Statesman out and masks at
Oath
Bill Elston
Oath
Bill Elston
The Riviera Statesman ran today, from Wolverhampton to Paignton, and is seen passing Oath led by 47614 and 47593.
This was followed by the 'Masked IET', 800321 working 1C76 Pad - Pnz.
Best wishes, Bill
This was followed by the 'Masked IET', 800321 working 1C76 Pad - Pnz.
Best wishes, Bill
Outward statesman at Oath 47614, 30th June 2021 Copyright Bill Elston
The masked IET 800321 at Oath, 30th June 2021. Copyright Bill Elston.
Many thanks Bill.
The Statesman out and back.
Keith Turley
Keith Turley
LSL class 47s Nos. 47614 (47853) and 47593 'Galloway Princess' pass Cowley Bridge Junc. on 30th June 2021, working the 1Z72 06:20 Wolverhampton to Paignton, English Riviera Statesman charter. Copyright Keith Turley.
The returning English Riviera Statesman charter, the 1Z73 16:26 Paignton to Wolverhampton seen at Cullompton on 30th June 2021 with class 47 No.47593 'Galloway Princess' leading No.47614 (47853). Copyright Keith Turley.
Many thanks to you Keith.
Drunk on duty - memories at
Exminster
Graham Mann
Exminster
Graham Mann
And now it can be told! Graham as a manager at the tine tells us a couple of true tales. Nowadays, in the case the last one the gentleman concerned would have been fired.
Hope your well, your feature this week on Exminster SB brought back a couple of amusing memories for me.
There was a signalman there who was nearly 7ft tall, one night while waiting to take a possession of the line the signalman had stopped an engine at the down home signal, after waiting for what seemed quite a long time the engine driver came into the SB and remarked on the signalman’s height, he said “when I’ve been passing the SB I always thought you were standing on a box, didn’t think you were actually that tall”!
On another occasion once again while waiting to take a line possession, the signalman remarked that his diagram was showing a lamp out on a signal, he called the S&T out, meanwhile while waiting for the S&T another lamp went out, then another and another until with the exception of the outer signals all the lamps were showing out, the culprit was one of my machine operators, who apparently was rather under the influence of several glasses of cider and he wanted a light for his cigarette, so he climbed up ladder of the first signal to get a light from the lamp, opened the lamp door and the wind blew out the flame and also every other lamp where he attempted to light it.
There were a lot people that not best pleased with my operator none more so than me as he was an intergral part of the works we were commencing that which was removing the crossover.
Regards
Graham Mann
There was a signalman there who was nearly 7ft tall, one night while waiting to take a possession of the line the signalman had stopped an engine at the down home signal, after waiting for what seemed quite a long time the engine driver came into the SB and remarked on the signalman’s height, he said “when I’ve been passing the SB I always thought you were standing on a box, didn’t think you were actually that tall”!
On another occasion once again while waiting to take a line possession, the signalman remarked that his diagram was showing a lamp out on a signal, he called the S&T out, meanwhile while waiting for the S&T another lamp went out, then another and another until with the exception of the outer signals all the lamps were showing out, the culprit was one of my machine operators, who apparently was rather under the influence of several glasses of cider and he wanted a light for his cigarette, so he climbed up ladder of the first signal to get a light from the lamp, opened the lamp door and the wind blew out the flame and also every other lamp where he attempted to light it.
There were a lot people that not best pleased with my operator none more so than me as he was an intergral part of the works we were commencing that which was removing the crossover.
Regards
Graham Mann
Thank you Graham. Your recollections and anybody else's stories which can now be told are very welcome.
The weekend at
Whatley Quarry
Guy Vincent
Whatley Quarry
Guy Vincent
A closer aerial view of the current shunter on hire to Mendip Rail at Whatley Quarry. 08730, a long-time Glasgow Works pilot and formerly named 'The Caley' taking a weekend break in the yard with several class 59s for company. The shunter, now operated by Railway Suppot Services (RSS) is reportedly bound for Hams Hall Railfreight Terminal, West Midlands, and has received ABP blue and grey livery in preparation for this placement. Hams Hall is located on the Birmingham-Nuneaton line and according to Associated British Ports website is the country's busiest inland railfreight terminal. Although 08730 has spent most of its life to date in Scotland it received its last classified major repair in October 1984 at BREL's Swindon Works, just 40 miles from Whatley! Of course in those days shunters made their way by rail for such overhauls, sometimes solo or often in convoy via various suitable freight workings. I remember seeing lines of them stabled in Gloucester New Yard en-route to and from Swindon. See bescotplus.co.uk/shuntersintransit for more info on this interesting topic.
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
Whatley Quarry 08730 & 59002 101 202 203 206 26th June 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Whatley Quarry 08730 26th June 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many many thanks to Guy Vincent for bringing us these pictures plus of course so much detail in the histories of the shunter fleet. Well done Guy and very much appreciation for your time and trouble.
Also congratulations to the managers of Whatey Quarry for keeping their premises so clean and tidy - my first impression on seeing these pictures was that they were of a model.
Also congratulations to the managers of Whatey Quarry for keeping their premises so clean and tidy - my first impression on seeing these pictures was that they were of a model.