NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART TWO
Exeter Central on 22.08.1964
Michael L. Roach
In Part 1 of this new series, I showed some photos taken at Exeter Central on Saturday 22 August 1964 just before a large number of changes were initiated at Exeter and on The Withered Arm. The remainder of the photos taken that day are attached to this article.
I travelled from Plymouth to Exeter at 2.45pm and returned from St. Davids at 7.39pm which gave me 2 hours and 20 minutes at Exeter Central to watch the comings and goings. All four legs of the rail trip were diesel-hauled by consecutively a Western, D63xx, Hymek and Western. A total of ten steam engines were seen at Exeter Central of five different classes: one Ivatt 2-6-2 tank; one BR Standard Class 3 tank; two ex-GWR pannier tanks; two Merchant Navy Pacific’s and four Bulleid Light Pacific’s. All ten engines were withdrawn and scrapped within three years.
I saw two ex-GWR pannier tanks at Central that day and described them as pilot engines, but they were much more than that. When necessary one or both would go down to St. Davids Station to assist a heavy train up the steep incline to Central usually by banking at the rear of the train. The very heaviest of the ballast trains from Meldon Quarry would have two engines at the rear and a pilot engine in front of the train engine, making four steam engines in all.
The first panniers to arrive at Exmouth Junction Shed were in late 1959, when the then Southern Region acquired a number of 57XX locomotives from South Wales sheds. Some did not last long, some moved on to other sheds and the last examples at Exmouth Junction were withdrawn in June 1965 with the closure of the shed to steam. They were 4655, 4666 and 4694. The website shedbashuk.blogspot.com provides an insight into what was on shed on various dates. For example, on Sunday 2 August 1964 there were five panniers on shed.
I travelled from Plymouth to Exeter at 2.45pm and returned from St. Davids at 7.39pm which gave me 2 hours and 20 minutes at Exeter Central to watch the comings and goings. All four legs of the rail trip were diesel-hauled by consecutively a Western, D63xx, Hymek and Western. A total of ten steam engines were seen at Exeter Central of five different classes: one Ivatt 2-6-2 tank; one BR Standard Class 3 tank; two ex-GWR pannier tanks; two Merchant Navy Pacific’s and four Bulleid Light Pacific’s. All ten engines were withdrawn and scrapped within three years.
I saw two ex-GWR pannier tanks at Central that day and described them as pilot engines, but they were much more than that. When necessary one or both would go down to St. Davids Station to assist a heavy train up the steep incline to Central usually by banking at the rear of the train. The very heaviest of the ballast trains from Meldon Quarry would have two engines at the rear and a pilot engine in front of the train engine, making four steam engines in all.
The first panniers to arrive at Exmouth Junction Shed were in late 1959, when the then Southern Region acquired a number of 57XX locomotives from South Wales sheds. Some did not last long, some moved on to other sheds and the last examples at Exmouth Junction were withdrawn in June 1965 with the closure of the shed to steam. They were 4655, 4666 and 4694. The website shedbashuk.blogspot.com provides an insight into what was on shed on various dates. For example, on Sunday 2 August 1964 there were five panniers on shed.
34089 602 Squadron is on the 5.54pm to Waterloo with 7C. Note the 70E shedplate. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The fireman of 34089 watches out for the signal to depart at 5.57pm a couple of minutes late. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
BR Standard Class 3MT 2-6-2 no. 82042 runs though the station LE. 82042 had ranged all over the Western Region since construction in 1955. It had previously been at Taunton for three years and would end its days at Gloucester one year later in August 1965. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
34107 Blandford Forum enters Central with a down stopping train past Ivatt 2-6-2T 41284. 34107 was withdrawn the following month. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Blue Funnel Line enters Central under the footbridge with 8C on the 3.00pm from Waterloo. The time is 6.31pm. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Five minutes later 35013 runs back to Exmouth Junction shed. The engine moved to Bournemouth Shed the same month. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
4694 is ready to remove the middle three coaches of the 3.00pm from Waterloo including the RC. The Plymouth portion has already departed, while the Ilfracombe portion was at the rear. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The end of 1976 and the start of 1977
'Last Chance Westerns'
By Roger Winnen
Part 7
With the clock ticking loudly for the Class 52 'Westerns', Roger was keen to record as many as he could, often at his home station of Penzance.
15.01.1977 - D1023 Western Fusilier at the buffer stops of Platform 3 at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
15.01.1977 - D1023 Western Fusilier at the buffer stops of Platform 3 at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
15.01.1977 - Locos in the yard at Penzance. Two Class 50s, One 47 and D1023 Western Fusilier. Copyright Roger Winnen
15.01.1977 - D1023 Western Fusilier inbetween duties in Penzance yard. Copyright Roger Winnen.
16.01.1977 - D1041 Western Prince (now preserved at the East Lancashire Railway) at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen.
16.01.1977 - The nameplate of D1041 Western Prince. at Penzance. The bodywork looking very shabby - the end was nigh. Copyright Roger Winnen
16.01.1977 - A very workworn D1041 'Western Prince' at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
12.01.1977 - No Westerns present in this one. The station yard at Penzance where a Class 50 can be seen tucked away for the night. Copyright Roger Winnen
Swindon Station 27-08-2024
Colin Pidgeon
56049 on 6Z35 Westbury Yard to Swindon Transfer with Network Rail FEAs 642039, 642014, 642025, 642046, 642012 & 642032 to be based at Swindon for the RHTT season. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.
56049 on 6Z35 Westbury Yard to Swindon Transfer with Network Rail FEAs 642039, 642014, 642025, 642046, 642012 & 642032 to be based at Swindon for the RHTT season. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.
66067 on 6C03 Northolt to Severnside. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.
43272 t&t 43274 on 1Q15 Derby RTC to Landore TMD. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.
43272 t&t 43274 on 1Q15 Derby RTC to Landore TMD. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Many thanks Colin - a nice selection
A meeting of freight
Jon Hird
66244 with 6G09, (the mid-day Goonbarrow - Fowey clay), passes 66152 with 6C10 (the Treviscoe - Exeter Riverside clay) at Par. 6C10 is waiting time before its path to Exeter later in the afternoon. 28.08.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
No hanging around for 66244 which got straight out onto the mainline to continue on to Lostwithiel. Copyright Jon Hird.
66152 'Derek Holmes Railway Operator' idling away waiting for its turn to leave. This loco has replaced 66025. Copyright Jon Hird.
Details of the product being carried within the wagons of 6C10. Copyright Jon Hird.
Later in the day, a strategically timed walk at Respryn nicely co-incided with 66152 returning light engine to St. Blazey from Exeter Riverside. My son gives it a wave as it passes by. Tomorrow this loco should take further wagons from Par Harbour up to Exeter, the two halves will be joined, then the full set of wagons will travel up to Cliffe Vale. Copyright Jon Hird.
Re: Rogers Mystery Western
Guy Vincent
For Roger's info, the mystery 'Western' paired with D1013 at Penzance on Sunday January 9th 1977 is D1022 'Western Sentinel'. The two locos arrived at the head of the overnight sleeper from Paddington (D1013 was added at Plymouth) and they later departed with the 1E21 1138 to Bradford (D1022, also photographed by Roger) and the 1A25 1800 Paddington (D1013).
Track Record Press is an invaluable website resource that lists many recorded 'Western' workings for years 1975 1976 and 1977.
Many thanks again to Roger, and all other contributors who share their 'Western' photos on CRS.
Regards
Guy V
Track Record Press is an invaluable website resource that lists many recorded 'Western' workings for years 1975 1976 and 1977.
Many thanks again to Roger, and all other contributors who share their 'Western' photos on CRS.
Regards
Guy V
Rogers photo from 09.01.1977 which we now, thanks to Guy, know is D1013 plus D1022 'Western Sentinel'. Copyright Roger Winnen
Many thanks Guy - a mystery solved - it's only taken 47 years!