Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[Dog Star]

Worth observing that:-

Brian's two images of Bramley are looking towards Basingstoke station from the north end of the down platform;
Dan's image is looking west across the north end of the station, Basingstoke to the left;
Dave's image is looking towards Basingstoke from the west side of the line.

Rgds, Graham (who used this station daily between 1988 and 1994).

 

[Mike Walker]

Confirmed as Bramley. I misread the milepost, it is actually 46/11 which I should have known if I'd looked at the current GWR drivers' route diagram which I drew!!

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you Mike @Mike Walker , Dave @Dave Holt , Dan @Dan Randall , Graham @Dog Star , Dave @daifly and Dave @Yorkshire Dave for confirming the location of those photos of the Merchant Navy.

This loco was previously seen in img303, post #5607 page 281 and img335 & 338 in post #5640. page 282 so to repeat the details: Waterloo at an unknown date with Merchant Navy 35004 Cunard White Star reversing out with a van train in img431 and at the platform end in img558. Although the dates of the photos are unknown it must be after July 1958 when the loco was rebuilt but these photos are most likely to have been taken in the mid 1960s. It was allocated to Salisbury from 1957 until September 1964 when it moved to Bournemouth where it was withdrawn in October 1965. Apparently it was disposed of at Eastleigh MPD by Cohens which suggests that it may have been deemed unfit to be towed to a scrapyard. Such incidents are far from unknown. (BR Database)





Merchant Navy 35028 Clan Line, rebuilt in October 1959, on an RCTS special train out of Waterloo, although I’ve been unable to identify the train in question on Six Bells Junction. The loco was allocated to Weymouth Radipole in August/September 1964 and then Nine Elms from March/April 1967 where it was withdrawn at the end of Southern steam in July 1967. Regrettably the shed plate is not readable in these images. Its life after British Railways is well known and details are available here: 35028 Clan Line







Brian

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Merchant Navy 35028 Clan Line, rebuilt in October 1959, on an RCTS special train out of Waterloo, although I’ve been unable to identify the train in question on Six Bells Junction. The loco was allocated to Weymouth Radipole in August/September 1964 and then Nine Elms from March/April 1967 where it was withdrawn at the end of Southern steam in July 1967. Regrettably the shed plate is not readable in these images. Its life after British Railways is well known and details are available here: 35028 Clan Line

It's the RCTS Somerset and Dorset Farewell Tour 06/03/1966.

RCTS tours do not appear in the Six Bells Junction website - they appear in the RCTS website in their tour pages https://rcts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/library/Rail_Tour_Index.pdf. I generally search by loco number (command F for Mac, Ctrl F for PC).

The route (from RCTS website which also lists the locomotives used) was Waterloo - Twickenham - Addlestone - Woking - Alton - Winchester - Bournemouth Central - Poole - Blandford Forum - Evercreech Junction - Highbridge - Weston-Super-Mare - Bristol Temple Meads - Bath - Green Park - Evercreech Junction - Templecombe - Salisbury - Basingstoke - Waterloo.

 

[daifly]

RCTS tours do not appear in the Six Bells Junction website

Except, of course, that they do!

The Railtour Files

Dave

 

[gateman 49]

I reckon Dan's right! An earlier view.
View attachment 260204
Dave

What a lovely photo, proud staff and immaculate permanent way with, by the look of it re-gauged rail from broad to standard with transoms still in place and bridge rail. Is that white painted stone edging to the flower borders? If so, someone had a horrible job there.

 

[Arun Sharma]

What a lovely photo, proud staff and immaculate permanent way with, by the look of it re-gauged rail from broad to standard with transoms still in place and bridge rail. Is that white painted stone edging to the flower borders? If so, someone had a horrible job there.

Once upon a time [around mid to late 1987 perhaps] I had the interesting task of explaining at a live interview by Southern TV why the Army was going to periodically evacuate the populations of Bramley and Sherfield on Lodden [and a few other places nearby] because of the recently discovered presence of very large [and live] WW1 stocks of Mustard gas, Phosgene and Chlorine bombs in the vicinity. As in many tons - rather than "just" the odd bomb.
All sorts of folk came out of the woodwork with stories from that time including one where a ?LSWR steam engine had rolled off an embankment near Bramley and had just been buried rather than recovered.
I regularly pass through Bramley en-route between Reading and the South Coast and do wonder what would have happened to the place had the chemical removal plan not worked as well as it did.

 

[oldravendale]

Great stuff to identify that train and give us a firm date, Dave @Yorkshire Dave and Dave @daifly . I looked through Six Bells Junction before posting and didn't locate the train! Thanks too to @gateman 49 for comments and Arun @Arun Sharma for chapter and verse of a period around the Bramley history.

Standard Class 3 2-6-2T 82019 with a 70A Nine Elms shed plate at Waterloo at an unknown date. The loco was allocated to Nine Elms from October/November 1962 until withdrawal at the end of Southern steam in July 1967. (SLS). On 12th August it was seen in store at Salisbury MPD. (SLS). It then went to Bird’s at Risca where it was scrapped in the following November. (BR Database).



Rebuilt West Country 34044 Woolacombe at Waterloo on an unknown date, sound recordist in place. The loco was rebuilt in May 1960 and allocated to Bournemouth in June 1955 where it was withdrawn in May 1967. (SLS). It went to Cashmore’s, Newport where it was seen dumped on 16th October 1967 (SLS) although BR Database proposes a scrapping date in September 1967.



Brian

 

[Dog Star]

Rebuilt West Country 34044 Woolacombe at Waterloo on an unknown date, sound recordist in place. The loco was rebuilt in September 1967 and allocated to Bournemouth in June 1955 where it was withdrawn in May 1967.

Brian,

September 1967 seems wrong for the rebuild date when withdrawal was in May of that year.

Rgds, Grahsm

 

[oldravendale]

You found my deliberate mistake, Graham @Dog Star . In fact the rebuild was in May 1960 so I've edited the commentary. Goodness only knows where the date of September 1967 came from! I suspect I copied and posted from the wrong info and then failed to read my commentary...

Not an excuse! It may be that the writing was influenced by a couple of glasses of single malt but please don't tell anyone else.

 

[Dave Holt]

Can hardly think of anything better to influence it!
Dave.

 

[Osgood]

Oh no, AI has crept in - Alcoholic Influence.

 

[oldravendale]

Class B1 4-6-0 61313 with Black 5 4-6-0 44665 at Cricklewood Shed in 1963. The B1 was allocated to Canklow in June 1963 and then Langwith Junction in June 1965 where it was withdrawn in November the same year. It was scrapped at Hughes Bolckows, North Blyth in December 1965.

The Black 5 is carrying a 16D Annesley shed plate where is was allocated in May/June 1962, then Kirkby in Ashfield in October/November 1965. It was loaned to Colwick on 3rd January 1966 where the allocation was made semi-permanent in the same month. It then moved again to Trafford Park in June/July 1966 where it was withdrawn in February/March 1968. (SLS). Disposal followed at Draper’s, Hull (RO) where it was cut up in June 1968 (WHTS and BR Database).

Considering the allocation histories I believe the photo date must be between May 1962 and November 1965 which ties in nicely with Tim’s advice of 1963.









Somewhat strangely Tim records this one as being 9F 2-10-0 92001 at Cricklewood in 1963 but I firmly believe this sits alongside img 326 in post #5627 on page 282 at Southall, probably in 1965. Subtle details on the loco suggest it’s the same day. It was allocated to Tyseley in November 1962 and moved “on loan” to Wakefield in October/November 1966 where it was then allocated in December the same year. But the inevitable happened and the loco was withdrawn from Wakefield on 17th January 1967. (SLS). It went to Cox & Danks at Wadsley Bridge where it was scrapped in May 1967. (BR Database).



Brian

 

[oldravendale]

Hall Class 6927 Lilford Hall. In the first photo (img441) the loco is nearing Basingstoke on an Oxford to Basingstoke train in 1964. The second photo (img513) shows the loco on the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line which closed in 1964 so it’s possible both photos were taken at the same time. The loco was allocated to Oxford from June/July 1958 although for some reason it’s also shown as being reallocated there in February/March 1965 with no allocation between the two dates. It was withdrawn on 1st October 1965. (SLS). The loco was scrapped at Bird’s, Risca where it was observed on 6th February 1966. (WHTS). BR Database report scrapping in February 1966.





Two photos (img442 & 778) of Battle of Britain 34087 145 Squadron clearly on two different occasions at unknown dates and locations. I propose that the date of both will be around 1965 as the loco lacks nameplates in both photos. I’m also not convinced that the smokebox numberplate is the original one. 145 Squadron was rebuilt in December 1960. In May 1961 it was allocated Nine Elms and then Eastleigh in August/September 1964 where it was withdrawn at the end of Southern steam in July 1967. (SLS). After withdrawal it went to Cashmore’s, Newport where it was scrapped in May 1968. (BR Database).





Location and date of this photo is unknown but it’s rather unusual, I suggest. The loco appears to be a West Country or Battle of Britain and behind the tender a freight brake van followed by coaches. The only explanation I can think is that the coaches are withdrawn stock or stock for repair or servicing on the way to storage or scrap.



Brian

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Two photos (img442 & 778) of Battle of Britain 34087 145 Squadron clearly on two different occasions at unknown dates and locations. I propose that the date of both will be around 1965 as the loco lacks nameplates in both photos. I’m also not convinced that the smokebox numberplate is the original one. 145 Squadron was rebuilt in December 1960. In May 1961 it was allocated Nine Elms and then Eastleigh in August/September 1964 where it was withdrawn at the end of Southern steam in July 1967. (SLS). After withdrawal it went to Cashmore’s, Newport where it was scrapped in May 1968. (BR Database).

The first photo is Berrylands, second is Byfleet Junction.

Location and date of this photo is unknown but it’s rather unusual, I suggest. The loco appears to be a West Country or Battle of Britain and behind the tender a freight brake van followed by coaches. The only explanation I can think is that the coaches are withdrawn stock or stock for repair or servicing on the way to storage or scrap.

This one needs flipping horizontally as the signal faces are red. Also the low winter setting sun is from the NW should be from the SW .

I think we are in the Weybridge/Byfleet & New Haw area.

 

[Brian Daniels]

Sure img513 of the Hall is coming into Bramley on the down?

 

[Dog Star]

Sure img513 of the Hall is coming into Bramley on the down?

My thought exactly, not far north of the level crossing. I thought that I recognised the farm houses on the RHS from when I lived in the village between 1988 and 1994. The power lines maybe a clincher for there is a 25KV hub at Bramley Frith.

Rgds, Graham

 

[Dog Star]

Brian, img 441 does not fit between Basingstoke and Bramley IFF the photo shows a train heading from Bramley to Basingstoke as per your caption. On the other hand, if the service is heading north from Basingstoke towards Bramley then a likely location is just north of the bridge which carries Crockford Lane over the railway. I think that there was a footpath crossing of the line about halfway between Crockford Lane and Cufaude Lane bridges, might be an overbridge looking at Google satellite view. Dave, @Yorkshire Dave , can you consult NLS and advise?

 

[oldravendale]

Thanks, Dave @Yorkshire Dave for identifying the location of img442 & 778. Also for pointing out another "Oops!" moment as far as img449 is concerned. It's strange that I get hundreds of images right and then a couple slip through the orientation net in a couple of weeks. Anyway the corrected image is below.

Thanks too to Brian @Brian Daniels and Graham @Dog Star for identifying Bramley again. Then to Graham again for correcting the record for img441.

These corrections are so important when it comes to keeping a record of the photos when so much detail is missing.



Another “once again” photo and this is 4079, Pendennis Castle at Southall on an unknown date. See 4079 Pendennis Castle



Standard Class 4 4-6-0 75077 on an unknown date and at an unidentified location. This was a Nine Elms engine between March 1963 and June 1965 when it moved to Eastleigh. Withdrawal followed when steam ended in July 1967 and the loco was scrapped in October the same year at R A Kings, Norwich.



These photos were all taken at a GWS open day at Taplow, probably on 16th September 1967. Locos present were Castle 4079 Pendennis Castle, 61XX 2-6-2T 6106, Manor 7808 Cookham Manor. We’ve seen 7808 previously, in post #5635 on page 282 also at Taplow as confirmed by Mike Walker and details are on that page. To repeat details of the others are for 4079 4079 Pendennis Castle and 6106 6106 In the last photo, img458, I believe the vehicle behind the loco may be an Ocean Saloon.









Brian

 

[Brian Daniels]

Recon this is the bridge in img441 from the other side, few more trees about though!