AberdeenBill

Hi Dave, Epic Deltic shots . C3888 seems very late for a Deltic to be hauling Mk 1s? Bill

Lovely shot, that's how I remember 08s... Interesting to see a green air brake only conversion; when did these start? Bill

Hi Evertrainz, There was just one batch of LMS-style (wooden body) Lowfits with LMS 8-shoe brakes, under diagram 1/001. All the other (steel) Lowfits were diagram 1/002, although there were slight differences to bodywork (number of strengthening struts on the sides) and different type of brakegear (LNER 8-shoe, BR 4-shoe, BR 8-shoe) for the various batches (details below). All had the same planked wooden floor, so I'm not sure what you mean by raised floor. As you say, typical loads were tractors, agricultural machinery and small military vehicles. It would be interesting to see pictures of them carrying containers, because they certainly weren't meant to, as they lacked the chains and shackles of a proper Conflat to secure the container. 2107 B 450000-450399 Lowfit (wooden) 1/001 Wolverton Works 1950 2194 B 450400-451399 Lowfit 1/002 Shildon Works 1951 2340 B 451700-451899 Lowfit 1/002 Shildon Works 1952 2420 B 451900-452199 Lowfit 1/002 Shildon Works 1953 2461 B 452200-452399 Lowfit 1/002 Shildon Works 1957 2467 B 452400-452599 Lowfit 1/002 Shildon Works 1955 2729 B 452600-452899 Lowfit 1/002 Shildon Works 1957 2998 B 452900-453449 Lowfit 1/002 Shildon Works 1959 Thanks, Bill ps was the wagon with the rugged body maybe a Pig iron carrier? (edit to reformat Table and add ps)

More great shots, Dave. In C2268, what is the hoarding(?) on the verge to the right? Bill

Like Arthur says... http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2213645 Ben has thousands(!) of interesting railway photos posted on Geograph including shots from the 1940s and 1950s and many closed stations. Bill

Classic shots of Reading... An express storming through on the up fast as per picture C3656 was always a highlight. Does anybody remember the special "train-spotter" platform ticket that you had to buy at Reading in the 1970s, which, if I remember correctly after 40 years cost the princely sum of 10p (compared to 2p for a regular platform ticket...) You could keep them as souvenirs, but alas my copies were lost in a house move years ago. Bill

Classic set of pictures... So nice to see 4-Ceps with their proper unit numbers in the 71xx series and 4-Veps in the 77xx/78xx series. Bill

Dave -- you spoil us (but I'm not complaining...). Can somebody please explain the purpose of the wrong-road miniature arm and the trap-point in the middle siding in J018? The vacuum-fitted iron-ore tipplers in J1618 are interesting. The magnificent scene of a Deltic in full cry in C1735 seems like yesterday, but it's actually over 40 years' ago... Bill

Lovely photo... No fewer than four of the Southern Region Mk2 corridor firsts (delivered in green) in the train... Bill

Dave -- I think you've taken more photos of class 302 EMUs than everybody else put together, so thank-you Do you know how to interpret the head-codes?? Bill

Dave -- was there anywhere that you and your dad didn't take photos?? On C4887, I presume that's a catch point on the down main. What was the gradient there? Nice shot of a Whale ballast hopper after being exiled from the Southern Region in C6631. Thanks again for all your efforts to scan and post these fantastic shots, Bill

I'm sure it's been posted before, but on the short section of paired-by-direction quadruple track between Southampton Central and Millbrook, the fast lines are on the outside... Bill

Lovely shots as usual Dave. There's something (for me) very nostalgic about pictures of TOPS-numbered locos with headcodes.... Interesting use of a merry-go-round hopper as a barrier wagon in C1589. Bill

Hi Chris, What a gorgeous set of photos. On the original, can you make out the lettering on the brake van behind D5535? Many thanks, Bill

Hi Dave, More fantastic photos, thanks for continuing to treat us over Christmas ;-) C5739 is interesting for a late example of a regional enamel name-board, it must have been one of the last survivors? Bill

Hi Chris, Thanks for posting those great shots of York and yes, it is a 16-tonner behind 8302 ;-) Further back appears to be a Conflat L in use as a runner, then an ex-GW(?) van with sliding door and then a couple of bulk grain hoppers. On the original photo, can you make out the branding on the Vanwide behind 278 in the first picture? Continuing the army theme, (The) Honourable Artillery Company is the oldest regiment in the British army (useful for pub quizzes??). Bill

That's one fine signal-box diagram... It's interesting that the hump reception roads are track circuited. Bill

Lovely shots from Stratford, Dave. C4370 reminds me that it was always challenging to record numbers from Clacton units, especially when they were on the move, because the fronts of the units were so filthy and the unit number was low-down. In C4376, it seems very late for a head-code to be shown in 1979, but maybe the GE did their own thing, as per white roofs on 47s etc. Bill

Thanks Chris, epic view of Bath Road shed ;-) How many of us (im)patiently stood on the platform waiting for a loco to come off shed and get its' number? Going back a few posts to #101, the 1S11 head-code on D5638 is interesting. An S in the head-code meant (as I'm sure you know) an inter-regional train bound for Scotland, which is surely not the case here? Bill

J6781. Classic street photography and classic 70s cars :-) Bill

Fascinating photos of the re-railing of D18. I think I understand the lifting power of the jacks but how is the loco slewed back so the wheels are above the correct rails? Thanks, Bill

Chris, thanks for posting these fantastic photos (especially the signals), please don't stop ;-) Could somebody please explain what the "W" and "U" theatre indicators mean for the platform starters at Norwich? Many thanks, Bill

Hi Dave, Great shots as usual. A silly question re MLVs: what did they actually convey on boat trains? I would not have felt very comfortable in leaving my suitcases in an MLV and then walking to the other end of the train. Thanks, Bill

Hi all, Our friend 66003 was back at Dyce this morning, this time with 66183 in tow. They were top-and-tailing a ballast train from Millerhill to stable at Dyce (Raith's Farm) before working to Keith tomorrow morning. Bill

J742 is most interesting... At least one of the steel 16-tonners behind the wooden-bodied opens appears to have the same rather crudely applied LOCOSX marking. Is there any chance of making out on the original slide what's on the black panel on the upper left-hand side of the cupboard-door mineral to the right? Thanks again Dave for all the work in scanning and posting these fantastic pictures. Based on five pictures per day, which is an excellent amount to anticipate and savour, you have about 20 years' worth to go Best regards, Bill