talisman56

C5070 - The coach on the extreme right is intriguing. Not seen one with that profile or window arrangement, to my knowledge. Looks like a guard/private area, on a trailer vehicle. Any ideas?

I was going to list everything that's wrong with it but that will end up using time I could very well use on other more productive things...

The image is of the OO model, and is a Mk2 (no suffix) - they were reclassed as Mk2z when TOPS came in. Just as I've got my 2 old Mk 2 coaches with Electra vinyl sides in production...

...and it shrink-rayed for 'N' Gauge...

I don't see a coat-hanger on the top of the loco...

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CORs were rarely seen on the Brighton line services until the mid-60s when the PUL/PAN units were being replaced by the CIG/BIG units. In January 1964, few were transferred in from the Portsmouth Direct (displaced by CEP/BEP stock) along with some RES units fitted with ex-PUL Pullman Composites to make some older-stock formations compatible with the new stock introduced later that year.

With only three sets and two needed for service, it only needed one to be in heavy maintenance and one of the others fail in service for a substitution to occur. In earlier times the substitute unit would be a 6Pul (preferably) or a 6Pan, but once they were disbanded/withdrawn, the only other compatible replacements would be the Cor class (a Buf or Gri would be an alternative, for catering provision, if available).

There was a short-lived 'Eastbourne Belle' service on Sundays on the 50s IIRC, so Eastbourne could in theory be classed as 'on route'...

The black vertical line is the shadow of the signal post to the right...

The picture is reversed, for some reason... On the Early Emblem locos, the Lion faced forwards on both sides. The Late Crest had the Lions facing in the same direction.

Do you get the version in the picture (image reversed) or one with the numbers the right way round?

Weren't the Eurostar sets DC as well?

I used Norwood Junction regularly, going to see a Football League team near there. It was several months before I realised that another platform also served that line...

Guildford has a double-sided platform line, serving platforms 6/7. Very useful for connecting services on the other side of the islands. In slam door times, you could use either side of a train to exit - does the guard release both sets of doors nowadays? Lewes had a double-face line on the Brighton side - long-gone before I can remember, but was still in situ with a little wooden footbridge over the chasm where the running line was. I believe it was filled in and 'made good' a few years ago. In a road near us, there is a house no. 17 between 14 and 16 on the even side of the road...

Of course, had I been more awake when I posted, I could have narrowed the field for the Bulleid CK - as it's a 15" vent Eastleigh-built version, then there were 36 of those on the books with 11 others recorded as withdrawn in 7/67.

Set 159 was created in 7/67, the month that steam exited (9/7/67 was the final day), therefore the date of the picture must be sometime in the first week of July 1967 (light pacific 34052 was withdrawn in July 1967, one of the last to go). The train is standing in the down main platform at Eastleigh, BTW. Unfortunately there were 43 42 'new' sets* created in July 1967, most of which had two BSKs, so the identity of the rear BSK is open to correction. Enlarging the picture, the running number of the one branded with set 159 is too indistinct so it may be either of 34281 or 34282. At that time there were still definitely 61 Bulleid CKs on the books, plus another 21 that were recorded as being withdrawn during July 1967. So unless there is a definite record of the exact consist of that specific train somewhere, we're on to a loser... *The sets concerned were 11-19, 51-54, 67-69, 91, 105-109, 115/116, 125/126, 130-132, 145, 150, 155-160, 170/171, 180, 185/186, 195. EDIT: correct details of 'new' sets.

BSKs are 34281/82; the Bulleid Compo must be in there temporarily, as the official formation of 'new' set 159 included Mk1 CK 15041.

C3147 brings back memories of the 'Saloon train' on the Bluebell. The GNR Director's Saloon, the LBSCR Director's Saloon and the LNWR Observation Car, with a Maunsell Brake on the back for the Plebs...

We have a pub called 'Albion' (D803) in Portishead, and there's one in Bristol... ...and a 'Greyhound' (D821)... ...and a 'Magpie' (D829) just round the corner from some distant relatives in London. ...and a 'Roebuck' (D841) in Marlborough.

It's an Autoroute really - you can see the slip roads left and right...

Probably not used by very many passenger trains, with their associated lavatory 'leavings'...

That's a long way for just a 'run'. What's that? Not the one in London... that's alright then...

I thought the con rods were removed for dead transit - a lot easier to get at...

...and not a Hi-Viz in sight....