'New' Loco Spur at
Bristol Temple Meads
Guy Vincent
Bristol Temple Meads
Guy Vincent
60046 stabled in the newly laid loco spur next to the eastern end of platform 7 at Bristol Temple Meads this morning (9th September 2021). The loco was later used on a series of crew route-learning trips around the local area, presumably to take note of the changes introduced during the summer-long renewals project, now completed. Two old stabling sidings here have been replaced by this one and 60046 is the first loco to use the facility.
Best regards, Guy Vincent
Best regards, Guy Vincent
Bristol TM 60046 9th September 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent (1)
Bristol TM 60046 9th September 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent (2)
Many thanks Guy
Blue Pullmans
a Cornish connection.
Andrew & Diane Jones
a Cornish connection.
Andrew & Diane Jones
With so much interest being shown reference the HST Blue Pullman, (FMrail repainted two class 47’s and a set of mk11 carriages, reviving the Blue Pullman brand in Jan 2006 for charter operation), I thought some background to the original Metro-Cammel unit would be in order.
To be over engineered on not to be…..that is the question!
Although the 8 car Western region sets served on the London Bristol route and were all scrapped by 1975, with unfortunately none preserved, I can only offer the next best thing! Attached are photographs of models from my extensive Hornby Dublo and Triang Rovex collection.
There is a Cornish connection however!….
The original Triang- Rovex Blue Pullman model was based on the Western region sets and introduced in the autumn of 1963. Widely regarded amongst collectors, It was possibly the most successful in sales terms, (just under 1000,000 produced) especially with mail order and was produced at Margate by Robert Atkinson, a toolmaker who subsequently worked for Ranco Controls in Bodmin and whom I had pleasure working with in the 1980’s.
This was in the period just before Lines Brothers, already owners of Triang- Rovex absorbed Hornby Dublo, the later produced by Meccano. (a company fondly remembered by anyone my age or older)
The period had lots of parallels, Hornby Dublo’s superb system was just too expensive and was in need of rationalisation just like British Railways at the time. Triang products were mainly manufactured in Plastic and much cheaper to produce.
A good example of this is illustrated in the attached photographs, the Hornby Dublo rebuilt West Country Pacific ‘Barnstaple’ in 2 rail and sister locomotive ‘Dorchester’ in 3 rail, was manufactured in diecast and retailed in 1963 at more than five pounds, ( or just under 10 pounds for the Devon Belle pullman set) which was the equivalent to an average weeks wages.
Triang had cut the cost and produced the Blue Pullman set to approx half the cost of ‘Barnstaple’, but with much more detail, this eventually spelt the end for Meccano in 1964.
So hopefully I have justified the model link for this article.
The Metro-Cammel Blue Pullman really was introduced in July 1960, to provide business, first class only travel to compete with short haul air travel between London, Birmingham and Manchester. For a while it held its own, but with the completion of electrification on the Euston to Manchester route in 1966 it could not match the reduced timings.
Its innovative design and modern credentials meant that it still had a future elsewhere on the network, especially where electrification was not planned.
All Midland units were transferred to WR in March 1967, second class carriages were added and joined various routes already served by WR Blue Pullmans including Birmingham Snow Hill, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea.
The London to Bristol route with its bowling green gradients proved that 90mph was attainable over long sections, but the units were criticised for poor riding quality.
Technically weighing in at 370 tons the 8 car units were underpowered. The NBL/MAN V12’S only produced 1000hp and even though they were top and tailed the overall 2000hp was inadequate to cope with the Devon Banks and to my knowledge they did not visit the Duchy. (hopefully someone will come up with a photograph to prove me wrong!)
Two underfloor 190 bhp Rolls Royce engines also provided air conditioning.
It could be said that they formed a test bed for the introduction of the HST, however this was the period when unfashionable over engineering and proliferation of non standard designs was coming to an end.
The striking Nanking blue livery certainly transformed the image of British Rail and to this day it has proved with this latest HST reinvention, that it can still ‘cuts the mustard’ and hopefully looking at forward bookings for 2021, it will prove a worthy extension to the working life of the versatile and in my opinion, hard to beat HST, a design now over 46 years old and still going strong……...Over engineered? A compromise at its inception but ultimately a solution to under investment, in electrification.
I wonder what the service life of a Hitachi 800 series will be, cracks are already forming, (sorry) only time will tell…...Brunel would certainly turn in his grave!
To be over engineered on not to be…..that is the question!
Although the 8 car Western region sets served on the London Bristol route and were all scrapped by 1975, with unfortunately none preserved, I can only offer the next best thing! Attached are photographs of models from my extensive Hornby Dublo and Triang Rovex collection.
There is a Cornish connection however!….
The original Triang- Rovex Blue Pullman model was based on the Western region sets and introduced in the autumn of 1963. Widely regarded amongst collectors, It was possibly the most successful in sales terms, (just under 1000,000 produced) especially with mail order and was produced at Margate by Robert Atkinson, a toolmaker who subsequently worked for Ranco Controls in Bodmin and whom I had pleasure working with in the 1980’s.
This was in the period just before Lines Brothers, already owners of Triang- Rovex absorbed Hornby Dublo, the later produced by Meccano. (a company fondly remembered by anyone my age or older)
The period had lots of parallels, Hornby Dublo’s superb system was just too expensive and was in need of rationalisation just like British Railways at the time. Triang products were mainly manufactured in Plastic and much cheaper to produce.
A good example of this is illustrated in the attached photographs, the Hornby Dublo rebuilt West Country Pacific ‘Barnstaple’ in 2 rail and sister locomotive ‘Dorchester’ in 3 rail, was manufactured in diecast and retailed in 1963 at more than five pounds, ( or just under 10 pounds for the Devon Belle pullman set) which was the equivalent to an average weeks wages.
Triang had cut the cost and produced the Blue Pullman set to approx half the cost of ‘Barnstaple’, but with much more detail, this eventually spelt the end for Meccano in 1964.
So hopefully I have justified the model link for this article.
The Metro-Cammel Blue Pullman really was introduced in July 1960, to provide business, first class only travel to compete with short haul air travel between London, Birmingham and Manchester. For a while it held its own, but with the completion of electrification on the Euston to Manchester route in 1966 it could not match the reduced timings.
Its innovative design and modern credentials meant that it still had a future elsewhere on the network, especially where electrification was not planned.
All Midland units were transferred to WR in March 1967, second class carriages were added and joined various routes already served by WR Blue Pullmans including Birmingham Snow Hill, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea.
The London to Bristol route with its bowling green gradients proved that 90mph was attainable over long sections, but the units were criticised for poor riding quality.
Technically weighing in at 370 tons the 8 car units were underpowered. The NBL/MAN V12’S only produced 1000hp and even though they were top and tailed the overall 2000hp was inadequate to cope with the Devon Banks and to my knowledge they did not visit the Duchy. (hopefully someone will come up with a photograph to prove me wrong!)
Two underfloor 190 bhp Rolls Royce engines also provided air conditioning.
It could be said that they formed a test bed for the introduction of the HST, however this was the period when unfashionable over engineering and proliferation of non standard designs was coming to an end.
The striking Nanking blue livery certainly transformed the image of British Rail and to this day it has proved with this latest HST reinvention, that it can still ‘cuts the mustard’ and hopefully looking at forward bookings for 2021, it will prove a worthy extension to the working life of the versatile and in my opinion, hard to beat HST, a design now over 46 years old and still going strong……...Over engineered? A compromise at its inception but ultimately a solution to under investment, in electrification.
I wonder what the service life of a Hitachi 800 series will be, cracks are already forming, (sorry) only time will tell…...Brunel would certainly turn in his grave!
Barnstaple Hornby Dublo build quality. Copyright Andrew Jones
Blue Pullman Triang Rovex model vintage 1963 Copyright Andrew Jones
Blue pullman showing seating model detail complete with table lamps Copyright Andrew Jones
Hornby Dublo model vintage 1963 (1) Copyright Andrew Jones.
A Post script to the above article - Blue Pullmans - a Cornish Connection.
Andrew adds...a post script to my article on the blue pullman...I have found out that one set ventured to Plymouth...its the only mention I could find and sadly no photographs so far..
Former LMR set 60090 / 60730 / 60740 / 60741 / 60731 / 60091 worked from London to Plymouth on Christmas Eve 1970. It returned empty to Bristol, being piloted over the banks between Plymouth and Exeter by Western D1054 'Western Governor'
Andrew adds...a post script to my article on the blue pullman...I have found out that one set ventured to Plymouth...its the only mention I could find and sadly no photographs so far..
Former LMR set 60090 / 60730 / 60740 / 60741 / 60731 / 60091 worked from London to Plymouth on Christmas Eve 1970. It returned empty to Bristol, being piloted over the banks between Plymouth and Exeter by Western D1054 'Western Governor'
Many thanks indeed Andrew
Horse Cove
Ron Kosys
Ron Kosys
47435 trundles past a calm sea at full tide at Horse Cove. It's the 3rd June 1989 The parcels train is the 1E06 Plymouth to Newcastle. Copyright Ron Kosys.
A nice peaceful scene - many thanks Ron.
Newquay '82
Clive Smith
Clive Smith
It's 06.50 on a mid-summer Saturday morning, the sun is already shining and 45057 has just arrived with the 1V40 21.37 from Manchester Piccadilly on platform 1 on the 3rd July 1982. Newquay boasted three platforms and two sidings with semaphores and a signal box which can be seen in the distance at the end of the long platforms. All this was removed in October 1987 leaving a one- line - one- platform station, a rump of its former status. Not exactly sure when the adjacent gasometer was demolished.
Regards
Clive Smith
Regards
Clive Smith
45057 just arrived on the 3rd July 1982 Copyright Clive Smith.
You were up early for this one Clive, or perhaps you travelled down from Plymouth on it. Many thanks.
Laira '78
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
50018 Resolution at Laira depot Plymouth. 29th August 1978. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul.