anroar53

At least one photo on Flickr, there may be others. https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsimages/26905327257/in/photolist-GZwQqH-6CSmyf-cR1pbA-e2QKdm-u724Sg-23quEJd-RfMQZZ-2iWrFBo-r2FSpV-ddYVUA-qC98En-b2Hjia-dY1oSi-8DQ9uN-Dk2WpR-2kUrDvA-2iPRyYd-6HSuVM-hisi9c-2iRzmcg-2iZxt77-FK6zaE-a5teoW-rJ1TUT-dj99zE-6F4keu-Zm8eZe-qBji9u-2iSxzSd-qSJSTB-Hi9Zxf-HgQKEx-bv4jUp-mT6USv-96yUDR-2iz7Mcv-hisi8R-c6sKKf-c6sKJs-buQMmS-6RMM5z-j9JMPp-89pkjG-2iz6tLE-akpkQh-dg9mtY-akmwVt-jbHCUm-hisi9n-szhsU

A few recent longish Youtube Videos of the layout with some added sound effects for a bit of atmosphere. Still 'a work in progress' as it were. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X54OMtQ5QuA&t=28s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHfarBLRn2M&t=104s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CWDOapePqg&t=12s

A couple of entries from my blog of day to day running that I have gradually been posting online. This one covering the derailment of a Freightliner train in Tring Cutting in January 1977. Very much a 'one persons view' of events as they unfolded over a couple of days. I still haven't got round to transcribing the Great Storm of 1987 when I was on Early shift at another location, but that had loads of stuff in it too. https://www.facebook.com/WestCoastSouthernSection/posts/pfbid0wT4vincKUf43QbmuTFVyqc4hh7NxD9Pe9gtG1XRoCZYJn7CiLqG1iRbgHygRzpg7l https://www.facebook.com/WestCoastSouthernSection/posts/pfbid02bn9d6HzdNM3mpy67fucqyH2Q8jY8GpPUVbyPGDe7H7FTVQoJUxXC3mABt6tFPxUQl

Slightly out of the time period but on 2nd May 1963 Jubilee 45562 'Alberta' worked a Leeds to Windsor & Eton Central Excursion through to Windsor via High Wycombe and the line to Maidenhead. I'm looking at a picture of it passing Bourne End (between High Wycombe and Maidenhead), which is in the book 'Railways through the Thames Valley by C.R.L Coles. I'm pretty certain there was also a picture of it approaching Windsor across the arches which featured in an issue of the Railway Magazine of the period. A brief mention of it on the Six Bells Junction website.

Although this was a few years after headcodes were done away with on the front of Locos I have some notes of a day when the Kings Lynn to Liverpool Street services were being diverted via Finsbury Park. 1L35 was one Kings Lynn to Liverpool Street service which had its loco fail at Ashwell, and another service from Kings Lynn was delayed by it, which was 1L41. (This was 1980).

This might be of interest. The Shunting and 'Trip' workings involving Somers Town/Churchyard Sidings/North London Incline and St. Pancras Goods. From 1966/69.

I can remember between 1972-74 that the last bit of Somers Town Yard being operational was the former covered 'Milk Depot' at the north end. By this time it was being used to load/unload Box vans with mail. The Post Office would drive onto this Dock and load up/unload. Being only a couple of short sidings there was a regular visit by the station pilot engine to remove loaded ones, and put arrivals in for unloading. I would often watch the shunting going on from the back windows of the Signal Box. I think the vans were 'tripped' to either Churchyard Sidings or St. Pancras Goods Depot for onward movement ? At Christmas time I seem to recall that the centre sidings at St. Pancras were filled up with sealed Box Vans from St. Pancras Goods Depot full of boxes of whisky and spirits so the Transport Police could 'keep an eye on them' more closely when everywhere else was shut down. I seem to remember that at the front of Somers Town fronting the Euston Road the old BR Maroon Enamel signs used to proclaim it to be 'Somers Town - Goods Depot & Potato Market', although after all this time I'm not certain as I haven't found any photos of these signs close up.

Some extracts of some old notices I found the other day.

There are a number of photos in the book 'Branch Line to Hawkhurst' by Mitchell and Smith that shows a 1.45pm from Hawkhurst Freight working, mostly hauled by a 'C' class, although it doesn't mention if this was a daily working or not ?

The Loco headlamps were dual purpose so a separate 'red' tailamp needn't be carried. Older lamps did indeed have a red slide that was kept at the side of the lamp when not in use and was simply dropped in front of the lens when needed as a tail lamp. More modern types had a swivel red lens which could be dropped into place inside the lamp by turning a thumb switch outside. Some photos below.

Not exactly High Wycombe, but at Beaconsfield, so would have passed through there. 10001 and Brake Tender. Not sure if the link is working to Flickr ? April 65 Beaconsfield Stn 10001 | jon L1049H | Flickr

For a short time 73141, when in Network Rail ownership, ran with 'Ron Westwood' one side, and 'David Gay' on the other. (February 2009) These nameplates came off when 73141 went into GBRf ownership soon after to become 'Charlotte' (July 2009).

We had Cathode Ray Train Describers at Euston PSB through the 1970s, although I think they were changed to LED types later on ? The emissions from these Cathode tubes were capable of being picked up by TV Licence Detector Vans, prompting a visit from said authority. [ Probably not helped by the fact that the Security Wardens had a 'covert' TV set in use occasionally :-) ]

I think that it was because when the train headcodes were still displayed on the front of trains the 'W' was considered to be a bit squashed up and indistinct if used ? Besides 'V' is just a 'W' sawn in half vertically. I heard it once said that the Western Region didn't mind as 'V' was short for them being 'V'ictorious over the other Regions. ;-)

At one time 'T' was used for Special Excursion trains operating wholly within the London Midland Region. 'Z' was used for Inter-regional Specials. A Special that originated in the former LM areas might briefly cross into Eastern or Western areas, and subsequently warrant a 'Z' rather than 'T'. The 'T' was also used by local Trip freights. 'Z' also got used for other Specific trains like the Weedkiller and Speeno Rail grinder.