The Westerns' Final Month
Neil Phillips
Roger's ongoing collection of photos from early 1977, showing Western Class 52 activity in Cornwall in the final weeks of the diesel-hydraulic era, is of great interest to me as I was not in Cornwall at that time and so unable to record it myself. Instead I was in the Swindon area photographing some of the numerous Western farewell specials which passed through. On 5th February for instance, the same day Roger recorded D1041 and D1048 shunting milk and parcels respectively at St Erth, I captured D1023 calling at Swindon on the 'Capitals Untied Express' and a sorry-looking D1015 on the Works (a pity we didn't see this now fully restored locomotive back on the Cornish Main Line this summer but there's always next year......) I have attached these and a few others taken within the 4-week run-up to the final and well-recorded 'Western Tribute' tour of 26th February 1977, featuring D1013 and D1023.
A couple of comments on Paul Barlow's South Devon Railway Heritage Open Day feature (lovely photos in excellent weather) (click here, scroll down) - some may have noticed the incongruous sight of autocoach W233W riding on B4 bogies! This was a legacy of 'Kingfisher' having spent a number of years at the Railway Technical Centre Derby as 'Test Car 1', latterly ADW150375 and repainted in WR-style chocolate and cream colours for the GWR150 celebrations in 1985, a livery these vehicles never carried in reality. Also I recall finding the Bristol Lodekka in Western National colours, 468 FTT, on display at a transport event at Avebury, Wiltshire in 1987 - it was of particular interest to me as I used to occasionally travel to and from school in Truro on 472 FTT which looked identical (with black rubber window seals, all the others in the area had cream-coloured seals). I have a 1:76 scale model of this bus here on the shelf as I type this (Exclusive First Editions ref. 14204 for anyone who's interested!)
Finally, apologies for not making it to last weekend's china clay presentation, I would have liked to attend but family matters got in the way!
A couple of comments on Paul Barlow's South Devon Railway Heritage Open Day feature (lovely photos in excellent weather) (click here, scroll down) - some may have noticed the incongruous sight of autocoach W233W riding on B4 bogies! This was a legacy of 'Kingfisher' having spent a number of years at the Railway Technical Centre Derby as 'Test Car 1', latterly ADW150375 and repainted in WR-style chocolate and cream colours for the GWR150 celebrations in 1985, a livery these vehicles never carried in reality. Also I recall finding the Bristol Lodekka in Western National colours, 468 FTT, on display at a transport event at Avebury, Wiltshire in 1987 - it was of particular interest to me as I used to occasionally travel to and from school in Truro on 472 FTT which looked identical (with black rubber window seals, all the others in the area had cream-coloured seals). I have a 1:76 scale model of this bus here on the shelf as I type this (Exclusive First Editions ref. 14204 for anyone who's interested!)
Finally, apologies for not making it to last weekend's china clay presentation, I would have liked to attend but family matters got in the way!
D1023 approaches Swindon with the 'Western Memorial' tour (Paddington to Chester via Swindon - Severn Tunnel Junction - Hereford - Shrewsbury - Crewe rtn) 29th January 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
D1023 attracts the kind of attention all of the remaining Westerns received at the time, as it pauses at Swindon. 29th January 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
D1023 departs Swindon on the 'Western Memorial' tour and heads for the Severn Tunnel. 29th January 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Back again a week later but this time D1023 takes the Gloucester line at Swindon with the return leg of the 'Capitals United Express' (Cardiff - Hereford - Worcester - Paddington - Swindon - Kemble - Gloucester - Cardiff). 5th February 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
D1015 in the sunshine at Swindon Works, patiently awaiting a miracle! Hard to imagine now it ever looked this forlorn. 5th February 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
D1010 passing Purton over 30 minutes late at the head of the 'Western Requiem' tour (Paddington - Swindon - Gloucester - Chepstow - STJ - Cardiff - South Wales Valley branches - Cardiff - STJ - Bath - Swindon - Paddington); alas a rather sickly D1010 managed to reach Cardiff but was unable to go further - 37179 helped out in the South Wales Valleys while D1023 made its way from Old Oak Common to take over the tour at Pontypridd, which eventually arrived back in London 102 minutes late. 20th February 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Paul Barlows photograph of 14th September showing the autocoach of the South Devon Railway. Neil writes regarding the bogies on the autocoach, which have been swapped for more modern replacements. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Neil, some wonderful photographs and interesting to read your notes on the autocoach too. Roger is hard at work scanning more 'Western' photos, keep your eye out for them!
'Keeping things moving'
Sandite/RHTT trains over the years
Julian Stephens
Part 1
Hello Jon
Your recent shot of BZ at sunset has prompted me to look through my archive for Autumn images.
It is probably seasonally appropriate to feature how things have progressed with regard to keeping things on the move at this time of year.
Capturing any images of these workings was challenging back then because of a lack of information, a lack of daylight and it always seemed to be raining!
I believe the Sunday diagrams took the Sandite train as far as Newton Abbot.
Your recent shot of BZ at sunset has prompted me to look through my archive for Autumn images.
It is probably seasonally appropriate to feature how things have progressed with regard to keeping things on the move at this time of year.
Capturing any images of these workings was challenging back then because of a lack of information, a lack of daylight and it always seemed to be raining!
I believe the Sunday diagrams took the Sandite train as far as Newton Abbot.
03.11.1991 Saw 37672 passing through Lostwithiel with a converted DMU driving vehicle (TDB977466) applying Sandite to the railways of the west. Copyright Julian Stephens.
The train continues eastward. The corridor connection has been plated over and a window fitted along with a headlight and marker lights - an unusual sight. Copyright Julian Stephens.
The Sandite vehicle parked in Par Down Goods Loop awaiting its next duty, November 1991. Copyright Julian Stephens.
On 17.11.1991 it was 37411's turn to work the train, seen here passing Par platform 3 at the beginning of its journey. Copyright Julian Stephens.
TDB977466 has been turned since the last set of photographs, we can see the plated over windscreens from this angle. Copyright Julian Stephens.
Many thanks to you, Julian.
Julian has provided a number of interesting photographs of the Sandite/RHTT workings over the years, which we will trickle out over the next few days.
Julian has provided a number of interesting photographs of the Sandite/RHTT workings over the years, which we will trickle out over the next few days.
Crugwallins 'Castle'
Jon Hird
Whilst photographing the NMT at Crugwallins on Friday, I thought a shot from the opposite side of the line would look pretty good - but it'd need to be quite late in the day to work with the sun position. Thankfully on Saturday there is a late-ish 'down' GWR 'Castle' diagram, 2C28, the 16:40 Plymouth - Penzance. 43042 and 43156 take in the evening light as they pass on 21.09.2024. Copyright Jon Hird.