Today (17th July 2014) is the 30th Anniversary of "Operation Smash Hit" - a public demonstration organised by the Atomic Industry to reassure a sceptical public about the safely of transporting nuclear waste by rail.
What memories do you have of that fateful day? The day 46009 took her last booked working, a one way trip of 8.75 miles, hauling three condemned Mk1 coaches from Edwalton to Old Dalby: her final destination and her ultimate destiny. Her impact, recorded for posterity in the full glare of the World's press. A day many small boys/girls shed a tear, not understanding why adults would want to destroy such a thing of beauty, that brought us such joy, hauling our trains to happy sunny family holiday destinations in Devon/Cornwall.
46009's remains were cut up on site by Vic Berry, Leicester. But three items were saved for posterity; a number plate, a buffer and a spedo, which can be found on a Dexion shelf protected by a Perspex sheet, lost, almost forgotten, amongst other ubiquitous railway artefacts and memorabilia gathering dust in "The Warehouse" room at NRM in York.
46009. A locomotive, a beast, a martyr, sacrificed to uphold the honour and virtues of railway safety - in the eyes of a sceptical public the same public who she gallantly and loyally served for over 20 years in their custody.
It was said that if you made the pilgrimage to York, to see 46009s saintly remains, touching her bruised and dented buffer would free you from all Duff moves thereafter.
Operation Smash Hit - 17th July 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzugX2NMnk
46009. RIP. Gone, but never forgotten. Hellfire!
What memories do you have of that fateful day? The day 46009 took her last booked working, a one way trip of 8.75 miles, hauling three condemned Mk1 coaches from Edwalton to Old Dalby: her final destination and her ultimate destiny. Her impact, recorded for posterity in the full glare of the World's press. A day many small boys/girls shed a tear, not understanding why adults would want to destroy such a thing of beauty, that brought us such joy, hauling our trains to happy sunny family holiday destinations in Devon/Cornwall.
46009's remains were cut up on site by Vic Berry, Leicester. But three items were saved for posterity; a number plate, a buffer and a spedo, which can be found on a Dexion shelf protected by a Perspex sheet, lost, almost forgotten, amongst other ubiquitous railway artefacts and memorabilia gathering dust in "The Warehouse" room at NRM in York.
46009. A locomotive, a beast, a martyr, sacrificed to uphold the honour and virtues of railway safety - in the eyes of a sceptical public the same public who she gallantly and loyally served for over 20 years in their custody.
It was said that if you made the pilgrimage to York, to see 46009s saintly remains, touching her bruised and dented buffer would free you from all Duff moves thereafter.
Operation Smash Hit - 17th July 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzugX2NMnk
46009. RIP. Gone, but never forgotten. Hellfire!