50 years ago today
Neil Phillps looks back
Neil Phillps looks back
A little later than ideal, but I’ve only just remembered – Cornwall’s first Class 25 in the shape of 5180 rolled into St Blazey Yard on a freight 50 years ago today – around tea time I believe. Here’s my photo of it taken over two weeks later (Monday 16 August) when news of its presence had finally filtered through to points further west. This still appears to be the earliest photo of a Class 25 in Cornwall.
D5180 was delivered new to Gateshead 52A on 19 February 1963, one of a batch of four (5179-82) built new for freight duties so never fitted with boilers and water tanks. It moved to Leeds Holbeck 55A in January 1968 and then in November 1970 to Newport Ebbw Junction 86B. In the photo 55A cast shed plates on the driver’s cab sides as well as ‘EBBW JUNC’ allocation stickers on all four corners can just be detected. It was officially allocated to Laira in October 1971 and was at Penzance on 31 December that year, the penultimate day of Class 22 operation. On 3 January 1972 5180 had the task of towing the last four operational Class 22s away from the South West, 6336/38 from St Blazey and collecting 6333/39 at Exeter to deposit them all at Bristol Marsh Junction. Later that month it was sent back to Ebbw Junction, then in May 1974 to Cardiff, by then renumbered 25030. In October 1975 its WR career ended when it was despatched all the way to Haymarket depot, then one month later moving all the way up to Inverness! In May 1976 it jumped Region again, this time to Cricklewood where its luck soon ran out as on 5 August that year while paired with 25174 it was hit by runaway wagons in the Aylesbury area. Both locomotives were withdrawn, 25030 being only the eleventh member of the class to fall. It was eventually scrapped at Derby Works in spring 1980. Information courtesy of the ever-informative ‘derbysulzers’ website.
From a personal viewpoint, by strange coincidence there is a photo in a book showing 25030 partially dismembered at Derby with a fire-damaged and cabless ‘Peak’ 46003 for (temporary) company. 46003 was at the head of the up 1M74 on 29 May 1975, which I caught at Truro and took this photo of the city from the train (would that truly ugly multi-storey car park have been permitted in such a location nowadays?) It was a poignant moment because from that day I was technically no longer a Cornish resident, and remained so for nearly 45 years……! Truro School visible top left, almost exactly ten years earlier I had been one of the first occupants of the prominent new extension, from memory the Richard Lander Building opened 1 May 1965. Brilliant for watching the trains on the viaducts………” Phillips! Are you paying attention?!” “Yes Sir, of course Sir!”
D5180 was delivered new to Gateshead 52A on 19 February 1963, one of a batch of four (5179-82) built new for freight duties so never fitted with boilers and water tanks. It moved to Leeds Holbeck 55A in January 1968 and then in November 1970 to Newport Ebbw Junction 86B. In the photo 55A cast shed plates on the driver’s cab sides as well as ‘EBBW JUNC’ allocation stickers on all four corners can just be detected. It was officially allocated to Laira in October 1971 and was at Penzance on 31 December that year, the penultimate day of Class 22 operation. On 3 January 1972 5180 had the task of towing the last four operational Class 22s away from the South West, 6336/38 from St Blazey and collecting 6333/39 at Exeter to deposit them all at Bristol Marsh Junction. Later that month it was sent back to Ebbw Junction, then in May 1974 to Cardiff, by then renumbered 25030. In October 1975 its WR career ended when it was despatched all the way to Haymarket depot, then one month later moving all the way up to Inverness! In May 1976 it jumped Region again, this time to Cricklewood where its luck soon ran out as on 5 August that year while paired with 25174 it was hit by runaway wagons in the Aylesbury area. Both locomotives were withdrawn, 25030 being only the eleventh member of the class to fall. It was eventually scrapped at Derby Works in spring 1980. Information courtesy of the ever-informative ‘derbysulzers’ website.
From a personal viewpoint, by strange coincidence there is a photo in a book showing 25030 partially dismembered at Derby with a fire-damaged and cabless ‘Peak’ 46003 for (temporary) company. 46003 was at the head of the up 1M74 on 29 May 1975, which I caught at Truro and took this photo of the city from the train (would that truly ugly multi-storey car park have been permitted in such a location nowadays?) It was a poignant moment because from that day I was technically no longer a Cornish resident, and remained so for nearly 45 years……! Truro School visible top left, almost exactly ten years earlier I had been one of the first occupants of the prominent new extension, from memory the Richard Lander Building opened 1 May 1965. Brilliant for watching the trains on the viaducts………” Phillips! Are you paying attention?!” “Yes Sir, of course Sir!”
D5180 St Blazey 16th August 2021. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Truro from the train 29th May 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips,
I hope, Mr. Phillips. that you never got detention for train spotting.
Thanks for your memories and for the pictures. That car park certainly spoils the view - I cannot say glorious view because the other buildings don't exactly 'tone in' with superb cathedral.
Thanks for your memories and for the pictures. That car park certainly spoils the view - I cannot say glorious view because the other buildings don't exactly 'tone in' with superb cathedral.
The NMT at Saltash
Ross Griffiths.
Ross Griffiths.
Please see attached an image for use on the site if desired, of the NMT HST as it passed through Saltash earlier today with 185E 0611 Reading Triangle Sidings to Paignton, with power car 43290 trailing. Copyright Ross Griffiths
Many Thanks Ross
Exeter Water Tank
Christmas 1975
Roger Winnen
Christmas 1975
Roger Winnen
751227i 27th December 1975 The old water tank at Exeter St David's Station since demolished for the new signalling centre which opened in the 1980s Copyright Roger Winnen
Exeter 78
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
BRC&W Class 104 DMU M50496 M59152 M50450 retn empty after working a Derby to Plymouth relief service pass ESD 24th February 1978. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul
Exeter 78
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
Just a month later a peak arrives at Exeter St David's with the relief Cornishman. note water tower in the background. 30th March 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Many thanks Roger.