SP Steve

Not the most technically accomplished of images but a few shots of spotters with their 'prey' - I wonder how many of the younger element kept up their interest in railways? Derby 04 SEP 1976 Crewe 24 SEP 1977 Crewe 24 SEP 1977

Her Majesty paying the lowly people of Wigan a visit (I seem to recall she was heading for the staff shop at Heinz or something like that). Must be one of the few occasions she managed to cop what she'd had for haulage.

I had posted this image a good while back asking if anyone could put a name to the face - since found out via another site that it is Lee Jewell (aka Six Million Dollar Man). The image was taken on the last day of operations at Bristol Bath Road depot.

I did wonder after posting if it is actually being added to a rake as there are a number of people looking out from the drop lights as if they are heading towards something rather than leaving?

The 53A Models Flickr account has a few images of this vehicle including the following: https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/34108460403/in/album-72157604142594351/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/35550032861/in/album-72157604142594351/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/38482787196/in/album-72157604142594351/

Go one different for your green / small yellow panel liveried loco by adopting the BR 'Arrows of Indecision' Class 31 D5677 (31.249) seen stabled on Tinsley depot.

Unknown engine in an unknown location!

33.102 seen light engine on the approaches to Waterloo, 31st August 1979. The image resonates with me as it depicts a background that has all been swept away.

8033 seen at Crewe works with its new identity of 20.033 chalked on.

A shaky image of E9115E seen bringing up the rear of a service at Doncaster in the summer of 1973.

3692 (later to become 08.530) at Doncaster

Fed up with the cliched burnt out brake van? Go one better with a burnt out carriage look! The mortal remains of QPV DB977249 (ex Mk1 CK M16081) seen at Woodhams Yard.

Not sure if you want a heavy weathered or clean look for your loco? 33.029 seen at Bristol Temple Meads exhibits a third / two thirds cleanliness ratio.

I've redone the scan at a higher resolution and sharpened it up slightly - the nameplate's first word would appear to end in 'VE' so many thanks to Stationmaster for your help. Here's the full image - I presume 'Z43' was a special working but would it have originated on the Western region or would it have come from further afield? (my carriage recognition skills are on a par with my GWR loco knowledge).

Many thanks for the names Pete, it's always nice to know their names and history. If you have any contact details for them then feel free to either pass on the image or let me know and I will get copies for them. I have some pictures of my dad at work (he was a guard at Springs Branch) and it's nice to remember him in his work guise.

Many thanks for all the help - I will try and do a better scan as the first one was a little rushed. Looking at the nameplate the last letter of the first word is 'E' but hopefully a better scan will endorse 'Cleeve Abbey' as the likely candidate.

Hopefully someone may be able to help me identify the following engines - withdrawn 'King' at Woodhams and a 'Castle' seen at Cardiff Central (may be wrong even on this point mind). Other than that I can't really add much else but someone may be able to put flesh on the bones!

Class 47 1575 (later 47.455) at Sheffield Midland, date unknown - the engine seemed to be a bit of a 'pet' loco for Tinsley as I have images of it heading specials (presuming for the depot staff) to various locations.

Here's an image of the under frame as it was purported to be in 1979 showing the same side as above - not a lot of difference unless I'm missing something obvious?

I found an image of 86.101 on my hard drive from which I've gleaned the following images:

On the subject of things being in unusual order:

If you can access Model Railway Constructor Planbook 3 "BR Electric Locomotives in 4mm Scale" by R.S. Carter, it has side elevations of 86/0, 86/1, 86/2 and 86/3 all depicting the 'A' (corridor) side under which the compressors were sited. Brian Morrison's "Power of the AC Electrics" also carries line drawings but beware as the line drawing for 86.101 shows it with an underframe layout more akin to the 86/2s. The caption states "86101 in the condition that it was to be seen in 1978 after naming" even though on the very next page is a side on photograph of the same loco in 1979 with an identical under frame as that shown in the first mentioned volume (to confuse matters further the drawings are all by R S Carter!). The following link is normally quite useful in identifying components but it makes no mention of the differences between the various Class 86 sub-classes. http://www.locodocs.co.uk/brmanuals/AC-GeneralParticularsDrivingandOperatingProcedureDefects-1-part1.htm From the above it would appear the two compressors, main and auxiliary, were arranged so that on initial start up the auxiliary (powered from the battery) provided pressure to activate the air blast circuit breaker and raise the pantograph after which the main took over (presumably on the removal of the auxiliary, the main took over both functions drawing power first from the battery before being switched to run on mains). I've measured the buffers as depicted on the drawings and they come in at 7.5mm (22.5").

Taken from BR29620/2 "Handbook of Instructions Relating to Carriage Cleaning & Servicing" which covered the North Eastern Region dated January 1956. The reference to "M.31" is listed in an appendix of equipment and part numbers as "Cleaning Emulsion M.31". Another appendix shows facilities for each of the NER Cleaning Sheds and only Gosforth, Heaton and York Clifton had a wash plant facility - I'm guessing a lot of elbow grease was the order of the day at the others.

There's a useful image on the page listed below which you may be able to scale as a Tyers Token measures 190mm in length (65mm across the oblong). http://www.railwayana.net/guides/Operational/signalling_index.htm

I measured up W92076W at Tysley and the battery box was approx 735 x 500 x 300mm (l x h x w) which would equate to 9.6 x 6.5 x 4.0mm in 4mm scale. It sat approx 180mm inwards from the front face of the angle trussing which would be about 2.3mm in the 00 gauge world. Below is a composite image as I couldn't get it in one shot due to it being a tight squeeze. Beware that in common with such boxes it sits on a slightly larger angle iron frame. The end switch gear on this particular vehicle was missing but from the outlines left behind I made a note that it sat at the same end as the vacuum cylinder.