Great Western Railway
Journal Volume 8
Great Western Railway
Journal Volume 8
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Copsey, John. Leamington Spa - the station and its traffic.
2-52.
Pictures include the old station, the work of rebuilding, and its
Hornby Dublo replacement of the late 1930s: see also letter
from Ian Baxter in Number 58 (p. 117) concerning work by Chiltern Railways
and Friends of Leamington Spa Station to restore some of former glory.
Another letter from T.G. Mann (p. 117) concerning caption
for 4558 (location within station). Illus. pp. 2-3: 4923 Evenley Hall
on up passenger in July 1948 (H.J. Stretton-Ward); 2301 class No. 2328
with highly polished dome at coal stage on 9 September 1911 (H.J. Stretton-Ward);
another 2301 on turntable; 36XX 2-6-2T approaching from south on 8 May 1911
(H.J. Stretton-Ward); pp 12-13 overall view c1903 with great variety of passenger
rolling stock; 3226 2-4-0 arriving from south with very short train c1910
(also similar train hauled by Stella class? on 7 May 1911); 2910 Lady
of Shalott awaiting departure for Paddington on 19 May 1911; 1076 class
0-6-0ST No. 1258 taking water on 30 September 1910; 2301 No. 2347 with polished
dome c1910; Metro tank with polished dome on 20 August 1910 probably with
Birmingham train; 31XX in original state on 7 May 1911; p.
21 lower: 2912 Saint Ambrose arriving from south on 9 September 1911
with through coach from SECR: see letters from Editor
and from Terry McCarthy on page 300 which describe
convoluted cavortings of said through coach from Folkestone to Shrewsbury
(where it was turned before homeward trip), via Paddington and Victoria.
Walter Johnson (page 419) questions how tickets were
obtained for up services at the old station, but notes that his father made
purchases through an agency. ..
Night time view of Castle class locomotive footplate near
Perivale. 53.
7001 Sir James Milne with Driver Reg Deacon at regulator and
Fireman Fred Phillips at front of 19.10 Paddington to Birmingham. Cab appeared
to be illuminated by special electric lamp. Location confirmed by fourth
rail electrified track alongside.
GWR Platform fencing drawing. 54.
Drawing dated 23 March 1943 at Aldermaston: concrete posts, wire and
galvanized tubing.
Chadwick, John. Trials & tribulations on the
footplate. 55-8.
The prospect of heading into the Cotswolds from Yarnton via Chipping
Campden to Honeybourne, in a blizzard with an over-loaded 22XX was interrupted
by the collapse of its brick arch and subsequent replacement by a Hall working
tended first. Various adventures through bad firing and the perils of "foreign
engines": RODs, J39s and Super Ds where their bark concealed an excellent
boiler and the happy ability to plod.
Letters 59-60
'Counties'. Ron Hacker.
See Volume 7 page 326 for
last part of three part series: like the Manors they were difficult to fire
and required a specialized technique; only two dampers were fitted initially,
but this was later rectified; the Midland-type and firehole door made it
difficult to construct a good fire; the engines rode well, but the Stephenson
link motion inhibited short cut-off working, and if it was attempted this
led to buffeting in the first coach
'Counties'. D.E. Walker.
Comment No. 1011 under repair at Oswestry outwith the red zone to
which it was supposedly restricted; also comment on loading of 23.20 Taunton
to Wolverhampton parcels which ran via Westbury: see letter
from Glyn Williams (page 117) which explains that Gobowen to Oswestry
was red-rated and Oswestry Works repaired 7033 Hartlebury Castle;
1002 County of Bucks; 6930 Aldersey Hall, 45572 Eire
and 9F 92247; also comment on Siphon Gs at Cheddar
7 page 303,.
'Counties'. T.I.Y. Jones.
See illus. page 284 and
letter by D. Simmonds on page 356 of Volume 7
concerning 1004 County of Somerset near Fishponds on 6 August
1953
'Counties'. Neil Burgess.
See illus. page 284 and
letter by D. Simmonds on page 356 of Volume 7
concerning 1004 County of Somerset near Fishponds on 6 August
1953
'Counties'. Rex Broad.
Picture on pp. 338-9 (V. 7) of 1000
County of Middlesex and 6875 Hindford Grange at Truro on 16
August 1960 led to comment on the two Truro County class Nos. 1007 (good)
and 1023 (bad) and of boyhood observations at location.
'Counties'. Pete Rich. 60.
See Volume 7 page 326 on demise of Counties
and emergence of a new one at hands of Great Western Society;
and 7 page 223 also notes that motion parts were
stamped 9900..
High Wycombe. P. Spearey.
See Vol. 7 page 122 et
seq.: adds observations made during WW2 when the 9.10
Paddington to Birkenhead stopped at High Wycombe and at about saame time
up semi-fast took passengers up to war-torn London.
Stratford. B.J. Harding.
See letter from Richard Woodley in Vol.
7 page 357: Hall No. 6921 not fitted with three-row superheater and improved
draughting until January 1960.
6009 King Charles II at Leamington Spa on up Cambrian Coast Express on 31 May 1960. Michael Mensing. Rear cover
8F No. 48127 on up freight passing Leamington on 7 October 1961. (Michael Mensing). front cover
Turner, Chris and Copsey, John. Leamington Spa: the station
and its traffic. Part 2. 62-97.
Passenger service timetable, Summer 1949; 25-inch Ordnance Survey
plan for 1939 (also includes LMS Avenue Station); parcels traffic, notably
cement mixers from Benford Ltd of Warwick; Borg and Beck; Avon Electrical
Services; Thomas Potterton (boiler manufacturers); Nailwain (Pumps) Ltd;
Warwick Production Co. (aluminium engineers); Sidney Flavel & Co. (gas
appliances); B & B Engineering (caravan chassis); Lockheed Hydraulic
Brake Co. and Thwaites Agricultuarl Engineering. Automotive Products subsequently
took over Borg and Beck and Lockheed. Other parcels included yoghurt, livestock
(including stud horses); Shetland ponies (for pantomines and shows); mail
order fashion items; Lyon's cakes; fish via Banbury from Grimsby and Hull;
guide dogs; day-old chicks; pigeons; corpses (by passenger train) and Bertram
Mills Circus. See also letter from George Kirby (page
238) who remembered Festival of Britain trains to Stratford, notably
The William Shakespeare and the starring role of 8100 and 8109 on
it; and his father's memories of County class 4-4-0s and of The Great
Bear sticking on the curves; also fond memories of Britannias and Kings.
See also letter from Eric Youldon on page 419 who questions
caption of photo on page 84 (double-headed train is running through non-stop,
and of No. 6004 on page 90 which at time was painted in BR blue.
Letter from M. Hayes (page 419) notes that dairy business
was Clyde (not Clive) Higgs. Letter from Chris Bowyer (p.
419) notes that motive power, normally a Hall, on the 07.25 Leamington
Spa to Birkenhead train was supplied by Didcot depot (writer was regular
traveller on train between Wellington and Shrewsbury in 1950s).....
Marks, Phil. Overtime on the 7.30 p.m. to Maesglas. 98-105.
56XX No. 6622 on working from Aberdare mpd from Trelewis to Maesglas
just outside Newport (Mon.) in part over the former LNWR Sirhowy Valley line.
The writer's aim (who was the fireman) appears to have been to maxmise his
overtime earnings, thus he welcomed delays, such as having to cut off to
refill the tanks.
In close up [front end from rear of 47XX No. 4702].
C.F. Tickle (phot.). 106.
showing cylinder, slide bar and motion bracket: taken at Swindon on
9 September 1962,
Lewis, John. Working of stores vans in goods trains.
107-117 (with gaps)
Lists the four main services operating in 1920: Service 1: Swindon,
Aberdare & Goucester (loco stores); Service 2: Swindon, Cardiff &
Tondu (loco stores); Service 3: Swindon, Neath & Danygraig (loco stores);
Service 4: Swindon & Newton Abbot (loco stores), plus Swindon & Old
Oak Common (General, Carriage & Wagon Stores); Swindon & Wormwood
Scrubs (Carriage & Wagon Stores); Swindon & Wolverhampton (Carriage
& Wagon Stores); Traffic Department 'All Stations' Service; also vans
dedicated to Swindon & Worcester and Swindon & Bristol traffic, and
one between Wolverhampton & Oxley. The author identifies the vans which
were dedicated to these services, some of which were iron minks, some were
fitted with second-hand jib cranes. In spite of the title all seem to have
been vacuum brake fitted to enable them to work in passenger trains. In the
case of the first four the timetable for their workings are included.
Chipping Norton in colour. D. Nicholls (phot.). 110 et seq.
Colour photographs taken in 1963 after the residual passenger service
had been withdrawn with No. 5152 performing a very limited amount of shunting
on a freight possibly limited to a single wagon and brake van: within selection
the passenger station, goods shed, signal box, parachute tanks, six-tone
crane, Bliss's Tweed Mill, and pleasant surroundings are clearly visible:
see also rear cover
Letters. 117
Leamington. T.G. Mann
See Number 57 p. 2 et seqconcerning caption
for 4558 (location within station).
Leamington. Ian Baxter
See Number 57 page 2 et seq:
Work being performed by Chiltern Railways and Friends
of Leamington Station to restore some of thhe former glory of this train
stop.
Front cover, GWRJ No. 55. Maurice E.J. Dart
Front cover Number 55:
not Penzance but Plymouth Laira
Signals. Philip R. Bomford.
See Volume 7 page 386
(upper): notes lack of finial on three-position signal
at Paddington on 1927; also refers to illus. on
page 391 (upper) of condensing-fitted 0-6-0PT No. 9707 (not as captioned)
and notes the presence of such locomotives under Marylebone Road on way to
Smithfield on Circle Line indicated by puffs of exhaust coming up through
ventilators in road.
Engine restrictions: Oswestry and Gobowen branch.
Glyn Williams.
See letter from D.E. Walker (p. 59): Gobowen to Oswestry
was red-rated and Oswestry Works repaired 7033 Hartlebury Castle;
1002 County of Bucks; 6930 Aldersey Hall, 45572 Eire
and 9F 92247,.
Vinegar branch, Worcester. John Ranford. 120
See Number 54 p. 313: was friend of John
Norris (photographs used herein) annd includes further photograph of semaphore
signal used to control road traffic.
Diesel/coach workings. J.L. Rogers.
Illustration page 397
upper of three coach GWR DMU formed from W38W and W33W
and corridor coach led to memories of units 37/38 on the fast Birmingham
to Cardiff service replaced in 1944 by indirect service to South Wales via
Stourbridge, Worcester and Hereford giving journey times approaching those
of the contemporary "trains".
Cheddar S & T. Robin Duys.
See Number 54: 310: vandalism
to structure at Draycott station tolerated by District Council.
Tubular signals. R. Martin.
See feature in Number 47 (page
387): asks how finials were cast.
5152 with short freight at Chipping Norton. D. Nicholls. rear cover
5056 and 4564 at Gloucester Horton Road mpd in February 1964. J.M. Strange. front cover
Williams, Glyn. The Mawddwy Branch. 122-53.
Began as a struggling independent railway largely funded by Edmund
Buckley (senior and junior): Mowddwy Railway Act of5 July 1865. Lt. Col.
Hutchinson inspected the line on 16 September 1867 and the line opened to
passenger traffic on 30 September 1867. Eventually became a light railway
operated by the Cambrian Railways which did not re-open until 1911 (following
major reconstruction) and lost its regular passenger service from 1 January
1931.The locomotives are described on page 145-6: these included three Manning
Wardle 0-6-0STs: No. 45 Nantclwyd used on construction of Denbigh,
Ruthin & Corwen Railway which eventually became LSWR No. 458 Jumbo
(withdrawn 1896); K class No. 140 Alyn (ordered by contractor R.S.
France) which became Mawddwy and Cambrian Railways No. 30 (0-6-0ST);
and eventually GWR No.824. Disraeli (M type of 1869) was not very
successful. The illustrations include some delightful pictures of the line
during its long period of neglect: The Twymyn bridge on its last legs; Cemmaes
station and Dinas station both in a state of decrepitude. . Part
2 begineth on page 203..
Drawings of casing for safety valve & top feed clack
boxes. 154-5
Drg No. 114454, January 1940 (Swindon). See letter
from Alan Wild on page 419 who argues that drawing of safety valve did
not follow standard drawing office practice and was of a type fitted eventually
to Coiunty class 4-6-0s.
Copsey, John. Leamington Spa engine sheds. 156-75.
Plans of original broade gauge shed as c1865; its standard gauge
replacement of 1886 and as in 1950. Churchward had been responsible for a
new shed, conceived in 1902 and opened in 1906 (official portrait of it in
its pristine state on p. 160), and the motive power based there from the
mid-1880s onwards in ever increasing detail. Illus. of locomotives in Leaminngton
area: Standard Goods 0-6-0 No. 405 in 1911; 36XX 2-4-2T No. 3616; 31XX in
original state; 39XX No. 3916 on 8 May 1911; 2876 on freight in 1929; ROD
No. 3003 passing through station light engine; 5673 in June 1934; general
view of shed on 18 July 1936; 2301 No. 2439 near coaling stage in December
1938; 2902 Lady of the Lake at mpd in 1949; 5954 Faendre Hall
and 6020 King Henry IV on shed in July 1950; 5954 (lined black) on
turntable with LNWR signal behind in 1949 (with boys all over the place);
coaling stage/water tank in 1953 and mess & tool van in 1953.
See also letter from L.W.T. Sharp on page 419 who notes
that Ivatt 2-6-2Ts transferred from Warwick Milverton did not work on Western
Region lines, but continued to work to Coventry and Nuneaton, that King class
on shed were not all that rare and No. 7011 Banbury Castle languished
there in biluous early BR green..
28XX hauling freight across Kennet Viaduct, Reading.
176-7.
Half-plate photograph submitted by John B. Horne which was taken for
Reading Gas Company to show work on construction of No. 5 gasholder in mid-1930s
with Jubilee trucks being hand-loaded and horse waiting to form traction.
The letters on the wagons of the freight train clearly indicate the period.
Lewis, John. Western Region tunnel inspection vans.
178-9
W259W at entrance to Caerphilly Tunnel hauled by angular diesel railcar
on 26 September 1953, and W14476W at Sanford & Banwell on Cheddar Valley
branch on 23 June 1953. Tabulates vehicles converted in 1952 mainly from
WW1 former ambulance vehicles. Cites
J.H. Russell's "Appendix". See also letter on page
419 from D.J. Tomkiss concerning Caerphilly Tunnel photograph: notes
that railcar was designed to haul 60 tons, and that the tunnel was very
wet.
Letters. 180
Bridge work. John Mann.
See article by E.J. Williamson in Number 56
(page 443): bridge reconstruction was dictated by legal
obligations and construction depth: also comments that braking forces as
transmitted through wheels of train act on bridge in direction of travel
and arches require drainage; also specific comment on bridges at Over and
Talybbont-on-Usk.
Level crossings. Mike Denman.
See Number 54 (page 344):
Llandybie station: now a bus stop halt on Heart of Wales line:
not on Vale of Towy Railway and of 2005 accidennt on crossing when car was
caught on it
Dawlish Sea Wall. W.J. Hayward.
See Number 54 p. 360 for letter from R.
Reid concerning tidal train service noting the former
non-tidal route via Chudleigh and Heathfield.
Cardigan. D.P.H.
Thomas.
See Number 30 page 302 et seq: relating
to livestock being sent to Hutchings of "Astrad' which should have been Ystrad
in the Rhondda Valley.
2250 on freight at Brimscombe in 1960s. rear cover.
No. 8700 still with GWR monogram shunnting at Tysley in 1958. Michael Mensing.
front cover
Also Birmingham Corporation bus and ex-LMS? seven-plank wagon
Turner, Chris and Beale, Gerry. Station master
at Camerton. 182-7.
Arthur Westcott became station master at Camerton in 1938. He had
joined the GWR at Wookey as a lad porter in 1915, and had become a signalman
at Freshford before moving to Camerton. Passenger services had ceased and
there was but a single freight train per day which served the local colliery.
Very few parcels were handled and it would not be unfair to state that the
station master led a leisured, if modestly paid, existence. Illustrations
include 57XX 0-6-0PTs Nos. 9795 and 3736 sharing this gentle existence in
c1938. There is also a portrait of Mr Westcott. See also
letter from D.E. Walker on page 418 who notes the uncombustable nature
of coal from Camerton (and also from Radstock) and had experience of working
on the branch and of trying to get a part in the Titfield
Thunderbolt..
Harrison, Ken. Tyseley Goods. 188-202.
Far away and long ago when everything was manufactured in Birmingham
and the output was carried on freight trains Tyseley Goods served Joseph
Lucas, suppliers to the automotive industry, Bakelite Ltd, Crown Bedding
(mattresses, including to their factory in Southwold via Halesworth), Dawes
Cycles, Reynolds Tube, Velocette motor-cycles, Klaxon Ltd. Midlands Electrical
Manufacturing, Berry's Electric, Aldis Brothers, BSA, many sorts of
semi-processed food, steel rope, grass cutting equipment, cricket bats...
The list is almost endless and customers included Boots, Woolworths, Montagu
Burton, and the Co-Op. Between 1950 and 1955 the author was Chief Forwarding
Clerk and what would now be termed a logistics centre. Special arrangemenrs
had to be made for export traffic and that for Ireland via Liverpool (for
both Belfast and Dublin) or via Fishguard or Holyhead.. Staff, communications,
reference material including The handbook of stations and in that
pre-paperless age mountains of forms and other suppsies, suc as tarpaulins.
Letter from A. Bowditch (page 419) notes that handling
railway freight could be highly hazardous as delivery vehicles lacked tail
lifts yet heavy loads had to be unloaded using skids. Taunton yard used to
receive sacks of asbestos for delivery to greenhouses for lagging
pipes..
Williams, Guy. The Mawddwy branch. Part 2 — Goods only.
203-36.
Part 1: page 122 et seq. Includes not only
the sonambulance on the branch, but also the fairly frenetic activity at
Cemmes Road, including lists of staff who worked there and the passage of
trains through it. The main traffic handled was slate outwards and coal and
lime inwards.
Letters. 238
Mixed-gauge trains. John Lewis.
See letter from Martin Humphrey in Number
54 (not 53 as stated) page 359: official report into Norton
Fitzwarren accident of November 1890, mixed-gauge brake vans listed in official
registers and in specific works by Russell
(Great Western wagons appendix
and Pictorial record of Great
Western Engines and from Broad Gauge
Society
Mixed-gauge trains. Graham A. Carpenter.
See letter from Martin Humphrey in Number
54 page 359: cites
Acworth's Railways of England to
show it was done.
Mixed-gauge trains. Andy Carey.
See letter from Martin Humphrey in Number
54: argues that it could not have been done (a new Stretton?) and shows
how it was done on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. See
also letter from Bob Harper (page 418) who notes that mixed train working
on Denver & Rio Grande Western was complicated by use of wye reversing
"trtiangles" and letter from V.W. Simms (page 419) who
cites the Vale of Neath Line – Neath to Pontypool Road by
Gwyn Briwnant Jones and Denis Dunstone for photo of Swansea South Dock which
shows both standard gauge and broad gauge locomotives with coupling and buffing
gear as shown in Railways of
England.
Leamington. George Kirby.
See page 62 et seq: remembered Festival of
Britain trains to Stratford, notably The William Shakespeare and the
starring role of 8100 and 8109 on it; and his father's memories of County
class 4-4-0s and of The Great Bear sticking on the curves; also fond
memories of Britannias and Kings..
Radstock line. James Graham.
See Vol. 7 page 458: No. 9655 did not
work on line, but 9615 did.
Radstock line. C.G. Maggs.
See Vol. 7 page 458: claims that coal
was not mined at either Pensford or Bromley until 1890s/1900s, citing Down
and Warrington's History of the Somerset Coalfield..,
No. 8700 still with GWR monogram shunnting at Tysley in 1958. Michael Mensing.
rear cover
Hauling tank wagons: Rover Cars and Girling factories (is it now
B&Q) behind
Ivatt 2-6-0 No. 46511 entering Llansantffraid station with train for Llanymynech. G. Bannister. front cover
Editorial. John Copsey.
Copsey, John and Turner, Chris. The Llanfyllin
branch. 242-77; 298-9.
Constructed as part of the Oswestry & Newton Railway and opended
in stages in 1863: the precise opening date varies with authority, but Captain
Rich's inspection took place on 27 June. It was propoded to extend the line
to Llangynog, but this failed to materialise.Llanymynech was eventually a
junction for the West Shropshire Mineral Railway which intersected the Cambrian
Railways main line with its route from Westbury (Salop) to quarries at Nantmawr.
This railway became the Potteries, Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway.
When this line fell into receivership in 1894 the Cambrian exploited the
situation by constructing a spur off the Nantmawr branch to connnect with
the Llanfyllin branch, thus obviating reversal out of Llanymynech to enter
the branch. Col. illus.by Roy Hobbs of class 2 2-6-0 near Bryngwyn Halt on
27 November 1964 (just before closure): see also rear cover. See also letters
on page 418 from Glyn Williams (on the cement shed
used to store cement and other materials when Vyrnwy reservoir was under
construction c1881; the 5-ton yard crane; the wooden water tank and a
capstan-operated turntable); from J.A. Smith on rotation
of carriage sets for cleaning; Roger Lycett-Smith on
the storage of cement used when Lake Vyrnwy was under construction: this
was shipped in via Aberdovey; and from David Rouse
on iron mink stores vans which reached there.; ..
Copsey, John. Local coach formations and working. Part
2 — Bristol Division. 280-95.
Map (GWR Traffic Department, December 1929) shows Bristol Division
which extended as far as Weymouth to the south, Newbury and Didcot to the
east, but was less extensive in other directions: the illustrations show
the extent of the article, both in time and geography: Achilles class 4-2-2
No. 3020 Sultan with up express in late 1890s; 0-6-0ST near West Bay
on Bridport branch with four and six wheel stock; steam railmotor (railcar)
possibly No.8 at Radipole Halt in late summer 1907; Swindon workmen's
set at Hannington station (Highworth branch) c1908; steam railmotor No. 92
with two slipped coaches at Bath station 0n 24 May 1929 (H.C. Casserley);
Bulldog No. 3430 Inchcape at Denchworth on down local formed of corridor
stock on 26 June 1928 (H.E. Simmonds); 2255 at Swindon Town with clerestory
non-corridor stock on 17 May 1931 (A.W. Groughton); 4575 No. 5554 at head
of Clifton Down to Temple Meads local passing Stapleton Road signal box in
late 1930s; 6023 King Edward II with B set approaching Bathford Halt
on 12 March 1936; 517 class 0-4-2T No, 1163 with two non-corridor clerestories
approaching Stoke Gifford; 4575 class with B set at Swindon
on 19 June 1948 (T.C. Cole) see letter from Andrew
Barnett on page 417 who comments on the limitations of the station layout
at Swindon to accomodate arrivals from the west (including from Gloucester);
7808 Cookham Manor leaving Marlborough Tunnel with down MSWJ train
in mid-1950s (J.F. Russell-Smith); 6978 Haroldstone Hall passing Castle
Cary with stopping 8-coach corridor train headlamp. More
general comments on coach formations during WW2 from Bill Crosbie-Hill on
pp. 417-8.
Swindon engine shed interior of 1871 structure. 296-7.
No locomotives, but electric lighting: presumably during its
decline
Letters. 300.
Bridge work. Robin Markes.
See Issue 56 page 443 et seq notes
further sources of information about removal of Brunel's timber viaducts:
two Vale of Neath viaducts survived until 1947 at Gamlyn and at Dare: see
James Page's Forgotten railways — South Wales (1979) and O.S.
Nock's The Great Western Railway in the 20th century where the use
of the former viaduct timber was noted: this included a new floor at the
Pontypool Road wagon repair shop and as shuttering to repair bridges involved
in mining subsidence.
Bridge work. Maurice Dart.
See Issue 56 page 443 et seq nota\bly
bridge shown on page 445: this was known locally as Saltash
bridge
South Leigh. Anthony J. East.
See Issue 56 page 422 et seq: effects
of fading turning paintwork to Prussian blue over a yellow undercoat: effect
is known as "float out"
South Leigh. Kenneth A. Williams.
See Issue 56 page 422 et seq: noted that
ground frame had been repainted: an obvious sign of doom..
Stratford traffic survey. Richard Woodley.
See Issue 55 page 398:
fills in some of the gaps via observations made earlier in the journeys of
the trains concerned.
Leamington. Terry McCarthy.
See illus. on page 21 lower: describes
convoluted cavortings of SECR through coach from Folkestone to Shrewsbury
(where it was turned before homeward trip), via Paddington and Victoria,
and speedy transit over new line via Bicester: service appears to have been
a single swallow in summer of 1911.
Folkestone to Shrewsbury through coach. Editor.
Amplifies information provided above
Llanfylin train entering Llanfechain station on 27 November 1964. Roy Hobbs. rear cover
8402 on carriage pilot duty at Paddington in August 1962. B.S. Cook. front cover
Matthews, Jack. Everyday traffic movements at Penxance
Station in the early 1950s. 302-27.
A day in the life beginning with the arrival of the milk empties at
05.45; the shunter coming on duty at 06.00; and the arrival of the Postal
at 06.30. The stock for the 06.25 Penzance to Paddington and the 07.40 Penzance
to Manchester had been berthed in their respective platforms overnight. Care
had to be taken to ensure that stock added to the latter did not breach loading
gauge restrictions. The activities are perceived in terms of shunting movements:
thus greater emphasis is placed on trains conveying parcels and milk traffic,
and their requirements (in this case the need for a gas heated brake van)
than on passengers. In winter the stock for the up TPO required to be heated
prior to departure. The article is illlustrated with official photographs
(NRM collection) taken in the late 1930s/early 1940s to record the enlargement
of the station. Locomotives clearly visible: 1022 County of Northampton
in July 1951; 1025 County of Radnor in mid-1950s (P.Q. Treloar);
4089 Donnington Castle in British Railways light green livery (with
train in plum & spilt milk?) in September 1949; 6965 Thirlestaine
Hall and 4508 (station pilot) c1952; 6949 Haberfield Hall in lined
black arriving on Cornish Riviera c1951 (C.R.L. Coles); 6967
Willesley Hall arriving on Cornish Riviera on 17 July 1951;
6978 Haroldstone Hall arriving on Cornish Riviera on 26 September
1956 (H.C. Casserley); 1007 County of Brecknock arriving on local
from Truro on 26 September 1956 (H.C. Casserley); 5023 Brecon Castle
on 18.20 milk train for Kensington c1953 (C.R.L. Coles); 5098 Clifford
Castle departing Penzance in summer 1949 (A.V.C. Mace); 6808 Beenham
Grange arriving on Sunday with 22.25 ex-Paddington parcels train; 9463
with shunting truck in Ponsardine Loop (J.P.R. Bennett); 4976 Warfield
Hall with empty stock to back into Station at Ponsardine in April 1957
(A.V.C. Mace); Long Rock engine shed on 10 September 1959 with 6849 Walton
Grange, 6800 Arlington Grange and one other Grange; 7909
Heveningham Hall at Long Rock engine shed on 27 June 1950.
See also letter on page 417 from Paul Jeffries and
long Editorial response on GWR nomenclature for third class vehicles with
brake or van portions..
Copsey, John. The '94XX' class in traffic. 328-53.
Includes Swindon detailed working drawings (side, front and rear
elevations, sections and plan) dated November 1945, and a diagram which shows
the protracted construction of contract-built locomotives from Bagnalls,
Stephenson, and the Yorkshire Engine Co. over the period 1949 to 1956. Includes
illus. of 8403 and 8408 when new in 1947 and lettered "GWR" and of 8428 on
delivery to Swindon with small BR logo and large W.G. Bagnall board on side.
Duties are listed which included station pilot duties at Paddington, shunting
and the haulage of short distance freight. See also letters on page 417 from
Bob Crump (who noted that early locomotives were fitted
with standard brake handle as per 57XX whereas later locomotives had extended
handles to assist driver during shunting operations), Eric
Youldon factors playing against 94XX were red route classification, and
lack of footplate alongside cab, also noted passenger work on Falmouth branch.
Maurice Dart on observations made of class in Devon
and Cornwall during 1950 and David Rouse.who was dismayed
at short life of "these lovely machines"..
Odd spot. [cab layout of 5399 at Swindon on 23 June 1935]. 354.
locomotive under repair: also shows buffing arrangements
Lewis, John. The GWR 16ft wooden bodied covered goods wagons. 355-9.
Wagons built betwen 1901 and 1927: body dimensions; ventilators; brakes
(lever duble; Dean-Churchward hand brakes and their evolution into cross-corner
type; Morton handbrake; Hayward's slack adjusters (sub-heading entered as
"Haywood"); buffers, drawgear, axleboxes.
Letters. 360.
Kerry. Andrew Bannister
See Issue 55 page 414
Swindon's '8Fs'. Terry McCarthy.
See Vol. 7 page 165 et seq. comment
on the "return" of the 484XX series to the Western Region from 1955 onwards:
see also letter from John Pearse on page
417
High Wycombe. Trevor R. Daw.
See Vol. 7 page 122 et
seq.: adds observations made during and immediately
following WW2, including the passage of 'Yankee' S260 2-8-0s, the siding
into Broom & Wade's works, including the manucture of military tanks
thereat.
61XX hauling empty stock from Paddington in August 1962. B.S. Cook. rear cover
Twyford station with up freight hauled by 43XX No. 5326 in May 1959. Trevor Owen. front cover
Editorial. John Copsey. 361.
Pen portrait of the former rural junction stations where there was
a contrast between the noise and bustle associated with main line departures,
and the more leisurely dispatch of the branch line connecting trains.
Karau, Paul, Chris Turner, Ron Warner and John Copsey. A morning
at Twyford. 362-87.
A day in the life of Twyford, junction for the Henley-on-Thames branch
in about 1950. The day began at 05.00 when it was unlocked by the duty porter
in time for the arrival of the freight from Reading and newspapers off the
04.30 Paddinton to Westbury newspaper train. At this time the branch train
was worked by a streamlined railcar which worked from Reading in time to
start working on the branch at 06.30. Two locomotives, typically Castles
or sometimes Halls, arrived from Reading coupled together to work the 07.48
(eleven coach) and 08.48 express commuter trains to Paddington from Henley.
The stationmaster, B.T. Llewellyn would be on the platform to observe the
departure of these important trains filled with significant season-ticket
holders. At 10.20 there was a final up through train which ran on the slow
line to Slough, thence express to Paddington. In addition to the two through
workings and the railcar there was a two coach branch set worked by a 57XX
or 94XX. Includes aerial photographs taken of the station in 1929. There
are many pictures of the station, and only those with specific locomotives,
or items of specfic interest are liisted: diesel railcar No. 1 (S. Fletcher);
9403 with branch set formed of two concertina coaches on 10 April 1954 (W.
Gilburt); 4977 Watcombe Hall arriving off the Henley branch with 08.48
for Paddington on 19 April 1960; 6003 King George IV passing through
on 17.40 Reading to Paddington on 24 August 1956 (also shows goods shed);
6123 on Reading to Paddington on 10 April 1954; 5932 Haydon Hall
on Reading to Acton parcels train on 10 April 1954
Lewis, John. The GWR 16ft wooden-bodied covered goods wagons. Part
2. 388-99.
Two wooden-bodied wagons, Nos. 58558 and 58559 were constructed in
1895 amidst the general construction of Iron Minks: they both lasted until
1955. In 1901 a return was made to timber construction as it was cheaper
and these were built to Diagram V5 (reproduced). The underframes were made
from iron and steel. Some were allocated to special duties. Some of the Parcel
Post Vans were fitted with steam pipes, passenger buffers and couplings.
Some were converted to Stores Vans. The V4 series were taller and wider and
were constructed from 1904.
Copsey, John. 'Kings' to the West. 400-16.
The King class was closely associated with West of England line trains,
notably the Cornish Riviera and the Torbay Express. Lists load
limits for King class on both down and up routes, both via Castle Cary and
via Bristol. The inclines at Hemerdon, Dainton, Greenway and Torre greatly
reduced the maximum loadings. 6010 King Charles I near Churston with
up Torbay Express in late 1930s; 6001 King Edward VII on down
train near Teignmouth in late 1930s; 6009 King George III with down
Cornish Riviera at Starcross in 1929; 6000 King George V with
up Cornish Riviera at Starcross in 1929; 6026 King John with up express
near Powderham in 1930; 6029 King Stephen approaching Dainton tunnel
with down express in 1934; 6012 King Edward VI with late running 12.10
Paddington to Plymouth at Taunton on 3 August 1935; 6002 King William
IV with down express passing Brewham on 2 May 1935; 6000 King George
V with up express at Plymouth North Road on 27 March 1937; streamlined
6014 King Henry VII on up Cornish Riviera near Westbury on
6 August 1938; 6015 King Richard III with down secondary express passing
Dawlish Warren on 21 April 1939; 6023 King Edward II passing Teignmouth
on up express; 6027 King Richard I on Brewham bank with down 13.30
Paddington to Penzance on 16 August 1947; 6009 King Charles II with
tender lettered BRITISH RAILWAYS at Old Oak Common on 5 June 1948; 6003 King
George IV on diverted Plymouth to Paddington service c1953; 6013 King
Henry VIII on sea wall near Teignmouth on down Cornish Riviera
Letters. 417-20.
Penzance. Paul Jeffries.
See page 302: long Editorial response
on GWR nomenclature for third class vehicles with brake or van
portions..
'94XX' class. Bob Crump.
See article beginning page 328:
believed that earlier locomotives had standard brake handle as per 57XX whereas
later locomotives were fitted with an extended handle. The wider cabs made
it difficult to apply the brake whilst watching movement by shunters on the
ground.
'94XX' class. Eric Youldon
See article beginning page 328:
factors playing against 94XX included red route classification, and lack
of footplate alongside cab. Noted passenger work on Falmouth
branch.
'94XX' class. Maurice Dart.
See article beginning page 328:
observations of class in Devon and Cornwall in 1950: also observation of
2241 at Plymouth North Road on 4 March 1952.
'94XX' class. David Rouse
See article beginning page 328:
dismayed at short life of "these lovely machines"..
'8Fs'. John Pearse
See Vol. 7 page 165 et seq. and
letter on page 360 from Terry McCarthy. Pearse considers
that factors in the return of the 8Fs to the Western Region was to meet the
Region's desire for further 28XX locomotives, rather than further 9F
2-10-0s..
Bristol Division coach formations. Andrew Burnett.
See illustration on page 293 which led to comments
on limitations of the station layout at Swindon to accomodate arrivals from
the west (including from Gloucester)
Bristol Division coach formations. Bill
Crosbie-Hill.
See article beginning on page 288: unusual coaches encountered during
WW2: travel in an excursion vehicle on a stopping train from Pewsey in 1943;
in another M set used on Reading to Trowbridge services there was an LMS
saloon which had drop down windows without doors. Writer suggests that conveyance
of troops must have led to shortage of thirds at that time.
Llanfyllin. Glyn Williams. 418
See page 242 et seq: on the
cement shed used to store cement and other materials when Vyrnwy reservoir
was under construction c1881; the 5-ton yard crane; the wooden water tank
and a capstan-operated turntable
Llanfyllin. J.A. Smith
See page 242 et seq: on rotation
of carriage sets for cleaning based on 1938 WTT.
Llanfyllin. Roger Lycett-Smith
See page 242 et seq: on the
storage of cement used when Lake Vyrnwy was under construction: this was
shipped in via Aberdovey
Llanfyllin. David Rouse
See page 242 et seq: on iron
mink stores vans which reached there.; ..
Camerton branch. D.E. Walker.
See page 182: notes the uncombustable nature
of coal from Camerton (and also from Radstock) and had experience of working
on the branch and of trying to get a part in the Titfield
Thunderbolt..
Mixed gauge trains. Bob Harper.
See letter on page 238 from Andy Carey: notes
that mixed train working on Denver & Rio Grande Western was complicated
by use of wye reversing "trtiangles"
Mixed gauge trains. V.W. Simms. 419.
See letter on page 238 from Andy Carey
cites the Vale of Neath Line – Neath to Pontypool Road
by Gwyn Briwnant Jones and Denis Dunstone for photo of Swansea South Dock
which shows both standard gauge and broad gauge locomotives with coupling
and buffing gear as shown in Acworth's
Railways of
England.
Tyseley Goods Department. A. Bowditch.
See article beginning on page 188: notes that handling
railway freight could be highly hazardous as delivery vehicles lacked tail
lifts yet heavy loads had to be unloaded using skids. Taunton yard used to
receive sacks of asbestos for delivery to greenhouses for lagging
pipes..
Safety valve casing. Alan Wild.
See page 154: argues that drawing
did not follow standard drawing office practice and was of a type fitted
eventually to Coiunty class 4-6-0s
Diesel cars. D.J. Tomkiss
See page 178 concerning Caerphilly Tunnel photograph:
notes that railcar was designed to haul 60 tons, and that the tunnel was
very wet.
Leamington Spa. Eric Youldon
See feature beginning page 62 questions caption
of photo on page 84 (double-headed train is running through non-stop, and
of No. 6004 on page 90 which at time was painted in BR blue.:
Leamington Spa. L.W.T. Sharp
See page 156 et seq: notes that Ivatt 2-6-2Ts
transferred from Warwick Milverton did not work on Western Region lines,
but continued to work to Coventry and Nuneaton, that King class on shed were
not all that rare and No. 7011 Banbury Castle languished there in
biluous early BR green..
Leamington Spa. M. Hayes.
See feature beginning page 62 notes that dairy business
was Clyde (not Clive) Higgs
Leamington Spa. Chris Bowyer.
See feature beginning page 62. Motive power, normally
a Hall, on the 07.25 Leamington Spa to Birkenhead train was supplied by Didcot
depot (writer was regular traveller on train between Wellington and Shrewsbury
in 1950s).
Former Leamington station. Walter Johnson.
See page 2 et seq: questions how tickets were obtained
for up services at the old station, but notes that his father made purchases
through an agency. ..
'2251' accident. David Rouse. 420.
Requests information of accident involving No. 2232 at Craven Arms
which involved severe damage to tender
Twyford East signal box. D.B. Hart. rear cover
No. 4915 Condover Hall passing through Oxford station with up freight at 10.55 on 22 September 1961. Michael Mensing. front cover
Copsey, John and Turner, Chris. Passenger operations at Oxford Station.
422-59.
Brief history: began with broad gauge branch from Didcot opened in
1844; was extended to Banbury in 1850 and extended as mixed gauge to Birmingham
in1852. Meanwhile the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton reached Oxford
in 1853. During December 1856 mixed gauge enabled the Midlands to be connected
with Southampton via Reading and Basingstoke. Further railways or lines served
Witney from 1861; a meandering railway through Thame, and Wycombe eventually
reached Maidenhead; and the Woodstock branch. Thus the train service gradually
grew, although the Paddington to Oxford services tended to dominate, and
many continued to terminate at Oxford. The opening of the Great Central Railway
increased both passenger and freight traffic passing through the station.
In the summer of 1939 there wereabout 75 service in each direction, or ewhich
about 45 started or terminated thereat. On weekdays there was about 36 hours
of pilot duties, but on Sundfays train engines performed these tasks. Includes
memories of relief signalman Albert Walker, enginemen Cyril Parsons and Charlie
Turner, passenger shunter Ray Walker. There were fish trains from Hull and
Grimsby, and the corresponding return empties. During the herring season
there was a through train from Yarmouth.
Illus.: No. 5917 Westminster Hall running light on Up Main passing
large Prairie on empty stock at south end of station in 1959; Metro 2-4-0T
shunting in 1930s; 850 class No. 1935 with ex-LNWR horsebox in July 1939;
train arriving from south with anxious passngers looking out of windows as
large crane clearly (to photographer) at work in northbound platform, and
other platform occupied; West Midland Sidings; No. 7239 approaching station
on freight on Down Main; 0-6-0PT No. 9640 with short 15.10 Fairford to Hinksey
freight; south end of station; No. 5923 Colston Hall shunting
three vans in 1962; view to south; Botley Road bridgewith City of Oxford
Motor Services AEC Regent III passing underneath; panorama which includes
Rewley Road closed pasenger station and decadent freight fascilities; No.
6110 departing southwards with six non-corridor coaches and a van in 1959;
No. 5965 Woollas Hall picking up a van from the down platform; down
parcels office. There are also many National Railway Museum (ex- Great Western
Railway official?) photographs; No. 7912 Little Linford Hall with
10.08 York to Bournemouth in June 1964; No. 6988 Swithland Hall probably
hauling 11.10 Wolverhampton to Weymouth in June 1951; No. 6807 Birchwood
Grange with a horsebox and No. 6990 Witherslack Hall on stopping
train for London; diesel railcar No. 11 probably departing on 13.25 Oxford
to Kingham service on 9 October 1947; No. 4980 Wrottesley Hall in
up bay platform c1954; 14XX approaching from north on freight; Castle class
No. 7007 Great Western possibly on 13.45 Paddington to Hereford in
June 1959 crossing river at north end of station; WD 2-8-0 No. 90066 of Woodford
Halse approaching from north on H class freight including many oil tank wagons;
No. 4915 Condover Hall approaching from north with empty stock to
form London train in 1959; No. 6143 with empty stock to form Paddington train
in 1959; No. 7911 Lady Margaret Hall (locomotive in BR lined black
and tender still in Great Western livery) on 25 April 1954; No. 2898 on down
freight (also showsexchange connection with LMS, 'Back of Jericho' siding
and Jericho Loop; No. 4985 Allesley Hall approaching Oxford with 15.25
ex-Banbury stopping train on 27 April 1959; poinwork at entrance to Jericho
Loop; No. 5902 Howich Hall with train of empty open wagons passing
North Junction signal box; No. 7900 St Peter's Hall accelerating north
on 23 May 1954.
15-ton agricultuarl implement wagon drawing. 460-1.
Swindon: 9656: 24 September 1891.
Copsey, John. Pullmans to the West. 462-7.
Mainly the Torbay Pullman Limited which operated between 1929
and 1932. Includes extracts from Pole's highly elusive His book. Illus.:
No. 4075 Cardiff Castle on down Torquay Pullman at Powderham;
No. 4087 Cardigan Castle on up Torquay Pullman at Starcross
in 1930; Castle hauling up boat train from Plymouth formed of Pullman cars
at Starcross; handbill for Torbay Pullman Limited.
Lewis. Mike. Water on the northern routes. 468-77.
Water from cranes. tanks and troughs. Includes map showing both. Illus.:
4575 type taking water at Bridgnorth station in 1950s; engine shed and large
water tank at Much Wenlock with 0-6-0PT No. 9639 passing behind on passenger
train; LMS 2-6-2T No. 41201 at Much Wenlock station alongside archaic water
column in early 1960s; 74XX 0-6-0PT No. 7435 at Old Hill taking water from
pillar water tank on Longbridge workmen's train in 1949/50; Rowington
troughs.
Letters. 478-
Twyford. J.R. Batts.
Twyford. Keith Ettle.
'Kings' to the West. Eric Youldon.
'Kings' to the West. David Rouse.
Penzance. H.M. Parker.
'94XXs'. Dick Potts.
'94XXs'. D.J. Fleming.
'94XXs'. D. Walker.
'94XXs'. David Hall. 479.
'94XXs'. Derek Cobby.
'2251s' in the West. James Graham.
'Odd spot'. R. Crump.
Kerry. Colin Metcalfe.
Bristol Division local coach workings. Bill Crosbie-Hill.
Llanfyllin branch. Rhys Owen.
The Henley in Arden branch. Mike Young. 480
London local coach workings. Colin
Cook.
See Issue No. 55 page 391
upper: suggestion that train illustrated may have been
workmen's service from Greenford to Kensington which between 1933 and 1938
was extended to Clapham Junction. Bases this upon Thomas B. Peacock's Great
Western London suburban services.
No. 6111 at south end of Oxford station on 8 August 1964. R. Denison. rear
cover
2008-06-03