Back in the day...

[D6130]

Would be fascinating to know whether you caught the re-signing of Helensburgh Upper just at the right moment or whether the ridiculous juxtaposition lasted months or years because the instructions didn’t say anything about taking the old signs down!

IIRC, that juxtaposition lasted for several months at least. The steel uprights of the big old blue enamel running-in board must have been anchored very firmly and deeply in big cement blocks inside the platform. Wish I'd managed to get hold of it....although it would have been a devil to carry home!

 

[Cheshire Scot]

More Scottish diesels from the 1970s.
For many years on summer Saturdays the 17.25 Fort William to Edinburgh was load 11 or sometimes 12. It was routed via Queen St Low Level due to the length and the Glasgow portion was then detached from the rear at Cowlairs running forward from there with 6 coaches for Kings Cross (4 sleepers) and one for Edinburgh. Motive power was regularly a class 27 and a class 20. These views from around 1973 show it on the Horseshoe Curve, then approaching Crianlarich and finally running along the sea wall at Craigendoran.

 

[D6130]

More Scottish diesels from the 1970s.
For many years on summer Saturdays the 17.25 Fort William to Edinburgh was load 11 or sometimes 12. It was routed via Queen St Low Level due to the length and the Glasgow portion was then detached from the rear at Cowlairs running forward from there with 6 coaches for Kings Cross (4 sleepers) and one for Edinburgh. Motive power was regularly a class 27 and a class 20. These views from around 1973 show it on the Horseshoe Curve, then approaching Crianlarich and finally running along the sea wall at Craigendoran.

Excellent! Keep them coming folks!

 

[Harvester]

Here is a photo I took in August 1964 that has a bit of historical importance. It shows the remains of the signal box at Hart Station about 3 miles north of Hartlepool. The loco is D166 heading south LE on the Durham coastline, with the Castle Eden branch in the background. Nothing is left today except the coastline.

 

[Falcon1200]

running forward from there with 6 coaches for Kings Cross (4 sleepers) and one for Edinburgh.

Back when the Fort William sleepers still ran to and from Kings X, presumably a hangover from the West Highland Line being LNER. Instead of the more logical Euston, as it later became.

 

[CW2]

Back when the Fort William sleepers still ran to and from Kings X, presumably a hangover from the West Highland Line being LNER. Instead of the more logical Euston, as it later became.

My school trip in August 1974 (post #7524) involved travelling Kings Cross to Fort William and return.

Sadly the loco details have been lost.

 

[D6130]

There are two Dumbarton Central photos, was the wandering on the platform because the loco had failed?

No, I don't recall the loco as having failed. I think there was possibly a crew change in progress. Maybe the Eastfield men didn't sign Balloch and had to pick-up a Balloch or Helensburgh conductor driver? The platform starter signal is still red.... probably awaiting the arrival of an Up train from Balloch, but when it cleared, the 25 continued on its way normally.

 

[Magdalia]

Back when the Fort William sleepers still ran to and from Kings X, presumably a hangover from the West Highland Line being LNER. Instead of the more logical Euston, as it later became.

Although the WCML electrification was completed in 1974, the West Highland sleeper only switched from Kings Cross to Euston in 1976.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Although the WCML electrification was completed in 1974, the West Highland sleeper only switched from Kings Cross to Euston in 1976.

Yes. I remember the 87s were brand new when I started spotting that year - 1974. I would hope for an 87 at New Street where the displaced 50s were just starting to replace the wonderful Westerns sadly.

 

[CW2]

Here's another shot of an 8-car Pullman at Tilehurst. Once again it's a scan of a slide, AI treated.

It's from the same batch as my previous Pullman shot, but I believe the correct date would be April 1973.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Well I photographed this relatively rare loco while I had the chance. 1978 I believe. 1200 Falcon.
View attachment FALCON.JPGView attachment Falcon nameplate.JPG

 

[xotGD]

I can't offer anything from the 1970s, but in 1988 here is Class 11 gronk 12074 at Swalwell. Shortly before taking this photo I ended up in the bottom of a ditch, but my camera survived the mishap.

 

[D6130]

Here's another shot of an 8-car Pullman at Tilehurst. Once again it's a scan of a slide, AI treated.

It's from the same batch as my previous Pullman shot, but I believe the correct date would be April 1973.View attachment 210610

Excellent! One each way now!

 

[CW2]

Well I photographed this relatively rare loco while I had the chance. 1978 I believe. 1200 Falcon.
View attachment 210613View attachment 210614

A loco very familiar to me, but which I never photted.

Thanks.

 

[Falcon1200]

Well I photographed this relatively rare loco while I had the chance. 1978 I believe. 1200 Falcon.

I saw Falcon, twice, once at Swindon Works and once when it stopped at Didcot on its afternoon Bristol-Paddington working. Couldn't afford to travel behind it to Reading however.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I saw Falcon, twice, once at Swindon Works and once when it stopped at Didcot on its afternoon Bristol-Paddington working. Couldn't afford to travel behind it to Reading however.

D1200 Falcon was one that got away for me. I would love to have heard it and compared it to the Westerns.
(reason - same pair of engines - 2 x Maybach MD655 iirc)

 

[Harvester]

I only saw it once as D0280, at Kings Cross on Saturday 1st September 1962. Took the attached photo with a box camera when I was a young lad, the only camera our family owned at the time.

 

[CW2]

Growing up in Tilehurst I was fortunate to see both D0280 and 1200 versions of Falcon on a regular basis. From memory, it sounded very similar to a Western. It was always an impressive sight at the head of an express passenger train. Its later exile to south Wales valleys was a sad comedown.

It's such a shame that none of the diesel prototypes - bar Deltic - made it into preservation.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Growing up in Tilehurst I was fortunate to see both D0280 and 1200 versions of Falcon on a regular basis. From memory, it sounded very similar to a Western. It was always an impressive sight at the head of an express passenger train. Its later exile to south Wales valleys was a sad comedown.

It's such a shame that none of the diesel prototypes - bar Deltic - made it into preservation.

Yes. Not even an original NBL built Warship D600s. Nor the two short versions (D6100 & D6300 iirc).
The LM twins (10000 & 10001 iirc).
Compare to the early peaks D0-D9 of which some were saved.

Early modernisation plan diesels were cut up maybe only a few years before preserving diesels became a thing.

Some locos survived in some state or other for quite a while after withdrawl.

 

[xotGD]

Two days prior to the phot of the gronk, something a bit more impressive. A4 4468 passes Pelaw...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Class 56s under construction in Crewe Works. Late 1977 I believe.
View attachment Class 56 under construction.JPG

 

[Peter Sarf]

Class 56s under construction in Crewe Works. Late 1977 I believe.
View attachment 210680

Production ran from 1976 to 1985 I believe. The first thirty came from Craiova in Romania and the last (30 ?) were built at Crewe so Doncaster could concentrate on the 58s. Not sure how close to 1976 Doncaster started on 56031, rough idea is 1978 as I remember thinking it was 15 per year BUT did Doncaster start before Craiova finished ?. There is part of a number daubed on the side of the nearest 56 - 5606* ? So 1977 - 1980 possible.

Shame they had to look like duffs !.
Being a freight only class they were as hard to get as 47/3s !.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Shame they had to look like duffs !.

Speak for yourself!!! I loved these and duffs. I started spotting March 1970 4 miles north of Preston on the WCML. I used to see double headed 400s (Class 50) and Type 2 sulzers (later rats or Class 25) and also big Ds (later Class 40s) with monotonous regularity and so when a Brush 4 (Class 47) came along I was delighted.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Speak for yourself!!! I loved these and duffs. I started spotting March 1970 4 miles north of Preston on the WCML. I used to see double headed 400s (Class 50) and Type 2 sulzers (later rats or Class 25) and also big Ds (later Class 40s) with monotonous regularity and so when a Brush 4 (Class 47) came along I was delighted.

Fair enough. Having started in North Kent a 47 was rare. Not as rare as 71s became as I tried to clear them !. But I did escape as often as possible to Birmingham - most people complained about the 47s and I did feel there were "too many". As the number of Westerns dwindled to nil. Irony is we are now surrounded by many more sheds (66s). But at least they are all locomotives !.

 

[xotGD]

On the subject of double headed Hoovers, here's 50007 + 50049 passing Edgbaston on "The Principality" (Cardiff - Edinburgh) on 17th January 1987. This service was booked for a pair on Saturdays.

Trying to get the exposure right in the snow has always been beyond me.

 

[Sultan1056]

Class 56s under construction in Crewe Works. Late 1977 I believe.
View attachment 210680

AFAIK Crewe locos were built between 1984 and 1985

 

[SuspectUsual]

AFAIK Crewe locos were built between 1984 and 1985

From hazy memory 56133 was named Crewe Locomotive Works at the open day in 1984 - I remember it being a hot sunny day, and it can’t have been 1985 as I had my leg in plaster all that summer.

 

[Harvester]

I visited Crewe works on 17th November 1984 and the last built (56135) was complete.

 

[xotGD]

Posted in another thread a short time ago but I'll repeat it here - 37261 at Thurso in September 1986...

 

[D6130]

Posted in another thread a short time ago but I'll repeat it here - 37261 at Thurso in September 1986...

View attachment 210706

Happily still with us.... awaiting restoration at Bo'ness.