Southof1E top tmd

By 1991 few locos were stabled on Bletchley HS as traffic declined. 08807 rests between station pilot duties with a 31 for company early evening on November 27th 1991 NR

not the most common of sights at Inverkeithing, i reckon, 45048 with an up ballast back on September 20th 1983. A dave Spencer photo NR

hard to recognise now but perhaps the station roof helps. the late Tony Ewer catches 86233 still in BR blue with an empty van train probably for Thornton Fields at Liverpool St on August 8th 1987 NR http://www.leightonlogs.org

a phot from May 93 from the late Tony Ewer of the farewell "Mothball" tour in May 93 crossing an overbridge near Winslow. full tour report at http://leightonlogs.org/Mothballfull.htm cheers NR

A rare loco at Fenchurch Street scene on January 8th 1994. Metals sector 47279 is the power on a short engineers train. NR http://www.leightonlogs.org

Edinburgh Waverly early on May 5th 1984 with 26004 and 26005 the exotic traction on the superb Anglo Scottish Freighter tour. In the foreground are some of the DAA (daft as !!) organisers of this epic weekend tour. A Tony Ewer phot

19/12/84 We 86227 1B06 1714 Euston-Northampton 81007 1B07 1718 Euston-Northampton LB-NO 81020 1B08 1745 Euston-Northampton 86244 1A76 1730 Birmingham-Euston NO-MK 81006 1B09 1815 Euston-Northampton MK-NO 066 1837 Birmingham-Euston NO-LB a typical but always enjoyable "Evening Cobbler" leap frpm Leighton Buzzard. Seems like yesterday we were peering into the gloom South of Leighton to see if the marklights of the approaching train were wide (an 86) or narrow (an 81). 81007 produced on this day 36 years ago as did 81006..happy days on the WCML NR http://www.leightonlogs.org

Must be a few years since Shrewsbury had a pilot with the closure of Coton Hill and loss of parcels traffic. 08395 is stabled for the weekend at the South end of the station on August 6th 1983 cheers NR http://www.leightonlogs.org

From a time when journeys were a pleasure not a drag, peak 98 waits departure time with 1E40 0750 St Pancras - Sheffield on March 30th 1974. 98 later became 45059. Thanks to John Williams for the classic 70s phot NR http://www.leightonlogs.org

The second man is ringing the "bobby" as the driver of looks on with 31321 and 31134 providing background noise at Derby on August 19th 1984. A Tony Ewer phot cheers NR http://www.leightonlogs.org

40080 whistles through Wolves with a Bescot yard bound oil train on May 25th 1983, a very different scene today..... NR http://www.leightonlogs.org

the magic of steam heat caught superbly by the late Tony Ewer. 27018 is steaming away nicely prior to departure from Edinburgh Waverly with 2L18 0625 to Dundee on May 5th 1984 NR

45017 is a rare visitor to Reading steaming profusely on the 0815 Penzance - Padd relief on December 23rd 1982 happy days! NR

Some of the peaks went via Nuneaton (some changing to electric) others via Bedford - Bletchley that July saturday. Bletchley men i believe were involved on some turns and for some time afterwards there were rumours of 100 mph plus peaks running Bletchley - Watford!!! Another phot from the day 45145 with the diverted 0800 Sheffield - Euston at Leighton Buzzard again on Saturday July 3rd 1982. The cast iron foot bridge was sadly removed in May 2019 NR

July 3rd 1982 will long be remembered on the Southern WCML as "Peak gala day!" The day is drawing to a close here as 45104 takes the 1700 Euston - Sheffield through Ledburn at some speed. Thats 45104, 45110, 45111, 45114 45118, 45130, 45131, 45134, 45138, 45145 and 45149! 11 peaks all at Euston that July day! NR

310051 at Shoeburyness after working the 1210 ex Fenchurch St on October 30th 1996. The 310s provided power for many CTC turns until their final day in service on the line back on 17th November 2001 The 310s were nearly always warm inside, well cushioned seats and howling motors, a good few liked em! NR

The traincrew looking like real railwayman of the time (April 8th 1982) leave 46027 having brought her in from the North at Birmingham New St , this particular turn over A Tony Ewer photo NR

2A23 0350 Euston - Bletchley was a Monday to Saturday staff train being not advertised beyond Watford from memory . Loco hauled often a roaring class 81-85 with spectacular acceleration as usually load 3 (BSK and 2 vans). Stopped many shacks including Queens Park main line and Leighton Buzzard (around 0450 - usually 20 early) . Stopped running 1n 1990 i believe, must have run for a long time as it was known as "the milk empties". A classic middle of the night staff train... NR

45108 on 1A24 1335 Liverpool - Euston which featured diesel traction to Stafford due a Sunday isolation on June 23rd 1985 cheers NR

Apologies for Kodak Instamatic quality but those who spent hours/days/weeks at the West end of Temple Meads will have memories stirred by this view of 832 Onslaught on Bath Rd in October 72 NR

Not sure the exact dates of the few original overhead gantries at Shenfield station are, could date from the 50's. The attached image shows what i assume is an original gantry number plate looks like shade of GE green on it too. Whatever , pretty old! NR

Whilst Motherwell's/Shields leaping salmon emblem was regulary photographed on their class 37's and 81's perhaps less common was salmon on shunters. 08568 shows her leaping salmon nicely at Mossend yard on June 20th 1986. NR

Apologies if already raised but does anybody why 40182 has a blue line under her number in this Sep 77 viewat Birkenhead depot. A John Williams photo. cheers NR

70s railway scene courtesy of john Williams 37187 erupts out of Swansea with a carmarthen bound train on December 23rd 1976 NR

Over the years many of us would have made the long trek from Swansea High St to Swansea East Docks stabling point. 37178 is at the head of a line of her classmates, some with brake vans on a quiet January 23rd 1977. After the weekend these locos would be back on the coal trains to and from Swansea docks. All been history since the mid/ late 80s sadly but the memories of this atmospheric stabling point will never fade!