Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

Eastsidepilot

Western Thunderer
It's funny how time can change things when you think that a lot of those motors were say 20-30 yrs old where as today an auction like this for 80'-90's cars probably wouldn't happen !

Col.
 

Ressaldar

Western Thunderer
Hi Brian,

great photos. The Rolls is one of the 'stars' in the 1985 version of Mapp (Prunella Scales) & Lucia (Geraldine McEwan), it being Lucia's car, driven by chauffer Kit Kitson, who later became one of the policemen in Last of the Summer Wine (amongst a lot of other roles)

regards

Mike
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
These 'off piste' photographs are excellent and show Tim's all round interest in transport rather than exclusively railways. On any other fora/forums there will be those who throw thier hands up in abject horror at anything other than the original subject matter.

As the thread shows, all of the photographs are in one way or another drawing out viewers reminiscences and anecdotes, which adds to their value as a social history. In addition they also record scenes which have since disappeared under the bulldozer.

The photos of the auction at Alexandra Palace is interesting as they were taken before the all consuming fire of 1980 which pratically gutted it. Added to which, as alluded to, it shows the fashions of the period.

And yes, in 1976 I was in my early teens in and wore flares. Although I was never allowed to have a pair of 'high waisters' with 3, 4 or five buttons.

High Waist.jpg
 

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Next a Boeing 747, coming and going, again of British Airways. It has the BOAC logo on the tail. Was this used initially as the logo for BA?

As the aircraft photos were taken around 1976 it would have been 2 years after the merger of BEA and BOAC to form British Airways. BA used the speedbird insignia from 1974 but moved it to the fusealage nose beneath the cockpit with the union flag on the tailfin. The speedbird was replaced in 1984 by the current BA swish.

The aircraft with the Speedbird tail fin would more than likely have been inherited from the BOAC fleet and the Viscount from BEA. As with all mergers it would tave taken a few years for the new livery across the entire fleet to become uniform.

I was interested to read the speedbird insignia was developed in 1932 for Imperial Airways and appeared on the nose of the fusealage. In 1939 when BOAC was formed they continued to use the speedbird on the nose until it appeard on the tailfin during the 1950s where it remained until the 1974 BOAC BEA merger.
 

daifly

Western Thunderer
The Speedwing was retained as part of the 1974 Negus livery after a vigorous staff campaign. It became an integral, stylised, part of every livery since then.
BTW Brian, your aircraft identification was spot-on!
Dave
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Wow! Far more comments than I'd anticipated so thanks to all - especially about the Rolls and Bentley. Thanks too, Dave, for your comments about the civil air liners. I'm quietly smug that my identifications, as far as they went, were correct.

Here's the rest of the photos from that car auction. Once again, help in identifying vehicles will be much appreciated. The second of these shots is, I believe, a Vauxhall and the fifth a Riley. There's no mistaking the MGs but my knowledge of the others is nil.

More railways tomorrow, although museum shots, before we get back on to the main fare.

PS - just found a history on the Riley from the guy who bought the car in 1976! "A Riley Lynx in excellent condition. Totally restored by Ian Gladstone/Blue Diamond Services in 1996. Slightly tuned and with four branch exhaust. Preselect gearbox with centrifugal clutch works fine. Changed backaxel ratio for todays roads! Complete Connolly interior including side screens, hood and toneau by Steve Bowles, Bridport in 1996. The Lynx has been in my ownership for 31 years and has full documentation since import to Sweden in 1976. UK registration number was HG 4918. A useful, good-looking, quick and reliable Lynx, still in lovely condition. The car is in Sweden next to Stockholm/Vasteras airport connected to Stansted daily!" I don't know the date of the info - it may be current - but the asking price is £48,000.

img577 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 MG copyright Final.jpg img578 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 Poss Vauxhall copyright Final.jpg img579 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 MG copyright Final.jpg img580 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 ABC copyright Final.jpg img581 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 copyright Final.jpg img582 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 copyright Final.jpg img583 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 copyright Final.jpg img584 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 copyright Final.jpg img585 TM Vintage Car Auction.  Ally Pally.  1976 copyright Final.jpg

Brian
 

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Thanks Dave. Great info on the ABC. Also apologies for failing to acknowledge your ID of that aircraft in post#739. I think we now have a full set!

For today we're back on the big railway by way of a Routemaster and a Santa 35028.

First the Routemaster. Quite what it's doing with a Glasgow blind outside Marylebone on 20th December 1986 I don't understand. I'll bet someone does!

img598 TM Marylebone & 777 & Trade Stand Dec 86 copyright Final.jpg

Here's another of Clan Line on the same day.

img595 TM Marylebone & 777 & Trade Stand Dec 86 copyright Final.jpg

We'll continue with Tim's modern traction phase. This is "Paddington. 17th July 1977." It's 47134 or 47154 - I can't quite make the number out. That London Transport surface stock in the background brings back some memories.
img608 TM Edgware Rd, Paddington 17 Jul 77 Hornsey 25 Aug 77 47134 or 154.  copyright Final.jpg

Next same day, same location. 50050 was the erstwhile D400 and named Fearless at Plymouth Station in August 1978. It was withdrawn in March 1994 as surplus to requirements. It eventually went to the Neil Boden fleet and may well still be there. I hope some updated info may be available.

img609 TM Edgware Rd, Paddington 17 Jul 77 Hornsey 25 Aug 77 50050 copyright Final.jpg

Sorry to say that I can't identify this Class 50 but it's again at Paddington on the same day.

img610 TM Edgware Rd, Paddington 17 Jul 77 Hornsey 25 Aug 77 copyright Final.jpg



Last one for today is 253 026 on the same date - after all photos of Paddington would be incomplete without an HST, wouldn't they?

img611 TM Edgware Rd, Paddington 17 Jul 77 Hornsey 25 Aug 77 253 026 copyright Final.jpg

Brian
 

AJC

Western Thunderer
Cor, D400 - I remember it looking like this, arriving at Salisbury on a down train back home to Yeovil - where it later spent some years at the Railway Centre under a tarp - amidst a crowd of photographers: First Fifty.

I gather that it's still with Neil Boden: Boden Rail ‘50’ sold to Great Central - Rail Express

I'll admit to not being terribly sorry to see them go, and even less sorry to see the replacement 47s disappear: a 159 is a better experience for the traveller than the cast off mk 1s and mk 2s we were lumbered with for far too long and they still have the best seats and most amazing reliability stats, despite First Group, on the network.

Adam
 

daifly

Western Thunderer
Further info from http://www.countrybus.org/RM/RM7g15.html

RM1571 571 CLT new: 7/5RM5/7, Leyland O.600
4/63 new to Aldenham
5/63 RL into service on 36A/B
from last bodyswap with B1576
10/84 WH withdrawn
7/86 bought by Stagecoach, Perth, but not used
8/86 bought for preservation, Ruislip
4/92 bought for preservation, Willesden
9/93 bought by Routemaster Travel, Ruislip
12/94 used on N89 for Christmas service, hired by CentreWest
1996 on loan to Timebus Travel
Watford and District
c3/97 W & D ceased trading
1997 bought by Nostalgiabus
10/98 with Nostalgiabus
c10/99 de-roofed at Sydenham
converted to open-topper by Ensignbus: AEC engine fitted
6/00 in service with Nostalgiabus
8/00 at Lingfield Show
2/04 bought by Mr Davies, Gloucestershire
ANP123A reregistered
bought by museum in Brazil: exported
 
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