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Ex-B R Scottish-based NBL Diesel shunters used by industry in South Wales.

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musicindetail

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Risca, South Wales.
Hi all,

I know of at least 5 of these North British Locomotive Company locos which were bought by industrial concerns in South Wales.

My question is twofold; Does anyone out there have any photos of these locos in industrial service in South Wales? In particular, D2777 which worked for a year or so at Birds Commercial Motors, here in Pontymister in the late sixties. She worked alongside D2736 and D2757 as yard shunters at Pontymister. All three were observed at work together in late 1967. D2736 and D2757 were eventually moved to Bird's 40-acre site in Cardiff when the Pontymister yard ceased scrapping operations in April 1969. D2777 was cut up on-site in Pontymister, therefore leaving the yard only in pieces, as another load of scrap.

My other question is, with such long distances involved, how would these former Scottish Region locos have travelled down to South Wales? It appears that they travelled down separately, the arrival dates being different for each of the locos. Would they have travelled the 394 miles dead and with motion dismantled as part of freight workings, or would they been on the back of low loaders?

Any help with these matters would be greatly appreciated, there aren't many queries that this forum can't help with, so I'm optimistic!

All the best, Tony.
 
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Big Jumby 74

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Can't help you with those particular locos, but I did photo D2774 at Celynon South Pit in the summer of '85. The other NB (non BR) loco appeared to be disused, whereas D2774 was ready for action in the colliery yard. May I ask what your intensions are with regard any photos?
 
6

6Gman

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The Industrial Railway Society is the best source of information (and possibly photographs).

I suspect the locos would have travelled by train - even into the early 1980s such moves were not uncommon (how much of the M6 was open in 1967?).

If they did move by train it's possible that the Railway Observer or Railway Magazine would have reported the move.
 
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Gloster

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Big Jumby 74 said:
Can't help you with those particular locos, but I did photo D2774 at Celynon South Pit in the summer of '85. The other NB (non BR) loco appeared to be disused, whereas D2774 was ready for action in the colliery yard. May I ask what your intensions are with regard any photos?
Click to expand...

Methinks it is Celynen.
 
M

musicindetail

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I forgot to mention D2774! Thank you for reminding me. I photographed that one myself around the same time (I only live about 6 miles away from Celynon). Some years ago I started researching ex-B R locos in industrial use in the general South Wales area. It struck me that the D27xx shunters seemed to be a popular choice and given the travelling distance from Scotland, that was surprising to me. I have spoken to someone who drove the Bird's fleet of D27xx shunters and he described them as "really good, strong little engines, reliable too." So maybe it's less surprising that they were popular.

Any photos would be purely for my own, personal collection. I would never use them publicly. All the best,
Tony.

That's a very good point, thank you. I'll check that out pronto. As you say, the M6 would have been out of the question I imagine, so rail would be the most likely method. I'll check out those magazines too. Thanks again, Tony.

6Gman said:
The Industrial Railway Society is the best source of information (and possibly photographs).

I suspect the locos would have travelled by train - even into the early 1980s such moves were not uncommon (how much of the M6 was open in 1967?).

If they did move by train it's possible that the Railway Observer or Railway Magazine would have reported the move.
Click to expand...
Sorry 6Gman, I'm still getting used to replying on the forum, my reply to your message has appeared under Big Jumby 74's reply. I must be getting old!

Gloster said:
Methinks it is Celynen.
Click to expand...

Gloster said:
Methinks it is Celynen.
Click to expand...
You're right, I'm ashamed to admit that I'm Welsh and I still get it wrong!
 
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G

Gloster

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Try Googling various combinations of the loco number, location, works number or other unique identifying details, and then select Images as this is often easier than wading through loads of entries, even if you are not searching for photos. Googling celynen south colliery will produce somewhere down the page a Flickr photo of the locos. You can then try the various Tags and albums. Possibly not always the quickest method, but this is sometimes (all right, often) because you get sidetracked by interesting photos.
 
M

musicindetail

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Risca, South Wales.
Gloster said:
Try Googling various combinations of the loco number, location, works number or other unique identifying details, and then select Images as this is often easier than wading through loads of entries, even if you are not searching for photos. Googling celynen south colliery will produce somewhere down the page a Flickr photo of the locos. You can then try the various Tags and albums. Possibly not always the quickest method, but this is sometimes (all right, often) because you get sidetracked by interesting
Click to expand...

That's a good idea, I'll try that, thank you.
 
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Western 52

Western 52

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There was an NBL shunter in use on the Norbrit Wharf branch in Briton Ferry in the early 1980s, but no idea of it's identity, or whether it was ex-BR. It was rather rusty and had no real livery!
 
robert thomas

robert thomas

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Western 52 said:
There was an NBL shunter in use on the Norbrit Wharf branch in Briton Ferry in the early 1980s, but no idea of it's identity, or whether it was ex-BR. It was rather rusty and had no real livery!
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Not ex BR. NB 28038. When I photographed it in 1977 it was still in Cadbury's livery. itlater got repainted blue and was still there in 1993
 
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Big Jumby 74

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musicindetail said:
I forgot to mention D2774! Thank you for reminding me.
Click to expand...
Here she is as I pictured her in '85. On the subject of S. Wales, on another excursion that way in '87 came across this (seemingly) recently refurbished Andrew Barclay (AB483) at Pantyffynnon. With a slightly warped SOH, I sometimes imagine the local NCB management putting out an instruction on "how not to berth your loco at the end of your shift...", but in truth a travesty. It was already partly dismantled at the time (wheels, motion, engine, all removed) presumably to keep AB475 going, which was in the shed that day.
 

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Big Jumby 74

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Quite likely. No heavy lifting gear in the shed (visible behind the loco), its roof just being constructed of shallow A frames and corrugated steel sheet, so wouldn't have stood the weight of any Heath Robinson bodged lifting set up, even if there had been enough head room! Easier to use a JCB and tip it over in the yard.
 
M

musicindetail

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Joined
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Location
Risca, South Wales.
Big Jumby 74 said:
Here she is as I pictured her in '85. On the subject of S. Wales, on another excursion that way in '87 came across this (seemingly) recently refurbished Andrew Barclay (AB483) at Pantyffynnon. With a slightly warped SOH, I sometimes imagine the local NCB management putting out an instruction on "how not to berth your loco at the end of your shift...", but in truth a travesty. It was already partly dismantled at the time (wheels, motion, engine, all removed) presumably to keep AB475 going, which was in the shed that day.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the image of D2774, that's just how I photographed her. It must have been around the same time as you were there!
The N C B apparently had a history of turning over their locos in the course of their duties, not necessarily this particular loco at Pantyffinon which as you say was probably turned over intentionally, but I know of several steam shunters that ended up on their sides by accident!

Tony.
 
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