Last Westerns and Penzance 'Gronks'
Neil Phillips
Hello Roger and Keith,
I very much enjoyed Roger's 'late 1976/early 1977' photo collection, especially the final sightings of Western diesel-hydraulics in the far South West, something I was unable to witness myself. D1022 'Western Sentinel' appeared a couple of times, which reminded me that I inadvertently captured the locomotive working its last-ever down train, about to take the South Wales line at Wootton Bassett Junction on Sunday 16th January 1977 (I don't have details of the train but this was a regular Sunday working for a Class 52 during the final few months of the hydraulic era). After returning to Paddington and while running light engine into Old Oak Common depot it had the misfortune to run into debris on the track dropped by Class 31 31420 which had just suffered a sidelong collision, and this damaged the Western's brake gear. This officially ended the loco's career on 26th January, only a little short of the inevitable by that date, and as a result it was one of the few Class 52s not to end its days at Laira, but was instead towed from Old Oak direct to Swindon for scrapping in May 1977. Interestingly it was reported that the Diesel Traction Group had considered D1022 - affectionately nicknamed 'The Ducks') for preservation before switching their attention to D1015 'Western Champion' because of its history.
Another loco with an interesting history is 'Gronk' 08836, superbly captured by Andrew Triggs being delivered by road transport to Long Rock depot - such a move presumably doesn't appear on Real Time Trains! As D4004 this was one of the first dozen Class 08s to be fitted with train air brake equipment in 1968, and was most likely the Western Region's first such upgrade. It initially went to Old Oak Common to assist with shunting the then new Mark 2a air-braked coaching stock but perhaps rather oddly didn't stay long, being reallocated to Plymouth Laira depot on 9th November 1968, again almost certainly being the first dual-braked '08' in the West Country. It would stay for just over 4 years, departing for Bristol Bath Road on 20th January 1973, although exactly what purpose its new equipment was put to during the first half of its time at Laira is a mystery......
The expected arrival of air-braked Mark 2a/b stock during 1971 meant Penzance had need of a shunter capable of moving it, and Cornwall's first dual-braked Class 08 duly turned up in the form of newly-overhauled 4181 (one of the last examples of this huge class to be built), which was a Long Rock resident from 27th February 1971 until 11th May 1974, when it followed D4004 to Bath Road.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
I very much enjoyed Roger's 'late 1976/early 1977' photo collection, especially the final sightings of Western diesel-hydraulics in the far South West, something I was unable to witness myself. D1022 'Western Sentinel' appeared a couple of times, which reminded me that I inadvertently captured the locomotive working its last-ever down train, about to take the South Wales line at Wootton Bassett Junction on Sunday 16th January 1977 (I don't have details of the train but this was a regular Sunday working for a Class 52 during the final few months of the hydraulic era). After returning to Paddington and while running light engine into Old Oak Common depot it had the misfortune to run into debris on the track dropped by Class 31 31420 which had just suffered a sidelong collision, and this damaged the Western's brake gear. This officially ended the loco's career on 26th January, only a little short of the inevitable by that date, and as a result it was one of the few Class 52s not to end its days at Laira, but was instead towed from Old Oak direct to Swindon for scrapping in May 1977. Interestingly it was reported that the Diesel Traction Group had considered D1022 - affectionately nicknamed 'The Ducks') for preservation before switching their attention to D1015 'Western Champion' because of its history.
Another loco with an interesting history is 'Gronk' 08836, superbly captured by Andrew Triggs being delivered by road transport to Long Rock depot - such a move presumably doesn't appear on Real Time Trains! As D4004 this was one of the first dozen Class 08s to be fitted with train air brake equipment in 1968, and was most likely the Western Region's first such upgrade. It initially went to Old Oak Common to assist with shunting the then new Mark 2a air-braked coaching stock but perhaps rather oddly didn't stay long, being reallocated to Plymouth Laira depot on 9th November 1968, again almost certainly being the first dual-braked '08' in the West Country. It would stay for just over 4 years, departing for Bristol Bath Road on 20th January 1973, although exactly what purpose its new equipment was put to during the first half of its time at Laira is a mystery......
The expected arrival of air-braked Mark 2a/b stock during 1971 meant Penzance had need of a shunter capable of moving it, and Cornwall's first dual-braked Class 08 duly turned up in the form of newly-overhauled 4181 (one of the last examples of this huge class to be built), which was a Long Rock resident from 27th February 1971 until 11th May 1974, when it followed D4004 to Bath Road.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
Class 52 D1022 'Western Sentinel' approaches Wootton Bassett Junction, about to swing right onto the Badminton line en route to South Wales - this would turn out to be its last-ever run west out of Paddington. 16th January 1977. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Newly overhauled 4181 introduces Class 08 train air brake capability to Penzance, something the station has not been without ever since! Although this is my photo all attempts to find a date for it have failed, so it'll have to be a vague...... Spring 1971. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Thank you very much Neil for your informative article and excellent images, we appreciate it very much.
Roger is dangling the carrot for further images from the late 1970's - watch this space!
Roger is dangling the carrot for further images from the late 1970's - watch this space!
Re: 'Skippers on the Newquay Branch'
John Irving & Martin Duff
A pair of Class 142 'Skippers' on the Newquay Branch. The photographer, Garth Tilt, asked if we knew whether this was a regular occurance. Below is a response from John Irving. Photo Copyright Garth Tilt.
From John Irving:
I suspect pairs of Class 142s were quite common on the Newquay line, particularly on Saturdays. The following were photographed by me:
Saturday 17 May 1986
142020 & 142022 on 2B54 1500 Newquay - Par
Saturday 24 May 1986
142020 & 142025 on 2B42 1123 Par - Newquay
142025 & 142020 on 2B52 1217 Newquay - Par
142020 & 142025 on 2B44 1310 Par - Newquay
Saturday 23 May 1987
142026 & 142023 on 2B42 1310 Par - Newquay
And from Martin Duff:
Summer 1987 weekdays - see below.
The 07.30 Par - Newquay was booked a pair of units which returned from Newquay as two different trains, the 08.33 to Par (all stations) and 09.16 to Plymouth (Quintrell Downs only).
I suspect pairs of Class 142s were quite common on the Newquay line, particularly on Saturdays. The following were photographed by me:
Saturday 17 May 1986
142020 & 142022 on 2B54 1500 Newquay - Par
Saturday 24 May 1986
142020 & 142025 on 2B42 1123 Par - Newquay
142025 & 142020 on 2B52 1217 Newquay - Par
142020 & 142025 on 2B44 1310 Par - Newquay
Saturday 23 May 1987
142026 & 142023 on 2B42 1310 Par - Newquay
And from Martin Duff:
Summer 1987 weekdays - see below.
The 07.30 Par - Newquay was booked a pair of units which returned from Newquay as two different trains, the 08.33 to Par (all stations) and 09.16 to Plymouth (Quintrell Downs only).
The summer 1987 Newquay Timetable. The first train of the day was formed of 2x Cl.142 units which split to make the first two trains off Newquay. Copyright Martin Duff.
Many thanks to you both, John and Martin - the collective knowledge of our readers is very impressive.
I hope this answers your question, Garth!
I hope this answers your question, Garth!