Back in the day...

Just read the last couple of weeks of posts on here.
@47403 - us 47 bashers always took a lot of stick, but we were very rarely bowled out...
As time’s gone on I’ve found myself loving all of the old stuff really (even class 50s!), and I’d happily sit behind anything from that era with the windows of a compo mk1 open on a long journey compared to the fantastic plastic stuff that does everything so efficiently these days.
Great thread @xotGD. I always enjoy dipping into it.

Cowley said:

Just read the last couple of weeks of posts on here.
@47403 - us 47 bashers always took a lot of stick, but we were very rarely bowled out...
As time’s gone on I’ve found myself loving all of the old stuff really (even class 50s!), and I’d happily sit behind anything from that era with the windows of a compo mk1 open on a long journey compared to the fantastic plastic stuff that does everything so efficiently these days.
Great thread @xotGD. I always enjoy dipping into it.

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Agree totally, actually found myself getting nostalgic about Tractors and Roarers the other day!!!!!

Had a very brief spell on 47's in my bashing 'career',tbh it was mainly generators and the original twin tanks(47/6), your right it was easy to find them and knock up the miles!!
Need to dig out the books as not sure how many 47s I had as the Sprinter substitutes and summer Saturday additionals dented some gaps in the NB locos which had took an hammering when I was a scratch merchant.

Despite bashing specific loco classes I carried on graphing everything(I got much ribbing)so built up a good photo record up until working on the trains which is when the camera stayed at home up until around 15 years ago.

Must admit some of the better memories is of being a youngster just going around looking for locos to red pen with my mates and that thrill of noting no ETH box as a loco came in the platform(if it was a winner!).

MDB1images said:

Agree totally, actually found myself getting nostalgic about Tractors and Roarers the other day!!!!!

Had a very brief spell on 47's in my bashing 'career',tbh it was mainly generators and the original twin tanks(47/6), your right it was easy to find them and knock up the miles!!
Need to dig out the books as not sure how many 47s I had as the Sprinter substitutes and summer Saturday additionals dented some gaps in the NB locos which had took an hammering when I was a scratch merchant.

Despite bashing specific loco classes I carried on graphing everything(I got much ribbing)so built up a good photo record up until working on the trains which is when the camera stayed at home up until around 15 years ago.

Must admit some of the better memories is of being a youngster just going around looking for locos to red pen with my mates and that thrill of noting no ETH box as a loco came in the platform(if it was a winner!).

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Oh yes. It looks like we’re about the same age, do you fancy sharing a few of those photos at some point? I’d be very interested to see them.

Cowley said:

Oh yes. It looks like we’re about the same age, do you fancy sharing a few of those photos at some point? I’d be very interested to see them.

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Once I get them sorted(found!)I certainly will.

Great stuff! Glad you are both enjoying the thread

DELTICS!!!!

Part 1: On the Severn Valley

There are diesels, big diesels... and then there are Deltics. Once you've seen and heard a Deltic, everything else pales into insignificance. I was fortunate enough to be around to witness their final few months in service from the platform end, and realised just in time that bashing was more fun than spotting to get a few runs behind them before the curtain came down. I attempted to capture some images at the time using an old 110 format camera - and totally failed! It was a few years later that I had saved up to buy a proper camera and by then the preserved Deltics were putting in appearances around the country.

As I was based in Brum, the SVR was a convenient visit for diesel weekends. First up, here is number 15 at Kidderminster on 9th May 1987:



I was back the following year, and so was Tulyar, pictured at Bridgenorth depot on 7th May 1988:



Two years later, and another diesel weekend in May. This time number 16 was visiting, seen at Hampton Loade on 19th May 1990:



Gordon the Big Engine was certainly looking better in green than the Porterbrook Purple it was inflicted with a few years later.

My main regret was not "discovering" deltics before they went out of service. Being based in the west of Scotland at the time of their demise they were very much "foreign" locos to me.

Part 2: In the East Midlands

In 1982 Leicester Depot hosted an open day. Quite a bit of traction not usually seen on the depot was assembled - including three Deltics (15, 16 & 22), seen here on 5th September of that year:



A few miles up the road is the Great Central Railway. Number 19 spent a while based there, seen at Quorn & Woodhouse on 27th June 1993:



By the following year's diesel weekend, RHF had acquired a new coat of paint and lost its nameplates - seen here at Loughborough (my home town at the time) on 26th March 1994:



Could have been just released from Vulcan Foundry - gorgeous!

Part 3: In the North and North Wales

A few trips to the East Lancs, Llangollen Railway and North Yorkshire Moors over the next couple of years for diesel weekends also saw me encountering Deltics - it is almost as if that was the plan!

First up, here is number 19 again, having acquired a bit of yellow paint and reunited with its nameplates, at Ramsbottom on 17th September 1995:



The following year I tucked my passport into my pocket and crossed the border. Here is number 15 at Llangollen on 19th October 1996:



Back to the East Lancs, and someone has been at work with the yellow paint again on number 19, seen at Bury on 5th July 1998:



Across the Pennines and a first view of number 9, in less than ideal weather conditions at Grosmont on 14th November 1998:



I definitely like the green without a yellow panel.

Part 4: On the Mainline

D9000 famously had a summer season of working to Ramsgate every Saturday in 1999. I was fortunate enough to make the trip on 7th August along with one or two (!) other enthusiasts. Here is RSG after arrival at Ramsgate:



And back at Birmingham International:



Well that's all for now.

Coming next week - The Flower of Scotland?

Mag_seven said:

My main regret was not "discovering" deltics before they went out of service. Being based in the west of Scotland at the time of their demise they were very much "foreign" locos to me.

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I was born within 200 yards of the ECML and lived within sight and sound all of my childhood. Even before I became interested in railways the sound of a Deltic powering through Bensham made a big impression.

Wonderful!

55 019 was my last for sight. I had a few for haulage, but only short leaps from St Helens Junction to Liverpool Lime St. Unless my memory has failed completely, that was it for haulage, but post COVID-19 when I get to my notebooks, I will be able to confirm that.

Before tomorrow's main event, a special Good Friday treat for Class 47 fans. In August 2018 I visited the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway, and photted 47004 rotting away at Bolton Abbey.


Sighting derelict duffs was not, of course the primary reason for my visit. 37294 was working, and I spent the day behind it.

47 004 is ringing some distant bells...

Had 47004 a few times, once double headed with 47194(i think) on one of the Summer Saturday turns. It's heartbreaking seeing 47004 like that. It was banger blue with a white roof then, then I saw it go green and named Old Oak Common. Now I've seen it like this. It's just distressing, mind you I'm the same when I see most locos sat in a scapyard, being left to rot before the cutters torch.

NorthWestRover said:

At least Duff bashers kept themselves to themselves for the most part. Now Wagon bashers...

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Would you care to elaborate?

I always thought that 40 Bashers (of which I was one) had the biggest unruly element amongst the English Electric fans. I'd say it was Wagon bashers from all the rubbish locos.




I hope you realise this is all tongue in cheek.

NorthWestRover said:

I always thought that 40 Bashers (of which I was one) had the biggest unruly element amongst the English Electric fans. I'd say it was Wagon bashers from all the rubbish locos.




I hope you realise this is all tongue in cheek.

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As I tended to avoid EE locos unless necessary, I can’t comment about rubbish locos.

45107 said:

Would you care to elaborate?

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Each to their own I like duffs, you like wagons, some like 37s n 40s. It's not a problem.

It's strange, isn't it, how rail enthusiasts can be a bit like football fans and need to have a rival group to contrast themselves against.

To the outside world this would just cause bafflement.

We were lucky to have the diversity of traction from which everyone could choose their favourites. Or just enjoy it all.

Crazy, isn't it? Something about both interests primarily being teenage boy interests (then at least. My daughter plays football at a high level so no having a go at me) and such attitudes then being taken forward into early 20s. Now, many of us are in our older years, we can appreciate the glory of a Pendolino or a CAF unit, even a Duff.

NorthWestRover said:

Crazy, isn't it? Something about both interests primarily being teenage boy interests (then at least. My daughter plays football at a high level so no having a go at me) and such attitudes then being taken forward into early 20s. Now, many of us are in our older years, we can appreciate the glory of a Pendolino or a CAF unit, even a Duff.

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I wouldn't go that far!

Which was the most offensive? Pendolino, CAF or Duff?

NorthWestRover said:

Which was the most offensive? Pendolino, CAF or Duff?

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No comment!

Incidentally, the weather has been too nice today to be faffing about with old photo albums. Sitting in the garden with a book was a more attractive option.

That is true. I've been on the balcony a fair bit reading too.

MacRats!!!

Part 1: In service in Scotland

Welcome to a Class 26 & 27 special. MacRats, Small Engines, Lawnmowers and Hedgeclippers, whatever you want to call them, they were a key feature of any trip north of the border back in the day.

My first Freedom of Scotland was back in 1983, and I was there in time to enjoy having a 26 to Kyle, pairs of them (plus a 26/27 combo) on Inverness - Aberdeen services and a 27 to Stranraer. Sadly, I was not equipped with a camera back then, or for my 1985 Freedom (where there was still a pair of 26s working out of Inverness), so you'll just have to take my word for it.

However, I'd procured Pentax ahead of my 1986 week in Scotland, and captured several images of the wee beasties. The 27s had less than a year left in traffic, so the trip was rather timely.

That summer, due to a shortage of units the Edinburgh - Kirkcaldy locals were loco-hauled, mainly by 26s. Time to fill your boots! First up, we have 26014 at Inverkeithing on one such working on 3rd September 1986 - I took it to Waverley. Now preserved at The Caledonian Railway.



On the same day, 26010 was also on the circuit. I had it from South Gyle to Haymarket, where it is seen here. This example has also survived, now based at the Llangollen Railway.



Later the same day, over at Glasgow Queen St, 27001 waits to depart on 1L39, which I took to Larbert. Also preserved, after doing the rounds in England (see later posts) it is now at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway.



The following day, and with a backdrop of semaphore signals and a gasholder, 27051 heads out of Stirling with some former trees. Withdrawn in July 87, I never had it for haulage.



A day later, while festering between moves on 37/4s, 26008 basks in the sunshine. Another loco that never received the red-pen treatment.



And finally from this selection, 26001 seen after arrival at Haymarket on the early morning commuter turn from Berwick. We had travelled down to Dunbar to get this for haulage, but 37041 working an overnight from Kings Cross meant a change of plan, so 001 was done for a scratch move from Waverley. Another loco that made it into preservation, it is at the Caledonian Railway, but needs to be fixed.



And that was the last time I saw them in traffic.

Part 2: 27s in preservation

Various encounters with 27s on my visits to preserved railways in the latter years of the 20th century.

First up, 27059 at Tyseley on 1st February 1989.



By the 19th May that year, the above loco had moved to the SVR, seen here at Kidderminster looking slightly different. Now to be found at Leicester.



From the West Mids to the East Mids, D5401 (27056) at Rothley on the GCR, 26th March 1994.



Heading ever further East, A MacRat-Rat combo, with D5386 (27066) and D5207 (25057) seen after arriving at Holt on the North Norfolk Railway on the 3rd June 1995. The 27 is currently located at Barrow Hill.



Looking much the same as it did in Glasgow 12 years earlier, 27001 at Bury on the ELR, 5th July 1998.




Same railway, different loco. 27005 put in appearance for the 2000 diesel weekend, seen at Ramsbottom on 8th July. Now at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway in a non-operational condition.



So that's piccies of 5 out of the 8 preserved 27s. I've had all 8 for haulage, so no need to go flapping up to Scotland chasing them. A slightly different story with the 26s - see below...

Part 3: 26s in preservation

A smaller selection of photos here, and a common theme that none of them are actually working!

This may be the Battlefield line, but 26011 looks like it has been in the wars! Seen at Shackertone on 2nd November 1996. Now languishing at Burton-upon-Trent, I got this one in the book on one of those DMU substitutions during my 1986 Freedom of Scotland: a big leap from Haymarket to Waverley!



Go to the Lake District to see a 26? What could be more natural. After having yellow-penned the line behind kettle No. 150 I was rewarded by the sight of deisels (and a pub lunch!). Here is D5301 (26001 - as pictured earlier at Haymarket) alongside ex-Darlo Flowerpot D2072 (03072) at Haverthwaite, 15th July 1997.



Finally in this short selection, a 26 and a 27. 26004 and 27001 (again!) pose at the Toton Open Day, 30th August 1998. This is another 26 languishing at Burton-upon-Trent - and I require this one. So pretty, please, give it an overhaul and give it a run on the Great Central for me!



Of the 13 Class 26s 'preserved' (and I use the term loosely to include the examples at Burton!), in addition to 004 I require 002 and 025, which are both at the Strathspey Railway, but not operational. So no need for a trip up there, just yet.

That's it for now. Stay home and stay safe everyone!

Funny little Sulzers....

Nostalgic posts...

When I eventually get hold of my notebooks, the memories of my limited Scottish will come flooding back... Don't think I'll have any photos though...

Where are you going next? Cromptons?

NorthWestRover said:

Funny little Sulzers....

Nostalgic posts...

When I eventually get hold of my notebooks, the memories of my limited Scottish will come flooding back... Don't think I'll have any photos though...

Where are you going next? Cromptons?

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Back to English Electric I think..