Prototype From my archives

[lancer1027]

Bob, excellent pics and good to see some westerns even though they were awaiting there fate..

However the western at the head of the line next to the chassis of a 6 wheel milk tank is D1012 Western Firebrand. You can identify it by the slightly lower warning flashes on the front. Western Glory had a drivers side wiper mod. (this was a channel below the windscreen.

Keep those pics coming Bob, and yes i would have liked a cab for a shed

Rob

 

[lancer1027]

Also you can just make out the front vent just above the wagon tank end frame.

The scary thing is the lad in the green/ greyish coat at the other end could actually be ME . I had a parka coat like that. Bob do you have an exact date of the works trip?.

Rob

 

[Bob]

Thanks for the correct I.D. of the Western - much appreciated.

I'll probably get lynched for including the next one as it shows a fellow WT member (ah, well he hasn't logged in for ages so it's ok), namely Gruntfuttock. Here in the cab of an unidentied Western at Swindon in 1976. Note the following: It shows him with hair and he's modelling that height of 70's couture, an anorak!


2 shots of 40015 at sunny Scunthorpe in April 1980.



The same day and 08392 passes an unidentified class 20 whilst shunting at Scunthorpe. This was on a week day and travelling to Sheffield by way of the 02:27 off Cheltenham, changing there for Doncaster, then again for a Grimsby train getting to Scunthorpe to discover it as a hive of activity.

 

[Bob]

Bob do you have an exact date of the works trip?.

I don't but I know a man who might..................

 

[queensquare]

The scary thing is the lad in the green/ greyish coat at the other end could actually be ME . I had a parka coat like that. Bob do you have an exact date of the works trip?.

Rob

You're not alone there, I had one of those parkas too

Jerry

 

[lancer1027]

The western Mr Gruntfuttock is looking out of could be D1009 Invader but not sure

 

[Bob]

Well, I'm in awe of your Western recognition skills Rob

Incidentally just rang Herr Gruntfuttock and he does not have a record of the works visit (which is unusual for him).

Just found this site http://www.derbysulzers.com/scrapyard.html which comments on the Western I thought was Glory and also helps date the pictures! It shows green-liveried 24092 which I took photos of, therefore it could not be '77 as this site says 24092 was cut-up by Christmas '76.

 

[Phill Dyson]

You're not alone there, I had one of those parkas too

Jerry

You me & a couple of million others

 

[Bob]

Nothing remotely hydraulic this time I'm afraid but at least it's all blue.

31242 waits at Banbury with a northbound Sunday service in April 1980. I just wish I'd had the foresight to photograph the coaches as well..........



It's hard to pin down a date for this one although the use of budget "orwachrome" film suggests I was still at school so pre-1979. A rainy Sunday at Guide Bridge with an interesting line-up. The stars are obviously the 4 class 76's lined up on the left. I took several other shots on this visit as we had a good look all around the stabling point with no staff in attendance, it appears these have gone missing too.



I was in 2 minds whether to include this one but it might be of interest to someone! The date is September 1985 and a Leeds service leaves Carnforth. The DMU is fairly interesting but I personally find the various cars and buses on the right more interesting than the somewhat "sterile" station. Not sure why but I never did like the place!

 

[sulzer]

One of our favourite images taken at the Eastleigh 100 celebration. Hope the Heljan 52 looks as good!?

 

[Bob]

Nice shot there Sulzer. Probably the only obvious giveaway to say it's not a '60's shot are the newer style overhead wires warning stickers? Those more knowledgable with the finers points of 52's might spot others?
Nice to see a shot from Eastleigh 100 without loads of bodies in the way!

 

[Bob]

You'll be glad to learn that the Gruntfuttock has dropped a few more scans in today.
A mixed bag but starting with a murky shot of LEV1 being hauled through Derby station by a class 45. I didn't realise until today that at the time of this view (Summer 1978) that the car was devoid of a power unit and was not fitted with a Leyland engine until a year or so later. It was obviously a rarity to see it outside of the RTC at this time and I have no idea why it was being towed north in the Chesterfield direction. Immediately after I took this shot there was a loud blast of the horn as a rather drunk chap fell off the platform in front of the peak! With only this behind the drawbar it stopped on a sixpence and some station staff pulled the unfortunate man out from under the front coupling of the 45 and handed him over to BTP for his own safety.


The morning of 5/8/82 found us waiting on the lineside at Finstock on the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton line for the passing of "The Cotswold Venturer" railtour. As we were admittedly just "wrong side of the fence" but well away from the running line the small group were surprised to see a Police motorcycle hurtling along the lane towards us. Expecting to be challenged it was a pleasant surprise for the office to pull up, leap the fence with a camera and ask if he had missed it. 40084 and 40057 are going like the wind heading for Oxford.

We followed it around the area in my Sporty MkI Escort to take shots at various points including Aynho, Kemble and Frampton Mansell, Stroud and Stonehouse but more of these another time.

Whilst waiting at Aynho 50036 flew past on the 1120 Liverpool-Paddington. The viaduct on the right is of course on the line from here to London via Princes Risborough.

 

[Bob]

Another view of the 2 40's on the "Cotswold Venturer" tour back in 1982. This time they are seen on the return leg pulling into Kemble for a photo stop.



31401 has just arrived at Cardiff Central (c1979) with a passenger working from Crewe. Unusual motive power as those duties were in the hands of class 33's at this time.



The 33's also saw regular service on Cardiff to Portsmouth workings around this time and here we see 33002 at Bristol Temple Meads. Apologies to the green contingent on WT but you have to admit how smart this livery was.

 

[mickoo]

What a hateful piece of junk LEV1 was, it ran on the Felixstowe branch for a short while and was just shocking, a precursor to the current 'Pacers' which I understand are little better

 

[Bob]

I never rode on it but can only imagine how bad it was! Come to think of it I can count the number of Pacer journeys I've done on the fingers of one hand. Doubt I've missed much!

 

[mickoo]

I never rode on it but can only imagine how bad it was! Come to think of it I can count the number of Pacer journeys I've done on the fingers of one hand. Doubt I've missed much!

I once heard it called a VGA with windows and seats, that, about sums it up.

 

[Bob]

I once heard it called a VGA with windows and seats, that, about sums it up.

A fair assessment

 

[Bob]

For today's assortment we have an unidentied 47 approaching Oxford from the north in September 1979.



The first of 2 shots from high vantage points. This one shows a 2-car Metro-Cammell with a 3-car Swindon cross country set leaving Shrewsbury for Wolverhampton c1978. It's the contents of the yard I find interesting though!
The picture was taken from Shrewsbury Castle.



Now we see Edinburgh Waverley in 1980. Look at all those lovely BG's and GUV's!
If anybody would like a larger copy of either of these 2 shots please send me a message and I'll be happy to oblige.

 

[lancer1027]

Hi Bob,

Great pics.. Pic two at Shrewsbury is good.................................. look at the lovely TPO's .

Rob

 

[Gary Day]

I was going to say "darn it, I've always got a bit left over".



Yes, good point Tim. There are a couple more of this yard somewhere in the boxes. I'll have to dig them out.

Hoping to put at least 1 of a Western up later on tonight.

I've just seen your picture of Romford Goods yard, which is very rare. I am current working on a scale model of Romford Station and would appreciate to see any other photos you may have.