Chris Turnbull Posted October 27, 2014 Author Share Posted October 27, 2014 I surveyed and photographed D8233 in detail about 20 years ago when it was at Mangapps Farm for a 7mm model that I made. They are colour photographs rather than colour slides but that doesn't matter. This is but one of about a dozen ideas I have for future subjects. Thurston is another with a link to YouTube and the Ely MRC, I thought. All I need is time and work does get in the way! Regards Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted October 27, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2014 Please keep it up. I lived in Cambridge from 1969 to 1976, commuting first to Stevenage and then to London, and remember the station and its signals well. In fact I used a photo of the north end one from Mill Road bridge as a puzzle photo in the HMRS Newsletter. No-one knew what it was, so obviously you aren't a member. So I used this one in the next issue of the south end signals. Black and white in the original I am afraid, but it does show a little more of the rear of the route indicators. I note that by this time a colour light signal had appeared. Jonathan David 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted October 27, 2014 Author Share Posted October 27, 2014 (edited) Moving on from Bury St Edmunds we resume our journey to Ipswich which we see on a very wet 22nd April 1968. This is a view of the southern end of the station with Brush type 4 D1778 just poking its nose out of Ipswich Tunnel on a Norwich service. Ipswich Station signalbox is to the right with a splendid array of semaphore signals controlled by the signalbox right in front of the camera. For those interested in such things (which includes me) the signalling diagram may be found here: http://www.lymmobservatory.net/railways/sbdiagrams/ipswich_station.jpg Here we have D1527 ready to depart in the very attractive two-tone green livery, far nicer I think that the all-over blue which they were in the process of receiving. Here we see a London-bound service in platform 2 with D1528 at the head. If I knew anything about coaches I'd tell you all about them but I don't so I won't. However, I'll bet someone does and will. Brush type 2 D5545 receives the right of way southwards Meanwhile sister locomotive D5580 lurks in the yard. BTH type 1 D8223 keeps her company. EE type 3 D6713 enters from the north. Note the array of semaphores behind the locomotive while the Down Main is signalled by colour lights Occupying the centre road with, presumably, empty stock (?) is D6962. And just to show how things have changed I offer this:- On 3rd September 2005 "one" liveried 170202 waits to depart with one of the short-lived Peterborough to Liverpool Street trains via Ely and Ipswich. I occasionally used these from Ely just for the ride as, being a through train, it offered a third route from Ely to London. For railway aficionados such as myself it was great but I couldn't see Joe Public finding it very useful. Some guards found it hard to believe that I wasn't a nutter. Once again, my thanks to Jonny777 Chris Turnbull Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 (edited) Moving on from Bury St Edmunds we resume our journey to Ipswich which we see on a very 22nd April 1968. 680422 Ipswich D1778.jpg Chris Turnbull Super pictures! of great interest are the disc signals... The rear one is standard height. The front one has been shortened. Another 'modelling' project for me. I have found another shortened disc formerly at Hertford East that i can have access to copy etc. (I recently 'modelled' an LNER double stack disc from Sandy.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/32297024@N08/sets/72157645132659727/ ) Edited October 27, 2014 by LNERGE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chris Turnbull Posted October 28, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 28, 2014 (edited) I think a trainspotting trip to Manchester is called for today. In April 1968 there was only a few months left before steam was due to end on BR so the choice was obvious – a day trip to Manchester on the Harwich boat train via the GN & GE Joint and Woodhead Tunnel. And here is the Harwich to Manchester boat train nearing Bury St Edmunds behind the usual English Electric type 3 from where it is due to depart at 8.48 a.m. I checked out the same view today on Google Earth and, much to my surprise, it hasn't changed a great deal. The only major change that I could see was that the embankment that carried the line to Long Melford and which you can just see climbing up to meet the main line at Bury St Edmunds Junction has gone. Woodhead Tunnel seemed to go on forever and our coach had a flat on one wheel which thump, thump, thumped all the way but we have eventually arrived at Manchester Piccadilly where we can marvel at the modern functionalist architecture that epitomised the “brave new world” of the 1960s. Somewhat dwarfed by the architecture is Class EM1 E26050 "Stentor". It occurs to me that the designer of Coldhams Lane diesel depot (see earlier post) could well have drawn inspiration from Manchester Piccadilly. On the other side of the station are Class AL6 E3104 and E3127 And here's another Class EM1, this time E26054 "Pluto". Now we'll head across Manchester on the... ...no.19 bus to Victoria to see what there is there. My thanks to Jonny777 again for his help Chris Turnbull Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve4rosegrove Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 And for the steam fans here's four shots taken at Rose Grove on 10th July 1968. Steam was in its dying days with but three weeks left of revenue-earning service and a month until the infamous "Fifteen Guinea Special" 680710 Rose Grove 48493.jpg 8F 48493 leaves Rose Grove yard in a cloud of steam with a class H freight. 680710 Rose Grove 44781.jpg Meanwhile "Black 5" 44781 runs in the opposite direction with another class H freight. Rose Grove MPD is in the background. 680710 Rose Grove 48400.jpg 8F 48400 enters the MPD. Note the Permanent Way gang - no hard hats, no high-vis or wet weather gear and no power tools! "That's 'ow it were in them days." 680710 Rose Grove 45156.jpg And on shed here's "Black 5" 45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry" sadly devoid of nameplates but at least she's had a rub down with an oily rag, if only on one side. Chris Turnbull Great shots, very useful, especially in colour. Thanks for posting. And for the steam fans here's four shots taken at Rose Grove on 10th July 1968. Steam was in its dying days with but three weeks left of revenue-earning service and a month until the infamous "Fifteen Guinea Special" 680710 Rose Grove 48493.jpg 8F 48493 leaves Rose Grove yard in a cloud of steam with a class H freight. 680710 Rose Grove 44781.jpg Meanwhile "Black 5" 44781 runs in the opposite direction with another class H freight. Rose Grove MPD is in the background. 680710 Rose Grove 48400.jpg 8F 48400 enters the MPD. Note the Permanent Way gang - no hard hats, no high-vis or wet weather gear and no power tools! "That's 'ow it were in them days." 680710 Rose Grove 45156.jpg And on shed here's "Black 5" 45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry" sadly devoid of nameplates but at least she's had a rub down with an oily rag, if only on one side. Chris Turnbull Great shots, very useful, especially in colour. Thanks for posting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vin Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Hi Chris, You've captured the feel of the moment in your photos and not just the 3/4 shot of locos that everybody else did at the time. You've encompassed the surroundings which dates the photos. By that I mean the trees and shrubbery isn't overgrown and the stations tired but not neglected (or over advertised). Regards Vin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Brilliant! Please keep them coming. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thank you all for your kind comments. They are much appreciated. I have tried to be selective in my choice of material for the sake of variety and, in some cases, to tell a story. Consequently I am only posting about 50 per cent of my collection at this time. I do have quite a lot of 3/4 views which might be somewhat boring if I just posted them one after the other but I will use them if a future topic demands it. In my defence I would point out that I was 16 in 1968 and still at school. My photographic skills were undeveloped and, of course, this was long before the age of the digital camera. You had to compose a shot but you didn't know if you had been successful until the film returned. Trying to compose a shot of a moving train wasn't easy! Chris Turnbull 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 96701 Posted October 29, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thank you all for your kind comments. They are much appreciated. I have tried to be selective in my choice of material for the sake of variety and, in some cases, to tell a story. Consequently I am only posting about 50 per cent of my collection at this time. I do have quite a lot of 3/4 views which might be somewhat boring if I just posted them one after the other but I will use them if a future topic demands it. In my defence I would point out that I was 16 in 1968 and still at school. My photographic skills were undeveloped and, of course, this was long before the age of the digital camera. You had to compose a shot but you didn't know if you had been successful until the film returned. Trying to compose a shot of a moving train wasn't easy! Chris Turnbull You certainly did better than me - please keep them coming. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 And me. I am only a year younger but had little knowledge of composing a photograph in those days. I just used to point my simple camera in the general direction of the subject, press the shutter and just hope. I also did not have the foresight to buy colour film. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chris Turnbull Posted October 29, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) Here we are at Manchester Victoria on 17th April 1968 where we have swapped the austere functional architecture of Piccadilly for the dilapidated, ramshackle and dingy appearance of Victoria. Brush type 4s D1741 and D1856 pass through on the Down Main. We are stood on the famous Down Through Platform – No. 11 – which connected Victoria and Exchange stations and which at 2,238 feet was the second-longest in the world in its day. Manchester Victoria West Junction signalbox can be seen in the background. Black 5 44949 drifts through on the Up Main with a class H freight. Note that the upper lamp bracket has been lowered from the top of the smokebox door to halfway up as a safety precaution when working under the wires. One minute you would have a steamer, the next a diesel such was the variety around then. Here's English Electric type 4 D312 again on the Up Main carrying a class A headcode - express passenger or newspaper train. Its certainly not a snow plough going to clear the line! British Railways type 2 D5155 passes in front of Manchester Victoria East Junction signalbox. This monstrosity was built in 1962 and is typical of the architecture of the Modernisation Plan era. There is an excellent article here which is well worth a read:- http://www.signalbox.org/branches/bw/manvic.htm Class 8F 48380 is brought to a stand on the Down Main with a heavy Class H freight. Whether this is due to traffic regulation or to allow the crew to have a blow-up before tackling Miles Platting bank is unclear but lack of steam doesn’t seem to be a problem. As can be seen I wasn’t the only photographer capturing the scene that day. Where are they now? 48380 now has a good head of steam and is given the “right away”. Whether the crew are “effing and blinding” at the delay we shall never know; they wouldn’t have been heard above the din especially as the locomotive passed under the road bridge. This is a sight you just don't see these days with preserved steam. 48380 has passed under the road bridge and sets off up Miles Platting bank followed, much to the surprise of your intrepid photographer and which rather caught me on the hop, by... ... Standard Class 5 73069 banking, surely one of the last, if not the last, example of steam banking in the UK. Perhaps this was why the train was brought to a halt at the signals, to allow the banker to come up to the rear? Its time to go back to East Anglia now. The return working of the boat train has long since departed so its back to Piccadilly, up to Euston and across on the underground to Liverpool Street hopefully in time to catch the mail train on which there was limited passenger accommodation, not forgetting to sit in the Peterborough portion and not the Norwich portion after it divided at Ipswich. Thanks to Jonny777 once again Chris Turnbull Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 27 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted October 29, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 29, 2014 I love that photo of the 8F restarting. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 29, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 29, 2014 The link about Victoria East Junction signalbox is a bit misleading. The 'box and panel were actually designed in the 1950s (so indeed were 'Modernisation Plan in terms of timescale I understand) and were reflective more of that era rather than the time in which the panel was actually commissioned. But work was delayed in order to concentrate resources on resignalling between Manchester & Crewe ready for electrification and I understand that the panel was held in store during that time. By 1962 NX panels were well established as the future on BR thus an OCS installation was already effectively outmoded in concept - but it still did the job of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) “Flying Scotsman” paid at least two visits to East Anglia that I am aware of and drew crowds wherever she went. This is one of them, the "Norfolk Enterprise" railtour at Cambridge on 12th May 1968. Here she is coming under Hills Road bridge on the outward leg bound for Norwich. Note the GE signals that appeared in an earlier post albeit in the background. Passing Cambridge South signalbox of which more anon Ready to depart; crowds of onlookers on this glorious Sunday morning Next time, 4472 at Bury St Edmunds. My thanks to Jonny777 as usual Chris Turnbull Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Super pictures. That disc signal on the colourlight still works rather nicely. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 And, double slips on what appear to be the main running lines. Presumably there would have been a severe speed restriction, but I can't see any signs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) Following the elimination of steam traction on BR in August 1968 a ban was imposed on the running of preserved steam locomotives on the network as they did not fit in with the impression that the BRB wanted to create of a modern, up-to-date railway. The only locomotive that was exempt was “Flying Scotsman” due to BR’s contractual obligations with Alan Pegler. Just over a year after she appeared at Cambridge she passed through Bury St Edmunds, Saturday 17th May 1969 to be precise, with the return leg of a trip from Kings Cross to Bressingham organised by Alan Bloom. That afternoon the clouds began to gather such that shortly before she was due to arrive there was a tremendous thunderstorm. Fortunately the rain eased just in time. This is her on the return leg coming through Bury St Edmunds under stormy skies from Stowmarket en route to Kings Cross. These are but a selection of the 28 shots I took of her as she passed through. Even in the rain people had made an effort to see her. My thanks to Jonny777 once again. Chris Turnbull Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNERGE Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) And, double slips on what appear to be the main running lines. Presumably there would have been a severe speed restriction, but I can't see any signs. Edit to add a link.. You stand a better chance of seeing detail here.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pwayowen/9860721566/in/photolist-cwXkFQ-g2mLYN-c9tmHo-bCqZwG-ciMT2j-nr2bPz-dm11K5-ejWAcR Edited October 31, 2014 by LNERGE 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) On Saturday 6th June 1981 the Cambridge Railway Circle organised a visit to the Cambridge signalboxes before they were demolished following commissioning of the new Cambridge power 'box. This is Platform 3 as seen from the 'box with 37041 waiting to depart At this time electrification had only got as far as Royston and a DMU connecting service was provided between Cambridge and Royston; this is a connecting DMU entering Cambridge. Note the new power box behind. This is the interior of the 'box with members of the CRC absorbing the atmosphere and generally getting in the way. There was no traditional lever frame in the South 'box, it had an electro-mechanical signalling mechanism Cambridge station looking north from the south 'box. Note the track remodelling which was to be remodelled again some 30 years later when the long-overdue island platform was built. Cambridge North signalbox now and the view looking south with the loco yard to the right. Somewhere down there is the yellow miniature semaphore shunting signal that I mentioned in an earlier post. Coldhams Lane signalbox looking north And finally, Coldhams Lane lever frame. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that someone now has this lever frame in their garage! Thanks once again to Jonny777 Chris Turnbull Edited May 22, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted November 1, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 1, 2014 Following the elimination of steam traction on BR in August 1968 a ban was imposed on the running of preserved steam locomotives on the network as they did not fit in with the impression that the BRB wanted to create of a modern, up-to-date railway. The only locomotive that was exempt was “Flying Scotsman” due to BR’s contractual obligations with Alan Pegler. Just over a year after she appeared at Cambridge she passed through Bury St Edmunds, Saturday 17th May 1969 to be precise, with the return leg of a trip from Kings Cross to Bressingham organised by Alan Bloom. That afternoon the clouds began to gather such that shortly before she was due to arrive there was a tremendous thunderstorm. Fortunately the rain eased just in time. This is her on the return leg coming through Bury St Edmunds under stormy skies from Stowmarket en route to Kings Cross. 690517 Bury St Edmunds 4472 (4).jpg 690517 Bury St Edmunds 4472 ( 8).jpg 690517 Bury St Edmunds 4472 (9).jpg 690517 Bury St Edmunds 4472 (10).jpg 690517 Bury St Edmunds 4472 (11).jpg 690517 Bury St Edmunds 4472 (12).jpg 690517 Bury St Edmunds 4472 (19).jpg These are but a selection of the 28 shots I took of her as she passed through. Even in the rain people had made an effort to see her. My thanks to Jonny777 once again. Chris Turnbull Hi Chris This thread is excellent. Thanks for sharing these photos with us. I can tell it was a young Mr Turnbull who took this set. An older version would have been busy photographing all those interesting wagons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 On Saturday 6th June 1981 the Cambridge Railway Circle organised a visit to the Cambridge signalboxes before they were demolished following commissioning of the new Cambridge power 'box. 810606 Cambridge South SB 37041.jpg This is Platform 3 as seen from the 'box with 37041 waiting to depart 810606 Cambridge South SB Royston DMU.jpg At this time electrification had only got as far as Royston and a DMU connecting service was provided between Cambridge and Royston; this is a connecting DMU entering Cambridge. Note the new power box behind. 810606 Cambridge South SB.jpg This is the interior of the 'box with members of the CRC absorbing the atmosphere and generally getting in the way. 810606 Cambridge South SB signalling mechanism.jpg There was no traditional lever frame in the South 'box, it had an electro-mechanical signalling mechanism 810606 Cambridge South SB View of station.jpg Cambridge station looking north from the south 'box. Note the track remodelling which was to be remodelled again some 30 years later when the long-overdue island platform was built. 810606 Cambridge North SB View looking south.jpg Cambridge North signalbox now and the view looking south with the loco yard to the right. Somewhere down there is the yellow miniature semaphore shunting signal that I mentioned in an earlier post. 810606 Coldhams Lane SB View looking north.jpg Coldhams Lane signalbox looking north 810606 Coldhams Lane SB Interior.jpg And finally, Coldhams Lane lever frame. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that someone has this lever frame in their garage! Thanks once again to Jonny777 Chris Turnbull Chris, I'm sure I was on that visit too! I seem to recal we split the party up, so the boxes weren't too crowded? Wonderful pics, I do recognise faces there, though names escape me. Stewart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) On 01/11/2014 at 11:04, Clive Mortimore said: Hi Chris This thread is excellent. Thanks for sharing these photos with us. I can tell it was a young Mr Turnbull who took this set. An older version would have been busy photographing all those interesting wagons. What, you mean like this? Shenfield 11th August 2007 Chris Turnbull Edited May 21, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 Chris, I'm sure I was on that visit too! I seem to recal we split the party up, so the boxes weren't too crowded? Wonderful pics, I do recognise faces there, though names escape me. Stewart I wondered if anyone following this thread might have also been on that visit. I can't remember the details but it would have made sense to split the group up. Chris Turnbull Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Turnbull Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) Some of you are obviously familiar with Cambridge but for those that aren't I thought a few shots of how it is today (actually 7th April 2012) might be in order This is taken from the footbridge that links the new island platform that can be seen on the right with the original. The train to the left is the Norwich service awaiting departure from Platform 5. This is also taken from the footbridge looking south with the new island platform - Platforms 7 and 8 - to the left. Cambridge South signalbox would have been in the distance in line with the end of the original platform. A shot from Platform 8 looking towards the site of the erstwhile GE goods shed. This is a shot that it has not been possible to take until now (at least, not without trespassing on the railway); the original station building. For those suffering 1960s withdrawal symptoms I apologise. We will be back listening to Radios Caroline, London, 390 (for classical fans) and so on before too long. Chris Turnbull Edited May 22, 2022 by Chris Turnbull 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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