47705 Near Radley
Michael Forward
Michael Forward
Hello Roger, I hope you are well, great pictures on the site as always. Here is a picture of 47705 nearing Radley station(Oxfordshire) on 25 September 1990 with the 11.00 service from Oxford to Paddington,. Copyright Michael Forward
Many Thanks Michael
Turbos at Topsham
and Polsloe Bridge
David Tozer
and Polsloe Bridge
David Tozer
Gents I had to visit Topsham and Polsloe Bridge this afternoon. Despite it being somewhat gloomy I took the following photos.
150221 leads another Class 150/2. Hard to believe that this was taken at Polsloe Bridge. One time you could see in the distance Hill Barton over bridge, but not now, vegetation is rampant on the branch. The service was the 1257 Exmouth to Paignton. Copyright David Tozer
166211 also at Polsloe Bridge with the 1220 Paignton to Exmouth. Copyright David Tozer.
166211 at Topsham waiting to cross 166219 with the 1323 Exmouth to Paignton. Copyright David Tozer.
Finally the train departure screen at Topsham a little awry. Copyright David Tozer
Many Thanks David
Extremely interesting
David Anthony
David Anthony
Hi guys,
No pictures I’m afraid and more national than Cornwall specific, but here’s a link to an item on the New Civil Engineering website about the way National Highways are getting around the government pause in infilling old bridges.
Maybe of interest to you and your members..
Council leader accuses National Highways of ‘riding roughshod’ over bridge infilling pause | New Civil Engineer
Cheers
Dave Anthony.
No pictures I’m afraid and more national than Cornwall specific, but here’s a link to an item on the New Civil Engineering website about the way National Highways are getting around the government pause in infilling old bridges.
Maybe of interest to you and your members..
Council leader accuses National Highways of ‘riding roughshod’ over bridge infilling pause | New Civil Engineer
Cheers
Dave Anthony.
A very interesting item drawn to our attention by David Anthony for which we are very grateful. Just Click on the link above and some interesting material concerning future railway plans will be revealed. Many thanks to you Dave.
A Pair of Unusual Multiple Units at
Swindon
Neil Phillips
Swindon
Neil Phillips
The photos from Ken Mumford and Colin Pidgeon (whom I’ve known for many years) keep me updated on events around Swindon, where I lived for a long time, in two ‘stints’, starting in 1972 and ending less than two years ago. Of course it looks so different now with all that steelwork and ‘knitting’! I took many photos there, including some inside and outside the Works, in the 1970s and 1980s, and thought these two might be of interest.
The blue/red Departmental unit may look like a Derby Lightweight DMU, but the underframes give it away - it is in fact the unique BEMU (Battery Electric Multiple Unit) originally built at Cowlairs Works in 1957/8, using production bodyshells supplied by Derby. Numbered SC79998/9 it was put to work on the 43-mile Deeside line from Aberdeen to Ballater and could be recharged at both ends of the journey. Unfortunately it was prone to small fires in the battery bays which regularly took it out of service; closure of the line in 1966 made it redundant and it was stored at Inverurie Works for a while. Acquired by RTC Derby in 1967 it was renumbered DB975003/4 and named ‘Test Train Gemini’ (or Laboratory 16) – purpose, research into traction battery technology. Pictured in ex-works condition outside Swindon Works on 13 September 1975 (the day of the Works Open Day there) looking very smart – note the brown underframes. It remained in RTC ownership until 1984 when it passed into preservation, I believe it is currently on the Royal Deeside Railway – a remarkable survivor.
The all-blue Class 100 was procured as an inspection and route learning unit for the Eastern Region, formed from DMBS E51116 and DTS E56101 both withdrawn in October 1972. They were transferred into Departmental use in March 1976, becoming DB975349 and DB975539 respectively. Known as the ‘York Saloon’ (not to be confused with the more widely known Class 100 ‘Stourton Saloon’ which ran in Provincial light blue livery for a while) this 2-car set remained in use until January 1993 when it was withdrawn – unfortunately preservation eluded it. Captured ready to go following attention at Swindon Works on 31 August 1976.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
The blue/red Departmental unit may look like a Derby Lightweight DMU, but the underframes give it away - it is in fact the unique BEMU (Battery Electric Multiple Unit) originally built at Cowlairs Works in 1957/8, using production bodyshells supplied by Derby. Numbered SC79998/9 it was put to work on the 43-mile Deeside line from Aberdeen to Ballater and could be recharged at both ends of the journey. Unfortunately it was prone to small fires in the battery bays which regularly took it out of service; closure of the line in 1966 made it redundant and it was stored at Inverurie Works for a while. Acquired by RTC Derby in 1967 it was renumbered DB975003/4 and named ‘Test Train Gemini’ (or Laboratory 16) – purpose, research into traction battery technology. Pictured in ex-works condition outside Swindon Works on 13 September 1975 (the day of the Works Open Day there) looking very smart – note the brown underframes. It remained in RTC ownership until 1984 when it passed into preservation, I believe it is currently on the Royal Deeside Railway – a remarkable survivor.
The all-blue Class 100 was procured as an inspection and route learning unit for the Eastern Region, formed from DMBS E51116 and DTS E56101 both withdrawn in October 1972. They were transferred into Departmental use in March 1976, becoming DB975349 and DB975539 respectively. Known as the ‘York Saloon’ (not to be confused with the more widely known Class 100 ‘Stourton Saloon’ which ran in Provincial light blue livery for a while) this 2-car set remained in use until January 1993 when it was withdrawn – unfortunately preservation eluded it. Captured ready to go following attention at Swindon Works on 31 August 1976.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
RDB975003_4 Swindon Works 13th April 1975 Copyright Neil Phillips
DB975539+DB975349 Swindon Works 31st August 1976. Copyright Neil Phillips
Many thanks indeed Neil for delving into the past history of these most interesting units.
Exeter 83
Clive Smith
Clive Smith
'Skinhead goyle' 31117 waits time at platform one at Exeter St Davids with the 3B20 05.05 Paddington - Plymouth parcels on the 18th June 1983. This photo was taken at 18.15 and the train had such a slow schedule. I am tempted to say that it took all day as it had a 31 on the front but to be honest it was often a type 4 too. Apparently it recessed at Bristol from 09.00 to 15.50 which begs the question why not make it a Bristol - Plymouth parcels as it used to be in the 1970s as 4B10.? These early series class 31s were built without headcode displays on the cab roof, still using the discs to signify the class of train to the signal boxes, inherited from steam locos with lamps. We young spotters always called them and the early class 24s 'skinheads'. The nickname 'goyles' I think came about as class 31s were just ugly although that is of course subjective.
Regards
Clive Smith
Regards
Clive Smith
31 117 waits time in platform 1 with the 05.05 Paddington to Plymouth, 18th June 1983. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks to you Clive for the photograph and your accompanying reminiscences.
Dartmoor Line
John Roberts
John Roberts
Coleford Jn - Okehampton closed to passengers 1972, one of the few which Beeching had planned to stay open.
I did it on a Plymouth Railway Circle DMU in the 80s, all the way to the quarry with a photostop at N Tawton.
Timetable: https://dartmoorline.com. I hope you'll try it and report back!
Good news too about the Portishead branch which looks like reopening with new stations at Pill and Portishead;
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And more thoughts from John - Keith, you may be interested for your blog that a new operator Lumo commences on 25th Oct between King's Cross and Edinburgh in competition with DfT East Coast: Search, Compare & Buy Train Tickets - Lumo.
Given that they're using Class 803 with 2+2 seating, their prices are about one-third of DfT, and they have an annoyingly flashy website, I guess they're aiming at the younger market, similar to SNCF's OUIGO and Stagecoach's Megabus.
It's not overt, but it's part of First. Given that they already run Avanti West Coast, Transpennine Express and Hull Trains, I'm surprised they got through the Competition Authorities.
Best wishes, John R.
I did it on a Plymouth Railway Circle DMU in the 80s, all the way to the quarry with a photostop at N Tawton.
Timetable: https://dartmoorline.com. I hope you'll try it and report back!
Good news too about the Portishead branch which looks like reopening with new stations at Pill and Portishead;
---------------------------------------------------------------
And more thoughts from John - Keith, you may be interested for your blog that a new operator Lumo commences on 25th Oct between King's Cross and Edinburgh in competition with DfT East Coast: Search, Compare & Buy Train Tickets - Lumo.
Given that they're using Class 803 with 2+2 seating, their prices are about one-third of DfT, and they have an annoyingly flashy website, I guess they're aiming at the younger market, similar to SNCF's OUIGO and Stagecoach's Megabus.
It's not overt, but it's part of First. Given that they already run Avanti West Coast, Transpennine Express and Hull Trains, I'm surprised they got through the Competition Authorities.
Best wishes, John R.
Thanks for that John - I found the link to the Dartmoor line particularly interesting. Further to your mention of the PRC special making a stop at North Tawton - in fact a CRS railtour made a requested very slow pass of the station but as the track had by that time been considerably raised we could not stop. We did however have a photostop at Bow - will this station ever be included once more in the Dartmoor line timetables one wonders?
No doubt our faithful followers will be out for photographs on that opening day next month.
No doubt our faithful followers will be out for photographs on that opening day next month.
North Dorset Railway
Shillingstone
Shillingstone
Dear Member,
I hope you are well and have been able to return to some sort of normality whilst recognising this will sadly not be the case for all.
As the summer season comes to an end at Shillingstone Station the Trustees are pleased to report that visitor numbers have recently returned to a similar level as pre Covid. It has been very rewarding for all to see and hear visitors and volunteers from near and far enjoying themselves once again at the station thanks to the work and support of volunteers and members over the many years since restoration began.
The volunteer team assembling our new restoration shelter is well on the way to completing it prior to Project 62's open day this Sunday. After several years of braving the elements, whilst working on their steam loco restorations, they will now be able to work under cover.
As planned, the permanent way and site volunteer teams started work on our Phase 1 track extension and Trailway enhancement at the beginning of September. Initial works focused on the site clearance work which has to be carried out during the winter months. Earthworks follow to enable the Trailway to be temporarily diverted whilst the enhanced new Trailway is constructed adjacent to the position of the new track extension. Regular updates are available on our NDR Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ShillingstoneStation/
As winter approaches, the preparatory work for the phase 1 extension continues and our larger events have been organised and successfully delivered, attention turns to our rolling stock restoration, volunteer training and the continuing development of our Safety Management System (SMS), Competence Management System (CMS) and Rule Book required to meet the requirements of the Office of Road and Rail. It will be a busy winter on site and behind the scenes!
As always members and volunteers support is vital to our continued work. Please see the attached document about our Brake Van restoration and let us know if you are able to support this work.
Hoping you can visit soon.
Best wishes
Colin Fisher
NDR Secretary on behalf of the Trustees
I hope you are well and have been able to return to some sort of normality whilst recognising this will sadly not be the case for all.
As the summer season comes to an end at Shillingstone Station the Trustees are pleased to report that visitor numbers have recently returned to a similar level as pre Covid. It has been very rewarding for all to see and hear visitors and volunteers from near and far enjoying themselves once again at the station thanks to the work and support of volunteers and members over the many years since restoration began.
The volunteer team assembling our new restoration shelter is well on the way to completing it prior to Project 62's open day this Sunday. After several years of braving the elements, whilst working on their steam loco restorations, they will now be able to work under cover.
As planned, the permanent way and site volunteer teams started work on our Phase 1 track extension and Trailway enhancement at the beginning of September. Initial works focused on the site clearance work which has to be carried out during the winter months. Earthworks follow to enable the Trailway to be temporarily diverted whilst the enhanced new Trailway is constructed adjacent to the position of the new track extension. Regular updates are available on our NDR Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ShillingstoneStation/
As winter approaches, the preparatory work for the phase 1 extension continues and our larger events have been organised and successfully delivered, attention turns to our rolling stock restoration, volunteer training and the continuing development of our Safety Management System (SMS), Competence Management System (CMS) and Rule Book required to meet the requirements of the Office of Road and Rail. It will be a busy winter on site and behind the scenes!
As always members and volunteers support is vital to our continued work. Please see the attached document about our Brake Van restoration and let us know if you are able to support this work.
Hoping you can visit soon.
Best wishes
Colin Fisher
NDR Secretary on behalf of the Trustees
Many thanks to Colin Fisher for drawing our attention to this item and providing a link to their Facebook Presentation. This is most interesting indeed - so please try it. KJ is a member.