Refreshing Red - Virgin trains
Aller Junction
Paul Barlow
Aller Junction
Paul Barlow
Virgin trains 47701 10.17 Manchester to Penzance seen at Aller Junction. This loco now owned by Nemesis Rail 5th August 2008. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul.
Red at Dawlish
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
Phil brings us this view of Virgin trains 43103 at Dawlish in 2001 Copyright Phil Smith
Many thanks Phil - the bright red comes out nicely against the dark green.
Rare loco at
Lostwithiel
Julian Stephens
Lostwithiel
Julian Stephens
60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster with Redland Aggregates self discharge train which had been in use in the Largin area. 31st January 1998 Copyright Julian Stephens
60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster eases past Lostwithiels signalbox. 31st January 1998 Copyright Julian Stephens
60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster and crawls out onto the bridge over the river Fowey to reverse. 31st January 1998 Copyright Julian Stephens
60006 Scunthorpe Ironmaster reverses its train into the currently unused down sidings at Lostwithiel. 31st January 1998 Copyright Julian Stephens
Thank you Julian for your shots of this rather unusual train and very rare motive power at Lostwithiel.
A visit to Swindon works in the late 70's
Swindon Works
By Mick House.
First off, I must apologise for the quality of the photos, I did not have the technology then that I have now. Back in the seventies I was involved with a project involving preservation and restoration of all forms of rolling stock at the former Pullman car works in Brighton. One of the projects I was participating in was to preserve a 08 shunter, 08471 to be exact (photo 1); this involved a trip to Swindon works to see it and a tour of the site, at the time of the visit there was a large quantity of 08s to be seen on site and a lot of them were being scraped. The highlight of the tour was the vast part of the works that was (A) Shop and some of the side shops attached to it. The main erecting shop with its many Traversers (photos 2 & 3), one of its many overhead cranes (photo 4), side shops (photos 5 & 6), also not forgetting the machinery therein, multi head oxy-acetylene cutter (photos 7), vertical milling machine (photo 8) and small traversing crane for lifting smaller components (photo 9). The work being carried out at the time of my visit was quite varied from Shunters, DMUs, P Way cranes, Wagons to Mainline locos. Class 03 170 was about to be reunited with its gearbox and transmission (photo 10), some DMUs receiving attention (photo 11) and a Peak standing next to a Class 31 with its cab missing, possibly a head-on collision or maybe just rotten bodywork! (photo 12). Hope you have enjoyed my short trip around Swindon works.
Photo (1) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (2) Copyright Mick House;
Photo (3) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (4) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (5) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (6) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (7) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (8) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (9) Copyright Mick House.
Photo 10. Copyright Mick House.
Photo (11) Copyright Mick House.
Photo (12) Copyright Mick House.
Many thanks for your excellent and extensive report and photographs on your privileged visit to Swindon works Mick.