Downendian

Terrific stuff as always Dave, lovely to visit this page on a daily basis. Over 1,909,000 views, let’s get it to 2 million. Is this the most viewed thread on Rmweb? It’s a must for 1970s BR fans. Neil

This may have been mentioned before but I use the class 40 appreciation societies Flickr page for all my class 40 rivet counting. https://www.flickr.com/groups/90686983@N00/discuss/72157625726740402/ Neil

Two undated slides, but the first must be post 1962 and whenever D841 was repainted. D841 Roebuck at Plymouth North Road, Next 1200 Falcon at Paddington, again undated. I know 1200 is not a diesel Hydraulic but her twin Maybachs give her honorary status. The first slide is now my copyright, the second is “presumed copyright”by the seller. If it’s a copy slide I’ll take it down, but I’ve not seen it before. A few blemishes on it, that I hope photoshop will sort. Neil

How frustrating. Last week I was outbid on a slide taken at Winterbourne of D1051 leading D1023 on the Western Enterprise railtour of 27th April 1975. Of personal interest as I spoke to the photographer who climbed up the embankment adjacent to the overbridge where we were spotting. He told us he had a lineside permit, and the shot undoubtedly was taken by him. One photo that got away when I knew I was there, I’m 99% sure it is Winterbourne. Neil

Spot on Nidge, the slide has arrived, date 12th October 1975. Neil

Terrific stuff 101. I’ve never seen this before. A bit of nostalgia for me this morning. Richard Marsh visiting on a class 37 headed blue-grey inspection saloon. Classic. Neil

I don’t remember Presflos in the yard either Brian, but back then I had a very poorly developed knowledge of wagonry. Both up and down passing loops were used extensively. Almost all freight to Avonmouth were held there before being given a path, anhydrous ammonia bogie tanks, acid and other chemical tanks etc. The Tytherington workings very often meant a Western or two were present in the yard. Stone branded MSVs and more earlier 21T hoppers were always about before the arrival of Amey roadstone branded PGAs. After the demise of the Westerns, pairs of BR allocated 37s and then BR allocated 56s were on the PGA’s. I agree it would make an excellent model, with lots of operational possibilities. It’s on my long-term to do list, but currently compromised by space. I’m trying to accrue photos of the rudimentary station building, I spent hours inside it in the winter months spotting before being turfed out by the porters, one of whom is seen in my photo. I can’t work out who it was, we knew them by name (or nickname!). Neil

I thought I’d post some copyright negs I’ve recently won on eBay. It’s Bristol Parkway shortly after opening in May 1972 (slide processing date was June 1972). The station and its environs have changed massively, but this is how I like to remember it. The footbridge was covered within the first two years of opening, and shots of the first few months are quite rare. I particularly liked the rake of Presflos in Stoke Gifford yard and the collection of 1960s cars in the car park. Neil

No it’s not difficult to respray a loco Clive especially green to blue and vice versa. I’ve done many as I know you have. But I’d much rather buy a new tool model in the livery I want rather than the respray route especially at over £100 plus investment. It’s a question of time really, Bachmann are certain to produce a green 25/1 and blue 25/2. I’d prefer to wait, ive got a long enough queue In the spray booth. Neil

Thanks Phil for starting this thread. I’m intrigued why no blue later body style 25/2 and no green 25/1. I assume these will follow in due course. I assume the Abbotswood 2 type 2 fleet will be revisited as well as the permanent way? Neil

Ill take a stab at the routine spot the Deltic theme of this thread for C3390. In that timescale, plated headcode and very short nameplate it can only be 55003 Meld? Neil

One more, D1013 12th October 1975 on the 7C47 Acton-Severn Tunnel Junction (I think) at Reading. I’m keen to study the composition of this train for modelling purposes as it was a solid Western turn in the 1970s both West and Eastbound. It looks like a fitted head of 16T minerals, and then a mix of 21 and 24T hoppers. Must get more of those parkside models then. I won’t for obvious reasons be able to achieve scale length. Won on eBay in the past week. A bit out of focus, let’s see what the slide scans like. Neil

Terrific the WR blue-grey pullman the only version I saw in service. I will have to start saving for sure. Glad to hear about the retooled class 25s too, the big question being what will SLW be doing in the future? It all depends on the fidelity of the Bachmann tooling of course, as it will need to compete with SLW if they go ahead. I have over ten Bachmann 25s already, I hope they do a run of chassis units although I doubt it. I guess the new tooling may give some impetus to chassis modding the rest of the fleet. Neil

Well my other resource and time consuming hobby is carp fishing. I’ve fished since the late 1960s with my dad and brother, but from the early 1970s Railways dominated. From 1979 after I packed in spotting, fishing dominated and had waned significantly in the past decade. It’s now back with a vengeance, and I can’t wait to go. There is nothing to compare to the peace and tranquility of a fisherman’s dawn or dusk. This video from top carp angler Leon Bartropp sums it up. This venue is in France, specifically gravel pits north of Paris. It brought memories flooding back of when I first fished a similar venue, but south of Paris, the gravel pits that lie adjacent to the mighty Seine in May 1999. My late cousin Martyn took us there, and he knew the area like the back of his hand as he lived near Paris for 25 years. Very fond memories, and if he were still around he would be joining me on the bank next week. I take my camera and try to catch the beauty of our lakes and rivers, and the rich wildlife that you see on every trip. Neil

Pannier Tank’s post is extremely useful here. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/6622-class-08-09-variations/?p=55482 Neil

Indeed, I saw last night one of my friends car was trapped on the same floor as the fire. I can only assume it was destroyed, not the best of starts for his 2018. At least no one was hurt. Neil

Although mentioned before, the sealed beam front peak must surely emerge soon. These previously were modelzone limited editions from the new tooling, and are well sought after. A general release would surely make economic sense. If my past experience is anything to go by, I’d spent a bit of time converting original release Bachmann 46s to split headcode only to see these emerge. I’ve spent some time this Christmas working on a couple of sealed beam conversions, I can predict what will happen next. Neil

And return best wishes to clan Bullock Phil and of course to Mike.Indeed best wishes to all contributors and viewers/likes to this thread. I really must get my Coolscan repaired, perhaps a new year resolution. The thread is still going after two years, I’ll try my best to keep it going. Neil

Bit off track for class 21/29 but can I join in? If class 44 workings to Severn tunnel junction can be verified in the early/ mid 1970s, then they would have possibly met there. The Fawley-Penarth curve was worked as far as STJ by a 33 where it was detached and replaced for a 37 onward. The 33 was then stabled on the depot before working back to the South Coast. Neil

Must pay you a visit Mike! Neil

Ok so just one more from me, I don’t think I’ve posted before, because not the best quality, cheap from eBay about £3 I think, I couldn’t resist. I think it’s D7040 at Bath road. I’ve not bought many slides in the last 6 months, most of my spare cash has gone to carp fishing tackle another red hot passion of mine. I’ve been fishing more in 2017 than I have in the entire previous decade. I’ve got around 100 or so more Hydraulic pics that need scanning, but it’s still out of action. Merry Xmas all. Neil

Thanks for the Christmas cheer David, and long may this thread continue. j5337 20003 leading, the following month on 8th July she was paired with 20049 and passed through Bristol Parkway, a hens teeth moment in the 70s. I can’t make the second loco out but it may well be 20049. Neil

Done, my Uncle Alan was a Gloucester driver. Window hung many a time going past the old place in the 1970s, went past recently and it looked very sad. Would be great to keep its Railway heritage. Neil

Dave I assume you’ve seen the BRB drawings provided by the Barrowmore group http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/BR_Electric_Locos_274_JP_Issue.pdf Edit unfortunately class 74 not there! Edit 2 : maybe worth dropping the RSSB a line here https://www.rssb.co.uk/about-rssb/railway-documentation-and-drawing-services-ltd If the drawings exist then they are most likely the custodians of them. A terrific reference list of many useful drawings (Barrowmore) are there. I’ve used it many times. Neil

Quoting myself, but I’ve retrieved said logs. I was in London 3 days later on the Thursday of that week (29/5/75). Indeed D1070 was seen at Paddington in the late afternoon as we were returning to Bristol. So it had been quite active that week. It was the day we tried to board the prototype HST at Bristol parkway only to find it was first class only. It was the only direct train to London from there due to engineering works from Westerleigh to Wootton Bassett. Neil