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In Days Of Old

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by KentYeti, Jul 6, 2010.

  1. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    I can't be the only one here who sometimes looks back at and/or works on notes, photos etc from days long since gone.

    I do mention those days, (how could anyone have missed it!), when it looks sort of appropriate in a current thread.

    But a dedicated thread to the good old days of steam, and what any of us are doing with those old notes etc could be of use to a few of us!

    So. Thanks to Big Al, (he very kindly sent me a copy of some long lost timing logs), I'm currently typing up my notes of the 5th March 1967.

    The Surrey Downsman Railtour. Not one that would run today methinks!

    It's one I clearly remember well, as I went though my local station of Elmers End, behind steam for the one and only time. 5th March was a Sunday and I'd been oop North, (THUD), bashing Brits, the last steam hauled Cambrian Coast express from Aberystwyth and a Castle on a Railtour between Chester and Shewsbury! Gone straight from College on Friday evening, and such were the steam hauled trains still available in those days I'd headed back from oop North after a run behind 70016 on the 21.45 Crewe - Wigan, walked across London from Euston to catch 34036 on the 03.30 mail train from Waterloo to Portsmouth, ( I though that train was 02.30?). Then back on the Bils to Waterloo in time for the Railtour at 09.05.

    The Railtour had 34087 from Waterloo to Clapham Junction, via Virginia Water. Then 34102, Lapford, got us from Clapham Junction via Factory Junction, Brixton Junction, Nunhead, Lewisham, my old local station of Elmers End, Coombe Road and Selsdon to Oxted. I can remember the train braking for Elmers End almost like it was yesterday, and watching as Lapford took the crossover for the line to Addiscombe/Selsdon!

    75077 was waiting to take us from Oxted to Norwood Junction. Where 34087 coupled up for the run via Redhill, Guildford, Leatherhead, Wimbledon and West Brompton to Kensington Olympia. 75077 then did the honours down to Tulse Hill, where 34102 got us round to London Bridge. Finally 75077 left London Bridge almost on time at just after 17.00 for the run back to Victoria. From whence I must have gone home rather tired.

    I doubt I timed much of this run myself, probably just noting down the start and stop times and the loco details. So I am very grateful indeed to Big Al for letting me have the detailed logs.

    Oh the THUD above when I mentioned I actually left the SR and went oop North to time Brits etc. That was RaplhW collapsing with shock! LOL! Anyone got any smelling salts to bring him round please?
     
  2. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    :faint:Too right.. But I have to admit venturing into foreign territories darn sarf on the odd occassion, trouble is I never bothered with logs, notes or anything, I just went on a trip, had my head out as much as possible and just enjoyed it, so as a result I don't have dates or loco numbers or even routes. A few stand out, S&D on either the final final day or perhaps it was the day before.. I remember leaving some London station, seeing Bath, Evercreech and a few other places with foreign names..... Looking at Six Bells it was probably 5th March 1966.
    Then there was the Scottish Lowlander 26th September 1964 LocoRoute 46256 Crewe - (via WCML) - Carlisle 60007Carlisle - Carlisle No.3 - onto main WCML route in direction of Beattock (1)60007(1) set-back (up direction on the Down Fast) to signal controlling Waverley Route at Carlisle No.2 (1)60007Carlisle No.2 - Canal Jn - Stainton Jn - Longtown - Newcastleton - Riccarton Junction - Hawick - Kelso Jn - Ravenswood Jn - Galashiels - Fountainhall Jn - Hardengreen Jn - Niddrie South Jn - Niddrie West Jn 60009 Niddrie West Jn - (via Edinburgh Suburban Line) - Lenzie - Glasgow St John's - Kilmarnock - Dumfries - Carlisle 46256 Carlisle - (via WCML) - Crewe

    Fantastic run and full of stories, again see the details on Six Bells.

    Those were the days..:rapture:
     
  3. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'm fairly sure an EP was made of that tour, entitled "Knights Of Steam." I should have it in my collection somewhere so I'll go and check.
     
  4. Bulleidfan

    Bulleidfan New Member

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    Great memories!
    I didn't know about that run through MY local station of Elmers End...............but I do remember seeing 34108 (I think) going between Elmers End and Woodside, we watched it from the footbridge (on the site of Arena Tramstop).
    I'm pretty sure that was March '67 too.....and the train ran on to Brighton, via Selsdon, reversing onto the main line at South Croydon?
    Anyone remember this trip?
    I still have the cutting from the Croydon Advertiser "Last Steam Train To Brighton"
     
  5. pressforaction

    pressforaction New Member

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    I remember that Surrey Downsman railtour, as I had recently passed my (motorbike) driving test and chased the train around with my camera. My first photo was at Clock House, then again near Oxted, then up to Peckham Rye and finally at Tulse Hill. All those pictures have since, sadly, disappeared... I wonder where I obtained the timings in those pre-Internet days?
     
  6. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Timings were probably published by the tour organiser weeks in advance, and the railway magazines of the time.
     
  7. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Are you able to post a copy of the newspaper cutting here?

    I have long forgotten that another pacific went through Elmers End, so remember nothing about that trip.

    It's on Six Bells Junction which tells us that 34089 was the booked loco, but on the day a filthy 34108 turned up!

    19th March 1967 by the way.
     
  8. Bulleidfan

    Bulleidfan New Member

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    Yes, Bryan, it's a bit yellowed and the photo is not clear enough to read the loco number, shows it at Selsdon, but will attempt to copy and post it as soon as I can,
    Dave
     
  9. Bulleidfan

    Bulleidfan New Member

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    Further to the previous post, I found this site (link below) which mentions both tours and has a photo of the 34102 Lapford tour...............which was the last steam loco to be seen at Oxted, according to the Oakwood Press book on the Oxted Line.
    Incidentally, I was a signalman at Oxted, but in later days, 1971-74.......and was a South Eastern relief clerk later and became the last person ever to work in Bingham Road ticket office, I remember having to take the NCR cash register, all remaining ticket stock, and the station float away to Addiscombe Station, also now closed!
    http://www.jb.btinternet.co.uk/pages/WSCRmain.htm
     
  10. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Lovely story, superb link. The link shows 34102 on the 5th March 1967 railtour!

    Thank you!
     
  11. kelal

    kelal New Member

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    The Surrey Downsman - yes that brings back happy memories. I was on the tour and have photographs and tape recordings of the day.I don't seem to have kept any timings but I hae the nicely produced LCGB booklet in front of me now which gives a very detailed description of the route. I used to do a lot of tape recording in those days, and I remember this tour as being particularly good for that, particularly the standard 4 accelerating away from stops. Happy days!
    Patrick
     
  12. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    It's just great to find other Surrey Downsman people are on Nat Pres! Made my day.

    Be nice to see any photos etc that people can post here.
     
  13. 50002

    50002 Member

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    From what I remember timings were not known that far in advance, but being a member of the main tour sponsorong organisations certainly helped - you might call it 'insider information; and if you could give one of the tour commitee members a lift to a good photo spot that would cetainy pay dividends.
     
  14. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Certainly as a member of the RTCS I always seemed to have the info well in advance...
     
  15. 22A

    22A Well-Known Member

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    I remember an editorial in "Steam Railway" about 1966ish demanding rail enthusiasts become more realistic with their requests as there had been too many instances of locos being worked from one end of the country to the other specifically to haul an excursion. Anyone know which locos / tours the editorial referred to please? I don't recall A4s at Evercreech nor Merchant Navies at Aberdeen.
     
  16. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Don't remember any major problems with locos being moved around for railtours. But then I mainly stuck to SR locos on SR tours!
     
  17. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    No but you did get an A4 to both Weymouth and Exeter in 1966 (both 60024), an A2 to Exeter and Holyhead in 1966 (both 60532), MNs to Carlisle (35012 in 1964) and Newcastle (35026 in 1966), and an ex SR 4-4-0 to Tywyn to name a few. I suspect there were many more.
     
  18. std tank

    std tank Part of the furniture

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    Didn't 45562 Alberta pull a special to somewhere in the mining area north of Newcastle in 1966/67?
     
  19. 50002

    50002 Member

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    There was the case of V2 60919 being brought down from Scotland to work a Waterloo - Weymouth tour for the LCGB in July '66 I think it was. It didn't, instead it spent most of the day chasing the tour light engine in the hope it would at least one stage, but 34002 on the tour itself did its best to sound like a V2, I was one of the lucky ones - actually got to see 60919 move - just on to Basingstoke shed though!
     
  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yes it was the Green Arrow Rail Tour (quite a misnomer!) on 3 July 1966. A day with some good moments - for example Basingstoke to Salisbury (36 miles) in 34 min 22 sec with 88 mph through Andover. Then there was the ride through Weymouth behind 41298 to the Quay station. Sadly, what could have been a spirited run back from Bournemouth with 34002 turned into something rather ordinary. I think I'd have preferred the V2 on the way back!
     

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