Brentor95

I travelled to and from Whitchurch Down to Tavyside School, The Priory. While waiting for the Launceston train, would helpfully light the gas lamp!

Hope this is OK, please delete if not. Copied from Didcot Railway Centre Facebook page.  Thought might be interesting for some Eastern Region modellers of the early days of British Railways.

26 September 1949, two 61XX class locomotives were transferred from the Western to the Eastern Region of British Railways. Numbers 6129 and 6166 were reallocated to the stock of Neasden shed (34E). They worked London Marylebone to Aylesbury and Princes Risborough trains and were outstationed at Aylesbury for these duties. The Western Region got them back again in July 1951.

In addition to Miss Prism's post regarding 9463 at Penzance, there were two 94xx's allocated to Penzance in 1958/59; 8409 and 8473. Must have been well hidden because photos of 94xx's there are rare. In Chris Leigh's book Rail Routes in Devon and Cornwall, there is a photo of 8492 at Truro on a passenger service to Falmouth. 

I have seen a photo of a maroon Bulleid coach on the WR Plymouth - Launceston branch but can't place it at this time. There is another photo on the branch which included a 'chocolate and cream' Mk 1 coach; that I believe was taken by Peter Gray near Mary Tavy Halt.

There were a few allocated to the Southwest Devon and Cornwall in 1959; 83A Newton Abbot. 9440; 9462; 9487.  83C Exeter. 9439; 9474; 9497.  83D Laira. 8422; 9433; 9467. 83E St Blazey. 8485. 83F Truro 8412; 8421. 84G Penzance. 8409; 8473.

Some photo references; Peter Gray West Country Branch Lines 9487 on the 08.00 Kingswear-Manchester (as far as Newton Abbot) 18th April 1960.

Hugh Ballantyne Western Steam in Colour. 9471 on the 15.50 Cheltenam-Paddington 16th May 1964; 9493 10.20 Gloucester-Chalford 26 September 1964; 8459 on a transfer goods to Acton Yard 21 December 1963.

Very pleased with the samples seen so far.

Late on the subject but very useful! Thanks everybody.

BR 4705 arrived curtesy of the Royal Mail undamaged and all parts correct and in place except !!! The pony wheel axle was half detached from the truck, a common occurrence looking at previous posts but easily rectified . Really makes you wonder how this happens! Certainly not in transit. Otherwise pleased with the Night Owl. Which leads me to comment on the name following earlier discussions on the name. I have a friend in Plymouth who was at Laira back around 1960 so when Heljan first announced that they were going to produce the Night Owl, I mentioned to him that I was looking forward to a 4700. He immediately responded 'Night Owl' so was in use at Laira.

Re. the above:-

 

1) None of the the R&R 45-ton cranes that operated on the UK main lines was ever converted from steam to diesel operation. All remained steam powered to the end of their days, or if preserved are still steam powered today.

 

2) Only one was ever painted in yellow livery, the former GWR No 19 crane, which as ADRR 95213 was painted yellow whilst allocated to Plymouth (Laira) circa 1984, and a very few photos exist showing it carrying this rather unflattering livery. It carried the yellow livery into preservation in 1987 at which time it was repainted black. 

 

If anyone has, or knows of, good photos showing '213 in its yellow livery I would be extremely grateful to hear of them.

 

ADRR 95215 (the crane in the linked photo above in 'hybrid' livery) was in that state when withdrawn from Newton Heath and sold to the Bluebell Railway in 1981. The paintwork on the cab does suggest that there was probably an intent to repaint the crane into yellow livery immediately prior to the decision to withdraw. It is not known, however, when the cab was repainted in that way. The crane never carried full yellow livery, and the incongruous parts were definitely not 'donated' from another crane.

 

 

(Edited for spelling - oops!)

Hi craneman, reading your request for a good photo of '213, I have found this one, not so good, taken at Laira 07-09-1985.