Saltley Tales

[Aictos]

Basically a place for staff past and present to post their tales of one of the most famous depots on the railways!

 

[Mojo]

Might be best for them to be put into our "Stories, Reports & Nostalgia" forum. I've moved this thread there!

 

[Aictos]

Might be best for them to be put into our "Stories, Reports & Nostalgia" forum. I've moved this thread there!

Nice one, thanks

 

[Lower Quadrant]

Agreed.Good idea 103

 

[Old Timer]

As a former Saltley operating man, I have the very highest regard for the men of this fine depot.

I have worked all over but I can safely say without any risk of contradiction, that the train crew down to a man would do anything in their power to help the job and keep it going when others would bale out.

I was never ever let down by a single Saltley traincrew.

I take my hat off to these men who are the creme de la creme of the Railway (no disrespect intended to others of course) and I am highly honoured to be privileged to regarded as one of their own.

The tales that emanate from this depot are a joy to behold, especially as they contrast so strongly with the Railway we now have.

I hope we will soon be able to read tales, such as The Headless Horseman of Fenny Compton, how "Stacker Steadman" got his name, and what "A Bridge Too Far" did one evening on the Lawley Street Up and Down Goods.

 

[curly42]

Strongly rumoured that when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969 there was a Saltley man there to relieve him.
I wish I had a pound for every hour I spent in that mess room.

 

[Old Timer]

Indeed there was a set of Saltley men there. They were onto Control looking for their back working

 

[Aictos]

Agreed.Good idea 103

Don't thank me, thank OT - it was his idea, although I did made the start!

Still, like I must have said countless times - you guys from Saltley ought to get together and do a book on your memories like Life On The Leicester Line by Anthony Gregory.

Anyway, I'm patiently waiting to read all about these stories of old including the one where a group of you were route learning from Peterborough to Ely and 1. had some refreshments on the slate of the local manager and 2. nipping away earlier back to Brum letting the instructor take the train back by himself.

Don't know if they were two different stories but they certainly are two that I remember!

 

[Saltleyman]

The night that Niel Armstrong landed on the moon,We had worked a Semi-fitted freight from Landor Street to Gloucester and we were in the cabin/messroom at Gloucester Horton Road shed having our "snap",televisions wren't all that common in those days,but someone had brought a small set into the cabin,because of the history about to be made. Just as Armstrong began to climb down the ladder from the landing craft a Gloucester fireman/2nd man shouted out "look there's a bl**dy set of Saltley men to relieve him" and that's how the story came about.

PS Western Control couldn't find a job for us to work back,so we "flew" back on the "cushions"

 

[Aictos]

Good times indeed, pity I wasn't born in the 60s!

 

[Pumbaa]

Sorry to sound so obtuse - few questions?
-Where was Saltley?
-What was it?
-What is so special about it?

A few forums have Saltley sections, it's always been a mystery!

 

[Phoenix]

Sorry to sound so obtuse - few questions?
-Where was Saltley?
-What was it?
-What is so special about it?

A few forums have Saltley sections, it's always been a mystery!

Here are your answers

-Saltley is in Birmingham on the Birmingham - Derby mainline
-It used to be a TMD etc
-Quite a decent amount of work came out of there and from what I hear the depot was renown for having some of the best drivers BR had plus as we may find out some damn good stories to boot.

I was Never old enough to remember a great deal except for the allocation of various class 58's for the local MGR jobbies (I believe but it's still hazy) and the local class 47 compliment.

The best story I have is probably the last to come from the hallowed ground that is Saltley as now it is nearly no more except one last burst of pride and spirit when I noticed graffitied onto the on of the walls was the following

"you can sell the land but you can never sell the soul" or something to the same effect without sounding way too emotionally involved I was actually quite moved. But alas a few weeks later I was painted over by the powers that be.

 

[Lower Quadrant]

I have several memories of Saltley,having been there from 1963 to 2006.From Kettles to Sheds.Once the place of 300 plus drivers,now a place of Portakabins and a few dozen drivers.Times change,memories remain.No doubt in thirty years time,the drivers of today will have their own colourful memories.

 

[curly42]

Sorry to sound so obtuse - few questions?
-Where was Saltley?
-What was it?
-What is so special about it?

A few forums have Saltley sections, it's always been a mystery!

Good Lord above !!! Is this a sign of getting too old - someone (presumably) interested in railways (at least enough to have over a thousand posts) who doesn't know about Saltley ??? No particular reason why he should,of course,but still,I'm amazed.
Maybe it's time to leave the building.:roll:

 

[Saltleyman]

Sorry to sound so obtuse - few questions?
-Where was Saltley?
-What was it?
-What is so special about it?

A few forums have Saltley sections, it's always been a mystery!

The original Saltley Depot was opened by the Derby and Birmingham Rly.(later taken over by the Midland Railway) in the early 1840's on the site where Lawley Street Freightliner Depot now stands, 2 miles SE of Birmingham New Street station,on the line to Derby.In 1868 a new Depot was opened on the other side of the Main line whch stood in various forms until 2007.
Saltley was coded 3 by the MR,then 21A by British Railways which was changed to 2E after regional restructering in late 1963.after the advent of diesels and the demise of steam,and further restructering of regions Saltley was coded as SY.
The depot grew in size over the years and eventually in it's heyday, became the second largest Depot on BR after 30A Stratford in East London employing well over 1000 staff with an allocation of over 200 locomotives.
However with the fall off of traffic and the end of diesel locomotive hauled passenger trains it lost its importance and was finally closed in 2007,although a number of Drivers (employed by DB Shencker(EWS)still book on duty at the site.
Saltley train crews,because of its geographical location,worked all over the country gaining the name "Seagull's",they also gained a reputation for "Keeping the job going at all costs",something that is lacking on todays split up railway.

 

[networkrail1]

dont know if this is true but a ex driver was telling me they used to be called Saltley seagulls, because they were everywhere and for another reason which i wont say .

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

dont know if this is true but a ex driver was telling me they used to be called Saltley seagulls, because they were everywhere and for another reason which i wont say .

and shat on everyone.

That's their motto

 

[37401]

If I had a pound for eveytime ive passed Saltly, anyone got any photos of what it was like?

 

[Aictos]

they also gained a reputation for "Keeping the job going at all costs",something that is lacking on todays split up railway.

Something I do anyway especially when we're short staffed or there's disruption, I have been known to do a few extra hours.

It also helps when you've got the "right" people working as well!

 

[Old Timer]

If I had a pound for eveytime ive passed Saltly, anyone got any photos of what it was like?

I am sure one of the Saltley lads will be along shortly with some photographs.

 

[37401]

I am sure one of the Saltley lads will be along shortly with some photographs.

Exellent, all you can see now is a building with the word saltley on it would be great to see some photos

 

[Pumbaa]

Thanks for those posts, interesting to learn definitively what Saltley was.

 

[Old Timer]

Driving Saltley Style.

None of the namby panby tiptoeing around that happens today.


Salteymen at work.



.

 

[Phoenix]

Here is a question over the last year I have been checking off a list of diesel locomotive classes which have operated through Water Orton (my former childhood home) and basically can any saltley men comment on any unusual traction which would have done gone through Water Orton.
Basically any of the following

35's
42's
29's
14's
17's
28's
etc

It would be much appriciated.

 

[Lower Quadrant]

and shat on everyone.

That's their motto

Old saltley seagull here.The origin of this name comes from a New Street Driver who on being wound up by a Saltley man retorted heatedly"You lot are like seagulls you are.Y`get everywhere,pinch anything and just dump on every bugger".The recipient of this tirade had and idea.This came to fruition when badges,T-shirts,ties,mugs etc became seen everywhere.At that time Saltley men had route knowledge east west south and north from Brum.Southastleigh,London via Rugby,Oxford.West: Bristol,Swindon via Oxford or Gloucester. Cardiff via Chepstow or the Tunnel. North:York via Donny or S&K (Pontefract)
.Crewe via Stoke or Basford Hall.East:Cambridge.
New Street men took fuseboxes to Euston and back,and cross city work.Trips to Machester & Liverpool too.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Exellent, all you can see now is a building with the word saltly on it would be great to see some photos

Variety is the thing.Plenty at Saltley,as is evident.

 

[Saltleyman]

I to am an ex Saltley Driver from 1963 to 2006.
Here's a foto of Saltley inside I of the roundhouses(there were three in all) this foto was taken in 1948.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here is another foto taken inside the shed at Saltley in 1963,it is taken in No 1 roundhouse looking thro' to No 3 roundhouse.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
This is a much later foto taken in the 1980's,it shows the fuelling point taken at night.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
This foto of No 3 shed was taken in 1950,the roof had been removed due to wartime damage.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
This foto of Saltley was taken in the late 1950's,showing the coal hopper on the left and the building minus roof is roundhouse No3, the roof was eventually replaced.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
This is a diagram of Saltley MPD showing the general layout,each of the roundhouses was capable of holding 22 locomotives.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
This diagram of Saltley MPD was drawn by Driver R.Pitman in 1969 and shows where the site of the diesel fuelling facility was to be built adjacent to the coal hopper.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Saltley men had route knowledge east west south and north from Brum.Southastleigh,London via Rugby,Oxford.West: Bristol,Swindon via Oxford or Gloucester. Cardiff via Chepstow or the Tunnel. North:York via Donny or S&K (Pontefract)
.Crewe via Stoke or Basford Hall.East:Cambridge.

We must add to that list
North:- Leeds and Carlisle, Tinsley Yard.Stenson to Clay X via Toton & Erewash.
South:- Paddington via High Wycombe & Reading(including Acton Yard),Greenford to West Ealing
West :- Bath Green Park,Swansea via Hereford & Brecon also Avonmouth
and Portbury.
East :- Lincoln,Leicester to Luton MML,Leicester to Luton via Manton and Corby.

 

[Aictos]

Not forgetting my local area as I'm sure you all used to sign to Ely via Peterborough and March!

Especially considering the route learning story,

 

[curly42]

Here is a question over the last year I have been checking off a list of diesel locomotive classes which have operated through Water Orton (my former childhood home) and basically can any saltley men comment on any unusual traction which would have done gone through Water Orton.
Basically any of the following

35's
42's
29's
14's
17's
28's
etc

It would be much appriciated.

Class 35s for sure.Gloucester men used to work coal trains to Drakelow power station (in the early 1970s) and quite often we would have a pair of Hymeks on the job.I've also been to Derby a few times with Westerns and Hymeks when there was no fresh loco available at Saltley (Saltley men didn't sign hydraulics).
Finally,a shot of the old coaling stage at Saltley -

http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p55843436.html

 

[Lower Quadrant]

Not forgetting my local area as I'm sure you all used to sign to Ely via Peterborough and March!

Especially considering the route learning story,

When I was route learning Ely,a Cambridge driver told me about a line of statues in the Cathedral that had been decapitated by Oliver`s Army.Olly Cromwell,of course.

 

[37401]

Amazing stuff "Saltleyman" love the pics