A very pleasant visit to Somerset
James Bown
James Bown
I took the 10.15 from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead yesterday hauled by immaculate Hawksworth 9XXX 0-6-0PT number 9466 which had recently returned to service. The return was hauled by the GWR Mogul 9351. The Somerset countryside in May always delights as does this excellent railway. Best wishes James Bown
Bishops Lydeard 23rd May 2023. Copyright James Bown
Many thanks to you James.
This weeks selection
Craig Munday
Craig Munday
The glorious sunshine (14 hours on Friday apparently), continues, and being thoroughly enjoyed. Some recent pictures from out and about.
16th, 66104 was a little later than usual arriving at Goonbarrow - the light was setting fast and a front on view was taken entering the exchange sidings.
The vegetation clearance around St Blazey has exposed a nice evening shot of the clay passing the semaphores, 66104 powers away after Driver Steve Burton has collected the electric token for the section to Goonbarrow.
A lovely shift at Par in the sunshine saw the windows open all day and the sounds of POart we know and love, the ducks and geese hurriedly flying over squawking loudly, the youngsters playing in the park opposite and the passing trains. Memories to cling onto. Pip Dunn was down and travelled up front on 2U12. The train is seen arriving as the sun climbs.
The 21st was Lostfest, and I was attending there for much of the afternoon. The crossing became incredibly busy and I was chief usher for folk coming back to the crossing. Many cut it fine for the barrier sequence so they were hurried along just before the down train left Bodmin.
Bodmin & Wenford's 08359 was in action, and some shots high up from Tywardreath were also taken in the morning.
Finally, yesterday 43272 made its way back to Doncaster at Laira, and is seen at South Brent. It really looks a bit lost on the mainline running solo.
Best wishes, Craig.
Pictures in date order - left to right then down - all copyright Craig Munday. Please click on the pictures to obtain a framed enlargement.
Many thanks Craig - a busy week.
NINETEEN SIXTY TWO – PART 21
Steam and the Forder Valley Link Road
Michael L. Roach
Steam and the Forder Valley Link Road
Michael L. Roach
The steam roller was patented in France in 1859 and the first British examples appeared in the 1860s. There were a number of maufacturers who adapted their design of traction engine to the new three smooth roll design which was ideal for building roads. Marshalls of Gainsborough were one of the major manufacturers but they produced their first diesel roller in 1925. Steam rollers were still in use throughout the 1960s but in rapidly diminishing numbers. The last steam roller that I saw in use was on a road widening contract. The location was alongside the Vulcan Inn (now a cafe) close to the site of the former Doldowlod railway station on the A470 in Radnorshire where the trunk roasd was being widened and straightened; and the date was 24 August 1971. The roller was Aveling & Porter no. 11208; a 10-tonner dating from 1925 and belonging to the Radnor County Council which is now part of Powys County Council. The roller entered preservation and was last heard of in Kington, Herefordshire.
In Part 9 of this series (10 March) I explained how my first job on a construction site was setting out the Forder Valley Link Road in Spring 1962. The road was built across a flood plain and at the peak there were six road rollers compacting the formation most of them being Marshalls, including one Marshall steam roller. It is believed that most of the rollers were on hire from the well-known firm of R.Dingle & Sons of Stoke Climsland. The Marshall roller in question had the works number 88166 and the registration DCV 5, and it dated from 1937. The roller was driven by one “Taffy” Dare who hailed from the Valleys of South Wales and he lived the typical life that such drivers had been living for the previous 80 to 90 years. Taffy left home at Stoke Climsland, near Callington Cornwall, very early on a Monday morning in good time to light up the engine and raise steam ready to start work at 07.30 with the rest of the construction workers. From Monday evening to Thursday evening Taffy spent four nights in his living van which he had towed to site. This was without doubt a lonely life for a married man but on Friday evening he could damp down the fire and go home for the weekend. He obviously had no car because he had driven the roller to site, so perhaps he had a small motor bike with him. DCV 5 was one of several of Dingle's steam rollers to make it into preservation and when last heard of it belonged to an enthusiast living in Redruth.
CAPTIONS
7006 The typical parts of a steam roller can be seen in this broadside view of DCV 5 on 17 April 1962.
7007 In this view the Marshall is rolling material brought from the other end of the site.
7008 Here we see a lorry bringing material excavated on site and which will be spread in layers by a bulldozer and compacted by rollers. One of the dozers on site was a Hanomag which were never common in Britain. The firm was better known by railway enthusiasts for its steam locomotives. The first three images were all taken at Longbridge at the east end of the road scheme.
7145 On 6 June 1962 the Marshall roller is seen at the other (west) end of the scheme close to where the road joined back into the existing A374 road.
MLR / 21 May 2023
In Part 9 of this series (10 March) I explained how my first job on a construction site was setting out the Forder Valley Link Road in Spring 1962. The road was built across a flood plain and at the peak there were six road rollers compacting the formation most of them being Marshalls, including one Marshall steam roller. It is believed that most of the rollers were on hire from the well-known firm of R.Dingle & Sons of Stoke Climsland. The Marshall roller in question had the works number 88166 and the registration DCV 5, and it dated from 1937. The roller was driven by one “Taffy” Dare who hailed from the Valleys of South Wales and he lived the typical life that such drivers had been living for the previous 80 to 90 years. Taffy left home at Stoke Climsland, near Callington Cornwall, very early on a Monday morning in good time to light up the engine and raise steam ready to start work at 07.30 with the rest of the construction workers. From Monday evening to Thursday evening Taffy spent four nights in his living van which he had towed to site. This was without doubt a lonely life for a married man but on Friday evening he could damp down the fire and go home for the weekend. He obviously had no car because he had driven the roller to site, so perhaps he had a small motor bike with him. DCV 5 was one of several of Dingle's steam rollers to make it into preservation and when last heard of it belonged to an enthusiast living in Redruth.
CAPTIONS
7006 The typical parts of a steam roller can be seen in this broadside view of DCV 5 on 17 April 1962.
7007 In this view the Marshall is rolling material brought from the other end of the site.
7008 Here we see a lorry bringing material excavated on site and which will be spread in layers by a bulldozer and compacted by rollers. One of the dozers on site was a Hanomag which were never common in Britain. The firm was better known by railway enthusiasts for its steam locomotives. The first three images were all taken at Longbridge at the east end of the road scheme.
7145 On 6 June 1962 the Marshall roller is seen at the other (west) end of the scheme close to where the road joined back into the existing A374 road.
MLR / 21 May 2023
7006 The typical parts of a steam roller can be seen in this broadside view of DCV 5 on 17 April 1962. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
7007 In this view the Marshall is rolling material brought from the other end of the site. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
7008 Here we see a lorry bringing material excavated on site and which will be spread in layers by a bulldozer and compacted by rollers. One of the dozers on site was a Hanomag which were never common in Britain. The firm was better known by railway enthusiasts for its steam locomotives. The first three images were all taken at Longbridge at the east end of the road scheme.
7145 On 6 June 1962 the Marshall roller is seen at the other (west) end of the scheme close to where the road joined back into the existing A374 road. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks Mike - just keep on rollin' along!