Iain.d

Hi Jack, I’m aware of a couple of images of Gresley full brakes in trains shown on the S&D. A few examples being: · Up Pines Express on Monday, 1 August 1960 (Mike Arlett & David Lockett - The Somerset & Dorset in Colour, p.122) · 7.18pm Bath – Templecombe goods on Wednesday 22 May 1957 (Ivo Peters - Somerset and Dorset in the Fifties - Volume 2: 1955-1959, p.138) (Also recorded in Martin Smith’s book No.4) · 11.40am Bournemouth – Bristol on 6 August 1965 (Alan Hammond - Heart of the Somerset & Dorset, p.78) (Might be a Thompson one) They were also to be seen occasionally on the 3.35pm/3.40pm Up Mail. So I think a Hornby one would be just fine. I don’t know of any in pigeon specials but I’d be surprised if they weren’t used at some time. From the images I’ve seen of pigeon specials on the S&D they seem to be made up of predominantly LMR 50ft parcels stock (both panelled and steel sided, with the steel sided being more common), GW Siphons (both internal and external framed), at least one standard passenger carrying vehicle (for the train staff) and often a former ambulance coach rebuilt as a D2129/D2130. I am in the process of building a pigeon train (for my yet to be built layout) and intend to include a Thompson Full Brake in my formation! A Gresley one will likely be included too. Regards, Iain

Thats very nice. Regards, Iain

I think that’s quite hard to define and also a limiting factor of your request. Across many publications there are several apparently ‘one off’ images of particular locomotives working on the S&D including WCs/BoBs/9F/Black 5s/T9s etc. But because most recording / photography of trains was done at weekends (and in the warmer months) and not every train every weekend was recorded, we don’t really know if these were the only workings of a particular locomotive running over the line. Maybe some borrowed or visiting locomotives to Bath did run over the line on consecutive weekends or days of the week but simply weren’t recorded because no one was there to see it or document it. Regards, Iain

Hi, I have had a look through my lists of stock for 12 Jun 59, but I have nothing recorded for that date, sorry! Iain

I agree I had a flick through earlier today – a great resource for modelling. Slightly digressing, I’m currently quite interested in the sets of former LSWR carriages that were principally used for the local services prior to the Maunsell sets. While there are a few photos in some books I have, these images by RE Toop are the most numerous in one place I’ve come across – it’s a shame there’s not many captions against them. Regards, Iain

With regard 34105 Swanage on the S&D line, I only have one image to refer to in Alan Hammond’s - Heart of the Somerset & Dorset (p.87), hauling the 9.08am (SO) Birmingham to Bournemouth passing through Charlton Marshall. Image is dated August 1959. Regards, Iain

Also seen commonly I can only add: 34039 Boscastle, 1959-62 And less common: 34018 Axminster, nk, (Alan Hammond – Heyday of the Somerset & Dorset, p.83) 34094 Morthoe, July 1954 (Alan Hammond – Heyday of the Somerset & Dorset, p.75) 34106 Lydford, c.1957 (Alan Hammond – Spirit of the Somerset & Dorset, p.13) Regards, Iain

I would agree, or the ‘shadows’ have been over corrected in whichever software has been used in post processing the image. In the railway press this type of effect seems quite popular. I’m not a fan. Iain

Sorry for delay in replying, work and life got in the way! I have had a casual browse through my books and can’t find any obvious picture of any 2P on the S&D that’s still lined after 1956. I too would be happy to have it confirmed if any were still lined though. Iain

That looks good, it’s turned out well. Iain

Hi, these coaches are superb. I take it there’s only one buffet, photographed from each side? If so there may have been a mix up on the number application. Something I have done myself on a number of occasions. Iain

I don’t have a definitive list of 2Ps that ran on the line. Some of the shed allocation lists are useful but its worth bearing in mind that some transfers from one shed or region to another may simply be a paperwork exercise and never actually happened. I’ve a fair number of S&D books and over the years I’ve collated most of the picture caption data into a list. From this list (and allowing for picture caption errors and my own transcription errors) the following 2Ps exist in photos somewhere between Bath and Bournemouth West between 1949 and 1962 - 40505, 40509, 40511, 40527, 40537, 40563, 40564, 40568, 40569, 40601, 40634, 40652, 40696, 40697, 40698 and 40700. Iain

In the early BR days quite a few of the 2Ps allocated to S&D sheds were in lined black either with ‘BRITISH RAILWAYS’ on the tender or the early emblem. These include 40505, 40509 and 40527 (Ex MR 2Ps), 40563, 40568, 40569, 40601, 40634 and 40696. Towards the end of the 1950s (and those with the later emblem) fewer seem to be lined, mind you in some instances it could simply be that the lining is lost below the dirt. Iain

There is an image dated September 1960 of 40171 running towards Sturminster Newton with two coaches and a milk tank, probably from Bailey Gate, on page 70 of G.A. Richardson’s Steam on the Somerset and Dorset. Iain