Swindon 123

Well I hope you all had a good Christmas. The break gave me time to catch up on some more Shenston Road photos. Today we will look at the top end of Station Road, Shenston, and finish off with a couple of locos. First a general "helicopter" overview of the Birmingham end of the station along Station Road. A look along the road from street level. A view at the Birmingham end of Station Rd from the roof of one of the adjacent factories. One house at the end of one of the terraces had suffered badly from subsidence over the yaears and been demolished. Now to finish off this post with a couple of Westerns and a 31. Seen in the first photo in this post D1028 waits in the Up Goods with a train of coal. D1000 runs through the station with a parcels train. Finally class 31, 5557 runs through Shenston road with a diverted NE-SW service. As this will be my last post of 2014, I will wish you all the best and happy modeling for 2015. Paul J.

Right as promised some Leathers chemical tanks, but first an answer to the above question. I can't quite remember exactly what make the station lamps are David C, the posts are Ration, but the lamp covers I'm not sure. They could be scratch built or parts cannibalized off old plastic oil lamps that we had knocking around. Can't remember if Peco made them or knocked up from old Airfix swan neck lamps they used to do. possibly something we found in our combined scrap bins, so we may never remember the origin. Sorry. The Ration lamp shades can be seen in other photos dotted around the layout on a variety of scratch built lamps so didn't go to waste. The street lamps had the same origins as the station lamps, the odds and sods box, although in their case I think it was Mr Wibbles box. Right, on to the tanks. I can't remember if the tanks are scratch built using the same method as the Chlorine tanks, (See D1047s post 81) or they are shortened propriety examples. The bogies are whitemetal (manufacturer?????) but I can tell you that the catwalks and walkway handrails are scratch built as I soldered them up from brass wire. (I was glad Greg only decided to do 6 of them!). So here is Cl 47, 1665 on the Leathers tank train taking the Down Goods round the back of Shenston Rd station. Now the tanks starting with 8003 and then in order 8009, 8004, 8006,8010 and finally 8005. At the Wolverhampton end 1665 exits the Down Goods and heads past 1728 on the stabling point. The tail end of the train passes 1728 and D218 en-route to the North. The Leathers tanks were one of the early air trains to run and Greg has correctly modeled them in the early "2 pipe" configuration, as can be seen by the Red and Yellow air pipes on rear vehicle. Yet another train of his childhood days as they were regular runners through Hereford in the early 70's. To end this post a revisit to a loco. Back in my post 41 there was a photo of No1 end of D9 that Greg had modified with a center headcode box as carried by the prototype. He wasn't happy with the result in the photo of the splice and decided to revisit it. So here is another shot of D9 on a sand train entering the Down Goods with the "New Improved" No 1 nose end. I shall leave you lot to pass judgment on the result. Till the next batch of photos, (topic as yet undecided). Paul J.

I have found another candidate for the last one of this sub type with small yellow ends. D5194. There is a photo of it in Green Diesel Days by Derek Huntriss. Page 51 has a shot of it in Greyrigg loop, GSYE dated 18 July 1971. If the caption is correct this would make it the latest one I've found so far. Another D10 Preston division/ KM loco. They seem to be slow in putting FYE on their locos. Can anyone add anymore info as to this loco? Paul J.

Good evening everyone. As promised in the last batch of photos, todays batch will cover Gregs Chlorine tanks. First though to answer 37114's query, yes it is a photo. It took a while to find a good enough one to use, and even then it needed a little work on it as it wasn't a fully head on shot. Now back to the photos. This time I have covered Greg's train of BP chlorine tanks. They are based on the old Hornby Doublo tanks but are much worked on and enhanced. Hopefully Greg will come along and clear up any queries you may have. Two have been completely scratch built as they were new builds after a couple of tanks where scrapped after an accident. First up at the head of the train 1647 and the mandatory barrier vehicle, in this case a tube. Next 2 of the new build tanks Nos T240 and T242. Mainly scratch built using some parts from Appleby engineering for brake gear and bogies. Now a pair of the original tanks, one still carrying its original Murgatroyd's livery. Next two more original tanks but carrying two different BP liveries. T201 carrying the earlier BP livery and T209 the later one. Now tail end Charlie in the form of T225 and another tube barrier wagon, plus brake van. Now a few photos of the layout, but first a loco update. The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted a photo of D1007 Western Talisman halfway down post 61. This was a very early shot of the loco and when originally posted in the Dapol Western thread it was pointed out that the colour of the cab window surrounds was incorrect. They should have been light grey. Greg subsequently corrected this error and so here is a shot of D1007 with the cab windows the correct colour. Continuing with D1007, here's another shot of it passing the area by the M & B brewery at the Birmingham end of the station. Continuing in that area. (This isn't just thrown together this post, despite what some of you may think: ), here are some location shots. First some typical 1970's Birmingham back yards. And the street frontages with the boarded up shops waiting for demolition. Finally a view along the street. Last but not least as a sneak preview of the subject matter of the next batch of photos, Leathers Chemical tanks. 1665 creeps off the Down goods from behind the station with a train of Leathers Chemicals tanks, with fellow 47's 1720 in green and 1728 in blue waiting in the station Now to get on with resizing the Leathers Chemical photos. Paul J.

I have had a quick look on the web and found a couple of things to do with Dowlais works which is the last place I saw them running to. Some interesting photos in this link . http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/davidbeilby.htm The second photo down shows ingot moulds stood next to 27T tipplers. The moulds are pretty large and look as though they would fill a tippler, which are what I suppose carried them there. Other interesting stuff on Dowlais in this link. http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Dowlais_works.htm Including a shot halfway down the page the Sleeper Mill used for producing early steel sleepers. Another find was the photo in this link of the last ingot cast at Dowlias which weighed 18 tons. At a guess the mould that it was cast in would have ben about the same weight but that is a bit of speculation on my part. Hopefully someone will know the proper answer. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/302103 Finally I found this link which shows a train journey returning ingot moulds to Dowlais. http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/radyrtocaeharris.htm There is one shot of shots of moulds in tipplers, and they fill the wagon. http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Images_A-H/Dowlais_CNV00010_AndyKirkham.jpg The things you can find out when you put your mind, and the computer to work. Paul J.

Nice to get some interesting feedback on some of the things modeled. You get to know things that may never come to light otherwise. I note the comments on the ingot moulds. Although the tipplers where rated at 27 tons, the ingot mould does look a bit big in them. Photos of tipplers carrying ingot moulds seem rare. Carrying on with the steel carrier theme, here are some shots of the slab coil and strip coil wagons Greg has modeled. The slab coil is an Appleby Engineering kit I believe and the strip coils are scratch built bodies utilizing parts from another Appleby kit. I'm sure Greg will be able to clarify that statement. D5233 + 7515 run through the middle road at Shenston Rd. Next a couple of shots of the Slab/coil B949556. And now 3 shots of the Strip-coil wagons. B949007 + B949035. Now a couple of shots from parts of Shenston Rd I haven't looked at before. First a shot on the curve at the Wolverhampton end, approaching he station, showing class 46, D163, descending the branch from the steelworks. The large bracket signal has only recently been built, along with another at the Birmingham end which can just be seen end on in the next photo. At the moment both are awaiting lamps and lenses in the arms. Now at the other end of the layout the Midland BRS depot that hides the curve leading to the tunnel under the steelworks. Now class 08, 3748, is seen from the brewery side of the tracks approaching the Birmingham end of the station. The houses in the background are the ones featured in the street photo in post 52. To finish off a couple of locos. First D4 takes a coal train found the back of Shenston Rd with a coal train. And lastly 1674 exits the Down Goods with a train of Chlorine tanks. These tanks will feature in the next post. (When I've resized the photos to post) That is all for today. Till the next post enjoy. Paul J.

Well being as Greg has laid the foundations here are some more photos, with a bit of emphasis on steel wagons with a drag act thrown in. First a couple of shots of the BAA/BBA Greg has eluded to. First BAB 900040. And BBA 910245. Now some earlier steel stuff. First a couple of KXO coil carriers converted from single bolsters. (I think the doner wagons where old triang models with new 10ft chassis. Hopefully Greg will be able to confirm). And now some ingot mould/SMO conversions from iron ore tipplers. With a scratch built 25T ore hopper thrown in as well. Now for some locos. The first shot sees D4118 trip some tanks through the station. And then heads back to whence it came. D4118 used to be a regular pilot at Hereford and Greg remembers it from his early spotting days. Hence the model. Now for the drag act as a diverted WCML service hauled by E3173 is itself hauled over the non electrified section by 50017. Next a pair of 25's , D5233 + 7515 head through on a steel train. Finally a view outside the station with a (very) lost bus driver + bus if the destination blind is anything to go by. Till the next batch, enjoy. Paul J.

It's just to the side of the front bonnet top handrail at the front of the loco. It is on the model if you look closely. The Chimney was a dummy put on by Bulmers to fit in with having GWR 6000 KGV and it's copper capped chimney. The one on the model of Cider Queen should be accurate as it was modeled using photos and dimensions of the real one which is now in use as a flower pot holder!!!. Here's a photo showing the exhausts position. Paul J. Edited to add clarity to part of post.

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.