BR(W) Unfitted and Partially fitted freight.

[JN114]

Is anyone able to advise when partially and unfitted freight services ceased on BR Western Division?

 

[Walnut_rede]

Well, it was during the 1980s, if we are talking about the Western Region of BR. I was working for the Reading Division in Western Tower Reading. It happened over a weekend when we went fully fitted. l also recall they managed to leave a train of unfitted wagons in Woodborough loop and I never found out how they managed to get them out again.

 

[JN114]

Well, it was during the 1980s, if we are talking about the Western Region of BR. I was working for the Reading Division in Western Tower Reading. It happened over a weekend when we went fully fitted. l also recall they managed to leave a train of unfitted wagons in Woodborough loop and I never found out how they managed to get them out again.

That ties in with my expectation.

There was a series of sprung catch points on the B&H between Lavington and Newbury, whose decommissioning I'm trying to date. The only mention of their removal I have is an undated reference that they were spiked out of use following the cessation of unfitted freight working on the Western Region; pending later removal.

If I can pin down when unfitted freight ended, even to a single year, it will make the search much easier!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The first area in the UK was the ex Southern Region when TOPS came in - circa 1974 or so - unsurprising with such a heavily loaded inner suburban network and low volumes overall of "freight" - though there were a few issues with collieries sending unfitted loaded wagons to the (few) depots still functioning then.

Certainly when I was a callow young trainee in the Cardiff area in 1979 - a fitted MGR was regarded as "rare" - bar the well established flows in HAA wagons to Aberthaw and block vacuum wagons to Margam Steelworks etc - there was a huge number of class 8 and 9 trip workings from Gwaun - Cae Gurwen and many other locations to Swansea Docks etc - but the coal strikes of 1984 and the rationalisation / Speedlink Coal Network saw their almost overnight cessation. An area worth exploring by someone with time on their hands and access to Working Timetables etc.

 

[PHILIPE]

Back in the 70s now when the former Tar Plant at Caerphilly was operating a train which ran to Cardiff Docks formed of non-braked wagons which belonged to a dedicated pool. As the Plant was due to close with the resultant cessation of traffic, dispensation was given to continue to operate.

 

[Railsigns]

There was a series of sprung catch points on the B&H between Lavington and Newbury, whose decommissioning I'm trying to date.

All the catch points on that section of line were put out of use at 0800 hours on Monday, 16th May 1983.

 

[JN114]

All the catch points on that section of line were put out of use at 0800 hours on Monday, 16th May 1983.

Excellent, thank you very much!

 

[Springs Branch]

How long was the interval between all freight trains becoming 100% fitted (and elimination of brake vans & catch points) and freight trains running with only a driver on board?

Was there a period in the pre-privatisation era when every freight train still required a guard to be riding in the back cab, or was the move to DOO quite quick?

Also was/is the requirement for a fully-fitted train to carry a guard related to the type of signaling on the lines the train would travel over – e.g. if routed over a significant amount of non-track circuited Absolute Block territory did/do all trains still need a guard or second crew member on board for train protection purposes in case of an incident?