rodent279

Somewhere, someone must have a definitive history of the EE 350BHP shunter, and it's derivatives, and where these locos were exported to! I can think of 7 countries outside of the UK:- Sweden, Holland, Denmark, Malaysia, Sudan, Egypt & Australia. Can anyone add any? Cheers N

In fact, looking at Ray's first post again, no 402 looks astonishingly like the early pre-war LMS shunters.

No.405 looks very similar to a photo of a Malaysian machine i have seen some photos of on Flickr.

Fascinating, I knew nothing of the South African & Sudanese connections. There seems to be very little information online about the Egyptian "08's". I wonder if any survive? cheers N

There were also very similar machines sold in small numbers to Sweden :- https://flic.kr/p/6ZCkV2 and 15 sold to Egypt:- https://flic.kr/p/w86oMo & some to Denmark, but I can't find any photos. Edit:-found it! http://www.jernbanen.dk/motor_solo.php?s=9&lokid=21 The Danish machine was the former WD 70273, built Derby in 1945, taken into DSB stock as traktor no. 6 in 1954. It appears to have worked at Korsor, Helsingor & Copenhagen, being scrapped in 1974. There's also these:- https://flic.kr/p/sZHj3k https://flic.kr/p/w86oMo

Slightly off topic, but seems like an appropriate thread-what was the furthest north in the UK that a CIWL or fourgon car ever reached? Did any make it north of Londres? cheers N

Fascinating thread. I could read threads like this all day! Going slightly OT, I know Westerns made it to Bletchley, Wolverton, Northampton, Bedford & Luton, on stone trains, and at least one each of a Hymek & Warship to Bletchley on specials, but I wonder if a 22 ever made it to any of those locations? Does anyone know? Cheers N

In fact, moving slightly off topic, it's interesting to speculate whether, if the GWR had gained control of the Bristol & Gloucester instead of the Midland, the Badminton route would have had an east-south connection allowing London trains to reach BTM via Mangotsfield.

The thing is, Parkway itself is not that well sited. If the MR via Mangotsfield had survived, a parkway could have been built somewhere near Westerleigh, or slightly further south, near what is now Lyde Green. With the ring road nearby, & M4 a mile or so distant, I would think that would be as good as Parkway if not better. Of course, an extra junction off the M4 would be required-but that has been needed for at leat the last 10 yrs, if not longer.

Fascinating. My sister lived in Bristol from 1978 until a couple of weeks ago, and I've lived in Downend since 2006. Despite many visits to Bristol during the 80's & 90's, I've no real memory of either the flyover, or the railway bridge outside TM. Fray Bentos's photos are addictive! Cheers N

On a related note, doors anyone know if any maroon locos, i.e. Westerns or Warships, ever carried arrows? I know some gem locos did. Cheers N

And I would imagine that ADB968021, the former 84009, would have been used for load testing. Though I've no evidence for that.

Either that's not 81016, or it's not 1983. 81016 was the loco written off in the accident at Linslade Tunnel, in the early hours of 9th December 1982. Cheers N

Some years earlier than the time you mention, I remember seeing a piece in Modern Railways sometime in about 1980, about the conversion of the last stretch of 6.25kv to 25kv, in the Liverpool St area. There was a photo of an AC electric used for testing - it was either an 85 or an 86/3, can't remember which.

They lost the 2nd pan when they were dual braked, in the early 70's. I'd say by about 1973 they'd all have one pan. Cheers N

No, I am l pretty sure all had marker lights when they were withdrawn. The only exception may be 85027 & 033, which were early casualties in 1983. Think one of the two may have had dots. Cheers N

Looking at it, I don't think it is 163 actually. Here is a photo taken in Feb 1981:- https://flic.kr/p/8htEao and here is one taken in July 1981:- https://flic.kr/p/dMtgY5 I think 163 is tattier along the side around the mid-height band. Also, there is a small rust patch just to the left of the left grab rail, clearly visible in both photos, but absent in mine. Thoughts anyone? cheers N

17 bogies would have been well off the end of the platform though wouldn't it?

Do you know what, I thought it was a long shot posting the question, I didn't really expect an answer, except in vague terms along the lines of "likely to be x, y z" etc. RMWEB comes up trumps again! The problem is that the 12yr old me had the line in the book mentality-I didn't really take notes, except to scribble numbers down on scraps of paper, that then got discarded/lost after the numbers had been underlined in the book! So I have no record of van nos, or even of the list of locos I saw in the works! It's an Instamatic photo, so no chance of getting a van no. I would imagine it is 163, I can't imagine there being two van trains close together in the afternoon. It is an Up train, but I'm only guessing at the time, so it could easily be 1700 ish, or alternatively, being a Sat & being emcars, maybe the van train took an earlier path? It's definitely an afternoon shot, after leaving the works-I have two or three of the Wizzo & late-lamented 818 Glory around the turntable that come earlier on in the film. We had to travel back to Leighton Buzzard, so we'd have been waiting for an HST to Paddington, which from memory would have been at about 10 past the hour. Thanks all, these little threads are really satisfying when you can piece a piece of the jigsaw that has been missing for nigh on 35yrs! cheers N

Evening all. Can anyone id this class 31 please? Photo taken at Swindon stn on 6th June 1981-the date of Swindon Works Open Day. It would have been late afternoon-about 3-4pm. https://flic.kr/p/xxjmWJ cheers N

Sorry, yes, typo on my part, I meant class 85. I was referring to the lower of the two.

I'm pretty sure 85013 was another with dominoes. I doubt any went to sealed beam before 1977-headcodes were taken out of use on 01/01/1976 & supposed to be wound to 0000, TOPS no.s would have been applied in about 1973-4. Either 81003 or 007 was the last survivor with dominoes (discounting 83009/012/015).

:-)

With regard to post #568-I'm pretty sure that's an 81 not an 86. Look at the shape of the bodyside-it's smooth. Class 85 bodyside were a strong steel trough with a lightweight superstructure carrying the grilles & roof. With regard to post #578-orange cantrail stripes came in around 1978, as an additional safety measure-below this line there should be no danger of shock from the OHL or roof mounted equipment.

Thanks Nidge, that site is a little gem. I havn't yet got any info on who the car was first sold through, I just know that YR is a central London reg, & that it was first registered 13/1/1969. There is no sign of any dealer stickers or a dealer plate in the car. Where is the white plastic dealer sticker located on the car? Back on topic, so there were car trains from Cowley to London then? Presumably Hymek hauled in 69/70? cheers N