Sad News - Steve Green
Stephen Widdowson
Stephen Widdowson
I think there is a good chance that some of your members may well know Steve Green
His funeral will be at Gloucester crematorium Thursday 17th February at 10.00
The Wake will be held at Red Hart in Blaisdon.
His funeral will be at Gloucester crematorium Thursday 17th February at 10.00
The Wake will be held at Red Hart in Blaisdon.
Thanks for advising us Stephen.
Milk Train Query
Chard and Seaton
Brian Pibworth
Chard and Seaton
Brian Pibworth
While rummaging through my slides of Chard Junction, taken during the 1981 milk traffic resurgence, I came across a few which I had omitted from our CRS Archive pages. It is just about possible to work out how PO and BR locos managed to shunt the full and empty tanks to assemble a train to run from the CJ creamery to Stowmarket - even sometimes when the Creamery loco wouldn't start and the mainline locos did the job alone.
However, a bit further West and 20 or so years earlier we had the busy Express Dairy Milk and Egg Depot at Seaton Junction and try as i might I can't understand how they managed to shunt their tanks and vans, apparently without benefit of a private owner loco. There is plenty of evidence, including pictures, of the Seaton Branch loco, sometimes still attached to the Pull/Push set (!), shunting the Milk Depot sidings. But according to track plans there was no run around off the main line and a move to haul filled tanks from the Depot into the long Up Sidings would surely leave the loco trapped. Similarly how did did empty tanks reach the depot if they were dropped off from a down train? Was there a horse? Gravity? Pinch-bar?
Any help from members in solving this Shunting Puzzle would be much appreciated.
With kind regards to you both,
Brian
However, a bit further West and 20 or so years earlier we had the busy Express Dairy Milk and Egg Depot at Seaton Junction and try as i might I can't understand how they managed to shunt their tanks and vans, apparently without benefit of a private owner loco. There is plenty of evidence, including pictures, of the Seaton Branch loco, sometimes still attached to the Pull/Push set (!), shunting the Milk Depot sidings. But according to track plans there was no run around off the main line and a move to haul filled tanks from the Depot into the long Up Sidings would surely leave the loco trapped. Similarly how did did empty tanks reach the depot if they were dropped off from a down train? Was there a horse? Gravity? Pinch-bar?
Any help from members in solving this Shunting Puzzle would be much appreciated.
With kind regards to you both,
Brian
Chard Milk 1) 47346 arrives at Chard Junction with empty milk tankers 22 Aug 1981 Copyright Brian Pibworth
Chard Milk 2) MMB shunter propels empty milk tanks into the MMB siding 22nd Augusg 1981 Copyright Brian Pibworth
Chard Milk 3) 47346 assists MMB shunter back to milk factory 22 Aug 1981 Copyright Brian Pibworth
Chard Milk 4) 31123 sets back onto a rake of full milk tanks 23 Aug 1981 Copyright Brian Pibworth
Many thanks Brian for your article and for the shunting query with it. Does anybody, please, have any pictures of the shunting operation at Seaton Junction?
DRS 'Warships'
Passing Westbury
Guy Vincent
Passing Westbury
Guy Vincent
Good evening Keith
Direct Rail Services (DRS) were contracted by Network Rail to move a quantity of HOBC and Track Renewal Train vehicles from High Marnham, Notts, to Taunton Fairwater on Friday 11th. The train consisted of 38 'wagons' with a total length of 2162 feet and combined weight of 1742 tonnes. Passage of 6X37 through our area was after dark but on Saturday 12th the two locos used, 68008 'Avenger' and 68018 'Vigilant' ran light from Taunton to Willesden Brent as 0Z68 via the Berks & Hants line. Both names were formerly used on 'Warships' nos D804 and D861. The locos were captured at speed heading east along the Westbury Avoiding line at Penleigh Park foot crossing where the field beyond has recently become a housing estate. See previous photos on the site taken here in 1976 and 2017 and compare. All in the name of progress...
Regards, Guy Vincent.
Direct Rail Services (DRS) were contracted by Network Rail to move a quantity of HOBC and Track Renewal Train vehicles from High Marnham, Notts, to Taunton Fairwater on Friday 11th. The train consisted of 38 'wagons' with a total length of 2162 feet and combined weight of 1742 tonnes. Passage of 6X37 through our area was after dark but on Saturday 12th the two locos used, 68008 'Avenger' and 68018 'Vigilant' ran light from Taunton to Willesden Brent as 0Z68 via the Berks & Hants line. Both names were formerly used on 'Warships' nos D804 and D861. The locos were captured at speed heading east along the Westbury Avoiding line at Penleigh Park foot crossing where the field beyond has recently become a housing estate. See previous photos on the site taken here in 1976 and 2017 and compare. All in the name of progress...
Regards, Guy Vincent.
Penleigh Crossing, Westbury Avoider. 68008 68018 0Z68 Taunton-Willesden 12th February 2022 Copyright Guy Vincent
68008 & 68018 on the Westbury Avoiding Line 0Z38 Taunton-Willesden12.th February 2022. Copyright Guy Vincent
Many thanks Guy for the news and the pictures with, as usual, all the details.
Colourful 37 at
Swindon
Colin Pidgeon
Swindon
Colin Pidgeon
3 photos of 37510 on 0M57 St Phillips Marsh HSTD to Derby RTC in the bay platform the station..
NOTE FROM Ken Mumford:- Colin has given me permssion to pass these photos on - thank you, Colin.
NOTE FROM Ken Mumford:- Colin has given me permssion to pass these photos on - thank you, Colin.
37 510 At Swindon on the OM57 St Phllips Marsh to Derby RTC. Morning of 13th February 2022 Copyright Colin Pidgeon
37 510 At Swindon Morning of 13th February 2022 Copyright Colin Pidgeon
Looking very smart - with excellent artwork 37 510 At Swindon Morning of 13th February 2022 Copyright Colin Pidgeon
Many thanks to Colin and Ken.
Latest H & S Gimmick at
Westbury
Guy Vincent
Westbury
Guy Vincent
On a recent wander around the perimeter of Westbury yard I noticed the latest development in high-tech safety equipment. On site 24 hours, no wages to pay and no holidays or sick leave to worry about. At least they can't issue a parking ticket if you fail to follow instructions!
These figures remind me of the cardboard cut-out Police Officers that can be seen at certain locations on our region.
Guy Vincent
These figures remind me of the cardboard cut-out Police Officers that can be seen at certain locations on our region.
Guy Vincent
Nanny State. Copyright Guy Vincent.
- and please stop and apply handbrake before you hit the fence!!
Please walk slowly to the reception following the dotted line !
Many thanks Guy, I enjoy your disdain, however one cannot say that these signs are not visible and effective.