br2975

In 1967 I was wandering around Buttigiegs scrapyard in Newport Docks when I came across the only (rebuilt) Crosti boilered 9F (or should it be 8F ?) I ever saw, 92027. . Incongruously parked in front of the 'Crosti' was one of the BR built 'Pontnewynydd' brake vans or, as they were commonly known a 'Noah's Ark'. . I clambered all over the brake van, and nearly decapitated myself due to the low door, but never recorded the number. . Over the years I thought I may have imagined the episode, that is until I saw this ..... . http://www.flickr.com/photos/curly42/6628234531/in/photostream/ . So, after all these years, does anyone know which van it was ? (I believe BR only built two, as replacements for the GWR versions). . Answers on a postcard please addressed to 'an old codger' ! . Brian R

Here are some sightings from 1979 - all at Cardiff. Weds. 02/05/1979 47152+M31262M+80675+85503+85521+85512 added at Cardiff were:- 85514+85528+85517. Carmarthen / Swansea - Old Oak Common empty vans ? . Mon.14/05/1979 W2942+94445+S4289+81184+94190+94541+86227+S1855+M31252+81328+S1633 rake stabled. rare sighting of a Siphon'G' still in revenue service. . Tues. 15/05/1979 31286+94443+S1795+S1816+94765+M31004+94793+81070+94144+S1758+S1578+S1415+S1887+S1493+S1354 Swindon - Cardiff parcels. . Weds. 16/05/1979 37289+94899+87897+94522+94232+80616+86580+S1865+94221+86359+94503+S1333+94882+35134+94633+S1411 Swindon - Cardiff parcels. . Sat. 19/05/1979 81032+80868+86383+86198+86951+86439+86566+M31422+86413+86342+81277+86856+86180+80901 rake stabled . Tues 28/08/1979 47551+80545+S1836+S1778+81429+85528+85518+85503 Carmarthen / Swansea - Old Oak Common empty vans ? . Tues. 11/09/1979 94374+94919+80683+86825+ADB975788 (Siphon G)+86760+80959+94881+86532+S253+Sxxx+86543+81515 rake stabled. 80853+S268+94689+94558, S1277+94888 stabled . Tues. 25/09/179 35400+S2142+M31932+94407+94679+94229+S1450+M31422+94236+80532+94359+94830+S2534+S2530 rake stabled. . Brian R

I think it may be in the list, under MW 18" 0-6-0ST I recall it being featured in the RM during the early 1970s, and believe the drawing was by Don Townsley. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/33695-industrial-loco-drawings/ . I thing the article was called "Manning Wardle's magnum opus' or similar. . This article may help if the above info is duff:- . RM Sep. 1972 p287 HE 16" 0-6-0ST and Littleton Colly article . Brian R

Again, during 1987 I would try to get a glimpse of the return empty 'Old Oak vans' which would arrive Cardiff late morning (I believe originating at Carmarthen ?) and collect vans dropped off on the 'down' journey earlier that morning. . Since time immorial newspaper vans had been detached off a down Padd at Cardiff, and shunted over to either 8/9 or even the Fish Jetty (what is now Platform 0). . However, in the mid 1980s someone had a brainwave, and that for operational expedience the news vans would henceforth be shunted down to the Brickyard Siding opposite Cardiff Canton where they could be unloaded directly into delivery vans, under a brand new canopy. . Unfortunately, the local scroats wouldn't play ball, and one morning a rake of GUVs went up in flames - much to the annoynace of the local second hand car dealer whose premises were right next to the unloading canopy ! . Some of the rakes I noted that year, calling at Cardiff included:- . 11/04/87 Saturday 47473+94001+94003+84288+80202+94014+84160+92010+ (93315+17022+80586, added at Cardiff) 31/07/87 Friday 37278+50034(DIT)+94029+94011+84109+84287+80200+94005+84269+80671 But the highlight that day (in fact most of that week) was:- 40122+5350+W5251IC+5476+17165+6528+5253+5851 (1V05 0714 Holyhead-Cardiff/1M86 1300hrs. return) . Brian R

Correct Brian W . Original or pre-TOPS codes being:- POS - Post Office Sorting (van) POT - Post Office Stowage (van) . Brian R

Following on ...... . My brother and I spent the night of Wednesday 19th. August into Thursday 20th. August 1987 on Crewe recording the various day, sleeper, postal and parcels rakes. . These are an extract from my notes. . 47586+18705+21243+80355+80409+84242 (2002hrs ex Cardiff, into Plt.8) Returned as 47586+80409+80355+21243+18705+92317+93584+93185+93538+93766 (0204hrs. to Cardiff) 47599+18988+84024+80307+80311+84185 (1E24 arr Plat.7 2225hrs ?) 08739+92014, onto rear of 1E24 Shrewsury-York TPO) arr Crewe 23/08/87 86426+92207+80425+80356+80366+80416+80369+80342+80354+80401+80457+92015+92228+ 92225 (1S09 dn West Coast Postal arrived Plat.6 0003hrs.) 86249+92344+80438+80372+80382+80402+80344+80431+80395+80348+80321+80353+80425+ 80458+92371 (1M44 up West Coast Postal arrived Plat.5 0015hrs. dep. 0040hrs.) 47463+84281+80314+80310+80515+4873 (York – Shrewsbury TPO, thro’ Plat.5 86226+92237+84044+93126+92224+80204+92233+80981+92245+92320 add Crewe 93226+93624 (1H01 arrive Plat.5 0221hrs.) 47647+80663+18741+94065+94067+80507+84135 (1K83 Manchester newspapers, arrived Plat.5 0350hrs.) I hoped those notes may come in handy one day Brian R

My notes also show this list of late 1980’s early 1990’s TPO Workings. After some twenty years I cannot recall the source. Brian R Lines in FULL CAPITALS are the correct GPO titles for the trains. SOUTH WESTERN TPO DOWN Waterloo 22.52 - Southampton - Weymouth 03.32 SOUTH WESTERN TPO UP Weymouth 22.38 - Southampton - Waterloo 03.36 Stock sets work up and down on alternate nights. GREAT WESTERN TPO DOWN Padd 22.25 - BTM 00.35/00.58 - Plymouth - Penzance 06.25 GREAT WESTERN TPO UP Penzance 19.27 - Plymouth - Bristol 00.32/01.00 - Padd 03.50. Sets work up/down alternate nights. BRISTOL - DERBY TPO BTM 01.10 - Gloucester - BH New St 03.45/04.12 - Derby 05.13 DERBY - BRISTOL TPO Derby 20.10 - BNS 21.07/21.37 - Gloucester - BTM 23.53. Stock works out and back from Derby each night. MIDLAND TPO GOING NORTH BTM 19.35 - Gloucester - BNST 21.49/22.40 - Derby 23.27/00.19 - Sheffield - Doncaster - York 02.17/02/30 - Newcastle 04.06. MIDLAND TPO GOING SOUTH Newcastle 20.00 - York 21.26/21.49 - Sheffield - Derby 00.12/00.29 - B.N.ST 01.27/02.02 - Gloucester - BTM 04.28 Sets work north and south, alternate nights. SOUTH WALES TPO UP Carmarthen 20.44 - Swansea 21.28/21.46 - Cardiff 22.49/23.03 - Newport 23.19/23.28 - BTM 00.10 SOUTH WALES TPO DOWN BTM 01.24 - Newport 01.53/02.05 - Cardiff 02.26/02.48 - Swansea 03.58/04.15? - Carmarthen 05.06. Passenger train throughout. Stock works out and back each night and returns to Swansea for servicing. CARDIFF - CREWE TPO Cardiff 20.00 - Newport 20.13/20.21 - Hereford - Shrewsbury 22.17/22.25 - Crewe 23.07. CREWE - CARDIFF TPO Crewe 02.04 - Shrewsbury 02.38/02.48 - Hereford - Newport 04.46/04.56 - Cardiff 05.14 Stock works out and back each night. Passenger train northbound. Stables CF. WHITEHAVEN - HUDDERSFIELD TPO Whitehaven 18.50 - Barrow - Preston 22.01/23.09 - MCR Vic - Hudd'field 00.34 HUDDERSFIELD - WHITEHAVEN TPO Huddsfield 01.06 - Preston 02.20/04.00 - Carnforth - Barrow - Wh'haven 07.09 Stock works out and back each night and stables at Workington. Southbound working includes Stowage Vans en route Workington to Preston for attaching to the PRESTON - LONDON BAG TENDER. SHREWSBURY - YORK TPO Shrewsbury 22.50 - Crewe 23.26/00.11 - Stockport - Huddersfield - Leeds - York 02.50 YORK - SHREWSBURY TPO York 22.34 - Leeds - Huddersfield - Stockport - Crewe 00.11/02.25 - Shrewsbury 03.02. Passenger trains throughout. Sets work east and west on alternate nights. PETERBOROUGH - CREWE TPO Peterborough 20.25 - Leicester - Derby 21.51/22.03 - Stoke - Crewe 23.16 PETERBOROUGH - CREWE TPO LINCOLN SECTION Lincoln 20.03 - Newark - Nottingham - Derby 21.30 CREWE - PETERBOROUGH TPO Crewe 00.44 - Stoke - Derby 01.55/02.10 - Leicester - Peterborough 04.02 CREWE - PETERBOROUGH TPO LINCOLN SECTION Derby 02.16 - Nottingham - Newark - Lincoln 04.04 Lincoln section adds/detaches at Derby. Both trains are out and back each night. EAST ANGLIAN TPO DOWN Liverpool St 23.00 - Ipswich 00.40/01.50 - Norwich 02.49 EAST ANGLIAN TPO DOWN PETERBOROUGH SECTION Ipswich 01.01 - Ely - Peterborough 03.09 EAST ANGLIAN TPO UP Norwich 23.45 - Ipswich 00.55/02.05 - London 03.55 EAST ANGLIAN TPO UP PETERBOROUGH SECTION Peterborough 23.20 - Ely - Ipswich 01.38 East Anglian Down is passenger train to Ipswich. Peterborough sections detach and add at Ipswich. Sets work up and down on alternate nights. NORWICH - LONDON TPO Norwich 18.45 - Ipswich - Liverpool St 21.04 Passenger train throughout. Stock returns as LONDON - NORWICH BAG TENDER. DOWN SPECIAL TPO Euston 20.35 - B'ham 22.18/22.37 - Crewe 23.38/00.01 - Preston 00.49/00.58 - Carlisle 02.09/02.20 - Cartairs - Perth 05.15/05.25 - Aberdeen 07.20. CREWE - GLASGOW SORTING CARRIAGE part of DS TPO from Euston, function changing at Crewe. Splits from main train at Carstairs and runs to Glasgow 04.00. UP SPECIAL TPO Aberdeen 15.47 - Dundee - Perth 17.40/17.48 - Motherwell - Carstairs -Carlisle 21.13/21.23 - Preston 22.37/22.56 - Crewe 23.50/00.22 - B'ham 01.25/01.52 - Euston 03.58. UP SPECIAL TPO GLASGOW SECTION Glasgow dep 19.30, attaches to US TPO at Carstairs. UP SPECIAL TPO EDINBURGH SECTION Edinburgh to Carstairs Bag Tender Duty. Formed of one BG + P.O. Staff. NORTH WESTERN TPO NIGHT DOWN Euston 22.50 - B'ham 00.29/00.47 - Crewe 01.45/02.11 - Preston 03.13/03.30 -Carlisle 04.45. One sorting carriage removed at Crewe, returns ECS to London to be part ofnext nights NW TPO. One stowage tender removed at Preston and sent ECS to Workington for servicing. One sorting carriage returns ECS Carlisle - Preston to be part of next nights PRESTON - LONDON BAG TENDER. Remaining stock continues ECS to Glasgow and forms part of next nights US TPO - Glasgow section. CALEDONIAN TPO DAY DOWN Carlisle 20.50 - Carstairs - Motherwell - Perth 00.01. Passenger train throughout. CALEDONIAN TPO DAY UP Perth 21.11 - Coatbridge - Carstairs - Carlisle 00.37. Sets work up and down trains on alternate nights. CALEDONIAN TPO DAY UP EDINBURGH SECTION Edinburgh 21.45. Added to Caledonian TPO UP at Carstairs. Stock returns with Glasgow Section Coach to Edinburgh as Carlisle - Edinburgh sorting carriage. CALEDONIAN TPO DAY UP GLASGOW SECTION Glasgow 21.40 to Carstairs. Other details as Edinburgh Section. CARLISLE - EDINBURGH SORTING CARRIAGE Carlisle 02.20 - Carstairs - Edinburgh 04.20. Added to DS TPO at Carlisle and detached at Carstairs. One remains at Edinburgh and the other travels to Glasgow ECS, both to form next nights workings of Caledonian Edinburgh and Glasgow sections. LONDON - YORK - EDINBURGH TPO Kings Cross 20.20 - Peterborough 21.29/21.46 - York 00.01/00.17 – Newcastle 01.36/01.52 - Edinburgh 04.13. Stowage Tended detached Newcastle - forms part of next nights UP NE TPO. Sorting Cariage continues to Edinburgh - eturns ECS to Newcastle and is also added to next nights NE UP TPO. NORTH EASTERN TPO NIGHT DOWN Kings Cross 22.30 - Peterborough 23.32/23/48 - York 01.41/01.53 – Newcastle 02.28/03.30 - Edinburgh 05.45. Except for one Sorting Carriage, train terminates at Newcastle and forms part of next nights UP NE TPO. The one Sorting Carriage continues to Edinburgh and forms next nights Edinburgh - York TPO. NORTH EASTERN TPO NIGHT UP Newcastle 20.54 - York 22.24/22.34 - Newark 23.16/23.31 – Peterborough 01.07/01.19 - Kings Cross 02.47. Passenger train throughout. Stock forms next nights 2 down workings. EDINBURGH - YORK TPO Edinburgh 20.30 - Newcastle 22.44/23.16 - York 00.37. Stock conveyed to Newcastle on the DOWN NE TPO for adding to next nights UP NE TPO.

This is the book to get:- . "Coaching Stock of British Railways - 1978" P.Mallaband & L.J.Bowles pub. RCTS No ISBN. . It lists 116 'Siphon G' vans (TOPS NMV) of which 33 are recorded as being TOPS coded NNV newspaper vans. Two of the NNV variant are actually prefixed S i.e S1007 and S1011. . Brian R

From May 1987 most of the SR loco hauled air brake fleet was disbanded, leaving only the Southampton Boat Train set, the workings below were the remaining ‘booked’ loco hauled services. BR (SR) Newspaper services . South Eastern Section (3 workings) 0245hrs. London Bridge – Deal one Class 73 + BSK (AB2) plus vans. Returns as:- 1915hrs Margate – London Bridge parcels . 0310hrs. London Bridge – Sittingbourne one BSK (AB2) plus vans Returns as:- 1718hrs. Gillingham – London Bridge parcels . 0330hrs. London Bridge – Dover, Western Docks one BSK (AB2) plus vans. Returns as:- 2000hrs. Dover – London Bridge parcels . All stock is maintained at Ramsgate . Central Section (No booked workings) . Western Section 2252hrs. Waterloo – Weymouth BSK/TSO/BSK plus vans 2238hrs. Weymouth – Waterloo, then to Eastleigh (for maintenance), via Southampton, returning via Portsmouth on ordinary parcels working(s). 0140hrs. Waterloo – Yeovil Jct. BSK/TSO return as:- 0515hrs. Yeovil Jct. – Salisbury 0702hrs. Salisbury – Southampton – Eastleigh 2122hrs. Southampton – Waterloo parcels 0230hrs. Waterloo – Portsmouth via Havant BSK (unadvertised, seating reserved for newspaper packers) Returns via Eastleigh, then by means of 2200hrs. Southampton – Waterloo parcels. 0245hrs. Waterloo – Bournemouth BSK & Portsmouth BSK(plus TSO MO), via Eastleigh. Train divided at Eastleigh, with the Bournemouth portion strengthened by a BSK & TSO. returns as: 0624hrs. Fareham – Eastleigh (Portsmouth portion) and 0725hrs. Bournemouth – Eastleigh . All returns to London as:- 2141hrs. Eastleigh -Portsmouth – Waterloo parcels NOTES 1555hrs. Eastleigh – Fratton ECS booked to convey the stock for; 2252hrs.(3 vehicles plus vans), and 0245hrs. (2 vehicles plus vans) . Brian R

Well, to get started, here are some observations I made on Saturday, 14th. February 1987 - in connection with the following days Sunday papers. . The destinations were taken from what had been written or stuck on the side of each van. . PADDINGTON 2035hrs Platform 10 93362(Westbury)+93411(Taunton)+93952(Taunton)+93725(Gloucester)+93948(Stroud)+93878(Stroud,)Gloucester) Platform 9 93383(Chippenham)+93623(Swindon)+93644(Bristol)+93384(Bristol)+93834(Bristol)+94021(Bath)+95205(Bath)+84318 (?)+47534 Platform ? 80670(Transfers Milford)+84558(Haverfordwest+Whitland)+84125(Swansea)+93652(Swansea)+ 93938(Llanelli)+93367(Bridgend)+93506(Cardiff)+93694(Newport)+84416(Newport). . ST. PANCRAS 2115hrs 45062+93628(?)+93887(?)+93110(?)+93105(Bradford & Leeds) 45142+93149(Sheffield,Mexboro,Barnsley)+93766(?)+93593(?)+93916(Hull,Selby,Leeds overflow) . KING’S CROSS 2125hrs, 47640+93680(Grantham)+93825(Grantham)+93642(Newark)+93138(Lincoln)+93180(Doncaster, Retford,Worksop,Gainsbro’)+84094(Grimsby,Cleethropes)+93824(?)+84185(?)+80699(?) . EUSTON 2210hrs 81019+93451+93312+93910+93982(Liverpool,Crewe)+80678+93319+93241(Empty)+93157(M/C)+ 93117(M/C)+86241 . PADDINGTON 2250hrs. 47194+93293(Bridgend)+93711(Cardiff)+93192(Cardiff)+93914(Cardiff)+93852(Newport)+ 93265(Lydney,Chepstow)+93962+84332+94030 . Hope this helps . Brian R

Shocking - I can upgrade my grandsons ticket and watch a winning team for £17 (albeit, top of the Championship).. . Brian R

Brilliant Al.

Barry Open Day . Sunday, 19th. August 1990. . "Barry don't do Open Days, but when they did, it was probably the best Open Day ......" . Brian R

Tuesday, 4th. January, 1972 . 86B Newport, Ebbw Jct. Cl.08:- 4014 Cl.25:- 5209, 5227, 7512, Cl.37:- 6908, 6927, 6941, 6943, Cl.45:- 77, Cl.47:- 1605, 1833 . Severn Tunnel Jct. Cl.08:- 3189, 4175, Cl.25:- 5234, 7511, 7514, Cl.31:- 5655, 5824, Cl.35:- 7045, 7050, Cl.47:- 1600, 1701, 1852, 1903, 1922, . Brian R

02/01/1971 Cardiff to Toton / Tinsley Cardiff Canton 86A 1070, 1597, 1603, 1662, 1912, 1922 6608, 7046, 7053, 7084 Cardiff General 1044, 1064, 1715, 1924, 1936, 7090 (55022) Newport, Ebbw Jct. 86B 5181+5182, 7624+7625 6982 Severn Tunnel Jct. 3189, 4162, 4170, 7043, Lydney 1738 Gloucester 23, 60, 136, 157, 180, 3994, 6327, Bromsgrove 1796, 7027 Birmingham New St. 3955, E3035, E3085, E3130, E3133, E3155, E3163, E3164, (50312+59123+50335, (50677+59300+50730), 006, 053, Saltley 2E 1713, 1967, 3167, 7515, 7525, 7607, 7644, Washwood Heath 1822, 8040+8047 Burton 16F 17, 3050, 3059, 3180, 3400, 3790, 5244, 7508 8043, 8045, 8178, 8162, 8191, Derby 42, 2130, 3246, 3351, 7649, (50451+59153+50501), Toton 16A 1, 2,3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 29, 42, 43, 46, 48, 55, 56, 62, 65, 67, 72, 76, 77, 82, 103, 116, 127, 128, 145, 163, 1623, 1716, 1802, 1805, 1816, 1823, 1825, 1829, 1941, 3036, 3044, 3090, 3340, 3514, 3996, 3997, 5251, 5270, 7502, 7507, 7510, 7513, 7514, 7520, 7530, 5807+5829 6821+6829, 8003, 8015, 8037, 8038, 8042, 8057, 8066, 8067, 8072, 8115, 8121, 8133, 8139, 8140+8195, 8141, 8144, 8153+8165, 8157, 8158, 8159, 8160, 8169, 8175, 8176,8179, 8181, 8182, 8183, 8192, 8198, 8199, Derby Works E3033, E3038 Derby 20, 40, 44, 191, 1632, 1786, 5227, 5834+5854, (50652+59281+50709), (50670+59287+50744), (50777+50810), Derby – Chesterfield 7657, Chesterfield 5684+5802, 5803 Sheffield Midland 61, 187 (50033+56033), 50372, 51835, 56126, 59092, 59693, Tinsley 41A 47, 281, 1512, 1568, 1731, 1793, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 3289, 3336, 3580, 3702, 3707, 4501, 4502, 5229, 5295+7526, 5534, 5538, 5551, 5556, 5567, 5586, 5685, 5822, 5830, 5858, 6782, 6784, 6788, 6789, 6790, 6802, 6803, 6805, 6806, 6812, 6815, 6824, 6827, 6828, 6860, 6861, 6863, 6959, 8007+8057, 8020+ 8025, 8059, E26018 DB975018+DB975019 Sheffield Midland 21, 33, 69, 158, (50008+56019), (50011+56026), (50016+56038), (50022+56036), (50029+56029), (50048+56048), (51246+56129), (51427+51497), (51444+56141), (51818+59700+51839), (5xxxx+59704+51841), (52071+59810+52081), Sheffield – Burton 1521, 1862, 3571, Burton 16F 3059, 3180, 3789, 8009+8045, 8043+8162, Birmingham New St. 11, 29, 1024, 1643, 1748, 3774, 7517, 7607 E3122 (50074+59016+50110), (50446+59157+50499), (50684+59272+50736), (51354+59506+51396), (55009) 005, 006, 055, 056, Bromsgrove 7026, 7027, 7028 Looking back at these notes makes me think ..... I undertook this trip the day after my fifteenth birthday, who would allow their fifteen year old son to travel half way across Britain on trains, busses and shank's pony these days ? An even sadder note, was that whilst I was indulging one of my two favourite pursuits ( football being the other), 66 football fans were dying on stairway 13 at Ibrox Park. I have no doubt they will be remembered at the Annan Athletic v Rangers match this week. Brian R

Sat. 01/01/1972 CARDIFF GENERAL - BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS Cardiff 137/49/53, 1544, 1659, 1720, 6886,6971, 7070/76/93/94 86B Ebbw Jct. 1752, 5179, 5209/13, 7514/15/16 7007, Newport 1606, 6958, 7092 86E Severn Tunnel jct. 1600/44, 1720/66, 3594, 4001/170/182, 6803, 6989, 7023/76, 7511 nr. Stapleton Rd. 2123 Lawrence Hill 2136 Bristol Temple Meads 44, 4123 82A Bristol Bath Road 27, 57, 86, 116/42/57, 1523/41/71, 1626/30, 1706/17, 1929/31/36, 2121, 3002/03, 4122/25 5202, 7569/88, 7625 5692, 5812, 7024/25/37/57, Brian R

08589 'in the dirt' whilst working from the Cardiff Rod Mill to Roath Dock during the mid-70s. . Cardiff East Dock shed was formerly to the right background. . Brian R

08894 & 08499 stand in Brickyard Siding across the South Wales main line from Canton TMD 14/07/2004 after being delivered by road - 08994 at least arriving from a stint at Swindon, Cocklebury. . Brian R

My 'spotting notes' contain the following entry Tues. 12/12/1972 Waterhall Jct. (actually from my classroom window !). 6979+12061+12063+12071 Note(s) The three Cl.11 shunters had been purchased from 8F Springs Branch (Wigan) by the National Coal Board and were en-route to Nantgarw Colliery & Coke Ovens where they would replace the three Hunslet 18” 0-6-0ST locos. Ten days later, Friday 22nd December 1972, a few friends and I caught the train to Taffs Well and then walked to Nantgarw Colliery ( quite a hike) to catch the two working Hunslet 18" tanks, the third was laid up and the three Cl.11 shunters were inside the shed. Thanks to whoever started this thread for reminding me I'm now forty years older ! Brian R

Chard, . Yes, that was a stray Magpie at Severn Tunnel Jct. there was invariably one, maybe two there almost to the end. . Generally they would work to/from Acton or the Bristol area, and occasionally across Sarf Larndun to the Southern. . They would also work freights further into South Wales from STJ, including East Usk (Newport), Radyr, Barry Docks (bananas for Temple Mills)and Margam; the most unusual I recall was from STJ to Ebbw Vale. In 71 I used to nip out of school at lunchtime to catch one on a Margam bound freight. It was sad to see the hydraulics in decline at this time.. We knew the writing was well and truly on the wall after the 'October cull of 1971' for by 23rd October 1971 we found the following withdrawn and stored at St. Phillips Marsh, Bristol:- 808, 815, 819, 822, 831, 833, 843, 844, 845, 854, 855, 857, 858, 865, 868, 869 together with 6310, 6315, 6319, 6320, 6322, 6323, 6327, 6328, 6330, 6331, 6334, 6337, 6339, 6340, 6348, 6354. A few weeks into the New Year (1972) and we wound find Hymeks standing withdrawn at Canton, and 'six-eighters' stored due to the 1972 Miner's Strike. And there would be further trips to St. Phillips Marsh to catch the last of the hydraulics as they awaited the call to Swindon. Brian R

That Manchester trip was the usual means of spending my Christmas money which didn't stretch to film for my Kodak Instamatic. . A start from Cardiff at 05:40ish meant leaving home an hour earlier to walk to Cardiff General station via Canton shed. . Travelling up the North & West Route in this combo -> (50090)+(50729+59266+50660)meant I was roasted by the units heaters and choked by the fumes of three power cars. The 'Derby suburban' car (Cl.116) was added to help the Swindon Cross Country (Cl.120)maintain time, but as was the norm, was locked out of use. Old the Cross Country may have been, but the seats were better than a 158. I recall that there was only one other living being at Reddish, and he had parked his Vauxhall Viva inside the shed and was tinkering under the bonnet. . Brian R

Tues. 28/12/1971 Cardiff – Manchester Canton 86A 1595, 1640, 1720, 1735, 1744, 1854, 1909, 1913, 1918, 7085, 7093 Cardiff General 1670, 4019 (50080+59030?+50122), (50851+59359+5050904), (50869+59035+50922), (51139+59033+51152), (51140+59030?+51153), (51388+59498+51346), (50090)+(50729+59266+50660) Hereford 1667, 7011, (51303+59470+51318) Shrewsbury 1551, 1712, 1811, 3221, 3462, 3800, 5063, 5086, 5092 (51200+56353), 55998+55999 Nantwich (51193+56351) Crewe Diesel Depot 5A 209, 225 401, 415, 418, 430, 436, 441, 1844, 3181, 3245, 3247, 3870, 5026, 5057, 5058, 5059, 5080, 5133, 5135, 5136, 5141, 5142, 5146, Crewe 400, 402, 433, 440, 1543, 5209, E3049, E3066, E3079, E3109, E3134, E3145, E3152, E3172 023 Crewe North 3290 011 Alderley Edge 001, 044 Wilmslow 030 Stockport (50355+56110) Manchester Piccadilly 71, 230, E3069, E3128, E3149 (50354+56177), (50420+59137+50424), (50539+56182) 012, 016, 027, 029, 047, 064 (M59401+M59501+M59601) Manchester Piccadilly – Reddish North E3064, E3129, E3188 (51820+59813+51833) 007 Reddish 9C 232, 326, 5154, 5210, 5211, 7597, 7600 E26001, E26002, E26006, E26008+E26023, E26013, E26014, E26018, E26019, E26026, E26031, E26032, E26034, E26038, E26041, E26043, E26044, E26045, E26052, 76050, E26054, E26057, (975003+975004) (M59402+M59502+M59602), (M59403+M59503+M59603), (M59405+M59505+M59605), (M59406+M59506+M59606), (M59407+M59507+M59607) Reddish North 71, (50539+56182), (50541+56184), (51820+59813+51833) Ashburys 3778, 3854, (M59404+59504+59604) Manchester Piccadilly E3158, E3179, E3187 (50538+56181) 032 Manchester Victoria (51926+52045), (51941+52050), (M65441+M77160), (M65443+M77163), (M65444+M77165), (M65452+M77173) Miles Platting (50438+59143+50490), (50458+59164+50509), (50474+59181+50526), (51824+59708+51844), (51826+59710+51846), (51920+52039), (51942+52051), 50526. Dean Lane (50772+50805) Newton Heath 9D 234, 311, 315, 316, 329, 337, 345, 375, 386, 421, 1923, 3589, 3695, 3765, 3842, 3843, 3844, 3845, 3860, 3925, 3927 5152, 5153, 5155, 5198, 5205, 5273, 5274, 5275, 5277, 5288, 5298, 7540, 7594, 7598, 7599, 12081 (50437+59145+50489), (50456+59164+50508), (50459+59144+50511), (50463+59171+50515), (50465+59173+50517), (50468+59176+50520), (50473+59181+50525), (50773+50807), (51948+52063), (51949+52064), (51950+52065), 55988, 55990, 55996, 50437, 50784, 59185 Miles Platting (51920+52039), 55995 (M65442+M77162), M65460+M77181) Manchester Victoria 241, 271, 7588, (50387+56071), (50440+59148+50492), (50476+59184+50528), (50478+59186+50530), (50935+51572), (51819+59817+52077), (51926+52045), (51927+52046), (M65447+M77168), (M65450+M77171), (M65451+M77182), (M65456+M77177), (M65457+M77178), Manchester Piccadilly 6965, E3023, E3150, E3177 (50436+59230+50488), (50534+56177), 002, 015, 044 (M59404+M59504+M59604) Longsight E3001, E3010, E3011, E3023, E3073 067, 081 Stockport 1838, E3119 Crewe 213, 214, 306, 407, 411, 419, 425, 436, 443, 445, 1554, 1677, 1700, 1840, 1846, 1858, 1953, 3105, 3245, 3290, 3510, 3583, 3801, 5021, 5052, 5143, E3006, E3059, E3061, E3068, E3069, E3074, E3080, E3084, E3086, E3095, E3107, E3119, E3124, E3126, E3145, E3152, E3153, E3159, E3162, E3169, E3172, E3186, E3187, E3191, E3195, (50404+56158), (50446+59165+50498), (51180+56349), 011, 067, 081 Crewe – Stafford 216, 411, 425, 436, 5209, 8167 Stafford 3032, E3139 010, 029 Wolverhampton 3364, 3757, 3871, 3977 7538, E3157, (50319+59130+50337), (51191+56350), (51200+56353) Birmingham New St. 73, 1108, E3108, E3111 (50079+59351+50121), (50654+59272+50743), (50655+59281+50734), 55017, Cheltenham Spa 1565 Severn Tunnel Jct. 829, 1673, 1728 7625 - - - o o o - - -

Christmas Eve . Friday 24/12/1971 Cardiff General . Cl.45:- 15, 58, 79, 146, Cl.52:- 1010, 1026, 1041, 1048, Cl.47:- 1553, 1584, 1609, 1614, 1657, 1677, 1716, 1722, 1729, 1741, 1914, 1917, Cl.08:- 3264, 3756, 4010, Cl.25:- 5181, Cl.37:- 6608, 6909, 6924, 6927, 6930, 6943, 6956, 6970, 6971, 6986, 6989, 6996, 6997, Cl.35:- 7000, 7070, 7074, Cl.116:- (50084+59373+50126), (50088+59362+50130), (50089+59039+50131), (50091+59041+50133), (50836+59344+50889), (50845+59353+50898), (50848+59356+50901), (50851+59359+50904), (50864+59369+50917), (51139+59033+51152), (51140+59032+51153), Cl.120:- (50661+59291+50727), (50662+59260+50699), (50665+59040+50715)* Note the Cl.116 trailer car, (50682+59288+50726), (50683+59294+50735)+(50090)* A Cardiff-Crewe 'North & West' set with added Cl.11 power car, locked out of use., Cl.119:- (51070+51098)*Note, running as a twin set, (51075+59434+51103), Cl.117:- (51345+51387)*Note, running as a twin set,, (51360+59512+51402), Cl.121:- (55026), And one Pullman set:- (60094+60644+60734+60744+60745+60735+60645+60095), . Brian R

Cardiff General Saturday 17th. December, 1971 . Cl.45:- 40, 78 Cl.52:- 1006, 1038, Cl.47:- 1589, 1613, 1701, 1741, 1858, 1915, 1916, 1935, 1937 Cl.08:- 3420, 3747, 3748 Cl.37:- 6927, 6972, 6976, 6978, 6993, 6994, 6995, 6996, Cl.35:- 7065, 7094 Brian R

Sunday, 17th. December 1972 Radyr Yard. . Cl.08:- 3604, 3747, 3759 Cl.08:- 6890, 6932, 6954, 6970 . Fewer locos than normal. . Brian R