Swindon 123

Your wish is my command. Included in todays feast are some of Gregs collection of rolling stock, heavily geared to steel traffic, as would be expected on a layout featuring a steelworks. First one of the Class 40 fleet, 352 on a train of Covhops and Prestwins. Close up of 352. Now some of the train. B870855 B870816. B870861. Prestwin B873721. B877387. (Well I thinks that's the number). At the tail end B955055. The above brake van was a familiar sight to Greg and myself as it was one of the few that were re-clad at some point in their lives completely in plywood. It spent the final years of its BR life parked up in the P-way sidings at Sutton Bridge Jcn where we would see it every time we drove past on a train. Back to the locos sees D1007, "Western Talisman" on a train of coils. Finally three locos wait for the off up in the Steelworks exchange sidings. Enjoy. Paul J.

Here are a few more photos, generally of parts of the layout not covered before. First have a look near the station before moving on to some shots of the steelworks. 1813 departs the Up Goods with a loaded coal. The house backs just out of shot on the left in the previous shot. The street in front of the houses. A shot of the steelworks from the Blast Furnaces end looking towards the BR Exchange Sidings. 08951 makes its way out of the steelworks complex past the blast furnaces, with a train of BAA/BBA's. The blast furnaces. 08951 enters into the Exchange Sidings. To finish off with a couple of loco shots, here's D5382 fresh from the paint shops after weathering by Greg. One more to join the Eastwell Ironstone fleet. Paul J.

Well a couple of months have gone by and I finally got round to taking some more shots of Shenston Road, coupled with the fact that Greg had finished a couple of new Westerns to add to his fleet. So first off a couple of shots of the new Westerns, with a couple of other locos thrown in. When I've finished cropping the other shots I'll post them. First D1005 on a train of steel coils. Note that on the one end the headboard clips have been removed from D1005 after repairs to accident damage. Don't ask me which end this is as Westerns are not my strongest class. I'm sure Greg will be able to fill in that detail. Next D1054, Western Governor on a train of Gulf bogie tanks and then a passenger. To continue with the hydraulic theme for today, three from Gregs fleet. D1028, Western Hussar on a coal train. Hymek D7056 on a train of Bitumen tanks. And finally "Teddy Bear" D9535 on a trip working. Paul J.

Sorry David a quick hijack of your topic again for a "now & then" opportunity. Not quite from the same place this time but shot from around the rear coach of the train in your photo and just over 18 years later. Approaching the site of Corby Glen station. In the far distance can just be made out the first of 3 overbridges known as "Faith, Hope & Charity" in steam days as when you reached "Charity you knew you had reached the top of Stoke bank. Taken from 55013 working 1L44 the 1605 KX -York, 11th September 1981. Note how in the intervening 18 years the slow lines have been straightened out from the original deviation around the site of the platforms. Paul J.

A notice on the display case indicated in the first few months of 2015, but I can't remember the exact month. Paul J.

I don't know why but I've had a lot of trouble adding text outside the quote box, hence the strange post above??? Anyhow my post with the Warflat photo has been suitably amended thanks to TheQ Paul J

Errrr, I stand suitably corrected and so will the post. Paul J.

Based on what adrianbs has said above then this would be a photo of the third type of warflat. JEV, W160018, Temple Mills, 2nd February 1982. Paul J. PS as with a lot of my photos a higher resolution copy can be found on my Flickr site here, https://flic.kr/p/ofX1gP

Working headcodes lasted quite late on the GE lines. Here's another one of mine from 1982 with the headcode still in use. 305412 approaches Bethnal Green station with the 1230 Liverpool Street to Bishops Stortford service, In the distance 47549 can be seen at the start of the climb up Bethnall Green bank with the 1230 service from Liverpool Street to Norwich, 24th March 1982. Paul J. Edited because I keep on hitting the wrong key and upload the post before I have finished. IDIOT!!

Not meaning to hijack your excellent thread but looking at this particular picture spotted a "then & now" opportunity with one of my own, 13 years 1 month after your own shot. 47235 runs along the Down & Up goods loop at Preston on a Rocksalt train, 29th June 1984. Paul J. Edited to add David's photo as it didn't come out on the first attempt. Not much sun about in Preston on both days. Par for the course.

If all goes according to plan the Model of "Cider Queen" will be in the earlier Bulmers livery similar to that carried by their lorries and should look as in the photo below. "Cider Queen" at Bulmers March 1970. This livery was carried until the mid 1970's when it was altered slightly in loosing its white roof for a grey one. The later livery it carried until 2004 when it was restored to BR Green. The only difference between the model and the photo will be an additional BTC registration plate which it carried from around 1970/1 to the late 70's. (Not sure of the exact date). It was that plate that enabled D2578 to work what was most probably the first preserved Diesel Railtour from Hereford station to Moreton-on- Lugg RAOC depot on the 8th July 1971. A couple of photos of said tour below. At Hereford waiting for the off. Inside RAOC Moreton-on-Lugg. Paul J.

Well Rivercider has answered the question about the "clayhoods". Very nice and rare photo of "Cider Queen", actually doing what it was bought for by Bulmers. Shunting wagons onto the "apple canal" unloading point. In the late 60's early 70's Bulmers used to have apples shipped in by rail, from France I think, in a variety of mainly hopper wagons. Originally they had a small Fowler 0-4-0 DM shunter, "Woodpecker" but this proved too small and underpowered. When they got custardy of 6000 "King George V" the Fowler was deemed to be underpowered and so Bulmers bought an more powerful ex BR shunter, in this case ex D2578 from Hunslet for the princely sum of £2,500 + £180 delivery, and named it Cider Queen for shunting duties. The top right of the photo shows "Cider Queen and a raft of wagons sitting over the "apple canal" which looked similar to LNER coal drops but of modern construction. From the loco the wagons in view appear to be , BR 20t brake van, 2 x 20t coke hoppers (all steel variety) and then 2 x 21t coal hoppers, which I believe is what the apples generally arrived in. This traffic didn't last long in this form and as Bulmers planted more orchards it died off in the early 70's. I don't remember seeing it when I first visited the Bulmer railway Centre in 1974. Below are a couple of photos in my possession showing "Cider Queen" being named by that years Cider Queen which give you an idea as to the construction of the apple unloading facility. The loco is sitting on the "apple canal" for the naming and the date was 13th November 1968 which was the unvailing of the Bulmers rail facility and also the first public steaming of 6000 "King George V" Paul J.

Two very interesting photos. The date is no earlier than mid 1968 as the middle road on down through the station has been lifted and no later than 1974 as the the whole area was resignalled between May & Sept 73. With twin tunnels at Dinmore and one at Ledbury, a tunnel inspection vehicle would not be unknown at Hereford. With regards to the H&R Johnston trailer I believe the buildings behind it where once a tileworks. I don't know if it was still producing at that date but it could still be a warehouse. It was a builders merchants/store in the 80's. The Pylon works was Painter Bros, of "Skylon" fame at the Festival of Britain. (The industrial estate that now occupies the WWI & WWII munitions factory at Rotherwas is called "Skylon Park"), is still going and received steel by rail up until the mid 1980's and even had an internal narrow gauge system. The large pylons where used to test electricity pylons but saw little use in later years and where demolished in the late 90's/ early 2000's. The 08 looks interesting. It still has its bonnet ladders and looks to be in Blue, (a bit speculative I must admit at that angle). Regular examples at Hereford at that time where 4118/9/21 which where early blue examples with cabside arrows. The wagon that looks like a sturgeon alongside the coach has a very interesting load. It looks to be carrying building materials, including a cement mixer. More evidence of tunnel maintenance perhaps. Two interesting photos of a mundane every day sight, from a period that was missed by many photographers. Thanks you for sharing them with us. Paul J. PS. Had a quick dig around in my own stuff and found these two. Not quite the same views but the yard is just as busy. Even has some interesting engineering stuff as well. Hereford Yard July 1984

Interesting shot of 5676. The weathering on the loco gives the impression it has been out of works some time. May be a 1971 repaint but more likely 72. With regards to the shots of 5560 I would definitely suspect the dates. Brush Veteran of this site has a couple of photos of it still in green in April/July 1970. It does look tatty though so may have gone into works in 71 for a repaint. The dates on the photos may be suspect but it may still be an early one. Have found a one more possible. First 5670, (https://flic.kr/p/boAu7z) in Aug 73 looking a bit tatty. This one was dual braked in 1971 so the paint job probably dates from then. Paul J.

There seems to be a bit of an enigma with 5675. It is shown as being dual braked in 1971 and another of David's photos, (https://flic.kr/p/9rnmZ3), dated Nov 71 shows it looking a bit travel worn with a single arrow, possibly ex works from Doncaster early in 1971. That would put a question mark on the first photo being of 5675. However I doubt it is 5673 as the shot of 5673 dated July 72, looks quite clean as though it hasn't been long out of works. It could well have appeared in 1971 but late on in the year. The Nov 70 shot clearly shows 5672 so rules that loco out. 5671 had cabside arrows, 5674 retained green until 72 at least. That leaves 5676. So far I haven't found a photo of that loco so don't know what livery it was in. As it wasn't dual braked until the 1980's I can't go by its DB date. However as other examples around that number range that where dual braked in the 1980's or even remained vac brakes till withdrawn, where receiving single arrows on blue around that time, it is possible it may be 5676. Only a photo of 5676 will prove it either way. Paul J.

Thanks for posting the photos David, and more importantly confirming the dates. 5675 is the earliest one I've come across in that livery so far. I've found two others that appear to have been painted that way that I feel certain the dates a accurate. 5581 ex works at Doncaster in August 71, and just a little earlier 5622 at Cambridge ex works 23/05/71, and possibly 5590, shot dated April 72. These three had been dual braked as long back as 1968 and so where maybe due a works visit. Another of the locos, 5601 I have another shot of, dated 1971?? but your shot looks as though it has been out of works a while, and as it was another 1968 duel braked loco this may also be an early one. Your shot of 5579 is quite clean and not all that long out of works and I have another shot of this one at Norwich c1971 so that may be another early one. This was one 31 that didn't receive air brakes until the 1980's. Others like this, or remaining Vac only for the whole of their lives, that, according to the photos I've found received central arrows in 1971/early 1972 are 5554, 5682, only ever VB, 5667, 5688 duel braked in the 1980's. If anyone can confirm, backup, or shoot down any of my observations I would be grateful for any corrections. Paul J. (Edited so as not to inflame road raged drivers)

Hello all, It seems that class 31s where a bit slow in receiving the "Corporate Blue" livery with central double arrow logo than other classes. Having done a bit of research into 31 liveries I cannot find a blue one with a central positioned double arrow logo until late 1971 at the earliest. Up until then it appears they where still appearing with 2 arrows on the cabsides. My question is does anyone know the numbers of the first ones to appear with central double arrow logos and dates they came out of works. Logic dictates that for completeness which where the last ones to appear with the 2 arrows on the cabsides. looking forward to a full reply list. Paul J.

Hello Jamiel I hope I can answer you questions to explain how I've achieved the photos I've posted. I use a Canon EOS 1100D with an 18-55mm zoom lens. It has taken me around 18 months to perfect using the camera so far, and I've still got a bit to learn and experiment with it. At least with digital cameras you can afford to trial and error and make mistakes without the worry of film costs! For lighting I use whatever is available in the room the layout is situated. If it's a nice sunny day there is usually enough natural light, but if not, artificial light has to do. The camera will compensate for this although I'm still experimenting on the best settings to get the best results. With regards to using a tripod I'll sometimes use one depending on the location, but some places it is possible to put the camera down at track level. I prefer to do this if possible. The very nature of the layout design makes for limited locations to take photos and what appears in the background and how easy it is to crop it out sometimes dictates where to place the camera. The lens is a Canon EFS 18-55mm. I usually use the camera in Aperture Priority mode with the F. stop set as high as possible, (usually F25-F29), with the lens at 18mm focal length. This seems to get me the best depth of field. I leave the camera to sort out the shutter speed but as this is usually quite a long exposure I set the self timer to 10seconds, press the shutter and let the camera get on with it so as not to get any camera shake. I use he cameras auto focus to ensure the focus comes out correct, adjusting the focus point of the camera as required. This means I capture a lot of background in the image that is not wanted, but with the camera being something like 12 megapixels I have found it possible to crop out what is not required without much problem. It's the depth of field of the photo that is important in my mind. As an example of this method below are a couple of photos. The first is the original one out of the camera. Although a reasonably decent photo in itself with a good depth of field, it is possible to crop the photo to nearly half its size and just concentrate on the 40 and its train with out much loss in picture quality. Apart from slightly straightening the cropped image I haven't altered it in any other way. Sometimes I will take multiple images of the same scene altering certain things like the cameras point of focus or the zoom length and then see which is the best shot, which I then post, but I don't combine multiple images to achieve one shot. Just getting a single shot altered to within the parameters to be able to post it on RM Web takes long enough. To do anything else would eat into serious modeling time. I hope the above answers some of your questions. I've enjoyed taking photos of Shenston Road as for one thing it has made me learn more about how to get the most out of the camera. It's a never ending learning process that will continue for a long time yet. As a parting gesture here's a photo I took. Is it real or a model. I'll leave you all to judge? Paul J.

Well after a summer break, I've finally been able to process some more photos of Shenston Road. This time the emphasis is on Peaks, the original ones. Greg has done 4 of them in Pre TOPS livery. Here are 3 of them with a couple of other loco class thrown in for good measure. first up is D1 seen approaching Shenston Road station. Next D4 is seen waiting to depart from the goods lines at Shenston Road. This loco was unusual in having extra footsteps and handrails on the nose. Something that Greg has faithfully reproduced. Another oddity was D9 with its odd ends. Once again Greg was up for the challenge as seen by the next photo of D9 running past the steelworks. And now the other end as the loco approaches Shenston Road station. To finish off this post a couple of photos of some of Gregs latest handy work. First the latest 40 into the Shenston fleet, D218 approaches Shenston Road. And lastly the latest addition to the Eastwell Ironstone fleet that had been in the Shenston Road workshops for weathering. D8231 approaching Shenston Road. Until the next post enjoy. Paul J.

Hello GordonC, The photos are scanned on an old Epson Stylus Photo RX620 scanner printer from negatives. I have got a few scanned slides but the majority of my photos are scanned from negatives. I've had the scanner for many years and although the printer part of it is not working as well a it should, I still keep it for the scanning capabilities. I usually don't photoshop or touch up the negatives/slides except for possibly cropping or straightening the shot, but that is rare. I like to post my photos warts & all. Sometimes the photo itself isn't brilliant but the content might be useful to someone. Paul J

I have rescanned the above photos to higher resolution and they can be found on my Fickr site at, https://www.flickr.com/photos/95430950@N07/sets/72157646077882385/ Paul J.

Have found some more photos but this time of a BR built LMS design Inspection saloon TDB999503. I don't know if they were identical to the LMS built one but here are the photos. There are a lot of them taken at Manchester Victoria taken on 29th June 1986. Unfortunately the parcels van blocking the view of the other side never moved whilst I was there, so I only got shots of one side. It's still only vac braked, but dual heated and by this time had acquired a mixture of roof vents. These are some early scans of my negatives and are rather low resolution. Given the interest in the new Bachmann model I'll revisit and rescan the negs and put them on my Flickr site and let you know here when they're on it. EDIT. I have rescanned the above photos to higher resolution and they can be found on my Fickr site at, https://www.flickr.com/photos/95430950@N07/sets/72157646077882385/ Also the date for these photos was 1984 not 1986. Paul J.

BR had a couple painted in LMS livery in the 1990's. One of them was 45030 which was at the open day at Hereford in May 1991. Here are a couple of shots of it still at Hereford in November that year. The only difference in livery to the Bachmann LMS version that I have noticed is the yellow ends and maybe extra lettering. It has been fitted with air brakes and ETH. (Not me thinks fitted by the LMS). A close up of the steps in the down position. Paul J.

66015 departs Moreton Park with a loaded stone train past D2578 & D2302. 29th June 2014. Paul J.