D826

Tom The Clayton was used on the former Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead branch by Hemelite. (Don't know but always assumed they were a form of block work). Fortunately the 17 then passed into preservation. Matt W

Thank you. You know I thought it was the footbridge at the Warren. Spent many an hour there watching trains. My Dad (foreman at Neasden Steam shed- see "Red Panniers") was known as Chunky, and spookily, that word is etched into the bridge at deck level, down side. His aunt had a guesthouse in Dawlish and right up to the late 70s the family used to decamp from London and Aylesbury in our case, down to Dawlish for the annual summer holiday. We used to stay at the Beach Hotel on Marine Parade after she sold her guest house. Thanks again. Matt Wood

Hello Metr0land I keep coming back to marvel at your quality of work. Just sublime. I've just taken delivery of two Radley models 30 ton General Purpose open wagons - (superb service by Phil at Radley Models). I have the stirrings of an idea - freelance and inspired by you sir. Can I ask where your gorgeous brick and cast iron model footbridge came from ? Best regards Matt Wood

The hypocrisy of the reduction in tax on domestic air travel, just before COP26, is lamentable. It would be funny if it weren't so depressing. Matt W

BG man, cracking - do you know where the 33, 47 and 45 were heading to call home ? I'm sitting looking over the Taw Valley towards Abbots Marsh further north up the line right now ! It's truly lovely country. Best regards Matt W

It is, and I'd buy it Matt. In the 1970s to 1980 the Up Milk and down empties was my favourite train of the day when we were holidaying in Dawlish or up in North Devon. Among all the other freight and variety back then, it stood out. The up train always seemed to be working hard, coming out of Kennaway tunnel- and the distinctive sound of the 6w tanks on rail joints sounded fast. Even in 78/9, when my beloved hydraulics had gone the 50s worked hard on them. Good picture of 50 044, by then named Exeter, working hard on the up milk in John Vaughans book - Power of the 50s - I think at Brent but I don't have it to hand now. My edition is 1979/80. I'm a member of the North Devon Railways Facebook Group. The avatar is a lovely picture at Barnstaple of green 25 on a rake of tanks bound for Torrington, so must be 72/3 or thereabouts. Your knowledge on the topic is well worth a few quid of anyone with an interests' money ! Best regards Matt W

I think we're all agreed everyone - car drivers - van drivers/HGV drivers and all subsets of internal combustion and electric propulsion, cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders, e scooter riders - should obey traffic signals and road signs. The new hierarchy of road users and responsibility, based on vulnerability, being enshrined in the highway code therefore seems eminently sensible and reasonable. It will soon be law. This may be of interest. https://davies-group.com/knowledge/new-version-of-highway-code-with-greater-protection-reassurance-for-vulnerable-road-users-is-to-be-published-in-2022/ Keep mellow all. Best regards Matt W

That's a handsome photo at that link Brushman. Never knew about the M shaped cowl. I so wish I'd been a little older and had a decent camera to record the sights of the hydraulics. So many memories (unreliable) of them at Dawlish. I'd either sit in a bay window at the long since demolished Beach Hotel on Marine Parade, or on the wall up near the Langstone Rock (people calling it Red Rock grinds my gears- it's an old git thing), listening to the rails sing and wondering what would come round the heavily canted curve. It's the succession of freights, and a lot of it, that image of Consort on the MSVs reminds me of. The up milk was always my fave - sounded heavy, loco (usually a Western till 77) always working hard blasting out of Kennaway tunnel, and 6 wheeled tanks really had a distinctive rhythm over any rail joints. Same at Merehead on the way down to Devon, I'd have my head pressed to the windows of my Dad's MG 1300 saloon to see what was lined up for the Stone trains. Love this thread. As us hydraulic aficionados know, it's quality not quantity. Don't get me wrong , I love a 25, 45 and 46, the Western namer 47s were always different. 50s became interesting on naming to me. Lord, I'd probably go misty eyed over a 120 dmu now.....my passion will always be hydraulic though. Great photos. Matt W

Evening all. Oh dear- it's one of those debates again is it. I ride a bike. I drive a car. I see some poor behaviour by both. Everyone should pay attention to, and obey road signs including signs at level crossings and foot crossings. A car is more likely to cause serious injury when misused. Time to be more tolerant and respectful of each other and all road users. Tub thumping my tribe good, your tribe bad isn't constructive. Best regards Matt W

Go on- Buy it. Fantastic book. Lists all the allocations of the Panniers. L89 was a Welsh loco. Others came from Laira and Old Oak. Loads of pictures of my Dad in Red Panniers. He'd have had a thing or two to say about anyone referring to the Met as an 'industrial' railway. Pullmans (Galatea and Mayflower) from Baker Street to Verney Junction back in the day you know. They used to run on the Met fast lines to Croxley tip, just south of Rickmansworth - and trust me, the old man told me he didn't hang about with those LT bogie wagons ! He said they were capable of a fair turn of speed and much more sure footed than Met E and F class. Best regards Matt W

Fair enough Zomboid. Just wondering. This is how they did it in the 70's. From the wonderful North Devon Line cyber heritage website.

Hello Rivercider/Kevin Your post piqued my interest. Do you know when they're intending to reinstate a second platform at Barnstaple? I wonder if there'll be a crossover/points to run round and open up the possibility of non top n tailed specials. Mind you, paths will be scarce now the line is so busy - which is good. They took the run round away not long after I started working in Barnstaple in September 1990. Trip to job interview earlier in June 90 was memorable, not only for the overnight hotel stay, but also cos the train up from St David's was 50 hauled. Still deriving much pleasure from your books by the way. Best regards Matt W.

Metr0land Mantles Wood is superb modelling. Top drawer. Made all the more interesting and resonant to me as my Father, Ray Wood drove the Panniers from Neasden. He's featured extensively in the photos in the book Red Panniers. He's smiling down on your layout I can tell you. Great modelling. I love it. Best regards Matt Wood

Ah chaps Brilliant stuff. I'm drinking a contemplative pint of Proper Job, reading your comments and posts and thinking 'Proper Job. Cheers. Matt W

Yep, a bit of bias I'm sure. 47s would have been around but Peaks started making real inroads a little later. 6300s, up to Torrington and Meeth 800s, and Hymeks up to Barnstaple, and Ilfracombe too. Plus of course Plymouth via Okehampton still a through route. Cracking images aren't they. Ah, nostalgia. Love it. Best regards all. Matt W

No sound, but some cracking images of hydraulics and movements round Exeter. Must be 68/9 as double headed 800s on passenger. Magnificent looking anything but and lovely 6 w milk tanks. Thought it may be of interest. Best regards Matt W

Splendid day out at the E and OR. I have rarely found a friendlier and more likeable railway - with a cracking line and stock. A special mention to Bruce and Pitchford Hall - you were a courteous, informative and gregarious ambassador for the railway Bruce. Pleasure to meet you. My old man was smiling down from a footplate somewhere. Matt W

Agree wholeheartedly with comments above Rich. The other laughable element to train travel right now is the difficulty and capacity for transporting bicycles. Barnstaple (Tarka Trail and routes onto Exmoor) and Okehampton could and should both offer Public transport options for starting bike tours by train. As it is, limited capacity has certainly frustrated this potential traveller. Have sampled the 'pleasure' of transporting bikes by train over most of the country. HSTs had capacity for about 6 (pre booked) bikes behind the power car. Voyager from Llandudno and Pendolino to Glasgow - let's just say I'm glad my touring bike is an old nail. As was the mental situation of my bike being delivered by Transit van to Euston while me and friends overnighted down from Aberdeen on the sleeper. The tangle of bikes when the driver opened the rear doors was a 'hoot'. Best bike capacity was in DVT on the 225s up to York. Great that Okehampton is Reopening and will offer opportunity for walks out along the Granite Way up to Sourton Tor, then back via Meldon reservoir (lovely walk). Always sees me gazing wistfully at the remains of the formation of the branch off to Bude. Suspect most traffic will be to Exeter. More could be done to support active travel. Scotrail have the right idea with their stock out to the west Highlands - Highland Explorer. When we did our first cycle tour in Devon it needed nifty work getting them off at Plymouth. Toured up to Mary Tavy, then to Instow via Granite Way, Okehampton and Hatherleigh. Then to Bratton Fleming. Then to Tiverton. Subsequent tour started at North Petherton to Chard - Chard to Dolton via Honiton and Crediton - Dolton to North Molton - North Molton over the Moor to Dulverton then Stogumber to Goathurst and back to North Petherton. Best regards Matt W

Paul Thanks for that. Might have to get myself along to that and get my copy of Red Panniers signed. There's lots of photos of my Dad in it. Best regards Matt Wood

Totally understand your pangs of nostalgia Ruvercider. Same for me. Slight pangs at demolition of the boathouse by Coastguards Bridge. Scenes like that on page 44 of Strathwoods 70s Spotting Days Around the Western Region- of Western Enterprise leaving Dawlish up country with my dear old Dad in his light blue swimmers sitting on the ramp in front of the boathouse provoke strong, and happy memories. Moonlit walks to the Warren, waves slapping on the wall....ahhhh nostalgia. Nowt wrong with that. Best wishes Matt W

Just a few thoughts. Must admit, other life priorities have seen me scrap my n gauge layout of Tintern, intended to be a stop gap till I could assemble something based south west circa 68- 78. I do miss it - nice compact layout and supporting range of rolling stock - 64xx, autocoach, AEC Railcar, 57XX, B set, (and some Hawksworths for imaginary excursions) from the normal suspects. D9500, D6300, D7000, 121, 108(!) for the imaginary line life extension till circa 70 - and not just for the quarry. The lack of availability, and cost, of n gauge rolling stock from Farish (and others) for my main preferred era - 68 -78, has turned me right off the hobby. Advantage of n - scale length trains - but no advantage if scarcity of availability and daft prices on Ebay means it costs an arm and a leg to assemble a typical train. I greatly admire the skill demonstrated by many of you talented people on here, but limited time means other things have to take precedence for me. Lack of ready availability of a full range of Mk2a's/b's/c's, (how long since Farish did a decent run of them), and the lack of a decent 63' DMU (I,ve a BH Enterprises 120 which was running round on a much cannibalised 108 chassis), means that it's all been boxed away pending more time, and more careful choices about discretionary expenditure. Be interesting to see how much suffers from dreaded split gear syndrome at some point in the future. (This includes a Peak- yup, with a split gear). It's a hobby and is there to be enjoyed. I'll probably ponder thoughts of which scale I will return to in my fallow period.(Sold an extensive 00 collection built up over 25 years when I forayed into n). Happy modelling. Matt W

Nah, that Queensferry clip is not pretty. 1000s lifted heavy stone trains out of Merehead, no slipping. My Dad would have described the driver in the Queensferry clip as abusing the loco and the track. In fact he'd have described him as something rhyming with 'rock'. Best regards Matt W

Bow Locks. Poor DTG. I hope it's not a catastrophic engine failure after all the work they've put in to get Champion running again. How gutting. Matt W

Epic.

From the really rather wonderful Cyber heritage website and its images on the North Devon Line. A 25 on the Milks from Torrington prior to demolition of the island platform buildings at Barnstaple circa 78/79. There's loads of superb images of 25s on there. Well worth idling away a couple of hours with an ale or two. Good shots of the ball clays from Meeth, and the variety of wagon load freight handled at Barnstaple till about 86. Hear that Sulzer chatter ? Best regards Matt W