Masboroughlad
Established Member
What routes did 29s and 35s work on please?
What is the furthest North they worked in revenue earning service?
What is the furthest North they worked in revenue earning service?
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Class 29s and Hymek 35s
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Ash Bridge
Established Member
I know the 35s worked Cardiff- Portsmouth & Paddington to Oxford & Worcester for starters. don't know much about the 29s though.
Ash Bridge
Established Member
Ah! Did he mean the 22s?
theblackwatch
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Hymeks used to work as far north as Leicester - a late friend of mine had one for haulage on the 21.50 Leicester-Swindon (via the Great Central route).
sprinterguy
Established Member
Yes, the class 29s were regular traction on freight and passenger services over the West Highland line until they were withdrawn in 1971 and replaced by class 27s.
Class 35 D7000 Hymeks worked everywhere across the Western Region, all the diesel depots saw them, they got used on secondary passenger, much freight, summer Saturday expresses, etc. I recall the very first one, D7000 itself, at Bristol Bath Road depot (might actually not have officially reopened by then due to it's total rebuilding for diesel) in 1961.
When first new in 1962, the series around D7024-39 went onto the expresses between Paddington and Swansea, displacing steam. They would have to work extremely hard to keep time with what were some of the heaviest expresses on the Western. They only lasted a short while doing this before being replaced by D1000 Westerns.
There were times when it seemed difficult to believe there were only 100 of them, as they turned up in quantity all around the region. Furthest north? I believe they did some trips from Banbury up the GC line to Leicester, just like the old GWR Halls previously did. They would have Banbury crews because I don't believe non-WR crews were trained on the hydraulics.
When first new in 1962, the series around D7024-39 went onto the expresses between Paddington and Swansea, displacing steam. They would have to work extremely hard to keep time with what were some of the heaviest expresses on the Western. They only lasted a short while doing this before being replaced by D1000 Westerns.
There were times when it seemed difficult to believe there were only 100 of them, as they turned up in quantity all around the region. Furthest north? I believe they did some trips from Banbury up the GC line to Leicester, just like the old GWR Halls previously did. They would have Banbury crews because I don't believe non-WR crews were trained on the hydraulics.
Bevan Price
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Yes, as did the 21s, only some of which were upgraded to Class 29. Services they worked included (when they hadn't failed):
Glasgow (Buchanan St. ) - Aberdeen & Dundee.
Aberdeen - Fraserburgh.
Aberdeen - Elgin via Cairnie Jn & North Coast line via Buckie.
muddythefish
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I remember the Hymeks working trip freights out of the many yards and sidings along the WR main line out of Paddington and on the Milford Haven line where they held sway for about a decade hauling 3-coach Swansea locals and tanker trains down to the oil refineries. They also worked the Irish meat freights to Fishguard.
Lovely little locos which made a beautiful sound.
Lovely little locos which made a beautiful sound.
Johnuk123
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I saw Hymeks at Oxley, Bescot, Wolves Low level and Birmingham Snow Hill regularly and don't forget the ones used for some time in multiple as Lickey bankers.
I seem to remember seeing at least one at Shrewsbury as well.
I seem to remember seeing at least one at Shrewsbury as well.
Not true, they were rare as hen's teeth west of the Tamar.
I'm surprised, because I remember all the ones on summer Saturday extras going through Taunton, in the mid-1960s it seemed like you could see half the fleet there on such a day (probably a considerable exaggeration). Likewise all those the freights that came through after midnight round the Taunton avoiding line, that distinctive engine noise permeated across the town on a still night. Did they really all come off at Plymouth. Laira had a considerable number allocated over time.
One August Saturday lunchtime all four tracks of main and relief distants through Taunton were pulled off together and four nonstop, two each way, crossed in the station at the same time, the only occasion I ever saw anything like this! Three of the four were Hymeks
There was a brief period when LA hymeks ventured into Cornwall a few times, but it was rare, they weren't allowed across the Tamar Bridge without permission.
Try looking on the Internet for phots of Hymeks in Cornwall, you won't find many and they're usually accompanied by a note on how unusual it was.
One did make it all the way to Penzance in 1972 (7032 IIRC).
Try looking on the Internet for phots of Hymeks in Cornwall, you won't find many and they're usually accompanied by a note on how unusual it was.
One did make it all the way to Penzance in 1972 (7032 IIRC).
Interesting. I wonder what the issue was. I presume all those Hymeks came off at Plymouth to be replaced by Warships or pairs of D6300 for the run on to Newquay.
If our original poster had been asking about Class 22 (D6300) instead of Class 29 (which, of course, looked very much the same) then we would have a different tale to tell about Cornwall.
If our original poster had been asking about Class 22 (D6300) instead of Class 29 (which, of course, looked very much the same) then we would have a different tale to tell about Cornwall.
Strathclyder
Established Member
There's a gallery dedicated to the 21s & 29s at work in Scotland at eastbank.org.uk:
http://www.eastbank.org.uk/diamond.htm
I recall travelling betwen Paddington and South Wales in the 60s at a time when availability of Westerns was limited as they required modifications. So we got a Hymek instead of the scheduled Western on what I think was a full length train. I remember being impressed that it only lost around 10 minutes against schedule.
western Champion
Member
D7100 at Penzance and D7021 at Bescot.
Both photos copyright of Paul Dalton
Johnnie2Sheds
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(o/t)
Gah I remember the first Hymek (and hydraulic) I did see. Paddington station on the blocks in 1973, ticking over as only they can. D7022 Wonderful.
Sorry, old fart reminising...
(/o/t)
Gah I remember the first Hymek (and hydraulic) I did see. Paddington station on the blocks in 1973, ticking over as only they can. D7022 Wonderful.
Sorry, old fart reminising...
(/o/t)
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