All aboard the Skylark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all

I have been given this photo by Colin Williams of the last Bulldog/Bird class locomotive at Swindon in 1951 on a SLS tour
http://www.steamlocomotives.photos.gb.n ... 37356.html

Anyone old enough to remember it?

Neil

 

Not quite born by then - but very interestingly the loco is coupled to a Collet 3000 gallon tender as more commonly used on 2251 class locos.

 

There are some excellent footplate reminicenses by Harold Gasson (Footplate Days, Firing Days, Steaming Days Pub. Oxford University Press) who was based at Didcot when Skylark was based there during the war and immediately afterwards. He talks about operating Skylark and I particularly remember when Gasson (with his father as driver-contrary to regulations) surprised some US soldiers with engine experience with what an old double framer could do with a troop train on the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line. Don't remember any reference to this train but they are a very good read.

 

The "Railway Magazine" for August 1951 carries a brief report about this SLS special. The train originated in Birmingham, and the correspondent comments that "Skylark" worked the five-coach train up to speeds of over 60 mph between Didcot and Swindon, and Leamington and Birmingham.
Agree about the Harold Gasson books mentioned above. At least two of these can often be picked up quite cheaply secondhand if you look around.

46118

 

Here's the details from Six Bells website


17th June 1951

Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area)
Bulldog Special

Loco Used "Bulldog" class no. 3454 'Skylark'

Route :

Loco Route
3454 Birmingham Snow Hill - Oxford - Didcot - Swindon
3454 Swindon - (?reverse of outward route?) - Birmingham

Neil

 

Yes, that's one of the best I've read, well worth getting hold of a copy if you can find it.

Gasson's books are a nice enough read... but need to be taken with a rather large dose of salt at times.

 

Interesting... why do you say that?

 

Over-dramatisation of events, detailed descriptions of situations he wasn't privvy to, in fact I believe there are one or two cases where he places himself firmly in the action, despite not having been present during the real events! He was well known on shed for having a reputation for tall tales.

But they do make for an enjoyable read.

 

More details are given on this railtour in the Stephenson Locomotive Society Journals for August 1951 and September 1951, which I have just extracted from my tame “black hole” filing system.

This confirms that the outward route was Birmingham Snow Hill (dep 10:20) – Leamington Spar (to pick up passengers) – Oxford (for shed visit, arr 12 noon, dep 12:30) – Didcot (for shed visit, arr 12:50, dep 13:24) – Swindon (14:00), “Syklark” being turned at Didcot. The load was reported to be five coaches, 157 tons tare and 220 passengers. On the outward route an S.L.S. member, O.S.Nock rode on the footplate. A speed of 60mph was recorded down Haton bank, with 54mph being recorded at Banbury and 51mph at one point on the main line between Didcot and Swindon.

At Swindon the party visited the works, Modern creations in the form of 18000, 75000 and 75001 were seen, together with other “Bulldogs”, “Saints”, “Stars” and the last “Duke” awaiting their fate in the cutting up sidings.

The return journey was a reverse of the outward route, (departing Swindon 18:00) except that it ran via the Didcot west curve. Leamington was reached 19 minutes early and Snow Hill (due back at 20:48) was reached 13 minutes ahead of time.

A look in the May 1951 Stephenson Locomotive Society Journal, the reveals that the fare for this railtour was £1, and that 150 passengers were need for the society to cover the costs.

 

A mainline trip behind a Bulldog, with shed visits, for a quid! Sounds like my kind of railtour...

Actually it seems pretty expensive.

 

William,

Very interesting. I know that the webmaster of the Six Bells Junction railtour files would appeciate this information to help fill in the blanks here: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/50s/510617sl.html

Adrian.

 

Yes, that's one of the best I've read, well worth getting hold of a copy if you can find it.

Gasson's books are a nice enough read... but need to be taken with a rather large dose of salt at times.[/quote:31zu6rvv]

I think many of those books need reading with a small pinch of salt. I enjoy reading them for all that though. Birmingham Footplateman is very good, though I did get a little lost towards the end because he doesn't mention the date very often!

Should we have a thread to name the books we enjoyed?

 

I must have about ten or so 'reminisence' books , used to look out for them on the stalls & shops. I think its really interesting to hear stories from ex footplatemen, I've heard HG s. are a bit far feched , but still a good read.
Also Terry Essery's books, & 'Engineman S.R. cant remember who by now, books up in loft, just moved! plus others, all worth a read.

 

Engineman SR is by Mike Jackman IIRC. Must read that again one of these days.

 

The Railway Magazine for July 1952, has on page 446, a photograph of "Skylark" being turned on the turntable at Didcot, while working the SLS Special on 17th June 1951. Given that arrival at Didcot for the shed visit was at 12:50, and departure for Swindon was at 13:24, this must have been smart work. I am suprised that the locomotive was turned in this way, as I would have thought that a trip round the triangle would have been quicker. The photo shows that at this time, the turnable at Didcot appears to be situated in a field, as beside the turntable (and locomotive) no railway lines or buildings can be seen, apart from two telegraph poles, although I assume that the west curve must be behind the trees in the distance.