Michael L. Roach.
A useful mixed traffic Class
The Grange class was introduced by the Great Western Railway in 1936 and the design was derived from the Churchward Moguls of 1911 and shared many components with the Hall Class of 1928. All the main dimensions and fittings were similar to the Hall Class except that the diameter of the driving wheels was reduced by 4 inches (101.6mm). This gave a useful increase in tractive effort of 6 percent but more importantly gave the Grange class better hill-climbing abilities. The class proved particularly useful on lines with switchback gradients like the Cornish main line. Of the 258 Hall class many entered preservation soon after withdrawal from British Railways and many later from Barry scrapyard. Of the 80 Grange class built every single one was withdrawn and cut up leaving none in preservation; however this gap is now being filled with the construction of the 81st Grange by the Betton Grange Society. In this short feature we will see four examples of the class on typical duties in Devon and Cornwall in the summer of 1961. In the last picture we see 6860 waiting to take over a train at Plymouth Station. I travelled on the train as far as Bodmin Road and it kept time with 12 coaches weighing in the region of 420 tons. The train was allowed three hours to reach Penzance and the limit for a Grange over the route was 385 tons.
MLR/ 27 May 2021
Craig Munday
The wonderful eight weeks around Mid Summers Day allow the light into corners not seen in the other months of the year. The down sleeper train is notoriously ahead of the sun on its journey west from Plymouth. Two locations in high Summer allow a head on lit view of the train, Trerulefoot and, additionally now Restormel allow a good head on view. The recent cutting back has revealed a suitable gap in the trees for a shot off the bridge there. On a beautiful morning, the Monday morning 1C50 (departing later from Plymouth) catches the superb light as it leans into the curve with 57603.
Alos the MPV has been active in the County visiting the Fowey & St Ives branch. Due to crew knowledge, two class 66s were the traction and 66140 & 66120 make a fine sight working down from Didcot on Sunday 13th. The turntable at St Blazey in the second shot looking rather unkempt.
Another I phone shot from St Austell sees the up sleeper under a dreamy sky at 11pm as we approach the longest day of the year.
Some other sunshine shots are also included.
Stoke Canon
Keith Turley
with classmate No.802011 on the rear pass Stoke Canon with the
1C72 08:04 Paddington to Penzance service.
Network Rail class 150 DMU No.950001 also at Stoke Canon
working the 5Z08 08:52 Bristol HLS to Truro Yard Network Rail test train.
Regards Keith Turley.
Starcross
Paul Barlow
Par
Andrew Keast