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45699 Galatea

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by TonyMay, Apr 3, 2010.

  1. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    If you bought one you could paint it any colour you wished....[/QUOTE]
    That Sir is my usual thought on these things. If you do read some of my previous posts you will Im in the camp of owner's prerogative. Also its amazing how a little mention of colour has now bought this thread back on topic...
     
  2. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    Bahamas will do that. I shall have to fetch 5596 thread.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2015
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  3. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Has anyone seen pages 88 & 89 in Steam Railway? 2 pics that to me show off how damn fine these locos look. (in green btw!) not sure how to link it but if you have at Will we see LMS 5690 in 2014? On page 15 of that thread theres the same image I've mentioned above. Love that photo by Mr Riley
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2015
  4. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Yes Mr Riley's image are an inspiration ! It's a pity that he took so many risks to get the "Mastershot" - including the one that led to his early unnecessary death.
     
  5. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I know this sounds a little bit silly but whenever Im looking out over Victoria Bridge I do have a little think about him. I do love his work, that photo of 45562 is just fantastic. Bit of a character too by all accounts. But the sort of bloke you'd love to sit down and listen to some of his tales.
     
  6. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    Paul was planning to photograph 43106, I was its fireman on the fateful day and was at Arley building up the fire for his mastershot when we got the news that someone had fallen from Victoria bridge. Not a day that I would ever wish to repeat.

    Yes he was a colourful character in the best possible way.
     
  7. Tiviot Dale

    Tiviot Dale New Member

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    Yes, indeed! For some considerable time beforehand, with regular mainline steam by then being but a distant memory, I had been one of quite a few individuals who, just about every weekend, had been meeting up with "The Bishop of Whitrope" down at the SVR. We would invariably precede an inevitable fotting session with a pint or three in the Harbour Inn at Arley (in the days when it was run by the unforgettable Len and Meg - who served up voluminous quantities of Newcastle Brown Ale and absolutely superb Westons draught cider).

    One that fateful day, however, I had met up with a crowd that consisted of many of the Bridgnorth regular volunteers for a weekend's outing (by a preserved Midland Red single-decker, as I seem to recall) to the Bluebell Railway. For some reason now lost in the mists of time, Paul had decided not to join us.

    His funeral at Canley Crematorium in Coventry was attended by a vast turnout of his many friends and we felt that he would have appreciated the many comments made that he had produced some decent 'clag' as he departed this mortal coil up the chimney. His ashes were later scattered by his mum and dad, Ken and Una, from a special train run out to the outer home signal at Knowlesands Viaduct in Bridgnorth.

    My own first encounter with Paul was way back in 1964, in the late, lamented 24hr BR/GPO staff canteen on Carlisle station and when we both were touring Scotland using 'Freedom of Scotland' Railrover tickets (mine being of the First Class version - which cost a mere 9 guineas (!), his being of the second class 6 guineas type AND around 12 months out-of-date!).

    By the middle of that week, for our photographs, we had already cleaned 60026 at Perth and 80093 at Loch Tay shed (on the Killin branch) and thus had commenced a long and happy friendship that soon came to be shared with a whole group of like-minded souls, many of whom still meet up every year without fail at the Station Inn at Ribblehead on the anniversary of the running of the original 15 Guinea Special ... and the end of real steam!

    If any readers of this post are lucky enough to have got their hands on a copy of the 2008 publication "Steam - The Grand Finale", by Alan Castle and published by Mortons Media, on pages 18 to 23 they will certainly recall Paul's article "Never Again! The trials and tribulations of railway photography" and the unforgettable action images that accompanied this. That Lune Gorge picture, naturally, has a place.

    In the 21st Century, digital imagery has made railway photography so much easier, in so many ways ... so much so, in fact, that even those clearly in command of not a single vestige of talent whatsoever, can still produce a passable 'mastershot' ... and get them published! However, half a century ago, a certain amount of skill (and determination) was a prerequisite ... and, dare I say it, one which few possessed!

    Today, an essence of the man can still be seen in the appreciation written by fellow linesider Ian Krause and which can be found at: http://www.gwrarchive.org/site/sitel2ph/sitel3ph/tribute.php
     
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  8. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    I had met Paul on the Friday when I joined the train at Coventry, on my way home from the Police Training Centre at Ryton-on-Dunsmore. We had a couple of pints and a good yak until he got off at Wolverhampton, as I went on to Stoke. I had said I would see him on Sunday at the Valley.

    I was working the bar car of the Down train which passed yours at Arley, Gary. I was serving as we passed over Victoria Bridge, so I didn't see him. The first I knew was when Derek Tuck, who was driving our train came rushing into the bar car in great distress and asked for a couple of brandies for him and his fireman. They had been looking for Paul as they crossed the bridge and had seen his body at the foot of one of the piers.

    It was a terrible day. He was fun to be around. My favourite photo of his is the one over the bar exit in Bridgnorth. It is of an 8F on a mineral train on Copy Pit, bursting out of some low fog into sunlight with a huge exhaust and it is sublime.

    It will be 39 years ago this summer and, although the rest of the day is a bit of a haze, that part is depressingly crystal clear.

    John Hancock

    PS to regain the topic, somebody mentioned 5690 above. I fired it on its last day in service on the Valley and it was the hardest trip I've ever had. It had a firebar missing in the centre and was leaking steam every where apart from a bit that actually went into the cylinders. We failed it at Bridgnorth.
     
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  9. Tiviot Dale

    Tiviot Dale New Member

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    That must be this one ... which is also to be found in 'Steam-The Grand Finale', on page 21. The loco is 10F's No 48448 and the train is 7N82, the 06-53 Farington Junction to Cudworth coal empties ... which had exchanged locos at Rose Grove from a (not quite so immaculate) Lostock Hall 8F. PAUL_RILEY_PR2087.jpg

    The MNA had cleaned the loco overnight at Rose Grove shed (on one of the coldest nights of the year!)
    Many of Paul's photographs are, today, in the care of the Restoration & Archiving Trust. Digital copies of these images are available for purchase (for private use only) and details may be obtained by visiting http://www.gwrarchive.org/site/sales.php
     
  10. jtx

    jtx Well-Known Member

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    That's the one. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I've been after a copy for years. Dave Lacey was with him when he took that and he was looking after the collection. I thought he'd given it to David Postle at Kidderminster Railway Museum. I'll try that site.

    Regards,

    jtx
     
  11. Tiviot Dale

    Tiviot Dale New Member

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    When Paul died, his colour-slide collection passed into the custodianship of close friends Dave Lacey and Tony (Gus) Bowles and all of which was eventually scanned by Gus, to become part of the The Restoration & Archiving Trust database. Meanwhile, Paul's even larger collection of black & white negatives went into the care of close friend and fellow MNA member, Chris Weston. When Chris also sadly passed away 3 or 4 years ago (as a result of contracting asbestosis during an earlier period of employment at York Carriage Works), both his own collection and that of Paul were donated to David Postle at the Kidderminster Railway Museum. Since that time David has digitally scanned these two huge collections and many images are now available for sale.
     
  12. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    They ran out of paint for the front buffer beam! Look at the lower edge between the buffers.
    Wonderful picture.
     
  13. mike1522

    mike1522 Long Time Member Friend

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    Will Galatea get to romp up Beattock one of these days? Just curious
     
  14. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I've always wondered about that photo. Next time I'm the Railwaymans My glass will be raised towards it. As I say I never knew him but I think its really nice that he's rememberd so fondly by so many people, that can't be a bad epitaph to have can it?
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2015
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  15. Southernman99

    Southernman99 Member Friend

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    Matt,
    When the bar is refreshed within the bigger Bridgnorth development. I have floated the idea of having some of Pauls photos along with other photos from many collections held by the KRM and other collections dotted around along with the other railwayana.
     
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  16. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Tiviot Dale: Thankyou for your mention of Alan Castle's book "Steam, The Grand Finale". Just purchased it online for one penny plus carriage, a truly nostalgic look at the end of steam, mainly in the North West. What makes it outstanding is the number of colour images.
    Of particular interest were the images from 4th August 1968. I participated in the GC Enterprises tour from Stockport behind 45156. As far as I am aware, arranged by the same Gent who had been behind the Williams & Glyn's Bank specials. The late George Davies.

    At one point somewhere in Lancashire the 45156 special was stopped and overtaken by 73069 and 48476, and I also recall being on the platform at Carnforth that afternoon when 48773 arrived on a special, but after coming off its train never when onto Carnforth shed, but departed immediately South light engine.

    46118
     
  17. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Thats a great idea is there anyway to second that proposal?!
     
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  18. 22A

    22A Well-Known Member

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    Going for a nostalgic / authentic note; any chance of Galatea and/or Leander being fitted with 22A shed plates?
     
  19. 242A1

    242A1 Well-Known Member

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    Given the level of performance delivered by 5305 in 2011 with a heavier load the performance of 45599 was less than should have been delivered and enjoyed on this occasion. Coal quality may have been an issue but this can prove to be a problem for any engine. Perhaps the appearance in the ranks of British India Line will reduce the reliance placed on locomotives whose ability to cope with the demands made upon them is marginal. Harsh perhaps, but engines with a greater reserve capacity deliver to schedule in spite of adversity are more the order of the current days.
    Could Galatea be improved? No doubt about it. As to how much that would depend on how much time, money, will and expertise you want to throw at it. Think about Rooke - and that is before you start tucking some modern thinking under the skin. I suppose you have to temper this by asking how much future there is for the lower power classification machines in the preservation mainline ranks apart from on a few dedicated routes.
     
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  20. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

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    Putting aside the issues of relative power, arguments over the reason for any delays etc., can any steam expert give a reasoned explanation for the significant difference in the amount of smoke being emitted by Galatea relative to Britannia on Saturday's run up Shap?

    Regardless of the reason, does it not suggest incomplete combustion, therefore a cooler than ideal fire, hence less steam production?

    Britannia appeared to have a full head of steam over Shap, videos show the safety valves feathering or blowing off, whereas there didn't seem any evidence that Galatea's boiler pressure was near the red line. And to me the colour of Britannia's exhaust appeared to be as close to perfection as any fireman could achieve.

    I have a few ideas but as an armchair fireman, my views are not worth putting forward and are likely wrong.
     

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