More colourful Class 47s
Michael Adams
Michael Adams
Hello Roger, Here are a couple more shots from Michael Adams of class 47s in different liveries. Firstly we see 47707 at Reading on 19 March 1991 with a morning service from Paddington to Oxford. Thanks Copyright Michael Adams
Roger, Now a shot of 47358 at Bristol on Saturday 20 June 1987 with the 11.00 Paignton to Newcastle Copyright Michael Adams
Many Thanks Michael
NINETEEN SIXTY TWO
PART 55
Michael L. Roach
PART 55
Michael L. Roach
The Life of Small Prairie 5521
Small prairie 5521 was completed in December 1927 one of a hundred built between February 1927 and February 1929, numbered 4575-4599 and 5500-5574. The 4575 class was a development of the 4500 class with larger water tanks being the principal visual difference. Like 4567 in Part 52 5521 went to Newton Abbot on leaving Swindon Works and like 4567 it ended its days at Laira Shed. 5521 was dispatched north to Oswestry and Machynlleth Sheds in May 1951 but returned to the West of England in November 1951. Apart from that 6-month stint in Wales 5521 spent the whole of its 35 year working life at sheds no further north or east than Taunton. It spent four spells at Taunton Shed and for some of that time was fitted with token changing apparatus for working the 24-mile Minehead Branch and the 45-mile Barnstaple Branch. With runs of that magnitude 5521 was one of only a handful of the 4575 class to travel more than one million miles in GWR and BR service.
5521 arrived at Laira, from Taunton, in November 1961 and was immediately put to work on the branch to Tavistock South and Launceston. I was lucky enough to photograph it on 2 December 1961 the very day it was formally allocated to Laira Shed. I only photographed the engine working on one other occasion on 10 March 1962 when it was just 4 weeks away from being condemned on 5 April 1962. It was dispatched to Woodhams at Barry three months later and was lucky enough to escape the cutter's torch. It became the 72nd engine to leave Barry for preservation in September 1975 going first to the West Somerset Railway before being sold on to the Dean Forest Railway. 5521 is believed to be at the Epping Ongar Railway, one of three ex-GWR engines at the heritage railway in Essex.
5521 has one of the more interesting stories to tell since preservation as it has worked on several heritage lines in Britain and in 2007 travelled across the North Sea for a two year long working holiday in Europe. Much more on the internet; e.g preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com
Between the dates of the photographs attached; i.e 2 December to 10 March there were 13 Saturdays and I was out travelling on or photographing trains on the Launceston Branch on ten of those Saturdays plus a few weekdays and making several rail trips to Tavistock as well but I never once saw 5521 working on any of those days out.
MLR / 26 November 2023
Small prairie 5521 was completed in December 1927 one of a hundred built between February 1927 and February 1929, numbered 4575-4599 and 5500-5574. The 4575 class was a development of the 4500 class with larger water tanks being the principal visual difference. Like 4567 in Part 52 5521 went to Newton Abbot on leaving Swindon Works and like 4567 it ended its days at Laira Shed. 5521 was dispatched north to Oswestry and Machynlleth Sheds in May 1951 but returned to the West of England in November 1951. Apart from that 6-month stint in Wales 5521 spent the whole of its 35 year working life at sheds no further north or east than Taunton. It spent four spells at Taunton Shed and for some of that time was fitted with token changing apparatus for working the 24-mile Minehead Branch and the 45-mile Barnstaple Branch. With runs of that magnitude 5521 was one of only a handful of the 4575 class to travel more than one million miles in GWR and BR service.
5521 arrived at Laira, from Taunton, in November 1961 and was immediately put to work on the branch to Tavistock South and Launceston. I was lucky enough to photograph it on 2 December 1961 the very day it was formally allocated to Laira Shed. I only photographed the engine working on one other occasion on 10 March 1962 when it was just 4 weeks away from being condemned on 5 April 1962. It was dispatched to Woodhams at Barry three months later and was lucky enough to escape the cutter's torch. It became the 72nd engine to leave Barry for preservation in September 1975 going first to the West Somerset Railway before being sold on to the Dean Forest Railway. 5521 is believed to be at the Epping Ongar Railway, one of three ex-GWR engines at the heritage railway in Essex.
5521 has one of the more interesting stories to tell since preservation as it has worked on several heritage lines in Britain and in 2007 travelled across the North Sea for a two year long working holiday in Europe. Much more on the internet; e.g preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com
Between the dates of the photographs attached; i.e 2 December to 10 March there were 13 Saturdays and I was out travelling on or photographing trains on the Launceston Branch on ten of those Saturdays plus a few weekdays and making several rail trips to Tavistock as well but I never once saw 5521 working on any of those days out.
MLR / 26 November 2023
7573 5521 is seen at Shaugh Bridge Platform on 2 December 1961 while working the 3.05pm from Plymouth to Launceston train. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
7574 5521 sets out from Shaugh Bridge Platform. The train was scheduled to take another 68 minutes to complete the 27 miles to Launceston. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
6944 5521 sets out from Plym Bridge Platform with the 3.05pm again on 10 March 1962. Steam emanating from lots of places it should not have done perhaps. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks indeed Michael.
Sunny Friday
Mark Lynam
Mark Lynam
Good afternoon Keith/Roger,
I have included a few shots from the St Austell area from sunny Friday last week.
Thanks,
Mark Lynam
I have included a few shots from the St Austell area from sunny Friday last week.
Thanks,
Mark Lynam
1. 43153 + 43189 pass Crugwallins working 2C09 0650 Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance. Copyright Mark Lynam.
2. 43187 + 43029 at Dowgas near Coombe working 2U20 1050 Penzance to Cardiff Central. Copyright Mark Lynam.
3. 43153 + 43189 coming back up the line working 2P13 1150 Penzance to Plymouth. Copyright Mark Lynam.
4. 802022 at Dowgas with the sun getting lower working 2C26 1342 Plymouth to Penzance. The field the 2nd photo was taken from seen on the very right of the photo by the bridge. Copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Mark - a good day out.