D860 VICTORIOUS

Yet more fascinating detailed info! Firstly Brian W...50-plus sidings in Margam Yard,with work probably going on round the clock,with all of that coal to sort,seems barely credible now. Jersey Marine is one of those names that seem to crop up often when South Wales freight is being discussed,you've confirmed no pit there but it sounds like it was another pivotal yard.Think I've read that Swansea Docks was just about the last location to handle coal carried in non-MGR wagons.Giants Grave was indeed an apt name for a ship-breaking area,and Port Walleroo wouldn't be immediately connected with Wales.. In case of any confusion,the WTT's were posted by BeRTie,leading neatly to: Thanks for the further WTT's,more interesting gen which will need careful study. Hi Mike,fascinating it certainly is.A book on this subject might be considered niche,but I'm surprised at some of the books appearing nowadays on all sorts of obscure topics.As we've seen here,there is a lot of detailed knowledge available,and if there's also relevant pictures to go with text,maybe a book would be a goer. For me,if I was at Ealing and saw a freight heading to Acton Yard,it would be,well,just that,at the time I didn't know about headcodes and traffic patterns,with hindsight wish I had. Again,thanks to you all for your replies, Neil.

Morning guys (from a very windy,unseasonably cool day in C/Ford), Firstly,Brian R-"hope this helps?"...that's a massive understatement!! The info you have supplied is just fascinating,and will need a few more read-throughs.. The "Blockplan" concept must have been quite revolutionary,as I can imagine the amount of trip workings must have been huge,given the amount of traffic then on offer.Just to highlight one yard as an example,East Usk Jct yard being given over entirely to receipt,sorting and despatch of empties is notable,I've seen many pictures of coal trains made up of different capacity wagons,but your notes explain how the various wagons were sorted into identical rakes-maybe to do with which wagons could be accepted at each colliery? And no less than five pilots at Barry Docks-wow...You note that one of many sources of incoming empties to East Usk was Southall,where I started taking numbers back in 1968.It's a long time ago now,but I can't recall any coal handling facilities there,were some trains of empties perhaps combined at Southall? Was there a colliery at Jersey Marine,and "Giants Grave Scrapyard"-what a great name! Again,I've seen several pictures that include Newtown Goods,but I don't know about the functions of Long Dyke,Tyndall Fields or Spike Sidings. Really interesting notes on the various Hymek workings,there must have been plenty to keep them occupied on short and long haul work.One that stands out for me is your sighting of D7093 on 8B41,that was probably hard work for a type 3 on the climb away from the Severn Tunnel.As an aside,just over fifty years ago(26th July 1972),on yet another visit to Old Oak Common,walking down the approach road towards the turntable,the first loco to be seen was D7093,which I needed for the set of Hymeks. Fabulous stuff Brian,and an outline of activity at Radyr would be great too! Hi Phil, Good gen re the coke hoppers,ISTR an article accompanying the review of the Hornby ones a few years back. Would you have expected the Kingswinford cokes to be a class 8? Must have been a spectacular sight and sound back then! A couple of weeks back I bought a few more Hornby models to do exactly that conversion,though I don't think I'll be going for the Pensnett variety.I have the plasticard sheet and section for the wagon sides ready to go,I think yours and another person's pics of this mod were lost in the recent difficulties.Won't ask why you were hanging out in Worcester around midnight... And Mike the Stationmaster,thanks for your info,Margam yard must have been a busy place back then,not sure but I think there were a few more refineries despatching rail traffic back then? Sincere thanks to all of you who have shared your knowledge on a subject of which I know next to nothing,we may be talking about 50-plus years ago but the railway back then will never lose its interest for me. Neil.

Hi Johnster, Thanks for your interesting and informative reply.Would the coke working be the type of wagon that Hornby released a while ago? Had a feeling that some of the short distance workings would be inter-yard transfers. Blimey,imagine a ninety-wagon freight...! The SW local freight scene would have been fascinating back then. Neil

Hi BeRTie, That is fabulous,many thanks! I'll be setting aside some time for an in-depth study of these WTT's,lots of passenger workings to digest too. I have several more models to apply headcodes to,and that's just the info I need,and am sure it will be of use to many others too. Thanks again, Neil.

Afternoon all, I have recently(not before time)been adding headcodes to my Heljan Hymeks,and wanting some variety,I have been referring to "a tribute to the Hymeks",published 2003-ish.This book has workings by individual loco's in different time periods. Making these headcodes was a pleasant exercise,and it made me think how satisfying it would be if I knew something about the workings depicted. A few examples: 8C67 STJ- East Usk Jct,8C49 STJ-Margam,8C23 Margam-Briton Ferry,8M64 Llantrisant-Kingswinford,8C20 Alexandra Dock Jct.-Cardiff,etc. Some of the ones I've used appear to be for short-distance workings.I'd like to know what commodities were involved,though it's not a stretch to guess that coal and metals-related traffic made up a big percentage.Maybe there were chemicals workings,and general freights carrying a bit of everything? I know there are some contributors with extensive knowledge of this period who often post exceptionally interesting details... Any info,either general or more specific,would be of great interest and would be gratefully received. TIA, Neil.

Southall 13 7 72 D1007 D1011 D1027 D1031 D1033 D1036 D1047 D1048 D1050 D1055 D1061 D1066 D1072 1200 1529 1579 1584 1593 1597 1599 1606 1611 1613 1640 1642 1648 1652 1673 1678 1682 1685 1703 1718 1752 1753 1810 1838 1924 1928 3600 3999 5688 5690 5803 D7001 D7011 D7016 D7023 D7026 D7029 D7031 D7068 Neil.

Hi all, I remembered I have the photo in the Middleton Press "Branch Lines of West London" book,thanks dibber25 for posting.Looks like W55992 even has the same headcode as the Heljan model...OT,but the book has only the briefest section on the railways of Greenford(my home town),something I'd like to find out more about,but that's for another time. I can vaguely remember these units mixed in with other DMU's,as 08221 has said,and somewhere in the vaults I have a colour print pic I took of one in the up bay at Southall,seem to remember Posties chucking mailbags in on some occasions before the unit spluttered off to Paddington. The main thing is,thank you to each of you who took the trouble to reply and share your knowledge and recollections,much appreciated. Neil.

Nice one keefer,many thanks. Neil.

Evening all, A question prompted by running my Heljan W55991 today,fab model,weighs a ton and is silky smooth. W55991/2 became a regular familiar sight right from when I first started scribbling down numbers at Southall back in 1968 🙄 I assumed they spent their lives shuttling back and forth between Paddington,Slough and Reading (possibly Didcot?). I'm wondering if they ever sauntered further afield,e.g. via Greenford towards the Chiltern line,the West London line or anywhere else off-region? It's probable that very little info exists about these units,they weren't at all glamorous and perhaps largely ignored,but any info at all would be greatly appreciated. Neil.

Are we becoming too insular...? I'm in a walking group going out on a Saturday morning.It amazes me that when passing fellow walkers or people walking dogs,almost without exception everyone will say a cheery "morning!" or stop for a quick chat. However,go up to the local High St. and try to engage people in conversation and it's likely they will look at you askance or cross the road,maybe something to do with the calibre of the town I live in. Similarly,I live in an apartment,and apart from some near neighbours,other residents seem unwilling to engage in conversation,though I have tried. I've spent most of my working life dealing face to face with customers,which in the main has been enjoyable,having a quick chat and exchanging views contributes positively to the day IMHO,and nowadays endless hanging on the phone to companies listening to what seems like 50 different options in a recorded message is infuriating,so much so that I often give up,which is probably just what they want. A bit OT,but I've noticed TV ads that attempt to extract humour from a person going to their fridge to find they've run out of milk or whatever.What happens next? Of course,no taking personal responsibility for not buying milk or lack of planning,just call deliveroo or whoever it is and get someone else to do it for you.... I sometimes fear for where we're heading.... On the bright side,there's still massive interest in Diesel Hydraulics.... Neil

My "souvenir" from Intrepid has long since been lost. I have part of a makers' plate from D809 Champion,one part went astray during a house move. With your two paint samples ,getting the shades right on your models should be easy-as you say if you can ever find them! My set of numbers from D7069 is safely tucked away.....

That is indeed fabulous footage and the fact that it's only recently come to light is all the more amazing... Almost seems like BR are "playing trains" with the amount of shunting involving Zulu and Magnificent,and I can't ID the blue pair running in from the west... As the 22 arrives at Tiverton Jct. with one milk tank,there is a tantalising glimpse of a Warship approaching-wasn't the railway great back then.... As per Halvarras,I remember taking a chunk of blue paint from 825 Intrepid,which happened to be parked in the Pullman shed at OOC around fifty years ago...

I still have a cutting from the "Midweek Gazette" (Middlesex County Press) with a front-page report on this incident,must have been a slow news week... Some quality informed journalism includes ".it was an old-fashioned machine with a 1500hp engine and used as a local train. Because of it's age it was due to be retired shortly and may now be withdrawn from service" "For train spotters the loco's number was 31273" The report states that the recovery took place on Sunday November 20th,no hurry then... Neil

Back in 75-76,QPR came 2nd to Liverpool in the First Division,with a team playing fabulous football.Around that time,me and some mates had recently started work,so we bought season tickets for the following season.Wasn't quite such a good season... In the late 70's,if QPR weren't at home,we'd go to either Stamford Bridge,Craven Cottage or Griffin Park just so we could see a game. Younger viewers may find that hard to believe...

On this day in history 12th March 1972 Paddington-Swindon D1012 D1048 D1050 1584 1599 1610 1655 1674 1715 1753 3599 3831 3940 3963 3965 3966 4179 5535 5682 5812 D7016 D7061* D7066* D7084 *-Condemned at OOC PWM651 Swindon Works,and stabling point D1000 D1004 D1017 D1018 D1019 D1020 D1064 D1065 D1066 D1071 1200 1661 1941 2120 3002 3042 3183 3218 3224 3358 3603 3607 3665 3666 3744 3817 3822 3829 3989 3991 4003 4023 4119 4124 4125 4163 4165 Locomotives awaiting cutting: D804 D817 D819 823 828 D836 D837 D838 839 842 843 844 845 D847 D849 D851 852 853 854 855 857 858 D859 861 862 865 868 870 2378 D6310 D6318 D6320 D6322 6323 6326 D6327 D6333 D6336 D6339 D6340 D7002 D7006 D7010 D7013 D7020 D7024 D7033 D7042 D7048 D7049 D7058 D7059 D7072 D7081 From memory,and my Kodak Instamatic B/W prints,at least D836 and 842 were reduced to just both cabs,and of 6326,only a small part of one cab with the number remained. D6327 was on the naughty step for some reason,in a siding by itself some distance away from any other loco's. Swindon and Bristol 15 92 129 146 147 149 158 163 186 D1004 D1015 D1059 1607 1630 1644 1672 1673 1723 1726 1946 2121 2122 2136 3003 3513 3517 4123 4169 4173 5824 5837 D7009 D7014 D7054 D7063 7588 Marsh Junction D815 831 867 869 6308 6319 D6328 6330 D6334 D6337 6348 D7003 D7008 D7012 D7021 D7025 D7040 D7041 D7043 D7047 D7051 D7056 D7057 D7065 D7067 D7078 Bristol-Paddington 818 D1004 D1039 D1063 1585 1663 5655 5812 D7037 D7074 Haulage: D1050 Paddington-Swindon D1027 Swindon-Bristol D1027 Bristol-Paddington Fifty years ago,a day to see Hydraulic carnage.Loco's that could have given a few more years' service just cast aside,what a waste. The story of 6319 is too well known to repeat,if only....

On the Bristol-Gloucester footage,it looks to me like D25,gfye-wow!,is seen just after leaving BTM as well as at Mangotsfield.Good info Phil,I think the headcodes I have quoted may have applied in the year previous to your WTT. That's going OT a bit... "The Book of the Warships" does give some info re Class 43 activity in the West Midlands,including the aforementioned Wellington-Crewe parcels.It also notes that the NBL's continued on freight work on ex-GW routes during 1968,and the through train(in the singular) from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury,and presumably the return..? This aspect of 43 working has really piqued my interest,and it would be good to have an overview of their freight,parcels and any other passenger work in the area at this time. Maybe one of the contributors has some more details..? Neil.

The current selection of jokes are not generating many laughs... Fabulous info given by each of you! Nidge,of course the stock on 1J24 would be blue/grey behind a maroon Warship,silly me.I had no idea whatsoever that 43's regularly worked between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.Am guessing this was shortly before they were drafted to the Worcester/Hereford route.As you say,the holes cut in the h/c panels were not very subtle! Phil,in your notes you mention 1V87,loking in various books etc.,is that the southbound Newcastle-Plymouth (northbound 1E30),loco change at Gloucester Eastgate? Hats off to the gentleman who started this topic,splendid pictures and lots of new info,thanks to you all. Neil. p.s. have you checked out the footage bought to light by Downendian,on youtube:"Bristol-Gloucester and back 1969"-fabulous.

Have been having a closer look at the fabulous pictures that Nidge has posted. D854 has the extra vents cut into the lower part of the headcode,does this help to date the picture,I'm not sure when that modification started.Tiger is looking rather unkempt,am wondering if that's the green livery she kept until around late 1969... Are the coaches behind the maroon 43 on the Wolverhampton-Shrewsbury leg blue/grey? The Wellington-Crewe vans was a fairly menial job for a type 4,but I suppose the 43's had already began to fall out of favour by then. This is a great topic,really fascinating....

Definitely,and not forgetting "My Resistance is low" by some unmemorable 70's crooner... Seeing Mike the Stationmaster's post,me and a mate cabbed Albion at Paddington as it waited to head out light after it's train had been removed.Quite surprising,looking back,to cab a loco at a London terminus. I think the statute of limitations has run out on the following event: Back in the Autumn of 1971,withdrawn hydraulics started to gather at Old Oak Common.They were put in sidings between the Pullman shed and the carriage sidings,initially a couple of Hymeks and Royal Oak,Champion,Hermes and Foxhound.My mates and I were in the cab of (am fairly sure) Hermes,when some irresponsible urchin (me) thought it may be interesting to release the parking brake wheel on the bulkhead.No one was more surprised and horrified than yours truly when the loco gently moved forward onto the next in line,and thankfully stopped.Of course,I tried to laugh it off with my mates,but that was a lesson learned... Nidge,fabulous pictures,any more? Neil

D840 Resistance hanging out at Crewe-maybe that's why it was one of five Warships I didn't see.....

Hi nomisd, I'm a Greenfordian,and I now wish I'd taken more notice of freight operations. Not sure what period you're interested in,but apparently the Rockware Glass facility did use rail.In one of the Middleton Press books which covers the area,there is a picture which appears to show a line branching off just west of the down platform and passing under the Central Line,it looks to be heading towards the site later covered by the large warehousing facility(where I first started work). For some time I travelled by the Central Line from Ruislip Gardens to Greenford for work,in the 1980's.I have a fleeting recollection of the goods yard on the up side being used as a Distribution Depot by Rugby Cement,I think the wagons came from Halling in Kent.This was during the long period when I had lost all rail interest,so it never occurred to me to do any research,or better yet take some photo's. Later in the 80's my interest returned,and in 1989 I photographed a trip working from the Guinness brewery,and a pair of 33's on aggregate empties from Park Royal,both at South Greenford Halt. All of which probably isn't much help to you! I don't doubt there were other freight flows around Greenford,I've not found much info either.The Greenford/Park Royal area had much of interest and a layout based around those parts sounds like a good choice! Neil.

Hello Graham, That's a rather infantile response,and I think it's quite clear from my post that I have NOT said 47537 didn't appear in the condition produced by KMRC. I would be pleased to see a picture of the loco as produced ,as I would then be tempted to buy it. Neil.

Hi Andrew,some good points there.This is no criticism whatsoever of KMRC,and I think they said the weathering on 47537 was based on research,but despite searching online,seeing the loco on various DVD's and my own pictures,I haven't found any pictures of 47537 in the condition portrayed on the model. 47526 however does look the part. A gfye 47 will hopefully be among future releases.

47526 Have been looking at my pictures of this loco on the Waterloo-Exeter route,and the faded and unkempt condition looks to have been well represented. Well done Bachmann.

Or Park Royal/Greenford......