Blobrick

Whilst on the subject of traffic on the branch in the 1950s, does anyone know when Maunsell BCK coaches were first used to replace the LSWR sets? I know sets 42 to 46 were associated with the branch, set 42 was withdrawn in Nov 1957, sets 43 & 44 May 1958, and set 46 survived in service until March 1959. However these withdrawal dates do not reflect their last use on the Lyme Regis Branch as the sets were used on other local branches as well. Does anyone have any ideas? Bob C

Once again John, I m indebted to you. At least i now know that there was a daily goods train , with l suspect any additional short notice items running as mixed on permitted trains Many thanks Bob C

Great info John, I appreciate the heads up on the Hornby Brake van. I ve ordered some of the books recommended to me, but whilst l await their arrival, do you know if all freight traffic ran as mixed traffic, or was there freight only trains?

Thanks Phil There's some nice shots in your collection, thanks for the link. Bob C

Brilliant, John, thats a few more books to add to my list. Do you know if any contain any information or photos re goods working in the 1950/60s? Cheers Bob C

Thank you for the guidance as to a definitive book to search for, l very much appreciate your suggestion. Bob C

Hi Phil Long time no speak! Hope all is well ? Thanks for the insight, I like the idea of the DVD, l ll take a peek later Bob C

Hi there Thanks for the info, I was not aware of A Metro Cam unit being used on a rail tour, so thats on to add to the list. Interesting info re the Auto tank, I had read somewhere that there had been issues with it, but not that it had damaged the track work! Thanks so much for taking the time to reply Bob C

I ve been doing a little research, into the Lyme Regis Branch over its last 15 - 20 years of existence. The branch is famous for the retention of the 3 Adams Radial tanks due to its lightly laid nature, with the tanks spreading their weight over 5 axle as opposed to the usual 3 on 0-6-0 locos. The tanks were only retired n 1960/61 after the branch was relaid. I note that in 1953 there was an RTCS tour over the branch, which used a Terrier tank to assist a single Radial tank, does anyone know of any other locos around this time were alternative traction was used? I know that a 14xx 0-4-2 tank was tried in the early 50s but crews did not take to them. My other question is, the branch was worked as a mixed train branch. I m having great difficulty in finding pictures of the type of brake van used on the mixed trains. I suspect it could have been a former "Road Van"LSWR van, but would love to know! Finally could anyone recommend a definitive book covering the branch please? Cheers Bob C

Very interesting photo, l must admit the loco looks good in two tone livery, however l note with interest that the centre doors are plated over, does anyone know when this practice commenced on he class 27 ? I ask as my Heljan D5403 in green with SYWP has its doors plated over. I would have thought that if the plating was done towards the end of 1966, then a FYWP would have been applied?. Therefore l wonder when the doors were plated over much earlier? Bob C

I am trying to find information on the loops at Falahill Summit. I have a few photos l have found in Roger Siviter "Waverley : Portrait of a famous route" which show the south west end of the loops and associated sidings. However information/photos/plans for the north east end of the layout has eluded my searching for the last 10 years. The "Old Plans" web site has copies of the 1907 1:2500 OS maps but they are too early, showing the weighing station and track work before the loops were added, so l m not sure what became loop and what remained after the loops were finished. Can anyone suggest any other stones l ve not looked under yet? Bob C

Many thanks to Johnster and Miss Prism for confirming what l suspected. Oh well back to hoping that someone produces a new version of the classic GWR Autocoach up to current 21st century standards then !!! Many Thanks Bob C

A quick question to the more knowledgeable members regarding these lovely coaches, sorry if his has been asked before, but if so l ve been unable to find it! Having read through most of this thread, I understand that these new Hornby coaches are not to the same diagram as the 7mm Lionheart 4 coach sets. However l was wondering if additional brake coaches were produced to be use as strengtheners to existing rakes or as single coaches where required. I suspect from what l ve read so far, that they were only made as sets, remaining as such in the early part of their lives, only being broken up in later years? The reason l ask is that l could have a use for a single brake coach as an alternative to an autocoach circ 1931-34 Many thanks in advance Bob C

I d like to say a big thank you for the time and effort you ve taken to scan and up load these photos Dave. I work within the rail industry here in Derby and its been fantastic seeing what the railways here in the East Midlands were like in their hay day. Myself and others like me no doubt appreciate the fact your father took photos of the real working railway, common goods locos, shunters etc, so often over looked by other photographers, who chose to photograph the important and fashionable trains and rolling stock of the time, and by doing so have produced a slightly distorted picture of railway workings for the following generations. Like the late David Hey's web site, l hope these images will become part of a national archive, so that future railway enthusiasts can see what it was really like. I hope that there are possibly more of your fathers work to add in the future, and l for one will be coming back to these pages over and over again, as a source of inspiration for a long tiome to come Thank you DaveF

Yes now you ve mentioned it, Melmoth l think you are rignt, possibly a basis for a preserved line layout then?

Amazing, after almost 40 years, whats the chance of that!! Bob C

I am sure like me, a few of the older RMweb members will remember seeing the attached Roy Link plan and lovely artwork from the Railway Modeller back in the late 70s or very early 80s. If l remember correctly the plan was based around a southern region branch terminus. Looking at the artwork, l ve been trying to work out which company, if any, it represents? To my eyes it looks like LSWR, but l am no expert, and therefore offer it to the more knowledgeable members to comment on. Bob C

Many Thanks for this info 18B, that ties up nicely what l seen and not seen. A Big thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread, thanks to your help l have a far better picture of the area's traction in the late 60s than l did when l started

Does anyone know or have photos of what type of fuel tanks wagons were used in this area (East Midlands), around this time, and what company supplied them?

Can anyone help? I m seeking a Heljan 0 gauge class 40 in Green with small Yellow Warning panels. Serial numbers HJ4050 Please PM me with details. Good home waiting! Bob C

Hi Caradoc Now there's a model for Heljan to scale up to 7mm! , I bet Kestrel would look most impressive in that scale. Talking of prototype diesels, l ve seen mention that Falcon worked out of Shirebrook for a short period in around 1963 before returning to Brush Works and then reappearing on the Western Region in 1964 Thanks for your input Bob C

Hi Derek Thanks for this info, I believe l found the same data base whilst trawling through the net, its one of the reasons l started this thread as it makes no mention of 47s or 31s upon Shirebrooks's opening. I do like the idea of a class 17, l suspect their stay was very short lived as l ve not seen any photos of a Clayton working around the east mids at this time. Thanks Bob c

Thanks Jools, Thats an interesting thought. So far l ve gleened that the depot opened with 6 class 47 and 3 class 31s. However Tinsley had numerous class 20s, 25/3, 31, 37 & 47. I ve also found reference to Toton's class 44s also being seen at Tinsley around this period. So I suspect its fair to say if it was allocated to Tinsley it wound have turned up at Shirebrook sooner or later

Hi Jools, I did wonder about that, so a Toton 25/1, or 45 would not appear out of place in 1966 popping in for a slurp of diesel then?

Many thanks for this info Woodenhead, i thought l d read somewhere that Tinsley allocated locos were out sheded there from the out set. Also thanks for correcting my dates, Feb 1966 fits better with my time scales anyway. Looks like l ll be trawling the book shelves of various emporiums for a copy of that book too! Many Thanks Bob C