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here's a puzzler

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by neildimmer, Aug 12, 2018.

  1. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    Came across this photo I recently acquired
    Can anyone explain the 4 packages under the smoke box of 45493 at Banbury

    https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/LMSSteam/Stanier-Locomotives/Stanier-Black-5/Black-5s-Pre-1968/Black-5s-Built-1944/45492-45499-Built-LMS-1944/i-pQfBJ4D
    [​IMG]
    45492-45499 Built LMS 1944 - Railway-Photography

    railway-photography.smugmug.com
    railway photographs from the last 100 years


    Neil
     
  2. sir gilbert claughton

    sir gilbert claughton Well-Known Member

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    sausage sarnies
     
  3. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

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    My first thought was they were placed there to wind up enthusiasts....
    Or the junior porter told to "put then on the front" (van).

    On a more sensible level, could they be packages of spares being transferred between depots?
    I know the Western Region had a well organised system of parcels vans labelled ENPARTS which toured their region with loco spares. Did that extend north to their former lines beyond Heyford? If the ENPARTS vans didn't go north the loco would be a possible way of conveying spares.

    Cheers, Neil
     
  4. LMS2968

    LMS2968 Part of the furniture

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    It wasn't uncommon to transport small items, usually but not always for internal railway use, such as to a signal box, on the front of the loco. This would save opening a wagon which might otherwise be sealed. Churns od water for the signalmen were often delivered this way.
     
  5. Kylchap

    Kylchap Member

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    A lovely photo of a working Black 5, just how I remember them. Any idea of the date? Looking at the cars in the background I'm guessing 1963/4. This loco lasted until the final year of steam, withdrawn in January 1968. If only we could have saved it!
     
  6. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    Sorry no date supplied with photo, here one taken by Nigel Kendall of the same loco in 1966


    https://railway-photography.smugmug...ilt-1944/45492-45499-Built-LMS-1944/i-SpjMChR

    neil
     
  7. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    my thoughts w=exactly. The new timetables for the boxes en route perhaps.
     
  8. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    Hard to be exact because the fence post is in exactly the wrong spot but I believe it's an airflow Cortina which makes it October 65 at the very earliest
     
  9. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    but at speed they could have fallen off
     
  10. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    I have been given a photo of Blackmore Vale at Banbury with a picnic basket in the same place
     
  11. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    if it was the local pick up goods, it wouldn't be doing much speed.
     
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  12. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Bundles of newspapers another possibility.
    Put there for the same reason as before, no need to open a door if its just an odd one or two items.
     
  13. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    in fact it's hard for anyone who didn't experience freight back then (I didn't) to appreciate how slow unfitted freights travelled.
     
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  14. Robin

    Robin Well-Known Member Friend

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    There is an article on the Station Truck which served the Severn Valley Branch on the SVR Wiki. In 1948 the 9.30am freight departure from Hartlebury reached Shrewsbury Coton Hill yard at 6.58pm - over 9 hours for 40 miles.
    https://www.svrwiki.com/Station_Truck
     

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