Returning to Grantham

[strang steel]

I was missing a couple of 1959 Trains Illustrateds until yesterday when I managed to buy the ones I needed on Ebay.

The April 1959 issue contains a real gem, as apparently on Feb 3rd 1959 Q6 0-8-0 63397 was noted passing south through Newark on a pick up freight.

There is no guarantee that this working reached Grantham, but if it did (which must be highly likely - there is no mention of the train taking the Bottesford route) it adds another class of loco to the ever increasing number that have visited Grantham.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

I wonder how for south it did get,....New England!!

manna

[strang steel]

Another interesting note in the Nov 1955 Trains Illustrated, given all that we have debated about the Nottingham services not being a regular dmu working.

"Lightweight diesel railcars commenced regular operation on the Grantham - Nottingham line from September 19 1955"

I presume they must not have been a success for some reason or other. More late night reading is necessary I think.

[deltic9013]

My research suggests that 35026 worked back from Newcastle to York and then onwards to Kings Cross on 22.10.66. Could this be confirmed? The 25/26th June Aberdonian would indeed have past through Radcliffe on Trent on its way from Botteford to Nottingham which I guess is when I observed it. This confirms the date. Thanks Ian!

[workev]

No problem, I think I just found an excuse for a 1962/3 railtour through Grantham using 35026....

Most railtours through Grantham in the early 60s were obviously dominated by A3/A4s with the odd A1.

I have managed to secure a Keith Pirt Slide of 70041 south of Retford in August 1958, presumably on one of the Newcastle-KX workings picked up by John (strang steel) in his magazine research.

When I get it I'll try and upload it.

On a side topic, whilst the copyright I think remains with K.R. Photographics, I can find no trace of it on the internet; anybody know how to find out who owns the copyright to Keith Pirt's work, as I am slowly building up a collection of his slides around Grantham?

Ian

[strang steel]

I would suggest that maybe Book Law Publications have some rights over Keith Pirt's work. They seem to have published a number of his colour portfolio volumes over the last 7 or 8 years.

Trains Illustrated is still providing some gems,

On 5th September 1955 Inverness Black 5 no 44783 was noted on Grantham shed, but the report does not mention how it managed to get there.

[60129 GUY MANNERING]

Book Law at Nottingham did in fact buy Keiths Collection and therefore presumably the copywright to the photographs. I had a chat to them at an Exibition or in the shop one day about our recollections of a dear friend lost.
Regards.

[adge]

Another interesting note in the Nov 1955 Trains Illustrated, given all that we have debated about the Nottingham services not being a regular dmu working.

"Lightweight diesel railcars commenced regular operation on the Grantham - Nottingham line from September 19 1955"

I presume they must not have been a success for some reason or other. More late night reading is necessary I think.

In the years when I used the service reguarly the motive power was usually an A5 4-6-2 Tank until they were withdrawn and replaced by L1 2-6-4 Tanks. When the L1s went around 1962, DMUs were more common.
IIRC the DMUs were used initially mainly at weekends, when Derby had a few to spare. Even when they were more readily available and did the bulk of the work, Colwick would still turn out whatever was hanging around the shed to get the job done - in typical Colwick/Annesley fashion.

[rob237]

... Colwick would still turn out whatever was hanging around the shed to get the job done - in typical Colwick/Annesley fashion...

Perhaps the most unusual performer on a late 50's Nottm-Grantham turn, seen at Bingham, was B1 61217...long-time resident of 68E, Carlisle Canal!
Cheers
Robt P.

[deltic9013]

When I moved to Radcliffe on Trent in April 1964 virtually all the local Nottingham Victoria to Grantham services were in the hands of Derby Heavyweight, later class 114 DMUs in the E50000-E50049 and 56000-56049 series. Oh what I wouldn't give for a ride to Grantham on one of these units now, yet we despised them at the time. Steam workings to Skegness through Radcliffe from Nottingham and return were common at the time on summer time seaside specials usually hauled by a B1. 61250 A. Harold Bibby was noted on more than one occasion. Some of these even stopped at Radcliffe and I remember walking up the long platform with Frank the porter pulling the chains of the gas lamps to light up the platform in readiness for a later arrival of a much longer train than usual. I guess these services would have bypassed Grantham via Allington Junction? Coming into Grantham from Bottesford on a class 114 running parallel to the banked mainline was always a time of anticipation as on more than one occasion a southbound deltic would swoop round the curve in respendent two tone green-great memories!

[adge]

Coming into Grantham from Bottesford on a class 114 running parallel to the banked mainline was always a time of anticipation as on more than one occasion a southbound deltic would swoop round the curve in respendent two tone green-great memories!

the old song springs to mind 'Born Too Late'....... I'm surprised that coaches on the L1 hauled Vic-Grantham local as it came in didn't tilt over as we all dashed to one side to catch a glimpse of the ECML after the cries of 'Streak'.... but then the groans as it was Andrew K McCosh -again!

[deltic9013]

Not born too late unfortunately but arrived in the Grantham area too late! Steam had finished on passenger express duties but the Deltics were impressive machines even so. My steam days were spent in the Derby area and included Jubilees, the odd Royal Scot, crabs, black fives etc. Grantham must have been an awsome place to be in those days when engines were changed as a matter of routine.
Simon

[strang steel]

When I moved to Radcliffe on Trent in April 1964 virtually all the local Nottingham Victoria to Grantham services were in the hands of Derby Heavyweight, later class 114 DMUs in the E50000-E50049 and 56000-56049 series. Oh what I wouldn't give for a ride to Grantham on one of these units now, yet we despised them at the time.

I think that once certain lines closed to passengers:- Lincoln-Boston direct, Lincoln-Grantham via Honington, then Lincoln depot began to have a few more spare units, and their allocation of the Cravens versions helped as well. I know that during the mid 60s it was rare to see anything other than a 114 or 105 on the Nottingham services for a few years.

A little later, when longer distance stopping services began to appear, other classes filtered through.

[stockton39]

What about the unusual visit of GWR locos, 5006 Treganna Castle & 5045 Bridgwater Castle (later renamed Earl of Dudley) on 14th February 1937.
Having arrived at Nottingham Victoria on specials, they were found to be to big for the turntable there, so ran light engine to Grantham for turning.
Discovered this information whilst researching in NRM today.

[strang steel]

Blimey, that would have been an eye opener. My Dad used to tell me of all the named engines he saw, but I bet those two weren't among them and I probably would never have believed him if he had been there on the day.

Thanks for that info. It goes to prove that for modelling purposes there is almost always a believable excuse for running the occasional unusual loco.

(On a tangenital note, I am sure that I have read somewhere of a D49 turning up at Sheffield Victoria on a train from Hull, but I cant remember where I found that report).