mikeh

I managed to get Simon's book onto my Christmas list. Have so far only read the first few chapters but can already say it is as good as I expected it would be. Wish more authors would do as much research - the sources are out there! Picking up Robert's point, there is a chapter in my book "Changing Engines" on reliability of the then new diesels, and the Peak's did not fare at all well in the early days. Although the book is concerned with the changeover in the West Midlands, the chapter has availability tables for all LMR Types, and also some interesting statistics on steam substituations. Certainly opened my eyes when I first found the files. If anybody wants to follow that up the LNWR Society now have a sales page on their website - www.lnwrs.org.uk/shop Mike

Thanks for the vote of confidence David! Yes, Ian made several visits to Kew with me, and I really miss the oppurtunity to compare notes with him. Fortunately we have much of his research material in the LNWR Society Archive and Study Centre in Kenilworth. As for the book, it is expected from the printers on Wednesday. More details at https://lnwrs.org.uk/news-and-events Cheers Mike Hollick

Might be worth mentioning that the LNWR Society have an extensive collection of 2 chain surveys, and station rating plans and the like, for much of that company's network, from the LNW, LMS and BR periods, plus some from other railways, most of which is scanned and available in the Society's online archive to members. The catalogue is available on their website and non-members can buy digital copies.

Another contender - Coventry No.3 - old box taken out of use and new wooden Type 15 bought into use 24th September 1961 as site needed for track re-alignment due to Coventry station rebuilding and resignalling. Closed 14th April 1962 when Coventry PSB opened. Mike

Just saw this thread, it having been resurected. This would be a Coventry-Nuneaton trip crossing to the Down Main at Foleshill Station having just called at Webster's Sidings. The ICI tank would be from Courtaulds at webster's. The Esso tanks empty from Whitley Wharf, Shell had a depot at Webster's and National Benzole one at Coundon Road, although from the marshalling I suspect the Shell tank might have been in N.B. traffic. Either way not all that improbable. Mike

Thanks for correcting me John - should have read my notes before posting.... The original Carflat BPs (or Ps?) were for car body traffic from Linwood to Birmingham for Rover and Volvo, using stillages (refered to in BR documents as pallets) originally designed by BRS to carry three car bodies on road trailers. See attached photos. The 1968 Rootes traffic was "Arrow" series bodies to Gosford Green on Bocar P wagons in double-stacked stillages on a contract signed with BR in May 1968. Previously these bodies had been made at Cowley and roaded to Coventry. The contract called for 4 trainsets of 22 wagons and 9 spares. Limited traffic started in June 1968 with a twice daily service ramping up from September. The August 1969 announcement relates to a two-way flow of components in ISO containers on standard liner flats for what was now Chrysler. This started in December 1969 and replaced the Bocar trains as the bodies were now shipped as individual panels for assembly at Ryton and the containers were backloaded with components for Linwood. Mike

They are Bocar Ps, built to carry car body shells from Pressed Steel at Linwood. See the attached extract from Modern Railways. Apart from Rover traffic a pool of 22 were dedicated to Linwood-Gosford Green (Coventry) traffic for Rootes from 1968 Regards Mike

Old Oak and Stafford Road shared the jobs initially, plus Salop had a few turns on them as well Nidge. Tyseley gained some work on them later - from early 63 from memory. Incidentally although all the D10xx used were OOC engines, 8 were diagrammed as Stafford Rd engines (Turns 84A/2, 3A/B/C and 4A/B/C/D), and those were based on Oxley for fuel & inspection. The SRD engines covered a couple of overnight freights and some parcels workings to Salop as well.

The flow was LPG feedstock from Esso Hebranston (Milford Haven) to either Westfield Lurgi or Provan Scottish Gas Board. It started in 1965 and departed c 13:25 running as required but I understand timekeeping was pretty poor and subject to numerous complaints by Esso. Power was a Brush 4. Headcode 4S51. Basic trainplan was two a week to Westfield and five to Provan but it ran fairly erratically. There was a similar flow to Coleshill Lurgi. HTH Mike

Just came across this layout - very impressed as this was a favourite spot. Did a lot of rat chasing in 86 & 87 as they approached their demise. Made several trips to the branch and have fond memories of hurtling down narrow lanes in the fog to get 25904 on Target 91 in Feb 1987. Less fond memories of the trip back in sunshine when looking at the shear drops by the side of the road! These are some old scans of that trip (3.2.87) and also Tamworth Castle on 3.3.87. I must rescan these and quite a few others including 912 on the flask when time permits. Regards Mike

The Brothertons works were indeed alongside Nechells Gas Works and took by-products directly from there. The had siding connections to both the Midland and LNW lines, the later as Eric says via the connection to Nechels Gas Works at Aston Gas Siding Ground Frame. Robinson Brothers did become part of Midland Tar Distillers. There was traffic to there tripped the short distance from Windsor Street Gas Works, amongst others. In the mid 60s there were relatively few block oil workings, the main ones being to Albion, Soho Pool and Rowley Regis as already mentioned. As others started up, to industrial locations, these were often one way block trains with the empties tripped out and sent back by normal wagon load trains.Flows that started in the later 60s included Naptha to gas works at Coleshill, Tipton and Nechells, the Tipton one being of BCB interest. Sources were Thames Haven, Fawley, Milford Haven and Avonmouth for a while. For a mid-60s BCB I would suggest tanks for the works would be tripped in daily in blocks of four or five on one of the Bescot trippers. Which reminds me I promised Mark a 1960s WTT.... Regards Mike

3S49 in 1968 was the 1515 TThSO Kings Norton-Bathgate, the loco coming light from Saltley and workimg through to Bathgate - for Chard it was booked 2046-2048 at Carlisle No.12 for relief. The Saltley men worked to Basford Hall and it also had relief at Carnforth. The return was 3M45 1145 MWFO Bathgate-Kings Norton, Carlisle Recess Sdgs 1522-1645. Regards Mike

Thanks Jon Would be very interested in anything with a Weat Midlands flavour? Regards Mike

I don't have any but would be interested to know what private sidings are covered if you have time? Regards Mike

Agrre with Phil there. The Cardiff-Soho Pool trains were not booked to stop at Stourbridge Jn for relief once the Hymeks took over (they did when 9Fs ruled). AFAIK Stourbridge men in the 60s signed EE Type 1s, BR Type 2s, EE and Brush Type 4s with Peaks later as well. And of course if I had thought it through the North Mersey trains were in the WTT, they routed via Honeybourne, Worcester, Stourbridge, Kingswinford Jn, Wombourne, Oxley North, Wellingtomn, Salop. From 1962 to at least June 1965 the train was 4M54 SX 10.20pm Morris Cowley-North Mersey, steam hauled and booked to take water at Wombourne! By April 1966 it was the 4M54 2220 SX Morris Cowley-Edge Hill, booked diesel and from Stourbridge (crew change) routed via Dudley, Priestfield, Oxley (loco change - steam forward), Wellington, Crewe Had disappeared by the March 67 WTT. Regards Mike PS - Mike, SN = Special Notice

Hi Mike In the 1963 WTT 4S72 1.50pm Morris Colwey-Bathgate ran MWO with a SO path suspended. The North Mersey trains were not in the WTT but ran as specials by SN. There were aslso M.C.-Hull specials that presumably ran via the GC from Banbury. A couple of notes from contemporary magazines: Railway Observer Dec 1962 On 1st October a fitted freight train conveying new cars from the Cowley factory to Scotland was introduced. The train, which at present runs once a week, is worked as far as Crewe by an Oxford 9F. On the return journey commercial vehicles and tractors are brought from the new BMC factory at Bathgate to Morris Cowley, the 9F returning from Crewe with this train, but on several occasions engines are borrowed from Crewe, on 12.10.62 Britannia 70029 (5A) was used. This particular engine worked the 10-20pm Morris Cowley-North Mersey fitted freight the same day. Many thanks to Jon for the Transport Age scans - very interesting. Do you have Private Sidings 1 and 2? Regards Mike In view of the expansion of exports of British cars, Morris Cowley has seen several visitors bringing in car empties from Mersey. Cl.8F 48555 (5B) arrived on 8th October and 42854 (6C) on 23rd. Modern Railways March 1963 Oxford (81F) 9Fs work 1:50pm Morris Cowley-North Mersey Class 4 & return working, including No. 92220.

Just in case anybody is interested, I have answered my own question by discovering Bantocks were acquired by the B.T.C. in December 1953 Regards Mike

Not a plywood wonder but a "modern" WR box was Selly Oak (Birmingham) See pics at http://www.photobydjnorton.com/SellyOakSignals.html This was built when the line from Barnt Green to Church Road Jn was part of the WR, between 1950 and 1958, otherwise no doubt it would have been a Type 15. A cousin of Kidderminster? Regards Mike

Thanks Stubby I had seen that site with does give some useful info but I am trying to find out more about their latter days and ultimate demise. Just thought with all this assembled Black Country nous someone mught know more! Regards Mike

Talking of Bantocks, as well as canal carrying for the GWR they were also road cartage agents all over the Black Country. I have been trying to find out when they finally closed down. Anybody know more about them? Regards Mike

I am sure this traffic was tripped to Bescot on the afternoon 8T31 to go forward next morning to Rom River at Lichfield on 8T34 0630 Bescot Down Local-Lichfield TV. Regards Mike

Yes was a brilliant day. I got roped into minding the 27 for the day! Regards Mike

Fenny Compton was another with a brick base. Closed in 2004. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/142331 Regards Mike

Just saw this on Flickr and thought of you.... http://www.flickr.com/photos/48235702@N06/5418239419/in/photostream Regards Mike

Thought you might like those... How about this one? - day before the open day - October 1987 Cheers Mike