Ashleys Photos

[Ashley Hill]

Having recently found an old memory card i thought I would share some of the highlights. More will follow if popular.
12/10/2013 and the Branch Line Societys Devon Tracker sits in the back platform at Keyham.
01/8/11 150126 sits at Eggesford with an early service from Barnstaple.
27/8/11 150130 attends the South Devon Railway beer festival at Staverton.
09/3/13 The end of the line at Heathfield on a route learning trip.

 

[Ashley Hill]

No complaints so far so here are some more

Seen here on the 21/11/2011 is 66111 having suffered an earth fault the previous night the driver having forgot about the catch points.


On the 18/08/2011 159009 was on hire to FGW to free up units for Torbay airshow. Here it is at Yatton with a Bristol PW to Weston SM service.
When is a 150 not a 150? when its a 153/9!! The temporary hybrid 153399 at Barnstaple on the 27/2/2012.

 

[Ashley Hill]

1 2 3 4

1. 07/07/2011 57312 has arrived ECS from Weston SM into Taunton to form the 1104 Taunton to Cardiff Central.
2. 19/09/2011 67019 poses for photos at Torre with the last loco hauled Paignton to Cardiff service.
3. 25/02/2014 20189/142 together with unrecorded class 47 and 31 wait to depart Exeter SD either to/from Okehampton.
4. 16/08/2012 66846 is stabled in platform 9 at Newton Abbot. Reason for being there not known.

 

[Cowley]

Ah some nice local photos Mr Hill. Like it.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I’m very much not local but I definitely like them, that 150/153 lash up at Barnstaple looks a real oddity!

May I ask the location of the partially derailed 66 Mr Hill?

 

[Ashley Hill]

May I ask the location of the partially derailed 66 Mr Hill

66111 is at the bottom of the bank at Exeter St Davids. Here is another photo.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Ah of course. When I first looked Cowley Bridge Junction came to mind but it didn’t seem quite right with the double track, the second shot gives the true location away with the building partially hidden behind the loco.

Thanks for that!

 

[Cowley]

Ah of course. When I first looked Cowley Bridge Junction came to mind but it didn’t seem quite right with the double track, the second shot gives the true location away with the building partially hidden behind the loco.

Thanks for that!

Yes I remember that happening and I think I saw them working to re-rail it one evening.

Was that the same points that a class 50 on a railtour derailed on in the early 1990s @Ashley Hill?

 

[Ashley Hill]

No,50033 derailed on the down line after the tip of switch blade spilt off. Here’s a photo by Ian Dinmore. I was on that tour and had used my film up at Exmouth so have no personal photos of that derailment.

 

[Cowley]

No,50033 derailed on the down line after the tip of switch blade spilt off. Here’s a photo by Ian Dinmore. I was on that tour and had used my film up at Exmouth so have no personal photos of that derailment.

Oh yes, thanks for that. How did they go about getting everybody off?

 

[Ashley Hill]

The train was divided between the first two coaches as a rail had cracked during the derailment. Those that wanted to leave the tour were escorted to the platforms by the BTP. Those that remained were treated to D400 on a standing start up the bank.

 

[Cowley]

The train was divided between the first two coaches as a rail had cracked during the derailment. Those that wanted to leave the tour were escorted to the platforms by the BTP. Those that remained were treated to D400 on a standing start up the bank.

I can imagine the noise!

 

[Ashley Hill]

1 234

1. 31190 sits between duties in platform 1 at Taunton on the 01/06/2013.
2. 37405 with its test train sits on the old In/Out road at Bristol TM. 29/06/13.
3. The floods of 2014. This is between Bridgewater and Cogload Jct and the track is on an embankment. The line closed shortly after.
4. 31285 loitered in Old Yard at Exeter SD for many months. It is seen here on the 13/06/2015.

 

[Ashley Hill]

1234

I apologise,i dont trust the dates on this memory stick so i will omit them.
1. Here we find the strange sight of D1015 stabled on Exeter TMD. it was here for a few days.
2. On a cold day 57303 sits at Bristol TM with a Cardiff-Taunton service.
3. 67029 waits at Taunton to return ECS to Bristol Barton Hill having worked the 1900 over from Cardiff.
4. 97301 waits entry into Exeter Riverside with its test train.

 

[Ashley Hill]

1.234

1. The (then) end of the line at Cattewater in Plymouth. On 10/05/14 the BLS Devon Tracker 3 attained its goal of traversing the remains of this branch and is currently the last known train to have done so.
2. An early morning combo of 153373 and an unknown 150 pause at Chapelton on the way to Barnstaple.25/05/13.
3. 30/08/2013 1Z19 AKA Pathfinder tours The Torbay Flyer from Crewe to Kingswear. Whilst waiting for a clear shot I thought Id take a photo of the admiring crowd. Are you in it?
4. On the 22/05/2013 a tour was arranged of some of the arches underneath Bristol TM. Here we see the narrow gauge line that runs from an entrance near B&E House to underneath the buffet on platform 3. It was worked by a manual winch at its summit. Here a dumb waiter lifted stores up to the buffet.

 

[Ash Bridge]

At a glance it seems in photo No. 1 that 150927 had to remove some overgrown foliage from somewhere along the branch judging by what appears to be the remnants of a tree or bush hanging from the windscreen wiper down to the grab rail on the driving side of the cab?

Photo 2. Last time I took a shot of a crowd of enthusiasts admiring an English Electric locomotive at Exeter St David's, I unwittingly captured a young chap that we all know these days as @Cowley, this was 37 years ago and I think said person said that half of Exeter turned out on that day to witness class 40 D200/40122 make a brief visit to the city.

Interesting shots as always @Ashley Hill, thanks for posting!

 

[Ashley Hill]

At a glance it seems in photo No. 1 that 150927 had to remove some overgrown foliage from somewhere along the branch judging by what appears to be the remnants of a tree or bush hanging from the windscreen wiper down to the grab rail on the driving side of the cab?

I hadn’t noticed that before. I don’t recall the branch being that overgrown. To confirm this I watched Kev Adlams cab ride video of the line.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I hadn’t noticed that before. I don’t recall the branch being that overgrown. To confirm this I watched Kev Adlams cab ride video of the line.

That’s an interesting little watch, although certainly never going to be included in the list of great scenic westcountry branches I wouldn’t think! From the video, it did appear to be rather windy on the day of this tour so I wonder if something had got blown into the trains path during the course of its travels?

I was expecting to see the remains of Lucas Terrace Halt platform which I’m sure was located roughly where the branch curves away from the former SR main line down to Plymouth Friary, It was still in situ when I last travelled down there on a Pathfinder Tour for Laira Depots 1991? Open Day. The Exmouth Junc Concrete Works prefabricated structure was still remarkably intact then despite several decades of disuse, what a shame it’s been finally swept away!

 

[Cowley]

At a glance it seems in photo No. 1 that 150927 had to remove some overgrown foliage from somewhere along the branch judging by what appears to be the remnants of a tree or bush hanging from the windscreen wiper down to the grab rail on the driving side of the cab?

Really nice to see some footage of the Cattewater Branch. I’ve always found it interesting as well as all the industrial stuff around there. Wish I’d taken a trip on it actually.

Photo 2. Last time I took a shot of a crowd of enthusiasts admiring an English Electric locomotive at Exeter St David's, I unwittingly captured a young chap that we all know these days as @Cowley, this was 37 years ago and I think said person said that half of Exeter turned out on that day to witness class 40 D200/40122 make a brief visit to the city.

Ah yes. We were getting in the way of the photos!

Interesting shots as always @Ashley Hill, thanks for posting!

Definitely. Keep em coming please @Ashley Hill.

 

[Ashley Hill]

1234

1. 150248 shivers at Bruton on an unidentified service to Exeter on the 18/01/2013
2. 121032 sits in Cardiff Bay station on the 29/02/2012.
3. On the 01/05/2013 37402 could be seen enjoying the sun at Exeter St Davids with its test train.
4. 150265 sits at Patchway on its way to Cardiff on 22/03/2013.

 

[Ashley Hill]

1 2 3 4

This time it’s Scotland in 1991. Alas I didn’t keep very good record of what’s what at the time.
1. Not long after taking this photo of the observation saloon at Kyle of Lachalsh I retired to the nearest pub (the Islander?) with the steward and buffet girl. I don’t remember much of the journey back to Inverness.
2. All the way to Inverness to see a NSE coach! No idea how it worked there.
3. Wick on a wet day.
4. Thurso in the sun.

 

[Cowley]

1View attachment 155456 2View attachment 155457 3. View attachment 155462 4View attachment 155464

This time it’s Scotland in 1991. Alas I didn’t keep very good record of what’s what at the time.
1. Not long after taking this photo of the observation saloon at Kyle of Lachalsh I retired to the nearest pub (the Islander?) with the steward and buffet girl. I don’t remember much of the journey back to Inverness.
2. All the way to Inverness to see a NSE coach! No idea how it worked there.
3. Wick on a wet day.
4. Thurso in the sun.

Nice. Are we missing a photo though Mr Hill?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Nice. Are we missing a photo though Mr Hill?

Duly added.

 

[Cowley]

Duly added.

Thanks. I love the look of those little overall roofs. Wick looks like a baby version of Thurso, but I can’t say I’ve ever been there so it’s only from what I’ve seen in photos.

Do you think that NSE mk2 was one that was transferred from Paddington - Oxford services when the Turbos were being introduced?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Do you think that NSE mk2 was one that was transferred from Paddington - Oxford services when the Turbos were being introduced?

Maybe,but it was the only one I saw all week.

 

[Cowley]

Maybe,but it was the only one I saw all week.

Certainly a bit out of its area…

I wonder if @hexagon789 has any thoughts, being a bit of a resident carriage expert?

 

[hexagon789]

Certainly a bit out of its area…

I wonder if @hexagon789 has any thoughts, being a bit of a resident carriage expert?

There were quite a few ex-NSE Mk2s in Scotland in the early 90s.

Some gained Regional Railways 'SCOTRAIL' branding and even dark blue stripes.

Workings included:

Inverness-Kyle
Ft Will-Mallaig plus rtn to/from Glasgow
Perth-Edinburgh-Inverness-Edinburgh-Perth
Inverness-Aberdeen (3 rtn trips)

A lot of these were mixed with blue/grey Mk2s.

There were also the green Mk2s on the Kyle and line.

 

[hexagon789]

I think these were the vehicles transferred, all vacuum braked including the Mk2A BFKs which were some of those converted from air previously. The ex-NSE air-braked Mk2As went to the North West.

Mk2 TSO AC2Z: 5161, 5167, 5173, 5177, 5183, 5186, 5194, 5198, 5209, 5225, 5226

Mk2A BFK AB1A: 17064, 17089, 17091

 

[Ashley Hill]

Its a shame I never kept any proper records. I did spend a few days that week on Inverness-Aberdeen trains which were all 47 hauled. Alas I was more interested in photographing the signal boxes.

 

[Cowley]

Its a shame I never kept any proper records. I did spend a few days that week on Inverness-Aberdeen trains which were all 47 hauled. Alas I was more interested in photographing the signal boxes.

Signal boxes (especially Scottish ones) are pretty cool to be fair…