br2975

Until recently they had a plant on Rover Way, Cardiff oposite the Tremorfa steel works. In the days of the BSC East Moors Works formerly the Guest Keen 'New' Dowlais Works the molten slag was taken by train to the foreshore near the site of the present heliport and tipped into the sea - solidfying as it hit the water, then exploding in a shower of sparks. . The locos that performed this task were 'registered' by the GWR - later BR (WR) and/or the BTC. In recent years, the slag from the Tremorfa works was taken by a tipper vehicle across the public road that is Rover Way to the Slag Reduction site - IIRC a driver was killed when the slag slopped over the cab ! Brian R

Barry & Penarth - end of this month ?

First 20mins - all Swansea, Michu fluffed a chance he'd normally slot - then he became a spectator until Wilfriend Bonie replaced him, and apart from his thighs, he had nothing to contribute. Singing and support ? - You were obviously at a different stadium ? - I quite liked the 'Ashley Williams, he's not even Welsh' song - but am bored to tears with your rendition of Hymns & Arias, and find the Cardiff version puerile to say the least. . As for the Malaysian flag, it's as common amongst Cardiff fans as a Swansea fan at a Welsh international match ! . At the end of the season, it's not the 'bragging rights' that keeps you in the Premiership, it's the three points. Next up - Villa away, then Man Utd and Arsenal at home (not much on offer there) ! . Brian R

I won't be joining any threads that refer to Swansea supporters their caravans,lucky heather and fear of electric lights. I didn't need to switch on my central heating last night - I just basked in the after-glow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . Brian R

Oh ! it'll be busy if I see you Sunday afternoon ....................... where will you all park your caravans ? . Brian R

Mike I've pondered long and hard, and think this is Aber Jct. and the lines curving away right are those to Beddau Loop Jct. and behind us the line would continue curving toard Penyrheol - which means Aber Jct 'box should be just out of shot to the left. . The line to Caerphilly would bear away left, the other side of the light coloured building which appears to look like a goods shed. . The Rhymney tank would be to the left of the box, and facing us, in this link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/auchlander/6784136101/ All conjectural, of course ! . Brian R

I used to walk the streets around there, Despenser St. / Plantagenet St. / Fitzhamon Embkt. / Clare Gardens etc .................. but we'll leave the subject at this point ! . Several years ago Victoria House was known amongst a certain type of local person as 'brown towers' - because of the colour of what you could buy there ! ............ again, I think we'll move on . Brian R

Correct Mike, the loco is facing in the up direction and the house backs are (rather were) in Tudor St. and Tudor Lane . The large building on the left hand edge still stands at the junction of Clare Road / Tudor St / Clare St. Brian R

Mike My knowledge of the depot isn't great, but I believe this is taken at the back end of Newport, Pill shed, with the back wall of the shed to the photographers left and the transporter bridge over his right shoulder. . Brian R PS Some nice shots of the depot on the site "Quiet Womans Row"

In the post above, the Rhymney 'R' Class loco is viewed from inside the shed at Rhymney, the chocolate and cream carriage being in one of the station platforms; and the BR 0-8-2T is at Barry. . Brian R

I suspect the Target may be " D7 " which in later years at least could legitimately put the loco at Aber Jct. As for "6669 and 4177 at Radyr (well I'm reasonably sure it's Radyr!)" - I would concur, having stood at the very spot on many occasions (it was the first shed I ever bunked) and 4177 was a Radyr stalwart.. Brian R

....nicer than a 'Pacer' I know ! Brian R

5648 & 3401 parked on the roads between Radyr shed and the Pre-Assembly Depot sidings. The bush behind the farthest 56xx is at the top of the bank leading down to the River Taff. . Brian R

If it helps, the Taff Vale 0-6-2T is at standing outside Abercynon shed. . Brian R .

And size isn't everything ! (The best things come in small packages) . Brian R

And I took an envelope along for you ! . Perhaps another time Wayne . Brian R

Returning to 'Roll' wagons - I have located a photograph of a loaded GWR 'Roll' wagon - 32211 - which appears in both Russell 1971 (A Pictorial Record of Great Western Wagons) and Atkins, Beard, Tourrett etc (Great Western Wagons). . The wagon is loaded with what appear to be two 'cogging' rolls, but I stand to be corrected. . The mill rolls are of a dull finish and are not sheeted, so may be life expired ? . Both tomes also contain photos of such creations as:- W21999 GWR Dia.B6 a former Rhymney Railway 6-wheeled Armour Plate wgon in BR livery and branded "Roll WG" . The BR 'Special Wagons' booklet of 1964 shows all ten of the BR Dia.450 12 tons "Roll WC" wagons still in service, together with 23 ex-GWR 12 ton wagons, and a further 6 ex-GWR 10 ton "Roll WB" wagons. . How many were actually " in use " in 1964 (as opposed to "in service") would be a moot point. . Brian R

Mike, Merv . I'll be there, either operating Ranelagh Bridge (which will be next to Minster) or on the door ....... . Either way, stop for a chat . Brian R

Same goes for me. . Brian R

The only photos I can recall of new rolls on wagons are those taken in and around Tennant's Foundry at Whifflet; and unfortunately all the rolls in the photos I have (e.g. Bylines) are loaded onto internal use wagons. . Brian R

Very informative Arthur. Probably one of the most uncommonly photographed steel related loads - I don't have one to hand. . I do have a GWR rule book which contains diagrams of the correct means of loading 'mill rolls' - but that's at home (where the scanner is u/s - and I'm in work !). . The GWR and subsequently BR built wagons specifically for this traffic. The GWR possessed a very ecclectic collection of wagons for the carriage of mill rolls, some being built on the underframes of tenders acquired from pre-grouping companies. . There was an excellent drawing by Mike Moreton Lloyd and photographs of a GWR 'Roll Wagon' in an old MRC circa 1964. . Over the years many authors, and enthusiasts have (wrongly) thought that the wagons were for carrying (rolls of) steel coils not the actual mill rolls. . Brian R

Adam, 200 fitted mineral wagons (Dia.1/108 and Dia. 1/117 ?) were converted in 1962 (Dia. 1/409 refers). . They were back in mineral traffic by the late 1960s and it is quite likely the recovered baulks were re-used in other 4 wheeled coil conversions , possibly Coil C, J and P ? . Brian R

I doubt it, as the coil conversions of tipplers had their sides cut down and were fitted internally with timber baulks - but there again, there's "a prototype for everything". However, during the mid-60s BR converted a number of vacuum fitted sixteen tonners for coil use in South Wales by (apparently) welding up the doors and fitting coil cradles. These eventually returned to mineral traffic - possibly when tipplers and pig iron wagons began to be converted to coil use. These were branded "For pickle coil traffic, return to Abbey Works, Port Talbot" or similar. . In addition "RTB" (Richard Thomas & Baldwins) operated a large number of unfitted sixteen tonners (obtained from BR) which were also fitted with coil cradles; most went in the early 1970s- photos of which appear on Paul Bartlett's site. . Brian R

Well there's a mystery solved because the works plate definitely came from D6122 whilst it was at Woodham Bros. West Pond site in Barry Docks. . I kicked a piece of alloy, bent down to see what it was and was amazed to find it was most of the NBL diamond builders plate - so I wandered over to the locos, found D6122 and there was the smaller section of the plate still affixed to the cab side. . Having levered off the smaller piece, it can be seen from the photo they fitted together perfectly. . So, to summarise, D6122 must have received a cab from D6121. . Brian R

You want guns senor ? . One of my regular haunts when I retreat to Spain is Cabo Tinoso located on the coast between Puerto de Mazarron and Cartagen. One of a pair of batteries built between the wars to defend the Spanish naval base at Cartagena and still containing a pair of 15" Vickers weapons, and several smaller 6" guns. . It's a hair raising 5 mile drive along a single track road with hairpin bends and sheer drops - but it's well worth it if you're in the area. . Brian R