of vans from the Riveside sidings to the up side and I would be picked up on the up side on the 'fish dock'. 

 

I remember the old rogue with a huge degree of fondness, and blame him for my interest in railways; he was a lifelong enthusiast himself!

 

 

Hello Johnster, what a wonderful story - thanks so much for posting, has made my morning! Andy

[DaveF]

Mainly Carlisle for this afternoon.

 

 

Carlisle 318268 on test April 87 J8801

 

 

Carlisle 08808 down transfer cement and 31 120 April 87 J8812

 

 

Carlisle 47660 Carlisle to Middelsbrough and 87034 April 87 J8814

 

 

Carlisle Class 108 M54247 in green April 87 J8869

 

 

Cumwhinton 22nd Oct 91 C16598

 

 

David

[Enterprisingwestern]

J670.

For information

By 1970/71 the Newcastle - Cardiffs were 1V74 (0703) and 1V85 (1010).

1V45 seems to have disappeared in the intervening years, ISTR 1969 as being a year of changes.

 

Mike.

[luckymucklebackit]

Just looking at Google Streetview for Cumwhinton (C16598) and it has hardly changed a bit in the intervening 27 years.

 

Jim 

[Market65]

Hi, Dave. I like the Carlisle photos. The first photo' is a great view of 318268 on test in April, 1987. And in J8869, class 108 DTSL, M54247 in green, in April 1987, has a carriage crest which was not carried by trailer cars in BR green day's. There are other livery quirks to be seen on it too, including the small yellow panel, which did not wrap around the cab sides as in that repaint.

 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[DaveF]

Back to 1974 for this afternoon's photos at Peterborough and Sandy on the ECML.

 

 

Sandy Class 46 Kings X to Leeds Apr 74 J3645

 

 

Sandy Class 31 down freight Apr 74 J3646

 

 

Peterborough Class 101 Peterborough to Norwich 27th July 74 C1699

 

 

Peterborough Class 47 Kings X to Bradford 27th July 74 C1701

 

 

Peterborough Class 55 Kings X to Aberdeen 27th July 74 C1707

 

 

David

[Swindon 123]

Another nice set of ECML photos David. thank you for sharing. Certainly have captured a "mixed freight" in shot J3646. I didn't realise those type of grain wagons traversed the southern end of the ECML?. I'm going to have a stab at identifying the 47/4 in shot C1701 as  47457? as it that is how the numbers read to my eyes.It was also one of the few in the high 474xx number range to retain its boiler, as seen by the fact it still carries a steam heat bag.

 

Paul J.

[brushman47544]

I suspect C1707 is 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier

 

the 47/4 in shot C1701 as  47457?

 

 Agreed

[Market65]

Hi, Dave. I like the Sandy and Peterborough photos. In C1699, with a class 101, on a Peterborough to Norwich service, 27th July, 1974, I think the unit will be one of the three car sets transferred to replace the Derby Lightweights (yellow diamond coupling code, never TOPS classified).

 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[hmrspaul]

Another nice set of ECML photos David. thank you for sharing. Certainly have captured a "mixed freight" in shot J3646. I didn't realise those type of grain wagons traversed the southern end of the ECML?.

Paul J.

Likewise, although I knew they worked into East Anglia. Sandy had a large grain silo so perhaps this is a trip to load there.

 

Paul

[31A]

Another nice set of ECML photos David. thank you for sharing. Certainly have captured a "mixed freight" in shot J3646. I didn't realise those type of grain wagons traversed the southern end of the ECML?. I'm going to have a stab at identifying the 47/4 in shot C1701 as  47457? as it that is how the numbers read to my eyes.It was also one of the few in the high 474xx number range to retain its boiler, as seen by the fact it still carries a steam heat bag.

 

Paul J.

 

 

They were very common in the yard at Sandy at that time, as were BR standard grain wagons (and sometimes late surviving ex LNER ones) - both types were later replaced by Polybulks.  In that area grain traffic was also handled at Royston, but not sure whether that was fed via Hitchin or via Cambridge.

[DaveF]

Along the coast between Arnside and the Solway Firth today.

 

 

Arnside Class 108 up June 76 J5279

 

 

Arnside Class 108 down June 76 J5284

 

 

Maryport Aug 77 J5764

 

 

Maryport M&CR docks branchAug 77 J5769

 

 

Bowness site of C R Solway viaduct Aug 77 J5772

The northern end of the viaduct can be seen on the north side of the Solway Firth to the far right of Mum.

 

 

David

Edited March 24, 2018 by DaveF

[eastwestdivide]

J5279 nicely timed with the masts!

[Market65]

Hi, Dave. That’s a lovely set of photos of the line between Arnside and the Solway Firth. The units in the first two at Arnside look so small when running over the viaduct.

 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[DaveF]

Some trams at Crich to look at while you drink your coffee this morning.

 

 

Crich Glasgow 812 Aug 74 J4016

 

 

Crich Glasgow 115 Aug 74 J4019

 

 

Crich Sheffield horse tram 15 Aug 74 J4022

 

 

Crich Glasgow tram April 79 C4450

 

 

Crich Sheffield 510 Aug 83 C6203

 

 

Crich Paisley 68 Aug 83 C6204

 

 

David

[Market65]

Hi, Dave. I like the Crich photos, with, as always, a great selection of trams to see. I particularly like the Sheffield horse drawn tram in J4022.

 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[Enterprisingwestern]

Never tire of seeing a Roberts car, I'm back at Page Hall in the late 50's.

 

Mike.

[lmsforever]

When you go to Crich now and then look at those photos you realise how it has grown into a real destination like the photos.

[The Johnster]

The only thing I know about Glasgow trams is that they carried postbags.

 

Trivia rules, but not seriously...

[DaveF]

Toton, Trent and Meadow Lane level crossing, all on the Midland this afternoon.

 

 

Toton Class 20 20172 Propelling towards down hump Oct 77 J5844

 

 

Trent Class 25 parcels to Nottingham from Derby Oct 75 C2503

 

 

Trent Class 114 Lincoln to Derby March 76 J5069

 

 

Meadow Lane LC Class 120 Derby to Nottingham Jan 79 C4258

 

 

Meadow Lane level crossing Class 47 eastbound oil April 79 C4463

 

 

David

[Market65]

Hi, Dave. I like the Toton, Trent and Meadow Lane level crossing, photo’s, which are all full of atmosphere. In particular, the one at Trent, of a class 25 on a parcels train to Nottingham from Derby, in October, 1975, in C2503. Then there is the class 120, at Meadow Lane level crossing, on a Derby to Nottingham train, in January, 1979, in C4258. So wintry in the snow and ice.

 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.

[davknigh]

Thanks for C4450 Dave. The destination blinds on that tram bring back fond memories.

 

Cheers,

 

David

[DaveF]

Back to Scotland today, around Prestonpans and Edinburgh.

 

Once again the colour in some slides survived better than others.

 

 

Cockenzie Power station 26002 coal 21st Aug 86 C7900

 

 

Prestonpans 43063 & 43044 York to Aberdeen 21st Aug 86 C7903

 

 

Prestonpans 26002 down empty coal 21st Aug 86 C7928

 

 

Edinburgh Waverley Class 26 Class 101 Class 08 Aug 73 J3258

 

 

Edinburgh Waverley 37259 and 37121 WBHS Newcastle to Fort William 11th May 85 C6839

 

 

David

Edited March 26, 2018 by DaveF

[Market65]

Hi, Dave. I like the Scottish photo's. They are full interest, and in the one at Edinburgh Waverley, with a class 26, and a  class 101 DMU, along with a class 08, in August, 1973,photo' J3258. The DMU in the immediate foreground looks most interesting. It certainly has a Cravens, class 105, DTCL leading, but then there is a bit of a mystery. The next car, of which the roof only can be seen, is quite enigmatic! It, on enlarging the photo', and referring to numerous books, and other photo's, does not have roof vents that match up with any class of first generation DMU. I can only suggest it might be a real lash up, with something like a Mk1 BG, but that then asks a question. What would be powering those two non powered vehicles? Whatever it was will remain forever unknown since it cannot be seen, being below the photographer, in the tunnel below him.

 

With warmest regards,

 

Rob.