C12s at Hatfield

[Cutter]

I believe that there were five C12s stationed at Hatfield in the 1920s for suburban services. Does anyone know the numbers of these locomotives or whether they retained their condensing systems or had had them removed?

[Hatfield Shed]

In the Griffiths and Hooper GNR engine sheds vol 1, 4534 without condensing gear is on shed at Hatfield (p51). Of course that doesn't necessarily mean it was one of the five regularly allocated C12s in the 1920s. There's an N2 immediately behind it so this undated pic is 1920 or later.

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all

Grabbing a few moments reading before an afternoon of sport, I looked in Yeadon and found the following:
4534, 4537, 4541, 4548, 4550 were at Hatfield from 1923-7.

Most had their condensing gear removed before grouping, but 4541 and 4550 kept theirs until later in the 1920's.

Earlswood nob

[Cutter]

This is all great information, and I appreciate both of your replies. Many thanks!

[Hatfield Shed]

Are you thinking of modelling Hatfield, or a location on one of its three branches? A somewhat neglected location for modelling projects, although there was a model of Smallford, near the end of BR operation, exhibited at this year's CMRA show.

[Cutter]

I am working on modeling Welwyn North c1925-35 in N gauge and will also run items close in era or region if they take my fancy. I just bought one of Atso's 3D printed C12 body shells--which has the tall funnel and dome of the early engines but is still in essence a GNR loco seen in my area in my period. I am a native of Welwyn Garden City who lived near Welwyn North for a while and commuted from it. It is only though the model railway project however that I have come to appreciate what an awesome station it was and how wonderful the surviving fragments are! I only know Hatfield from today's rather dull infrastructure but looking at old maps and photographs it must have been a remarkable station too.

[Hatfield Shed]

I was raised for a few years in Hatfield, within sight and fall out from the loco shed, and apart from absence for study have lived ever since in WGC within earshot of the ECML. (Even managed at one stage to bag myself an office with a view of the line during the final years of Deltic ops.)

The steam era Hatfield station was a thing to behold. The staggered platform layout, and the visible evidence of the three major stages of the up platform enlargement gave it considerable visual interest while waiting for the next of Doncaster's finest to run through. For a location that has everything: the ECML with the Grand Parade of Flamboyant Velocity that placed it Miles Beevor all other UK railways, a loco shed, four signalboxes, yards on East and West side, three branches, and on a canted curve with a running line track layout extravagantly equipped with point work and a fine signal gantry; and all this is compactly contained in little more than 700 yards, it is surprising that I have yet to see it modelled. (I am working on it (slowly) and so is a chap in Oz.)

Welwyn North too was lovely, and retains a hint of its charm despite the elimination of its yard and the 'garnish' of OHLE kit. When - what must be a dozen years ago - Ove Arup were running the local consultation on potential four tracking of the Welwyn viaduct and tunnels bottle neck, the proposal was to further vandalise Welwyn North. My alternative suggestion of engineering the fast through lines TGV style on a ramp double decked over the viaduct , and right over the top of the little Chiltern humps, caused a degree of excitement in the meeting...

[Mickey]

I am a native of Welwyn Garden City who lived near Welwyn North for a while and commuted from it. It is only though the model railway project however that I have come to appreciate what an awesome station it was and how wonderful the surviving fragments are! I only know Hatfield from today's rather dull infrastructure but looking at old maps and photographs it must have been a remarkable station too.

Yes i have to agree with you cutter about Welwyn north station i have fond memories of 'biking it' after school on a number of afternoons from my house in WGC at that time to Welwyn north station between 1968-1971 usually to watch the evening peak out of Kings Cross between 5:00-7:00pm which in those far off days consisted of Deltics, Brush type 2s & 4s and the odd EE type 4 (class 40) also Craven & Rolls Rovce dms. Usually i would stand just down from the s/box on the Down side of the line by the boundary fence or i would stand near the end of the Down platform watching the signalman ringing the block bells and pulling the signal levers all very exciting stuff for a railway mad teenage youngster back then i even remember seeing the Hawker Siddeley's HS4 000 KESTREL loco at the head of the evening Leeds Pullman's thundering northwards through the station on several occasions as well back in 1970.

Also both WGC & Hatfield stations were still very interesting places in the late 1960s and into the early 1970s before the coming of the colour light re-signalling in 1973 and a couple of years later G.N. Electrification in the mid 1970s when it all became so very boring!!.

[Cutter]

Great memories. I've been looking at old maps and photos of Hatfield and can see that it makes for a impressive subject--just too large for me. I have reduced Welwyn North to 11' in N gauge, but cannot make it any shorter and don't yet know where I can build it! With curves at each end to complete the double loop it will be 3' x at least 15', with the main lines emerging from the tunnel at one end and running onto the beginning of the (curved) viaduct at the other. There will be room for virtually all of the station buildings (no stables or forage shed), the coal yard and much of the beehive works. There will not sadly be room for the Cowper Arms!

[Eightpot]

Like 'Hatfield Shed', I have connections with Hatfield although living a little further south at Brookmans Park. However, my Grandmother lived there in Stonecross Road (Number 12) until the mid-1960s, and next door at No. 14 was Joe Deeley, a Driver at 34C. Early 1950s there was enough shunting work to justify two J52s, 68867 and 68885 (the latter withdrawn first), and a couple of J67/J69 whose numbers I have forgotten. Memory is that the latter class were more used in the Up sidings - can anyone confirm that?