Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[readingtype]

Saarbrücken didn't come up in my original Fährbootwagen search but having another look I would say this is a Trier rather than a Saarbrücken Gbh 21 Fährbootwagen. I've come across this with the plated vent at the non-brake platform end. Güterwagen der Austauschbauart - Wikiwand

Saarbrücken (Gfkhs) was a Fährbootkühlwagen (refrigerated van).

I think we're both right. Quoting your source:

Bis 1929 wurden etwa 300 dieser Wagen gebaut und gehörten von 1927 bis 1934 zum „Gattungsbezirk Trier“, ab 1935 wurden sie dem „Gattungsbezirk Saarbrücken“ zugeordnet.

In summary, 'Trier' was the original designation; they were redesignated 'Saarbrücken' from 1935. The 'Gattungsbezirk' is a curious concept which I guess might be equivalent to the aquatic telegraphic codes used for rolling stock such as 'toad', 'crocodile', 'grampus' etc.

Ben

 

[Arun Sharma]

The 'Gattungsbezirk' is a curious concept which I guess might be equivalent to the aquatic telegraphic codes used for rolling stock such as 'toad', 'crocodile', 'grampus' etc.

Ben

The colour piping around collars and epaulettes on German Servicemen is called "Waffengattungsfarbe" - meaning Arm of Service colour. So pink for tank crews, green for infantry, cornflower blue for medics etc., The word "Gattung" itself means "Genus" so a unique identifier.

 

[Bob Essex]

With regard to the Colchester - Clacton/Walton 25Kv electrification my understanding is that local services using AM2/7/8 units between Clacton and Colchester were the first to start, with those between Thorpe-le-soken and Walton being diesel hauled using class 15’s, suburban EMU’s never normally being used on the latter down the years. Only when the AM9’s arrived did the Walton branch electric services start In conjunction with the hourly Clacton Essex Express interval services. There are shots of B1’s hauling the electric stock to Clacton, the AM9’s being built at York, and originally intended for the WCML if what I have read is correct - the first 100mph express EMU’s.

Bob

 

[Martin Shaw]

Brian
34078 Ramsgate 21/7/48, Bricklayers Arms 14/6/59, Exmouth Junc 10/2/61, Wdn 9/64, Cut up Bird's Morriston 12/64.
Info from Irwell and no mention of Stewarts Lane!
Martin

 

[oldravendale]

That's a helpful picture, Paul @hrmspaul and so is yours, Paul @Paulatg. I was planning on my crane being a MR one, but to have such excellent pictures makes an alternative quite tempting.

Thanks, Ben @readingtype and Arun, for the continuing discussion regarding that wagon and associated matters!

Continuing info about the electrification through Colchester - almost enough now to create its own volume - and much appreciated Bob @Bob Essex.

As ever, Martin, thanks for yours. I often wonder how these errors get in to loco details and, after all, which one is truly accurate?. I know there have been some bad actors but I can only guess that in most cases it's simply a matter of transferring data from a given source to the wrong loco. I guess we'll never know. I keep all the alternatives, though, as I suspect the correct version is hidden in there somewhere!

E4X 0-6-2T 32577 at Brighton Shed on 4th April 1959. It had been at Brighton since 1948 and was withdrawn in October 1959. (SLS). The Railway Observer advises it was cut up at Ashford in the week ending 30th January 1960.



At Brighton Shed on 4th April 1959 is C2X 32449. The allocation at the time was Brighton and it had been since December 1956. It moved to Three Bridges in March 1961 and withdrawal in June the same year. (SLS). It was scrapped at Ashford Works in the week ending 7th October 1961 (RO), or June 1961 if you prefer (BR Database).



Surely one of the most elegant of designs K Class 2-6-0 32342 entering Brighton Station on an ex-Plymouth train on 4th April 1959. The loco had been allocated to Brigton since at least January 1948 (BR Database) and was withdrawn in December 1962 (BR Database and SLS). It was seen at Hove Goods Yard dump on 29th December 1962 (SLS) and cut up at Eastleigh Works week ending 27th July 1963. (RO).



E4X 0-6-2T 32508 standing in a line at Brighton Shed on 4th April 1959. The SLS allocation list doesn’t look right, as it’s shown being reinstated (from where I don’t know) in February 1955 but in to store at Brighton (Newhaven) on the same date. If this is to be believed it was reinstated at Brighton (Newhaven) in August the same year and allocated to Brighton in the following September. Confused? Well, I am! Although Locoshed Books don’t confirm locos in storage I checked the allocation in the volumes I have which advise it was resident at Brighton at least between April 1957 and November 1959. In any event withdrawal came in January 1960 (SLS and BR Database) and it was scrapped week ending 6th February 1960 at Ashford. (RO).



L class 4-4-0 31777 looking very sprightly in the shed yard at Brighton on 4th April 1959. It was allocated to Ashford in December 1952, went in to store in October 1953, was reinstated in early December 1953 and back in to store later the same month before being reinstated in June 1954. It then had a spell at Brighton from June 1956 and went to Nine Elms in June 1959 where it was withdrawn in September the same year. (SLS). It was scrapped at Ashford week ending 26th September 1959. (RO).



Brian