Nightrider
Member
- Joined
- 21 Aug 2010
- Messages
- 227
Is that the same place?
My earliest 'clear' memory was travelling from Fulwell to London Waterloo and back on a 455 in 1997 before a long drive back up to Preston.
Went back to Waterloo in 2008 for the first time since and I could remember absolutely nothing
Cant remember seeing a Deltic, but certainly remember the sound of HST's departing.
Green 47's on maroon and blue/grey Mk1's hammering through Solihull early 1970's. Did Westerns appear on Padd-Brums at this time?.
Laira 46's going to Leeds at a four tracked Royston Junction 1978. 40035 at Methley Junction on Presflos Feb 1979. 08306 (I think) still with BR lion and wheel on 16 tonners Walton Aug 1977. Loads of 76 hauled freight at Dunford Bridge June 1979 whilst on school trip at outward bound centre, 76022 with lion and wheel. Photostop with 40011 on Settle & Carlisle Centenary special at Ribblehead May 1976.
Now all victims of plasticity.
Some of my very earliest memories would have to include seeing Black 5's shunting in the coalyard behind the old Morecambe Euston Rd station, which was still standing, but had been closed for a few years by this time.
Classes 25, 40, 47 pulling into Morecambe Promenade with day excursions formed of maroon/Blue+grey mixed Mk 1 rakes - also long rakes of 1st generation dmu's employed on timetabled services + excursions.
The incessant freight traffic to be seen along the branch to Heysham Moss + Heysham Harbour - freightliners, fertilisers, chemicals, petrol & oil - hauled by 25, 31, 40, 47's.
Watching out for the loco-hauled boat trains to Heysham Harbour every night - the Belfast Boat Express (ex Man Victoria), & usuallly a steam-heat 40, & the Ulster Express (ex London Euston), & invariably 50 hauled. The boat train from Leeds was a 6 car dmu formation, & always formed by 2 x 3 car 110/111 Rolls Royce units.
Going to Steamtown, Carnforth, & having completely unfettered access to the likes of such steam giants as Flying Scotsman, Sir Nigel Gresley, Lord Nelson, Clan Line, Duchess of Hamilton.
Happiest days of my life - can't possibly think why I joined up with the much missed institution that was British Rail back in 1980. Still a guard today, but it ain't the same at all (oh, for a time machine, to be sure).
I think the Westerns came back onto the Brum line sometime in 1974, there were certainly plenty of them still rostered for the out and back jobs from Padd throughout 1975 and 76, on 1M09, 1M10 / 1V28, 1V38 etc. Happy days.
I've been conducting HSTs over the Chiltern this week in and out of Padd, it's been great reminiscing about the WR with some of the drivers and reliving a few memories of my own. At about 22.00 on Tuesday night platforms 1 to 10 were completely empty and it all looked quite spooky.... I was half expecting a Hymek to turn up with some empty stock.....
Nidge
More memories, 31292 towing condemned 55012 'crepello' through York on 20/5/81, 55010 was on a KX stopper that day.
55002 on North Briton railtour 25/4/81, Leeds to Edinburgh stopped at Settle Junction due to snow blockage on S&C, train had to reverse off S&C and onto the Carnforth line. 55002 followed 45134 on diverted Nottingham-Glasgow, 25034 held at home signal to let 55002 do it's stuff. Deltic over Shap, Hells Bells!. 40101 at Edinburgh on Aberdeen train.
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Thanks for info, I moved away from Solihull 1973 so I definately would'nt have seen any Wizzos then!.