Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[Martin Shaw]

IMG#2668 is indeed Coton Hill North SB. The roof is a replacement from 1955 after a fire reputedly caused by the stove. The south SB was, as Dave points out, destroyed in an accident. The LM region who controlled S&T matters at Shrewsbury at that date provided a replacement box which opened on x/x/65 and closed on the 12/3/72.

Martin

 

[readingtype]

health issues surrounding Asbestos fibres were known about as early as 1900

Crossing threads here, but I understand that one place asbestos was not to be found was wrapped around the boiler of a WD - more corner cutting, you could say.

Ben

 

[Arun Sharma]

Crossing threads here, but I understand that one place asbestos was not to be found was wrapped around the boiler of a WD - more corner cutting, you could say.

Ben

I have an idea that by the time the WC/BoB were rebuilt, that BR was using a glass fibre matting insulation around these particular boilers rather than asbestos anyway. Given that up to the late '50s the majority of steam engines were being scrapped in-house rather than at private companies, then BR would have been well aware of the significance of occupational mesothelioma and bronchial carcinoma in those who worked either in boiler repair or scrapyards.

 

[Genghis]

Not sure when BR would have been aware of the dangers of asbestos. A colleague of mine recalls that his first job on B R as a graduate trainee was wrapping blue asbestos around the exhaust piping of Hymecs at Landore. Many DMUs built in the 50’s/60’s had asbestos insulation.

 

[simond]

As an undergrad, I worked at Cammell Laird shipbuilders in periods between 77-80. In 78 or 79 (memories are vague) I worked in the machine shop in the yard, and the guys who were machining “asbestos containing materials” worked inside a large transparent tent within the machine shop, and wore disposable overalls, and facemasks.

So “they” were aware, but still using the stuff.

Bit later than the timescale we were discussing but a line in the sand, I guess.

 

[oldravendale]

Many thanks John @John Palmer and Simon @simond for confirmation of the location. Thanks too to Tony @76043 and Tony @AJC for comments about the cattle wagons. David @David B - fair comment about the Black 5/8F. In fact I had the loco as an 8F and changed my mind when I saw the photo as I posted it. Then an interesting discussion about the roof, location and history of the box and then a move off piste to talk about asbestos. Thanks Dan @Dan Randall , Dave @Yorkshire Dave , Arun @Arun Sharma, Martin @Martin Shaw ,Ben @readingtype , Dave @Genghis and Simon @simond .

I believe Tim captured 8F 48728 shunting tank wagons (img 712) and then starting up a van train at Coton Hill, Shrewsbury (img715 and 716) probably in May 1966. The loco was at Willesden in February/March 1958, Burton in May 1959, Colwick in eptember/October 1966 and finally Saltley in January 1967 where it was withdrawn in February or March the same year. (SLS). It was scrapped at Cashmore’s, Great Bridge in August 1967 (BR Database) although it was recorded as seen at Cashmore’s on 3rd September. (WHTS).







An unidentified Black 5 or 8F 2-8-0 at an unknown location and on an unknown date although it’s quite possibly at Coton Hill Shrewsbury in May 1966.



A view of Aberdeen on Tim’s travels and dated May 1965.



Brian

 

[simond]

Were the taxis Morris Oxfords or Austin Cambridges?

I'm going with the latter from a zoom in on the boot and the shape of the words, but I have a feeling that the Morris did not have the double chrome trim strip down the sides, and one of the other taxis has a single trim strip, that might be an Oxford.

Cortina Mk1 on the left. Might be a Hillman Hunter estate ahead of it, but it might also be an Anglia estate. I think there’s a grey Vauxhall Viva at the front of the taxi rank, and I’m failing to click on the two tone thing in the middle. Was it a Consul?

days of our youth, eh?

 

[Dan Randall]

Looking through the arch on the RHS, there‘s a gold motor scooter, on top of the red van!….



Regards

Dan

 

[simond]

I missed that, presumably some kind of scooter promo?

I believe that the van’s a Bedford CA

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

Not a Consul.

Incidentally I learned to drive and passed my test in a Ford Consul. Front bench seat and column change.

 

[simond]

Not a Consul.

Incidentally I learned to drive and passed my test in a Ford Consul. Front bench seat and column change.

I think you’re right, I had this sort of thing in mind,


but I suspect it’s one of these



Vauxhall Cresta

I imagine on the east coast of Scotland you could literally watch it disintegrate…

 

[Mike Walker]

HCT2 above is a Mk1 Ford Zodiac, there were Zephyr and Consul versions of the same car, Consuls were the "base" level and the Zodiac top-of-the-range. I think the car in the Aberdeen photo is a MkIII Zodiac.

 

[simond]

The wrap round rear screen suggested the Vauxhall, the sun is reflected off the curve, looks like an extra roof pillar.

 

[Arun Sharma]

Pretty obvious from the Castlegate scene why Aberdeen is known as "The Granite City"

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

A view of Aberdeen on Tim’s travels and dated May 1965.

The buses are type Daimler CVG6 which were the mainstay of the Aberdeen Corporation Transport fleet during the 1960s. The light Lincoln green and cream was perpetuated, albeit with an orange band, when Aberdeen Corporation Transport operations were transferred to Grampian in 1975 as part of the local government reorganisation. Grampian was privatised in 1989 and became part of the First Group in 1995. This is my photo of an Alexander AL bodied Leyland Atlantean taken in 1983.

 

[GreenAyre42]

A useless quicky; the pattern of Asbestos sheeting on Cotton Hill S.B. was 'Trafford Tile'. A remembrance of being around my father, a Builders Merchants manager back in the day.

 

[Mike Walker]

At least one of the Aberdeen buses is an AEC Regent, not a Daimler.

 

[Arun Sharma]

At least one of the Aberdeen buses is an AEC Regent, not a Daimler.

In 1965, that would probably be a Regent III, though doesn't look like a Park Royal body. Interestingly there were also Leyland PD2 buses with very similar bodywork, made by Alexander, operated by Aberdeen Corporation Transport in the mid-60s.

 

[Lawrence Boul]

When the thin railfan veneer is peeled back the bus fanatic is revealed . It happened here yesterday and the morning's meeting degenerated into bus (and truck) reminiscence.

 

[40057]

When the thin railfan veneer is peeled back the bus fanatic is revealed

We had one of those in the University Railway Society. A group of us left the station to head back to campus. Everyone put their notebook away — except one. He started writing down bus numbers.

I found this quite astonishing at the time, and still do.

Martin