An update on the Trollies at
Meldon Quarry
Jon Kelsey
Meldon Quarry
Jon Kelsey
Hello Keith
We're interested in the recent postings by Brian Pibworth, particularly the earlier one entitled Meldon Trollies. I'm afraid we can't offer any authoritative insights, as they pre-date most of the current regulars. but we've got a few thoughts.
The steam locomotive cab roof in the scrap pile looks as if it came from the privately owned Hudswell Clarke PLA 0-6-0 tank restoration project which has been in Meldon yard for a long time. The owner must have rebuilt the cab - it has had one since 2009 at the latest. It seems likely that the dome belonged to it too. (The boiler has been off site for many years).
We're pretty sure the Wickham trolley is Wickham Works Number 10841, the regular Dartmoor Railway trolley. The trailer is Wickham Works number 8385, originally built as a skip trailer for work on Sevenoaks tunnel, converted to dropside form long before it came to Devon. Both are/were assets of Dartmoor Railway Community Interest Company, in administration since Feb 2020. We don't yet know the outcome. The third vehicle in that view is a Permaquip Mk3 Jackapacka, either BP053 or BP054. In the long view is also a Robel trolley.
I wonder if you would mind passing these sketchy notes on to Brian, or putting us in touch with him.
kind regards
Jon Kelsey
Secretary and Website Editor - Dartmoor Railway Supporters' Association
We're interested in the recent postings by Brian Pibworth, particularly the earlier one entitled Meldon Trollies. I'm afraid we can't offer any authoritative insights, as they pre-date most of the current regulars. but we've got a few thoughts.
The steam locomotive cab roof in the scrap pile looks as if it came from the privately owned Hudswell Clarke PLA 0-6-0 tank restoration project which has been in Meldon yard for a long time. The owner must have rebuilt the cab - it has had one since 2009 at the latest. It seems likely that the dome belonged to it too. (The boiler has been off site for many years).
We're pretty sure the Wickham trolley is Wickham Works Number 10841, the regular Dartmoor Railway trolley. The trailer is Wickham Works number 8385, originally built as a skip trailer for work on Sevenoaks tunnel, converted to dropside form long before it came to Devon. Both are/were assets of Dartmoor Railway Community Interest Company, in administration since Feb 2020. We don't yet know the outcome. The third vehicle in that view is a Permaquip Mk3 Jackapacka, either BP053 or BP054. In the long view is also a Robel trolley.
I wonder if you would mind passing these sketchy notes on to Brian, or putting us in touch with him.
kind regards
Jon Kelsey
Secretary and Website Editor - Dartmoor Railway Supporters' Association
Many thanks Jon - your most interesting notes have been forwarded to Brian.
Newbury
Michael Forward.
Michael Forward.
50043 ‘Eagle’ ,at speed, with the 11.30 from Paignton to Paddington.. 28th June 1996. Copyright Michael Forward
Many thanks Michael.
'Merl Evans'
Swindon
Driver Alan Peters
Swindon
Driver Alan Peters
Colas Rail 37099 named 'Merl Evans' at Swindon Platform One with 1Q15 PLPR top and tailed with 37175 vice the NMT, the train had originated at Derby and worked to Hereford, then to Swindon where it is pictured before working to Swansea via Gloucester on 26th January 2021. Merl Evans was the former head of research and development at Bachmann who sadly passed away on 16th August 2016, the locomotive was named at Derby in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British model railways during his career at Palitoy and Bachmann Europe PLC, also of note is the 89C shed plate (Machynlleth) where Merl Evans grew up.
There is a Bachmann 00 model version available of this particular Colas class 37, one of which sits on my shelf at home.
Driver Alan Peters
There is a Bachmann 00 model version available of this particular Colas class 37, one of which sits on my shelf at home.
Driver Alan Peters
Merl Evans at Swindon on the 26th January 2021. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.
Mel Evans at Swindon on the 26th January 2021. Copyright Alan Peters.
Many thanks for your report and pictures Alan.
Calling
Guild Train Managers
Jeff Vinter
Guild Train Managers
Jeff Vinter
Dear CRS,
I am writing to ask permission, please, to use Mike Roach’s photograph (as above) in a forthcoming special newsletter to South Western members of Railway Ramblers. With successive lockdowns, our annual programme of walks, both here in the SW and across the UK, has been devastated, and I have started to issue occasional newsletters to keep alive our sense of community, and to help lift local members’ spirits at a difficult, restricted and monotonous time. I will, of course, give a clear credit to both Mike and the CRS.
I will be happy to send you a sample of my first ‘Lockdown Newsletter’ if you wish to see the sort of thing that I am issuing. (It’s a lot of work, so I do not propose to continue these newsletters when life is back to normal, or significantly more normal than it is now.)
On a completely different subject, many years ago I was Treasurer and then President of Exeter University Railway Society. In the latter capacity, I served as ‘Guild Train Officer’, responsible for organising and staffing special trains from Birmingham New Street and Paddington to Exeter at the start and end of University terms. I was just one in a long line of Guild Train Officers (previously ‘Managers’), who during this third national lockdown have got to together to record the history of these unusual charter workings. However, we have a gap between 1965 and 1970. We believe that Guild Trains operated during these years, but we have no idea who the Guild Train Officers/Managers were. In the hope that some from this noble breed have settled in Cornwall, or at least support your excellent society, I wonder if you could appeal for our ‘lost’ officers/managers to come forward so that we can complete our account?
With all good wishes,
Jeff Vinter
SW Area Organiser
Railway Ramblers
www.railwayramblers.org.uk
I am writing to ask permission, please, to use Mike Roach’s photograph (as above) in a forthcoming special newsletter to South Western members of Railway Ramblers. With successive lockdowns, our annual programme of walks, both here in the SW and across the UK, has been devastated, and I have started to issue occasional newsletters to keep alive our sense of community, and to help lift local members’ spirits at a difficult, restricted and monotonous time. I will, of course, give a clear credit to both Mike and the CRS.
I will be happy to send you a sample of my first ‘Lockdown Newsletter’ if you wish to see the sort of thing that I am issuing. (It’s a lot of work, so I do not propose to continue these newsletters when life is back to normal, or significantly more normal than it is now.)
On a completely different subject, many years ago I was Treasurer and then President of Exeter University Railway Society. In the latter capacity, I served as ‘Guild Train Officer’, responsible for organising and staffing special trains from Birmingham New Street and Paddington to Exeter at the start and end of University terms. I was just one in a long line of Guild Train Officers (previously ‘Managers’), who during this third national lockdown have got to together to record the history of these unusual charter workings. However, we have a gap between 1965 and 1970. We believe that Guild Trains operated during these years, but we have no idea who the Guild Train Officers/Managers were. In the hope that some from this noble breed have settled in Cornwall, or at least support your excellent society, I wonder if you could appeal for our ‘lost’ officers/managers to come forward so that we can complete our account?
With all good wishes,
Jeff Vinter
SW Area Organiser
Railway Ramblers
www.railwayramblers.org.uk
Are there any previous 'Guild Train Manager' (Officers) out there - please get in touch.