br2975

D9518 at Cardiff General was taken post 1966 when the GWR style signalling was replaced. . But you're correct, so much " steam age " paraphenalia, and a setting that has changed beyond recognition. . This, for me was where I spent every Saturday, the 'up' end of 3&4 in spring/summer, or the waiting room in winter. . It's hard to believe how busy the place was then, and the diversity of locos, rolling stock and traffic that passed us by, and now passed into oblivion. . Jonny777's predicament is a reversal of ours, we rarely travelled from cardiff to Bristol, except for Bath Road Open days, and in later years to bunk St.Phillips Marsh for the stored hydraulics and look out for the 'newly arrived' 25s, 31s and a bit later 50s. . By the time I snapped D1013 arriving on a Taunton/Bristol-Cardiff on 24th. April, 1973 the writing was on the wall. Brian R

D9518 at Cardiff General - I'd put money (but only a little) on it working from Newtown/Long Dyke to Llantrisant due to the (a) gunpowder vans, probably destined for the ICI stores at Brofiscin ( B) the hoppers returning from the 'Dowlais' aka East Moors for either Llanharry or Creigiau © and the tank wagon, possibly for by-products from either Cwm or Coed Ely coke ovens. . Very,very nice. Brian R

Forgot this article, by the late Monty Wells:- . http://www.modelrailwayjournal.com/issue.php?s=3 . Brian R

You may find this useful:- http://www.modelrailwayjournal.com/issue.php?s=87 Brian R

Re #579 above . The 1971 - 1972 WTT shows 1C96 as follows 13:45 SO Penzance - Cardiff Starts from Plymouth 16:15 until 25th September (and conveys G.U.V's Motor Cars 12t. June to 4th September) Also 'Conveys Mails' Also 'four whelled vehicles must not be conveyed onthis train' . I believe the return working (as shown above) was 5B96 20:55 SO Canton Sidings - Bristol. . Sadly, by 1971 the Saturday evening glint in my eye was not put there waiting for a Warship at Cardiff General (now I know - hindsight is a wonderful thing). . Brian R

Andy . In their last couple of years the Warships had only appear to have had one rostered passenger working into Cardiff - a Saturdays Only summer dated Paignton - Cardiff - Kingswear job that arrived about lunchtime and left again within about an hour. . I can get you full details, if you wish ? . Brian R

At the turn of the 70s Warships were regulars on the Barry Docks - Temple Mills, ( a favourite for banana vans when a Geest ship had docked at Barry ). https://www.flickr.com/photos/briantrailandmore/6722851559/in/set-72157635910263844 . They also appeared occasionally at Radyr on Avonmouth - Radyr coke trains and Filton / Wapping Wharf / West Depot - Radyr coal workings. . 8C06 13:50 S.T.J. - Margam, https://www.flickr.com/photos/briantrailandmore/6669168883/in/photostream/ Brian R

Early 1971 there was at least one working a day to Margam / Jersey Marine with a Warship - it passed through the former Ely (Main Line) station just about 1:00pm, as I ate my sandwiches in the lunch break........ . From my notes, some examples were:- 25/02/71 - 864, 865; 26/02/71 - 846; 27/02/71 - 846, 02/03/71 - 837, 03/03/71 - 808; 05/03/71 - 865 (44 years ago today !!); 06/03/71 - 809; 10/03/71 - 844; 11/03/71 - 807; 13/03/71 - 857; 15/03/71 - 857; 16/03/71 - 833; 23/03/71 - 859; 05/04/71 - 841 . Brian R

"Can we cab you mister ?"

Nope Gareth, not on the bridge in your pic of D9510 - and now the bridge has followed the 'nine-fivers' into oblivion. My notes for D9510 show it was allocated to Canton, from new on 18th. September, 1964, exactly one month before Gareth's photo. . By 24th. December, 1966 it was stored at Worcester - and from 20th May 1967 was transferred to Hull Daireycoates from where it was withdrawn the following April. . It was sold to BSC for use at Buckminster Quarries and delivered to High Dyke circa December, 1968. . Brian R

Gareths photos of 'nine-fivers' (Class 14 to the youngsters) has re-ignited the spark - despite their shortcomings, as an enthusiast I liked them; as they were a sort of 'half-way house' between a shunter and a real engine. . It's amazing how little has ever been written about them, as although they were here today and gone tomorrow - it was in the 1960s when there were still enthusiasts recording sightings, workings etc. . For years other enthusiasts were disbelieving when I said they worked on in the Cardiff area well after their official withdrawal dates. . I remember being on the footbridge at Canton, one freezing November night in 1969, warming myself over the exhaust from one officially withdrawn example as it ticked over at the entrance to Canton Mileage Siding(s). My notes show the following South Wales duties ( 24 ) for the class during the summer of 1967 . CANTON allocated locos (i) - Ebbw Jct trips to Uskmouth Branch (ii) - Ebbw Jct trips to Bedwas Colliery & Trehomas Coke Ovens (iii) - Pontypool Road trips to Abergavenny (iv) - Pontypool Road trips to Glascoed (v) - Aberbeeg trip pilot (vi) - Aberbeeg banker (vii) - Severn Tunnel Jct trips to Chepstow & Tintern Quarry. (viii) - Cardiff area - trips to Barry, Barry Docks & Radyr (ix) - Cardiff area - trips to Ely Paper Mill, Newtown Yard & Radyr (x) - Cardiff area - trips to Penarth Town & Penarth Cement Works (xi) - Radyr trips to Cathays, Gabalfa Coal Yard and Stanton & Staveley (Mynachdy Road) (xii) - Radyr trips to Aber Jct. (xiii) - Radyr trips to Treforest Estate, Treforest Coal Yard, Pontypridd & Maritime Colliery. (xiv) - Barry trips to Aberthaw (xv) - Abercynon trips to Lady Windsor Colliery Ynysybwl. (xvi) - Aberdare trips to Mountain Ash (xvii) - Aberdare trips to Abercwmboi (Phurnacite Plant) (xviii) - Treherbert - local trips Rhondda Valley LANDORE allocated locos (i) Landore trips to Landore steelworks, Margam & Neath (ii) Swansea Eastern Depot trips to Mond Nickel & Felin Fran (iii) - Swansea Eastern Depot 'control' (iv) - Margam trips to Glyncorrwg (v) - Margam trips to Cymmer Afan (vi) - Margam trips to Swansea Eastern Depot Brian R

No smells ? . Gareth, you're forgiven. . I still remember seeing one of these for the first time, undergoing attention at Canton - and being confused by the numbering. . Perhaps one day, someone like Bachmann will make the LMS verison (12033 etc) and I can renumber one, or two. . Thanks again - I'm sat staring at my screen, twiddling my thumbs, waiting to see what's next....... . Brian R

Gareth, . Only one criticism ...... your photos of Radyr shed have failed to capture only one important thing ............ "the smell" . Everything else is there, the lines of silent locos, virtually no one about, the atmosphere. . This was the reward for walking along the rat infested rubbish strewn lane beside the Taff, from Radyr Court Road. . I had given up ever seeing such photos. . Brian R. PS Have you by any chance got any with one of the 15101 series shunters at Radyr ?

Brilliant, absolutely priceless Gareth . Not just these two "nine-fivers" but your earlier post of the two alongside the coal stage at Radyr. . Just as I remember Radyr, when bunking around the place on Sunday mornings in the mid to late 60s. . Brian R

Re post #468 . I suspect the Cl.22 and three coaches are at Ashton Gate (Bristol). . Brian R

A few more shots - as requested. . Sorry about the quality . Brian R

That's why I adopted a purchasing strategy ............... having spent a small fortune over the years on models I liked the look of, but were wholly inapropriate for anything other than a display cabinet or the back of an already full drawer ................................ . Brian R

These locos were owned and operated by BR for 5 years at most, for the next 45 years (that's 9 times longer) they have been in private hands, be it industrial or preservation. Their 'history' didn't stop on 3rd. May 1969 when the last were withdrawn. . I may cringe at some of the liveries now carried, but then I don't own those locos, and the owners are free to paint them however they like. . If Heljan want to produce one in pink with lumious yellow spots, so be it - I won't buy it. Brian R

Re Post #2419 . I doubt very much that the loco in front is "5873" . As the highest numbered in the class was D5862. . Brian R

Quite possible . The following are some of the Hymeks allocated to Newton Abbott at various times from about 1963. . D7002/37/68-72/74/86/90/95-99, D7100 . Brian R

"Nobleman" waits at Platform 1, Cardiff Central with an up 'Padd' - circa July 1973. . Brian R

Cardiff Corporation Tramways had several depots over the years, but the two principal depots were at Roath (Newport Road) and Clare Road (at its junction with Pendyrus St.) Grangetown. . Roath was demolished many years ago, whereas Clare Road still stands after being used as a trolley bus depot, then the council vehicle workshops. . The depot is currently being converted into shops etc. . Brian R . PS One other Cardiff (horse) tram depot survives at the junctions of Clive St. / South Clive St. / Ferry Road & York Place, Grangetown - currently serving as a bed shop.

"Hussar" on a Padd - Swansea awaits the 'off' at Cardiff circa 1973. . Brian R

Seconded . Brian R

Unusually, despite searching my notes, I'm unable to provide any info on this one - other than it's Cardiff General, Platform 1, and an up Padd. . Brian R EDIT:- D1008 'Western Harrier' at Cardiff General 24th. April, 1973 (the station became Cardiff Central the following week)