Power Car Namings
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
Good evening Keith
It was reported today (11th) that two more of GWR's class 43 power cars have received names, 43005 'St Michaels Mount' and 43187 'Cardiff Castle'. The plates were reportedly affixed at Laira depot so hopefully they will be back in service soon. That leaves just three of the original allocation of 24 names unplaced, 'Castle an Dinas; Berry Pomeroy Castle and Powderham Castle.
Regards for now
Guy Vincent
It was reported today (11th) that two more of GWR's class 43 power cars have received names, 43005 'St Michaels Mount' and 43187 'Cardiff Castle'. The plates were reportedly affixed at Laira depot so hopefully they will be back in service soon. That leaves just three of the original allocation of 24 names unplaced, 'Castle an Dinas; Berry Pomeroy Castle and Powderham Castle.
Regards for now
Guy Vincent
and here's proof
Driver Nick Dyke
Driver Nick Dyke
Afternoon, 43005 has been finally named St Michael’s Mount! Here it is seen at Laira on Tuesday 11th January. Kind regards Nick Dyke
43005 named St Michael's Mount - 11th January 2022. Copyright Driver Nick Dyke
43005 named St Michael's Mount - 11th January 2022. Copyright Driver Nick Dyke
Many many thanks to Guy Vincent and Nick Dyke
Liskeard 2
Roger Geach
Roger Geach
50041 Later Bullwark 07.40 Penzance to Liverpool Liskeard 24th December 1976. Copyright Roger Geach
First introduced to traffic on the 8th May 1978 it was nearly thirty years ago today (on January 23 1985), British Rail Engineering Limited released 50041 Bulwark back into traffic following a substantial rebuild.
The Class 50 had been badly damaged in a derailment at London Paddington in November 1983, while hauling the 2135 Penzance-London Paddington Sleeper train. It is understood that it derailed when taking a 25 MPH rated point at around 60 MPH. The ‘50’ slid for 100 metres, with its bogies ripped from underneath. It smashed into the ramp of Platform 8. Miraculously the driver escaped serious injury, while three passengers were hospitalised.
The Class 50 was taken to Doncaster Works and, following assessment, authorisation was given to repair it. The ‘50’ began its journey to Yorkshire on January 17 1984, but it would be January 4 1985 before it hauled a train (a test trip from Doncaster to Newcastle).
The locomotive would survived in traffic until April 1990, when it was withdrawn from the NSSA pool at Laira. It was scrapped by Coopers Metals at Old Oak Common in July 1991.
The information here is courtesy RAIL January 1984.
The Class 50 had been badly damaged in a derailment at London Paddington in November 1983, while hauling the 2135 Penzance-London Paddington Sleeper train. It is understood that it derailed when taking a 25 MPH rated point at around 60 MPH. The ‘50’ slid for 100 metres, with its bogies ripped from underneath. It smashed into the ramp of Platform 8. Miraculously the driver escaped serious injury, while three passengers were hospitalised.
The Class 50 was taken to Doncaster Works and, following assessment, authorisation was given to repair it. The ‘50’ began its journey to Yorkshire on January 17 1984, but it would be January 4 1985 before it hauled a train (a test trip from Doncaster to Newcastle).
The locomotive would survived in traffic until April 1990, when it was withdrawn from the NSSA pool at Laira. It was scrapped by Coopers Metals at Old Oak Common in July 1991.
The information here is courtesy RAIL January 1984.
Many thanks Roger
A footnote on the Inquiry into the incident.
Dennis Clarke
Dennis Clarke
Hi Keith, I read your article about 50041 this morning. At that time, I was a Workshop Supervisor at Wembley InterCity Depot. We maintained the sleeper stock and it arrived at our depot every day, usually hauled by a Class 50. After servicing and maintenance, the 50 took the stock back to Paddington for the service to Plymouth and Penzance. After the accident, I attended an internal British Railways inquiry at Reading with all of the staff who had worked on the train when it was last on the depot the previous day. Following that, there was a public inquiry held at The Great Western Hotel at Paddington, which I also attended. I remember it was quite daunting, as a 24 year old Supervisor, being questioned by the chair, Major Rose. I was asked several questions regarding the train brakes, distributors, the possibility of water being in the pneumatics etc. The brake distributors were all removed and tested off the train and none were faulty. I also remember buying the Evening Standard on the way home from the inquiry and the headlines were “Train Brakes Failed” ! This was found to be untrue as other witnesses at Royal Oak station saw sparks flying from the brake blocks on the wheels of the tread braked coaches. The driver approached Paddington too fast, braked hard and was unable to stop in time. It was quite an experience attending and giving evidence at that inquiry, something which I will always remember. I still have a copy of the transcript somewhere, Regards, Dennis Clarke
Many thanks indeed Dennis for the extra information you have provided.
St Erth '87
Stephen Widdowson
Stephen Widdowson
Very near the end of a long journey, Seen at St Erth 43082 and 43092 power the { Newcastle to Penzance 20th June 1987 Copyright Stephen Widdowson
Many thanks Steve.
Bitumen traffic
Exeter St Davids
Paul Barlow & Roger Winnen
Exeter St Davids
Paul Barlow & Roger Winnen
31106 31112 seen at platform 5 Exeter St Davids on the Exeter City Basin to Ripple Lane bitumen tanks. 16th February 1978 Copyright Paul Barlow
760421e A Class 33 arrives with bitumen tanks at Exeter St David's on 21st April 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen
Many thanks Paul - unusual traffic - a rare picture.
Clean stone at
Cowley Bridge
Ron Kosys
Cowley Bridge
Ron Kosys
33208 hauls a full load of nice clean ballast at Cowley Bridge on the 4th August 1989 - it's the 6O74 1120 Meldon-Tonbridge Copyright Ron Kosys.
Thanks Ron