ryan125hst
Established Member
Ive not previously been into freight trains much, probably due to the fact that theyre almost exclusively Class 66 hauled (through Retford at least) these days. However, I was watching some videos of steam trains in the 1950s a few days ago when I decided to watch one called Fully Fitted Freight from 1957. I was fascinated by the goods trains of the day, loaded in goods yards all over the country, split and marshalled at marshalling yards that were also abundant before being sent to another marshalling yard elsewhere in the coutry. Eventually, the goods ended up at another goods yard for unloading. The wagons used even up to the 1970s were based on designed that dated back to the Big Four, or even earlier than that, and its obvious that the railways were vital for the transportation of pretty much everything back then.
I do have questions relating to this era, but thats the topic of another thread! What I was wondering is, what are the freight yards that are still open used for today? Im talking about the likes of Toton, Tyne Yard etc. Im particularly interested in Doncaster Decoy and Belmont Yards as well as the sidings at Worksop as they are local to me.
Now that freight trains are almost always block trains travelling from A to B, such as coal from a mine or port to a Power Station, before returning empty, there cant be much need for marshalling anymore? I get the impression that they are used to store stock and for crew changes, but there seems to be very little information about them.
So, what goes on at freight yards these days?
Many thanks
Ryan
I do have questions relating to this era, but thats the topic of another thread! What I was wondering is, what are the freight yards that are still open used for today? Im talking about the likes of Toton, Tyne Yard etc. Im particularly interested in Doncaster Decoy and Belmont Yards as well as the sidings at Worksop as they are local to me.
Now that freight trains are almost always block trains travelling from A to B, such as coal from a mine or port to a Power Station, before returning empty, there cant be much need for marshalling anymore? I get the impression that they are used to store stock and for crew changes, but there seems to be very little information about them.
So, what goes on at freight yards these days?
Many thanks
Ryan