Recent content by matchmaker

Somewhere I have a photo of a blue and grey Gresley buffet in Glasgow Central, early 1970s. It was a Peak hauled train via the GSWR and Settle and Carlisle. Not sure of the ultimate destination. Rest of the stock was Mk 1s.

Spotted this morning passing through Stirling. Two Black Fives, a rake of (mostly) WCRC aircon Mk2s with a few Mk1s, tailed by a WCRC 47.

Although not UK, the diesel railcars used on the West Clare Railways surely require an honourable mention. This was entirely diesel operated from the early 1950s - both railcars and locomotives. If you can track it down, there is a wonderful book "The Irish Narrow Gauge in Colour" by Norman...

The local instructions actually stated that a dmu having less than a certain number of working engines (table in the Sectional Appendix) had to be assisted in front. The loco had to have the continuous brake connected. The assistance was provided up to the top of the incline. If the unit then...

Cowlairs, out of Glasgow Queen Street High Level is 1 in 41 at its steepest and you are starting from a dead stop. It's not a problem for 385s or 2+4 and 2+5 HSTs, but laden DMUs aren't exactly romping up! Back in the days of 101s it was quite a drag.

The only passenger station on that section of the City Union line was Gallowgate; opened 19 December 1870; closed except for special purposes 1 October 1902; finally closed 1934. As stated above, it's only used for empty stock workings.

I have many memories of travelling on SBG Leopards - virtually all with the manual no synchro on 1st & 2nd gearbox. On the level most drivers coped fairly well. A different matter in Glasgows hilly city centre! Meantime Glasgow Corporation had an entirely auto/semi auto/preselector fleet since...

Two thirds of the ex-LMS termini in Glasgow were closed.

A lot of Glasgow Corporation Leylands (Titans and Atlanteans) had a Leyland Albion bonnet badge, IIRC.

Back in the day it wasn't uncommon to see a Scotrail 170 in multiple with a 150 on an Edinburgh - Dunblane service.

They should send in Bob Hoon (JD Kirk reference for those who know the crime novels)

There is a table in the 1969 Scottish Region Sectional Appendix showing the locations where banking was permitted. There were numerous conditions showing type of train, whether coupled or not, whether slip coupling was used, weather, etc.

There were at one time permissive tablet instruments on this section of line. From The Signal Box

Many years ago (possibly 1967) we were on holiday in Arbroath. I saw a Freightliner pass through the station. At the rear was a white vehicle annotated "air braked, gas heated". I don't remember any other details of it.

For a bad ride you had to experience being over the power bogie of a 303!