NINETEEN SIXTY TWO – PART 87
An Evening Trip from Brecon to Hereford
Michael L. Roach
I travelled to Hereford for the first time on Friday 7 September 1962 and it was by train from Brecon. The former Midland Railway route had already been agreed for closure which would be effected on 29 December 1962. The train was the 4.10pm Brecon to Hereford with four coaches hauled by pannier tank 3706 of Ebbw Junction Shed, Newport. The engine had been based at Ebbw Junction or Brecon Shed ever since nationalisation on 1 January 1948 and it would be condemned at Ebbw Junction the following year. At four coaches this was the longest passenger train of the day on any of the four lines radiating from Brecon which would all be closed by the end of 1962. The reason for the longer than normal train was that this was a school train taking pupils as far as the now famous book-town of Hay-on-Wye, 17¼ miles from Brecon. I counted 210 school pupils on the train. Much earlier in the day a train had worked out ECS from Brecon to form the inbound school train at 07.55am from Hay arriving Brecon at 8.40am. Late afternoon was a busy time for this very rural area as my train passed three trains travelling in the opposite direction in just 30 minutes on the single line at the crossing points at Talgarth, Three Cocks and Hay-on-Wye all hauled by Ivatt 2MTs 2-6-0s numbers 46515/24/19.
Despite being 3½ minutes late at one stage (Llangorse Lake Halt) the 4.10pm reached Hereford just before 5.52pm more than 7 minutes early, and despite a signal check at Brecon Curve. The same engine and set of coaches took me back to Brecon at 7.35pm which was the last train of the day Monday to Friday. 3706 ran bunker-first on the return trip and reached Brecon at 9.11pm. I never left the platform at Hereford other than to have a cup of tea in the refreshment room; 6d from memory, or 2½p in decimal. The 7.35pm left Hereford with 20 passengers aboard in the four coaches. Two passengers alighted at Kinnersley, the first stop, and two boarded. After that nobody boarded the train and passengers alighted at most stations to Talgarth but from there for the last 9 miles there were just two of us left on the train to alight at Brecon.
During my travels I would pass through, board, leave and change trains at Hereford several times in the next five years before the end of steam. The accompanying photographs show the interesting steam engines to be seen along the Welsh Marches line at the time. The former LMS locos were regular sights at Hereford heading south as far as Pontypool Road, Cardiff or Bristol depending what type of train they were hauling. Loco-hauled trains are still a regular sight at Hereford on freight trains carrying such commodities as cement, logs, steel and stone along the Welsh Marches line, past mechanical boxes and signalling – including two of the most historic boxes on the network which will celebrate their 150th birthday next year in 2025.
Despite being 3½ minutes late at one stage (Llangorse Lake Halt) the 4.10pm reached Hereford just before 5.52pm more than 7 minutes early, and despite a signal check at Brecon Curve. The same engine and set of coaches took me back to Brecon at 7.35pm which was the last train of the day Monday to Friday. 3706 ran bunker-first on the return trip and reached Brecon at 9.11pm. I never left the platform at Hereford other than to have a cup of tea in the refreshment room; 6d from memory, or 2½p in decimal. The 7.35pm left Hereford with 20 passengers aboard in the four coaches. Two passengers alighted at Kinnersley, the first stop, and two boarded. After that nobody boarded the train and passengers alighted at most stations to Talgarth but from there for the last 9 miles there were just two of us left on the train to alight at Brecon.
During my travels I would pass through, board, leave and change trains at Hereford several times in the next five years before the end of steam. The accompanying photographs show the interesting steam engines to be seen along the Welsh Marches line at the time. The former LMS locos were regular sights at Hereford heading south as far as Pontypool Road, Cardiff or Bristol depending what type of train they were hauling. Loco-hauled trains are still a regular sight at Hereford on freight trains carrying such commodities as cement, logs, steel and stone along the Welsh Marches line, past mechanical boxes and signalling – including two of the most historic boxes on the network which will celebrate their 150th birthday next year in 2025.
Large prairie 4135 is seen running past 46140 “The Kings Royal Rifle Corps” at 5.55pm when my train should have been still approaching Hereford Station. Copyright Michael L. Roach
Royal Scot 46140 of Newton Heath Shed is seen during shunting operations. The loco was hauling a parcels train. Copyright Michael L. Roach
4135 is seen at the south end of Hereford Station just before departing with the 6.02pm to Gloucester. Copyright Michael L. Roach
Castle 7031 is being prepared to leave with the 6.05pm express to Paddington. Copyright Michael L. Roach
7031 “Cromwells Castle” of Worcester Shed leaves Hereford for Paddington. Copyright Michael L. Roach
All of the above images were taken in just 11 minutes!
Collet 0-6-0 no. 2232 of Gloucester Shed sets out with 6T on the 7.35pm goods to Gloucester, due there at 11.15pm. Copyright Michael L. Roach
6880 Betton Grange at Toddington
Trevor Tremethick
Trevor Tremethick
Hi Keith and Roger
A bit out of area and a bit late I know, but this was last Saturday on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. The newly completed 'Grange', No. 6880 Betton Grange, waits to leave Toddington with the 1055 Broadway-Cheltenham Racecourse on June 1st 2024.
I am not normally a great lover of 'new-build' locomotives, but this 'Grange' ticks the boxes for me, being constructed from parts of withdrawn locomotives (as the originals were on the GWR) and given the next name on the sequence had any more been built back in the day. The main thing is, have they got the dimensions of the steam chest correct - critical for the 'Grange'? I believe so. Anyway, she looks and sounds wonderful, and takes me back to 1959 with 6800, 6805, 23, 24 etc.....
Best wishes
Trevor T
A bit out of area and a bit late I know, but this was last Saturday on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. The newly completed 'Grange', No. 6880 Betton Grange, waits to leave Toddington with the 1055 Broadway-Cheltenham Racecourse on June 1st 2024.
I am not normally a great lover of 'new-build' locomotives, but this 'Grange' ticks the boxes for me, being constructed from parts of withdrawn locomotives (as the originals were on the GWR) and given the next name on the sequence had any more been built back in the day. The main thing is, have they got the dimensions of the steam chest correct - critical for the 'Grange'? I believe so. Anyway, she looks and sounds wonderful, and takes me back to 1959 with 6800, 6805, 23, 24 etc.....
Best wishes
Trevor T
6800 waits at Toddington, 1055 Broadway-Cheltenham, 01.06.2024. Copyright Trevor Tremethick
Many Thanks Trevor
The Granges bring back many memories for us living in Cornwall
The Granges bring back many memories for us living in Cornwall
Sunday Services
Jon Hird
A nice surprise working on a sunny Sunday 02.06.2024 was 57603 taking the empty 'Night Riviera' stock from Penzance - London as 5Z50. An 'up' shot I've wanted to try for a while at Dobwalls, unfortunately the lineside vegetation has grown quite a bit since I was last there a year ago. 02.06.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
On the way home, I took a short walk to photograph the last Bodmin Railway service departing Bodmin Parkway. 5552 does the honours, crossing the viaduct over the River Fowey. 02.06.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
Saturdays Specials
Clive Smith
Apple green liveried 1948 built LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 on the 1Z27 05.10 Crewe - Kingswear Saphos Trains' 'English Riviera Express' at Coastguards Dawlish. 47810 is on the rear. The train had been worked to Taunton with 40013. Copyright Clive Smith.
37703 passes Goodrington Beach with the 14.50 Paignton - Kingswear. The newly acquired 37 was working three trains providing additional services for railtour enthusiasts and people going to the airshow. Copyright Clive Smith.
On my walk back past the sidings at Goodrington at 3.15 I was fortunate to see the shunting operation and even more lucky to get 50007 and D1015 side by side. Not only was D1015 masquerading as D1011 on one side but 50007 was also pretending to be 50034. Copyright Clive Smith.
61306 at Paignton with Saphos 1Z28 15.29 Kingswear - Crewe return 'English Riviera Express' which stopped at the station. There wasn't a huge amount of smoke on departure up the bank so I fired off about ten shots and this was the best plume of the ten. Copyright Clive Smith.
The day's finale as D1015 'Western Champion' heads past Cockwood Harbour with Pathfinders' 1Z52 17.57 Paignton - Tame Bridge Parkway. A sight and sound to gladden the heart. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive - a fine selection of photos.
Okehampton and Meldon
Paul Barlow
Hello Keith
A few shots from Okehampton area today. The line to Meldon is now in a shocking state.
Kind regards
Paul
A few shots from Okehampton area today. The line to Meldon is now in a shocking state.
Kind regards
Paul
1874 built Meldon viaduct 2 June 2024. Copyright Paul Barlow.
158768 waits at Okehampton on the 1225 to Exeter Central. Copyright Paul Barlow.
258,479 Dartmoor Line journeys in 1 year, proudly proclaims this sign at Okehampton station. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Okehampton station looking towards Meldon. The line is very overgrown 2 June 2024. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Thanks Paul - very sad to see the Meldon line in that condition. Fingers crossed it'll have some kind of future.