Downendian

Ah just checked ebay details date is as you state D1072. Interesting it states "copyright to buyer" as well- I've often wondered how this can be verified - I only buy copyright slides. Neil

Close to finishing up the scanned images. All Westerns tonight, some in unknown locations, but I'm sure that will be resolved shortly. first to follow up on the scrapline pictures, D1005 Western Venturer which featured earlier leads, D1063, D1021, D1034, D1011 and 24 037. Then a classic picture of D1059 Western Empire at New Street 1st November 1975, Double Diamond indeed - part of the past that should remain there! D1048 Western Lady at Reading, Date unknown D1058 with telltale scars, Plymouth North road (edit slide does actually say Plymouth, oops) 29th March 1975 Finally D1029 Western Legionnaire at (I think) Westbury. Neil

Don't think its D1025 Jonny, as it was built without headboard clips, perhaps D1035? The slide and high res scan will reveal all! edit - Phil - snap Neil

Thanks Clive - location may help here - if in Cornwall may suggest not the Clayliner, outside it would. I know from my sightings of it mid 70s tarpaulin covered wagons were the norm, and yes I had thought they were all 10' WB wagons, so very interested in Brian's comments. Neil

Update on the scanner (sorry to bore you, but when sorted there are gems to come I promise!). It's certainly a hardware problem, read a blog from a user of the same scanner I have, and ran The Nikon scan software as recommended. It stated a hardware fault. Nikon has a free return via the post office so will be going back next week. It may cost a bit, but the scanner is absolutely superb and worth keeping running. Neil

My hydraulic posting demise (or pause) is not quite there! Some recent ebay wins and an absolute classic shot as well. Slides came with no dates and locations which often makes them cheaper - so with help from you kind folks hopefully locations will be made? First a couple of Westerns - dates and locations unknown - resolution of scans low, will remedy that eventually. First States D1031 Western Rifleman, and has that telltale scar along its flank, but the low res scan doesn't look like D1031 to me .... Looks like it's on the St Blazey-Stoke Clayliner too, edit : location St Blazey yard, 30th May 1973 Next D1046 Western Marquis, at Liskeard, 4th September 1974 Next D7027 at Old Oak Common in the early 70s. Then finally a couple of Warships, D817 Foxhound at Paddington And the icing on the cake tonight D831 on SR territory somewhere (near Pirbright junction?) note the stock behind it! Clues as to whereabouts on some of the above appreciated. Neil

I know we're shamelessly off topic, but the difference in treatment we got at various BR depots was remarkable. Always had great Treatment at Haymarket and Eastfield, but then I always put on a strong West Country accent before asking to go round. Bath road, Toton and Tinsley were impossible often being told to go away using the most powerful Anglo Saxon vocabulary we have. Others were exceptionally kind, cab rides, driver experiences and engine room walkthroughs in 40 070 at York and 37 086 at Cambridge. Neil

A group of 10 of us walked from Long Eaton to Toton - never again! Part of our wonderful "area 10" late summer 1977. Neil

Ok now running out of scanned slides, couldn't get it working last night. Most here have been posted before. Scrapline at Swindon in 1977 after all were taken out of service on 27/2/77 the day after the Western Tribute railtour D1012 Western Firebrand, D1025 Western Guardsman and D1064 Western Regent 20th April 1977, all seen in the prime of their lives earlier in this thread. D1071 Western Renown, D1056 Western Sultan and D1058 Western Nobleman on the same day 20/4/77 D1020 Western Hero at Laira. Most Westerns were stripped of the parts here and then dragged either direct to Swindon, or for the early withdrawals to Bristol St Phillips Marsh, one I never saw unfortunately Then D1060 Western Dominion, another gap in my collection in happier days at Temple Meads in 1973 Finally 814 Dragon at Exeter in the early 1970s. Neil

Jonny's D1072 shot at Reading - Phill you're right the combine is this one, 1974 edition. This one, despite its appearance never went out "in the field" that was battered old locoshed books, just for a quick look up to see if the sighting was a "cop". Neil

Thanks for the PM Phil - he pointed out my D1065 model which I'm embarrassed has not progressed since last summer save toning the weathering down to an "early summer 1976" condition. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/61530-downendian-details/?p=1228732 Neil

D1065 had a different shaped horn cowl at one end, a sort of "M" shape. If I could get the scanner to work I could show you, alas, software upgrades the lot, there is no communication between my Mac and the scanner. I have a nasty feeling an expensive repair is needed, it really looks like a hardware fault the Mac doesn't see it at all. Neil

Oh flipping heck or words to that effect Phil . Have of some pics of D1065s appendage once the scanner works - going to play with it now. Neil

OK tonight's Western quiz. D1065 had a distinguishing feature that set her aside from all other classmates - what was it? Clue : it's not the lack of headboard clips at one end only! Neil

Nice stuff Jonny I reckon some of those Hoppers behind D1062 are coke hoppers - my interest has been fuelled by this superb thread, Shenston Rd http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85490-on-shenston-road-a-look-at-the-north-end-of-the-station/?p=1767508 What do other wagonry officianadoes think? Neil

I've had some PMs regarding this thread, with some concerned that they are worried they are "cramping my style" by posting their photos. Absolutely not- keep them coming, if the thread serves as a prompt for RMWebbers to post their hydraulic stuff without having to start their own thread or open a Flickr account, then I will be extremely pleased they have done so. As I've said I'd rather have the material in the public domain than languishing in lofts/drawers/PCs perhaps never to be seen. Electrons are a far better archiving solution than old 35mm film which will eventually degrade with time. Neil

Peter's shot earlier is D1031. As pointed out there are photos of it clearly with same same sideswipe elsewhere on the Internet. Other candidate was D1011, which had a similar (but larger) scar along its flanks. Neil

The Southern Hawker in particular I'm pleased with - I chased it about a quarter of a mile down a country track and eventually it got tired and rested for 30 seconds! Panic always ensues when a dragonfly appears, camera out set up etc, but worth the effort. Neil

Difficult to get Phil! F11 at least to get depth of field, and not the most cooperative of subjects, some slighly out of focus, need to set camera to manual and high f-number this year! Neil

Yes I knew it was near Old Oak, legend edited.Neil

Good afternoon hydraulic fans First one my my ebay acquirements this week- lost some excellent slides unfortunately. D7074 and Warship/Western backdrop, the wonderful Swindon works in 1964 A slightly out of focus D7031 shortly after departing Paddington again in the 1960s- I'm sure focussing software must be available or at least will be to come? A freshly preserved D7017 at Taunton in 1975 - like the D1062 shot, I remember seeing her at this spot on my way to Paignton that year and a relief that a Hymek had survived. D1025 at Newport on one of my favourite services the 1C63 Paddington-Cardiff, always a Western turn 1974/5. Guardsman was built minus headboard clips. Finally D1029 Western Legionnaire at Westbury - subject of the red nameplate debate Neil

Whilst we're waiting for the insects to arrive (whilst appreciating Rich's hibernatory Red Admiral (or Admirable as originally named). Here's some photos from the last two years of the magnificent insects around my cottage - all photos taken within a 3 mile radius of the Hamlet of Dunstone, South Devon. First the Hamlet, my cottage is the right hand thatched one. Second two magnificent dragonflies, golden ringed and Southern Hawker respectively Next a small copper Large Wall Comma Neil

Wow thanks for the link Jonny. I think it underlines my original reason of why I'm posting my slides rather than them sat in files collecting dust. Sure the reason I've bought them was to eventually write my own books, but work dictates I can't do that at the moment. I've always been tied to the blue- black plate dogma for warships, and it wasn't right. I was unconvinced regarding Westerns - but who knows what photos are out there yet to see the light of day. Neil

Mike you have a PM. Neil

Having looked at a few other D1029 and D1004 pictures tonight in the period 1970-2 I'm pretty convinced those photos I've linked to are merely badly faded plates, and not red. D818 certainly had red plates in service whilst blue though, unfortunately I can't post the proof as frustratingly another lost ebay auction. Neil