Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[Heather Kay]

It always jolts a bit to see the smart new BR livery being hauled by a careworn steam engine.

Interesting detail on the freight train, where the top lamp bracket has been resited lower on the smokebox door for OHLE safety reasons.

 

[daifly]

Interesting detail on the freight train, where the top lamp bracket has been resited lower on the smokebox door for OHLE safety reasons.

As it also has on the passenger train loco 45187!

Dave

 

[oldravendale]

More to come when I get back. I'm leaving now for the golden sands of Wigan and the famous pier of many delights.

 

[Osgood]

Well - if the pier still looks anything like the early view in this book, good luck with that!

Lightmoor Press Books - Wigan Pier : The facts and fictions of an enduring Music Hall joke

Also please, check the rock - a friend showed me a stick he'd just brought back from Devon and it was - made in China.

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you for your thoughts, Heather @Heather Kay , Personally I really disliked the new livery but it certainly jarred against the steam scene. The change to the lamp iron position became quite common as a safety measure and thanks for noting it in the second photo, Dave @daifly .

Two photos here (img594 and 596 - actually 596 should come before 594) of Britannia 70031 Byron believed to be on Shap. It moved around a fair bit in it’s final years (I saw it at Willesden). In September 1961 it went to Aston, Willesden in April/May 1963, Crewe North In December 1964/January 1965, Crewe South in May/June and Carlisle Upperby in July/August the same year then Carlisle Kingmoor in December 1966. Withdrawal came from Speke Junction in November 1967. (SLS). However it’s possible that withdrawal was actually from Carlisle Kingmoor (RO) where it’s advised that the loco was stored at Kingmoor where it was seen on 27th January 1968. It was scrapped at J McWilliams, Shettleston, on 7th March 1968. (BR Database).





On Shap is Black 5 44905 in the mid 1960s. It was allocated to Carnforth for a long while - from September 1959 where it was withdrawn in November/December 1967. It went to Draper’s, Hull where it was scrapped on 5th February 1968 (RO). BR Database agrees with the month of disposal.



Brian

 

[oldravendale]

There are a few photos here which fall under the general term of “arty” but impressive even though the details about the locos are sketchy.

The first two here (img598 and 602) are at Tebay in the mid 1960s - note the water troughs. The first (img598) is an unidentified Britannia and the second (img602) a 9F 2-10-0 on a tanker train which has the date of July 1966 attributed to it. This date probably applies to the Britannia photo too..





Another unidentified Britannia and believed to be on Shap in the mid 1960s, probably July 1966.



Although at a considerable distance this is believed to be yet another Britannia on Shap in the mid 1960s, again probably July 1966.



Brian

 

[daifly]

A brave man standing in the ‘splash zone’!
Dave

 

[David B]

The last photo looks to be in the Lune Gorge, with the train heading (I think) southbound, I.e. after descending Shap. For anyone who hasn’t tried it, I recommend a trip south from Shap summit and through the Gorge in a Pendolino at 125 mph with full tilt in operation. It feels like swooping like a hawk through the fells, and is one heck of a tribute to the people who created such a fabulous piece of railway. I’d swap it any day though for a careworn Britannia, rods clanking and chime whistle echoing around the hills.

 

[Podartist79]

Brian,
Those two shots on the troughs are absolutely sublime in my opinion!
Would make lovely railway paintings, hehe.
Best,
Neil.

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you for the additional comments. I'm particularly grateful for the advice about the likely location of the distant Britannia, David @David B.

8F 2-8-0 48517 believed to be on Shap in the mid 1960s. The loco was based at Willesden in June/July 1965 and Bescot in September/October the same year. In March/April it went to Saltley and then Lostock Hall in January/February 1967 where it was withdrawn in the following November/December. (SLS). It went to Drapers at Hull where it was scrapped on 12th February 1968. (WHTS) BR Database agrees with the month of scrapping.



This is believed to be one of those rare sunny days on Shap as the slide is among a series shot at that time. However the date is July 1966 at which time it was allocated to Holyhead where it was sent in June/July 1965 and then to Machynlleth in July/August 1966 so a photo on Shap at the time is unlikely. Thereafter it went to Stoke in December 1966 and then Tebay in May/June 1967. (SLS). The SLS advise it was withdrawn from Speke Junction in November 1967 without an allocation there but BR Database that withdrawal also in November 1967 was from Tebay where it had been allocated which seems more likely. The loco was scrapped at Bird’s, Long Marston in April 1968. (BR Database).



The first photo (img600) is an unidentified Black 5 on Shap in the mid 1960s and the second photo (img601) is an unidentified Fairburn or Stanier 2-6-4T banking the same train.





Final

 

[AJC]

Lovely. I like the sheeted palbrick next to the mineral in the last photo. Never seen the like before, and since I have a batch of four unfinished that is a tempting way to tackle at least one of them. It shouldn’t be a surprise as they were all fitted with cleats for sheeting, but nonetheless it’s unexpected.

Adam

 

[Arun Sharma]

Thank you for the additional comments. I'm particularly grateful for the advice about the likely location of the distant Britannia, David @David B.

8F 2-8-0 48517 believed to be on Shap in the mid 1960s. The loco was based at Willesden in June/July 1965 and Bescot in September/October the same year. In March/April it went to Saltley and then Lostock Hall in January/February 1967 where it was withdrawn in the following November/December. (SLS). It went to Drapers at Hull where it was scrapped on 12th February 1968. (WHTS) BR Database agrees with the month of scrapping.

View attachment 266706

This is believed to be one of those rare sunny days on Shap as the slide is among a series shot at that time. However the date is July 1966 at which time it was allocated to Holyhead where it was sent in June/July 1965 and then to Machynlleth in July/August 1966 so a photo on Shap at the time is unlikely. Thereafter it went to Stoke in December 1966 and then Tebay in May/June 1967. (SLS). The SLS advise it was withdrawn from Speke Junction in November 1967 without an allocation there but BR Database that withdrawal also in November 1967 was from Tebay where it had been allocated which seems more likely. The loco was scrapped at Bird’s, Long Marston in April 1968. (BR Database).

View attachment 266712

The first photo (img600) is an unidentified Black 5 on Shap in the mid 1960s and the second photo (img601) is an unidentified Fairburn or Stanier 2-6-4T banking the same train.

View attachment 266710

View attachment 266711

Final

The footplate of the banking 2-6-4T is missing forward of the steam pipe so it's a Fairburn. It also doesn't have the distictive rolled undersides to the tanks so not a Standard 4 tank either.

 

[oldravendale]

Thanks yet again, Adam @AJC for your info about the Palbrick. As you say a sheeted version adds a bit of variety.

Also to Arun @Arun Sharma for confirming the class of 2-6-4T. I could see it wasn't a Standard and it's helpful to have it properly identified.

Shap in July 1966 and three photos of Britannia 70010 Owen Glendower double heading with an unidentified Black 5 on a van train. In the first (img607) it’s crossing another unidentified Black 5 also on a van train and in the second (img616) closer to the camera. The last (img765) is of 70010 alone on a passenger train quite possibly on the S & C in the mid 1960s. The Britannia was allocated to Willesden in March 1963, Crewe North in December 1964/January 1965, Crewe South in May/June and Carlisle Kingmoor in June/July 1965 where it was withdrawn in September 1967. (SLS). Disposal was on 17th January 1968 at J McWilliams, Shettleston. (BR Database)







Class Q6 0-8-0 63395 at Ryhope in July 1966. At the time home shed was Sunderland where it was allocated in May/June 1965 and from where it was withdrawn in September 1967. (SLS). The SLS also report that on the final day of steam working, 9th September 1967, 63395 worked to South Hetton and Dunston. The loco was sold for preservation on 29th October 1967. See 63395 (NER 2238, LNER 3395 & BR 63395)



An unidentified Black 5, possibly on Tebay troughs and believed to be in July 1966. This will certainly print lighter but I like the moodiness of this reproduction.



Brian

 

[oldravendale]

WD 2-8-0 90189 at an unknown location in the mid 1960s. In January/February 1964 the loco was allocated to Staveley Barrow Hill and moved to Langwith Junction in August/September 1965 where it was withdrawn week ending 14th November in the same year (SLS). Disposal was at Drapers, Hull, in the following month. (BR Database).



Black 5 45277 at an unspecified location with Standard Class 4 4-6-0 75010 in the background in the mid 1960s. This has the feel of Willesden about it and the two locos could certainly have been there together. The Black 5 was allocated to Cricklewood East in March 1963 (hence the possibility of being seen at Willesden), Llandudno Junction in May the same year, Mold Junction in April/May 1965, Llandudno Junction again in November/December the same year and then Chester in September/October 1966 where it was withdrawn in February 1967. (SLS). Disposal was at Cashmore’s, Great Bridge in May 1967. (BR Database). The ash dropped between shed running lines rather than the ash plant suggests this was late in the day of steam operations or perhaps soon before the shed was shut when standards at the steam sheds had slipped significantly.

The Standard 4 was at Llandudno Junction in June/July 1957, Nuneaton October/November 1962 (when it could easily have travelled as far as Willesden), Chester in March 1963, Llandudno Junction again in February/March 1966, Lostock Hall May/June and finally Carnforth in June/July where it was withdrawn in October – all in 1967. (SLS). It was scrapped at Motherwell Machinery and Scrap, Wishaw on 28th February 1968. (BR Database).



Brian