Andy Kirkham

You can see one number here MAR 75 18. Aylesbury by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr

Would anyone care to have a stab at this one? The 13:55 Paignton-Paddington takes the road for Westbury station at Fairwood Junction. August or September 1973 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr It was probably taken in August or September 1973. The loco has "Swindon" electrification flashes and I can't see any allocation stickers (although that might be an illusion given the quality of the picture). The nameplate is almost entirely degraded to "noise" but I can sometimes convince myself that there is a suggestion of TALISMAN in there.

Whitecraigs, 2009 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr On the Neilston branch Seamill-1 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Near West KIlbride on the Largs branch

My understanding is that in steam days, Paddington-Cheltenham services ran via Gloucester Central and reversed. When did such services start running via Eastgate?

If this goes ahead, Oxford will have had four different station buildings within my lifetime, which I imagine would be some kind of record.

A great viewpoint and a smashing picture. I wish I'd known about that location back then.

I've just come across a most interesting view on Mike Lidgley's Flikr site Advertising Railway Engines, early 1960s by Mike Lidgley, on Flickr Look where it's taken. The train is crossing over Temple Gate with the Grosvenor Hotel and St Mary Redcliffe behind, apparently en route from Redcliffe Yard or the Harbour railway.

You're very welcome. Let's see it properly. NOV 72 01. 7100 approaching Parson Street with a train of woodpulp from Portishead, October or November by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr

Here's my chance to post my one and only photo of an 02 - at Liverpool Exchange in 1972 APR 72 06. D2856 Liverpool Exchange 1972 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr

On consideration I'm no longer so sure that the top picture is Blaenavon as the telegraph poles are on the wrong side of the line. My main evidence was that the wagons that are visible just in front of the loco's buffers seem to be standing on a line that is about to dive under the bridge on the right, echoing the layout at Blaenavon (OS maps show that there was a railway line passing under the bridge in my photo as late as the 1970s). I'm now more inclined to think that it's on the Rhondda & Swansea Bay line near Blaenrhondda. The middle picture is definitely of Quakers Yard as I have found it in a book; it is the work of S.Rickard.

I wonder if the top one could be Blaenavon: MAR 75 08. A train of coal empties approaches Furnace Sidings Blaenavon, 1975 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr The middle one looks like Quakers Yard

Someone commented on Flikr that this was the 0800 Bristol-Penzance. I can't be sure of the date, although It could be April 18th.

OCT 74 17. Class 52 passing Castle Cary, September (?) 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flick Would I be right to suppose that having no card holder beneath the cab window identifies this as a Swindon machine? If so then this is presumably between 1025 and 1029 because it lacks headboard clips (but not 1028, which had a cab vent). Can anyone narrow it down further? Probably September 1974. APR 74 14. A Class 52 crossing Penponds viaduct west of Camborne, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I don't think there's much distinctive here. A Crewe loco with a shortish name. It looks a bit to me as if the D has been burned off the numberplate, but I can't be sure. April 1974 APR 74 27. A Class 52 with a Down train approaches Buckshead Tunnel near Truro, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Pretty a much a hopeless proposition I think, but I'll post it just in case. April 1974.

That's most useful information - but are you sure it's the 'B' end that's indicated? Here are two shots of D1005 which lacked headboard clips at the B End. JUL 74 32. D1005 Western Venturer at Banbury. July 23, 1974. by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr JUL 74 33. 1957 and D1005 Western Venturer at Banbury, July 23, 1974. by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr The rectangular aperture is clearly visible and undoubtedly at the end with the clips.

So it is! Thank you.

Thanks Greg. Do please tell me how you can tell which end is which. [Edit] Is it by any chance to do with that little circular window off-centre below the nameplate? I see it appears in some photos but not in others, so perhaps it is on one side only.

And 1047 lacked data panels and allocation stickers, as this one seems to. So 1047 seems quite probable. Many thanks.

It seems to have some sort of additional insignia above the BR crest. And the two photos show that it's on both sides.

I've just posted this in the Hydraulics special interest group. Then I thought it might fit in quite well here as well. A Class 52 with a freight train climbing westbound out of Lostwithiel, April 1976 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr

Hmmm. Deafening silence for those. And I suspect I might get the same response for these. A Class 52 climbs westbound out of Lostwithiel, April 1976 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Easter 1976. Crewe-style electrification flashes, Allocation sticker above number plate. [Edit] remove mention of missing headboard clips - they wouldn't be visible. A Class 52 with a freight train climbing westbound out of Lostwithiel, April 1976 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr You can say exactly the same about this one - except: are the flashes slightly higher up? MAY 74 25. Class 52 with Down train climbing out of Totnes, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr April 1974. I think I've narrowed this down to 1005 Venturer or 1016 Gladiator. Anyone care to give a casting vote? Teignmouth 1975 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Summer of 1975. Quite recently painted by the look of it.

My recollection is that the 44XX came first by a considerable margin, which is what puzzles me.

I don't suppose after all these years that it's possible to answer this question, but does anyone have any idea why K's would have selected the 44XX - a specialised class of 11 locomotives that worked on a handful of branches - rather than the numerous and ubiquitous 45XX?

I think I'm now scraping the barrel, as I can't imagine there's much prospect of identifying the remaining ones, but here goes, anyway. All these have Crewe-style electrification flashes and a full set of headboard clips. APR 74 19. A Class 52 with an Up train near Scorrier, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr No distinguishing features that I can make out. APR 74 17. A Class 52 on an empty ballast train at Drump Lane near Redruth, April 17 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Nor on this one. SEP 73 12. 1041 Western Prince and three other Westerns at Newton Abbot, August 5 1973 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I can't resist posting this one. I'm fairly sure that the second from the right is 1041 Western Prince, but I can't see any distinctive features on the others. I wonder if anyone knows any other pictures showing four or more (not withdrawn) Westerns.

Many thanks. Is the state of its weathering that is distinctive?

MAY 74 33. A Down train climbing Dainton Bank, Easter 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr No chance of decyphering the plates on this one, but it does look as if it's had an encounter with a bucket of whitewash. April 1974. Does this ring any bells? APR 74 24. A Western heads an Up train past Coryton Cove, Dawlish, Easter 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr And on this one too, I think we would be reliant on the loco's cosmetic condition. Note where the yellow paint has apparently worn off, revealing the white beneath. Also April 1974