br2975

Altho' I was a regular at the lineside by 1965, my parents would have something to say if there 9yr old was slipping out for 05:00am. . My notes and research start a bit later, and are at home - off the top of my head tho'.......................... . By 1971 there was a BCK on a Sundays only early morning Cardiff - Treherbert working that conveyed two GUVs off the 00:55 ex-Padd. This employed a Cl.37 outbased at Radyr. The BCK had worked up from Swansea earlier . By then Merthyr had a parcels/news working that didn't have passenger stock attached, . There was also an early Cardiff - Merthyr DMU that was only advertised to Ponty but conveyed mails to Merthyr. . In the mid-60s there had been a (Sunday ?) Cardiff - Rhymney DMU with a 'swinger' on the back (e.g. ex-LMS 50' BG), but by 1971/72 that too was a DMU that also carried 'mails etc' . In addition there were two loco hauled weekday Cardiff - Ponty parcels workings that could be a solitary GUV, and that was either a Cl.37 or Hymek, and later occasionally a Cl.25. . Brian R

Re:- D9502 passing Derby behind a Peak. . On 30/06/1969 D6607 left Canton hauling D9502, D9514, D9518 & D9527 to Gloucester. . The four 'nine fivers' were snapped on Horton Road depot by several enthusiasts (one shot http://www.rail-online.co.uk/p86759201/he93ba79#he93ba79. is dated 04/07/1969) . All four locos had been purchased by the NCB North East Region and were en-route to the Ashington complex. . Brian R

Considering how long the journey took from Salisbury - Newport, with a lengthy layover at Gloucester you could pick pick anyone from the following workings........ Saturday 6-1-68 34036 + 34052 + 73020 + 76069 all hauled Weymouth MPD to Newport Saturday 20-1-68 34093 + 34095 + 73092 all hauled Weymouth MPD to Newport (attached 76009 at Westbury) Saturday 9-3-68 73043 + 73118 + 34087 + 30071 all hauled Salisbury to Newport Saturday 16-3-68 34060 + 34024 + 34089 + 73085 all hauled Salisbury to Newport Saturday 30-3-68 34034 + 35023 + 34102 all hauled Salisbury MPD to Newport . Brian R

Another great batch Gareth, keep them coming. . D9509 & D9519 finally left Canton together on 08/12/1970 bound for George Cohen's Cransley, Kettering scrapyard where they were despatched in Feb. 1971. Their post withdrawal movements are both interesting and confusing. . Depending upon which reports you read, D9509, D9519, D9524, D9535 & D9540 were reinstated after withdrawal for use on track relaying trains between Hereford and Craven Arms in April, 1970. D9524 had been withdrawn 26/04/1969 or 03/05/1969 and was moved from Landore to Canton in Feb. 1970 and was sighted there on 08/03/1970, it was back at Canton by Aug. 1970 but had been sold the previous month to B.P. for use at their Grangemouth refinery. D9535 was reportedly in company with D9540 at Hereford on 16/05/1970 reinstated for P.W. work. As D9540 was transferred from Landore to Hull Daireycoates 07/1967 and withdrawn from there in 04/1968 and sold to the NCB North East (Lambton system) arriving there in 11/1968 its presence at Hereford seems highly unlikely. D9535 was back at Canton by 21/08/1970 when it was working as the shed pilot and was on display at the Canton Open day 07/11/1970 but had been sold that month to the NCB North East Area (Weetslade or Burradon Colliery). https://www.flickr.com/photos/37468455@N07/3741821193 shows two 'nine-fivers' at Hereford, apparently D9535 & D9524 dated 11/1969. But the loco numbers are illegible. . Sorry if this is boring, but no one seems to have kept tabs on the 'nine-fivers' during their short lives with BR. . If anyone can add to this info, please feel free. . Brian R

Continuing with Glyncorrwg and Paxman's, interesting shots showing (a) the recovery of runaway D9529, and (b) a failed D9544 being rescued by a 'six-eighter' can be found here:- . http://www.tymawrpublications.co.uk/Resources/Articles/10-16%20Brian%20Penney%20part1.pdf . Brian R

From my notes for D9555 New to Bristol Bath Road 82A - 22/10/65, Outstationed at Gloucester 08/1966 - working Forest of Dean. Transferred from Bristol Bath Rd. 82A to Canton 86A May, 1967. Then transferred to Landore, July, 1967. Sighted, working the Mond branch at Felin Fran 01/1969 Stored Landore Goods from 21/04/69 and reported as withdrawn variously 26/04/69 and/or 03/05/69; Moved to Canton for storage an still there 29/11/69 and in use there, as shed pilot 19/12/69. Sold to NCB Backworth, March 1970.

My scribbled notes, from several sources only say:- D9529 86A 26/01/65, 87E 5/65, Sighted:- Swansea East Dock S.P. Sun. 24/07/1966, Worcester (stored) xx/05/1967, 50B 6/67, Withdrawn 04/68 . Brian R

Methinks pronunciation would be more of a problem:- e.g. Maesteg = My-stegg Tondu = Tonndee Cymmer = cummer (methinks this may 'save' as something different....) Afan = Avvan Caerau = Kairuh Glyncorrwg = Glinncorooge English speakers note - this is local pronunciation, not necessarily the correct Welsh pronunciation. . Sitting on Cardiff General of a Saturday, we used to enjoy visiting spotters asking us how to get to certain sheds, yards,stabling points and especially collieries e.g. Radyr,Abercwmboi,Ynysybwl,Penrhiwceiber etc etc. Brian R

Try this one - not a hydraulic, but quite a find, and follows on from Gareth's pic of D9555; as by 1968 when the shot of D9555 was taken, it would have crossed this bridge to reach Glyncorrwg. . For the uninitiated, Cymmer Corrwg and the line to Glyncorrwg is to the right. . Cymmer Afan is out of shot left, the line to Duffryn Yard and Port Talbot went under the second arch to the left, and the loco is heading toward Cymmer Tunnel, then Caerau, Maesteg and eventually Tondu. . For more photos of diesels at Cymmer, try:- https://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?srch=Y-36-34A&img=Y-36-34A https://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?srch=Y-36-35A&img=Y-36-35A https://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?srch=Y-35-35A&img=Y-35-35A Brian R

Gareth. . First shot of D9502 is at Cinderford. . Third shot is at Ruspidge Halt. . Judging by the make up of the train ( i.e. the number of brake vans with an LMS design behind the loco) and comparing yours to other photos of D9502, I would argue the three shots of D9502 were taken on 30th. April, 1967. . D9555 at Glyncorrwg is probably the best yet. . The sighting of D9555 at Glyncorrwg on 27th. September, 1968 was reported in the Railway Observer shortly after. The R.O. also reported that on 14th Feb 1969 D9521 and D9538 were both at Margam. The same edition of the R.O. also summarised the remaining class 14 diagrams in South Wales and opined that the class was unlikely to survive after March. There was one duty listed from Margam :– the 03:40 Glyncorrwg. However the May RO records that the class 14 used on the 15:40 (sic.) Margam - Glyncorrwg had been replaced by a 350hp shunter (utilising a loco that had become spare when the Bridgend pilot duty was withdrawn in January), thus bringing to an end Margam-based class 14 workings. Thanks Gareth, keep it up mate. . Brian R

You'll need more than sweets to get me into your van mister !

My local station, but I still get flashbacks after operating the layout over two days at a Cardiff Show some years back ! . PS I've got the inspiration for your next layout, again modern and industrial. All you have to do is ask me nicely .........................

With a train of that length, it tends to make one think is D9502 awaiting a crew change,a fitter, or replacement off Bath Road ? . First class shots again Gareth. . Brian R

D1108 ? - copped it at Canton, not long after it was delivered - boy did I have one over on the others !! . Cleared my 47s (47521) years after giving up travelling across the country and taking numbers, sat in my car one day at St.Fagans Level Crossing, a mile from the house...................... . Brian R

Is that our mini-bus for the Scotland trip, on the left in the first pic Bro. ?

"I saw Ronnie Moore score !" a one time Cardiff City fanzine, and where he is still spoken of fondly.

Something like this ......... ? . Or even one in EWS livery ?

Look, there's a low relief Bilteezi factory behind the loco !!!! . Brian R

Cheers Gareth And, it was caught on film:- http://www.railpictorial.com/piwigo/picture.php?/7587/category/17 Something worth seeing . Keep up the good work . Brian R

Succinctly put by Mark . Some NCB systems employed very few IU wagons - others had vast fleets; all depended upon the work involved. e.g. Waterside (Ayr) employed mostly wooden bodied stock in the early 70s with IU wagons carrying coal from outlying pits to Dunaskin Washery, from where BR wagons took the washed/blended coal out.. . Graig Merthyr (West Wales) had few, if any IU wagons, most coal went direct from the pithead in BR wagons. N.B. the Pontardulais - Graig Merthyr system probably had as many vans as IU opens; for the miners paddy train - so, if you want to justify an ex-SR banana van or ex-LMS van there's your out ! . Mountain Ash (South Wales) had many wooden bodied examples, but was replacing them with purpose built tipplers using redundant tank wagon underframes - as this system employed a lot of internal movements between Penrhiwceiber, Deep Duffryn & Abercwmboi. . Cwm (Llantwit - South Wales) used a small fleet of wooden bodied IU wagons to move coal to the Landsale Yard, nut these were replaced by 16 tonners with steel bodies imported from other pits/systems (e.g. Mountain Ash) during the early 80s - other coal went out straight into BR wagons. Places like Cynheidre & Onllwyn had large fleets of ex-BR wagons (and ex-PO conversions) including former BR HEA wagons at the latter. . The world is your oyster, and you can always resort to the first rule of railway modelling !!!! It may be worth searching on Flickr as well. . Brian R.

I had read elsewhere (but can't recall where) of D9511 reaching Llandeilo Jct. very early on; but, like Brian, I've no knowledge of them subsequently working there on a regular basis. . Felin Fran (for Mond) seems to me, to be the farthest west they regularly worked. . Keep 'em coming Gareth....................... Brian R

Judging by (i) the banana vans, (ii) passing thro'Platform 7, I'd say it's bound for Barry. . Brian R

Some VTG decals might be an idea bro'.................

Something else the Welsh Assembly Government will no doubt take credit for !

The former Llantrisant station and lineside between Pontyclun Station and Llantrisant West (Tylagarw) L.C. Has also been cleared recently.