Andy Kirkham

APR 74 07. D1009 Western Invader at Roskear Junction, Camborne with an Up train, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Here's 1009 just a day or so previously, and it differs. Note the scuffing of the paint just in front of the nearer cab door, but it could be the other side of course. However I'm inclined to think that on the unidentified loco's nameplate the second word is longer than "Western", whereas "Invader" is about the same length as "Western". So I guess my money's on Gladiator at the moment. Would anyone care to confirm or refute?

APR 74 20. A Class 52 near Scorrier, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr There are quite a few clues: (1) Low-down electrification flashes (2) headboard brackets present (3) Sticker behind cab door (4) no obvious silver paint After consulting Rugd1022's sticker data, the candidates seem to be 1009, 1016 and 1024. Can anyone narrow it down? It's April 1974.

Many thanks. All these years and I never realised I had a shot of D1000.

LawrenceHill5 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr This one was taken early in 1974. I notice that the electrification flashes are low down; am I right in thinking this indicates a Swindon-built machine? Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but is the nameplate deeper than usual? I am wondering if it could be D1000 herself (edit) perhaps not - the only late-era picture I have found of D1000 shows two lamp irons the same size, whereas on this loco, the left-hand one is extended. I suppose the other end could be different, of course.

A Class 52 rolls into Didcot with an express from South Wales, December 31 1973 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I'm almost convinced that I can make out the name "Vanguard" on the plate. Can anyone confirm if this is plausible? The date is 31/12/73. FEB 74 12, A Class 52 with a South Wales express on the split level approach to Patchway tunnel, February 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr FEB 74 11. A Class 52 with a South Wales express on the split level approach to Patchway tunnel, February 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Here we have both an approaching and a going-away shot of the same train, and it appears to show headboard clips at one end but not at the other. The date is uncertain probably 1973 but might be 1974. Many thanks for your efforts!

Thanks Stovepipe Here is one I took a couple of days later, which definitely shows 1028 MAY 74 26. 1028 Western Hussar speeds through Totnes with the 08:00 Bristol-Penzance, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr If it is the same loco it has visibly lost some of its sheen - is this consistent with a couple of days in traffic? A point of similarity is that in the Cornish photo, there is a white blob low down on the left cabside, while in the Totnes picture the small hatch in a similar position also appears to be white. What is that hatch, by the way?

Here's a few more APR 74 35. A trio of Class 52s at Penzance, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I guess the middle one with the square vent could be only one of a few. I think the one on the right really does lack headboard clips - it is not a trick of the scanner. APR 74 15. A class 52 on a Down train near Penponds between Camborne and Gwinear Rd by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr APR 74 30. A Class 52 with an Up train about to enter Polperro Tunnel, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr Although this is distant, there are several clues: It seems to have a square vent and seemingly lacks headboard clips (although one perhaps can't be certain) and looks as if it is recently painted in April 1974.

Doh! Ignore the single clip. I've just checked the slide and it's got the usual pair: that slide is due for a re-scan. The dust removal feature of my scanning software tends to obliterate headboard clips.

Here's a couple taken at Bathampton. A Class 52 passes Bathampton with a parcels train, January 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr This Western lacks headboard clips, but the nameplate isn't legible, except that the second word looks to be about the same length as "Western" or a fraction longer. A Class 52 (possibly D1022 Western Sentinel) with a diverted Paddington-West of England train at Bathampton. January 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr As the caption says, the numberplate looks very like 1022, but confirmation would be welcome. I'd also very much like to establish the date if that were possible. It was a Sunday in January 1974 when West of England trains were diverted via Bristol due to scheduled engineering works. Jan 6 is quite possible but I'm not certain. Also, on reviewing the chronology of my slides, I think my statement in the captions that the diversions occurred on two successive Sundays may be mistaken. Finally for completeness, I'll post a couple more from the same glorious day, although I think the subjects are probably too distant to identify. A Class 52 with a diverted West of England-Paddington train east of Bath. January 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr A Class 52 with a diverted West of England-Paddington train east of Bath. January 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr

Thanks for the input Gareth. I've assumed for years that the Carn Brea photo was 1974, but since I've been scrutinising them more closely, I've come to suspect I took it in 1973.

Here are a couple near Dawlish APR 74 27. A Western at Clerks Tunnel, Dawlish, Easter 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I fancy I can make out "Monitor" on the nameplate, but I'm not sure APR 74 26. A Western (possibly D1013 Western Ranger) on an Up train approaching Clerks Tunnel, Dawlish, Easter 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr The number looks very much like 1013, but I'd like to be certain. They were both taken around Easter 1974, a little before the Drump Lane one.

OK, how about this one. APR 74 21. A Class 52 with a Down parcels train between Scorrier and Chacewater, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr The numberplate is nearly legible, and it looks to me like D1065 (Western Consort). This machine, I believe, had headboard clips at one end only. Is this plausible? And this. FEB 74 05. A class 52 at Carn Brea between Camborne and Redruth, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr It is almost certainly D103X and it looks to me like 1039, but I realise that cannot be as D1039 had rectangular ventilator cut-outs. I wonder if it is D1035, but heck! that last digit still looks like a 9 to me.

Thanks everyone, once again or your contributions. I had imagined that this one would be absolutely straightforward. To me the evidence seems to favour 1034, which has the added benefit of identifying a probable date. Having never been a great note taker while photographing, I'm now trying to establish the best chronology I can for my 70s slides. In the spirit of full disclosure I should mention that there is a possibility that some of these may be published in a book, and part of my motivation is to be able to provide accurate and informative captions. So as long as you don't feel exploited, perhaps I can take the liberty of posting a few more Western shots for identification.

I'm as sure as I can be. The date stamp on the Kodachrome slide mount is APR 74.

Thanks very much to all of you for your help.

A freshly painted Class 52 approaching Drump lane with a Down train, April 1974 by Andy Kirkham, on Flickr I wonder if any of you gentlemen would be able to suggest an ID for this machine, based on the observation that it seems to be fresh out of the paintshop, and the photo was taken some time during the Easter school holidays in 1974. In fact, since it is so utterly immaculate, would it be reasonable to suppose that this is its first day back in traffic?

I sometime wonder whether the much-derided replacement of the term "Passenger" with "Customer" was aimed not at the fare-payers but at the railway staff, to impress upon them that these are the people who ultimately pay their wages.

Robert Carroll has posted an interesting one on Flikr D860_D823_D819_Exeter_1A39_7-9-68 by Robert Carroll, on Flickr

Do you recall how you managed to get into Bath Road to take this? I don't think it was an easy shed to infiltrate!

And a Hymek at Aberystwyth

perhaps they also precluded Bentleys

Flanders & Swan really ought to have put it into The Slow Train

This may be just a subjective impression, but there seem to be remarkably few photographs of Shoscombe and Single Hill Halt, despite it being on the highly popular Bath-Radstock section. A search on Flikr would seem to confirm this impression as it yields only a single image of the station when it was open 76019 at Shoscombe and single hill halt. by 00000000 000000000, on Flickr I recall back in 1972 when I walked the trackbed from Bath to Radstock, being most surprised when I encountered its remains (still complete with concrete signboards) as seen here: Shoscombe & Single Hill Halt by 70023venus2009, on Flickr I had been quite unaware that the station existed. So two questions: 1. Do others share my perception that Shoscombe is neglected? 2. Can anyone suggest why?

I've only just come across this inspiring thread, so I hope I will be forgiven for responding to this challenge over a year late. I don't have a photo, but it is a fact that in 1914 the Brecon & Merthyr purchased former L&SWR Adams 4-4-2T No.0376 I've only just come across this inspiring thread, so I hope I will be forgiven for responding to this challenge over a year late. I don't have a photo, but it is a fact that in 1914 the Brecon & Merthyr purchased former L&SWR Adams 4-4-2T No.0376

I think you will be pleased with that book, it visits plenty of off-the-beaten-track locations, and the pictures are well-chosen. I've just discovered that DMU's got slightly closer to Talyllyn than Dowlais Top. Here's one at Dowlais Central http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Images_D-H/DowlaisCentralStation_1960.jpg (on this page http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/dowlaiscentralstation.htm)