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lostwin - BR in the mid 80's

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lostwin(m)

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I like to think that at times I was trying to push into areas of more progressive railway photography. These were the pictures of others that I was intrigued by and i was definitely at an age to absorb influences. I've posted quite a few previously, this is what else I was up to..

24/10/85. An EMU and a small bush.

c469 update.jpg
 

lostwin(m)

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02/05/85. It has its downsides too. Like clambering amongst the BRUTE trolleys for an original angle just as a pair of Peaks unexpectedly turn up on an early morning St.Pancras working :s. 45129 & 45136.

c183.jpg
 

eastwestdivide

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Not great exposure on this one, unusual composition
Presumably you weren’t able to drag anything more out of the black in software? It’s surprising sometimes how much you can get from a scan witha bit of tinkering.
I think I’ve got a similar shot, either there or at Nottingham, which has a similar deep overbridge
 

lostwin(m)

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Presumably you weren’t able to drag anything more out of the black in software? It’s surprising sometimes how much you can get from a scan witha bit of tinkering.
I think I’ve got a similar shot, either there or at Nottingham, which has a similar deep overbridge
It was more that I hadn't adjusted the exposure correctly to compensate for the darkness of the tunnel resulting in the 31 being over exposed. I've done what I can in Photoshop tone it down.

Looking back, I guess it is inevitable that miscalculations on exposure, poor compositions or just missed shots occurred - that just part of the territory as a photographer. Working on these pictures now, my biggest frustration though is my apparent lack of consistency on film development. I would say that less than half of my films have been adequately developed, even fewer done really well. I seemed to have got into a good workflow with Ilford FP-4 for a while, which resulted in quite a few rolls developed with punchy, low grain images. I then changed to Kodak T-max 100 and things got inconsistent again.

You can rescue a lot of stuff in Photoshop, as I am having too now as I eek out anything remotely sharable, but a well exposed and developed negative sparkles in a way that even a 'shopped flatter negative doesn't. I really wish that I had been more critical with film development timings, temperatures and chemical freshness.
 

lostwin(m)

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I guess the humble 08 shunter could lay good claim to being the most successful diesel loco in the UK. Certainly the most numerous and the longest lived in service. Cool stripy ends too, which were good for B&W photography.

02/05//85. 08908 keeps itself busy at Leicester where it will shortly attach an extra mail carriage to the back to the train arriving under the power of 45116.

c173 final.jpg
 

lostwin(m)

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29/07/85. 08941 is caught in an unlikely sandwich attaching carriages to the back of the 06.50 Swindon - Penzance working at Plymouth. It is 47555 that is under power.

c275.jpg
 

lostwin(m)

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29/07/86. Same day at Plymouth and an interesting - but not wholly successful, to these eyes - wrap around yellow (white?) end treatment is modelled by 08641.

c283.jpg
 
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D1511

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That's interesting....I've only ever been to Moor St once as well......and even then only dragged there by unit spotters!
Lovely shots again.....they really capture the time....
What's going on with the duff and the Billy Bunter ....they're not coupled surely?
 

lostwin(m)

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May 86. Perhaps part of the reason why they were so long lived is that for much of the time it seemed, they sat around doing nothing. 08908 again at Leicester.

c592.jpg
 

D1511

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May 86. Perhaps part of the reason why they were so long lived is that for much of the time it seemed, they sat around doing nothing.
That's so true - of station pilots at least. There was one at each end of Waverley and they didn't move much. Different locos from HA would back on to the stock in the terminal platforms and the front loco released when the train departed, so there was generally nothing for them to do! I'm sure the gronks that worked in marshalling yards got a bit more action.......but they were probably the ones withdrawn first!
 

lostwin(m)

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What's going on with the duff and the Billy Bunter ....they're not coupled surely?
A posted another image of this operation earlier in the thread and invited thoughts as to what might be going on, as I couldn't work it out. My notes just say they are shunting in two carriages to the back of the train, in both pictures the 47 is clearly the one being driven.
 

D1511

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A posted another image of this operation earlier in the thread and invited thoughts as to what might be going on, as I couldn't work it out. My notes just say they are shunting in two carriages to the back of the train, in both pictures the 47 is clearly the one being driven.
That's interesting, and I note there weren't many suggestions forthcoming! I certainly can't think of any, and I don't think I've seen a moving consist like that before. Triple headed forties, all working, sure ;) , but never a shunter working with a loco like that... :?:
 

Sun Chariot

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29/07/86. .... wrap around yellow (white?) end treatment is modelled by 08641.

View attachment 184144
Ah yes, 08641 (unofficially named LAIRA, if I recall). The cabsides were yellow and the cab roof light grey.

In the background is what appears to be Mk3 stock from the previous night's Edinburgh to Plymouth sleeping car service.
 

D1511

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I trawled through my class 08 photos a few weeks ago. Some fabulous liveries and - ahem - some best left on the drawing board!
I think I'm glad to have given up by then......!
To me, a gronk is always faded carriage wash streaky BR Blue, with wasp ends and totally filthy :D
 

lostwin(m)

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So we can expect a selection of shots of our crappy modern railway?! If anyone can make it look good, it'll be you! :D
Yeah, not quite sure how I'll approach it or what I'll look to take, but i've still got my film camera gear and a wider selection of lenses than just the 50mm I had at the time, so let's see.
 

D1511

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Yeah, not quite sure how I'll approach it or what I'll look to take, but i've still got my film camera gear and a wider selection of lenses than just the 50mm I had at the time, so let's see.
Looking forward to it already!
Any regular loco workings near where you're based nowadays?
 
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