KX train diagrams in the 1970s.

[hq1hitchin]

Bit of a very wild guess here hq1hitchin but is that relaying train standing on the down fast line at Brookmans Park with Hawkshead in the far background or is it standing on the up fast line just south of Marshmoor or neither there isn't much background to go on?.

Good old Ernie Cooper

Afraid not young man, it was somewhere between Langley Jcn and Watton in the dark days when there wasn't a passenger service. I think that finished in 1939 and wasn't restored until the mid 1970s?

[StevieG]

Last I heard of Ernie was that he could be found driving the miniature train round its mostly 'dumb-bell' shaped track at Vanstone's Garden Centre off the B656 about a mile north of Codicote. But that was probably ten years ago, and I heard quite indirectly that he had had some sort of contretemps involving a derailment, possibly involving speed.

One more Guard who was usually more than helpful to us in Control in keeping the job going, was (then - the mid-'70s) a little younger, also like Ernie somewhat on the short side, and pretty well known I think, but to a few of us including me, was known only as 'Cambridge John'.

[russelleldred]

http://gregdash.fotopic.net/p36356596.html Mr Impey himself.

Excellent! Don't have any photos of Dave but here's one of Hitchin driver Ron Saunders and another well known Hitchin character, Archie Lawrence, Relaying Inspector (extreme right). Notice the ambivalent approach to h.v. clothing - Archie has one in his jacket pocket, just in case...

Saw this the other week , then whilst going through some old stuff i found this ...... the legend that is Dave Impy at the controls of a class 31. When i say legend I truly mean it. I was in my early teens and Dave used to give us cab rides. I went to school in Enfield and was a member of the "railway museum" at Molewood (by the tunnel). You could here him coming for miles with his signature "On Ilkla Moor bar tat"

He inspired a whole new generation of rail enthusiasts who went on to various jobs on the rails as drivers ,Civil engineers and others who now own there own loco's

RIP Dave

Memories that will never fade for the rest of my life , sadly my sone will never experience the thrill of running down the Hertford branch light engine , hauling freight trains (8P50 was our regular turn) or rushing down the east coast mainline in a 47 thanks to H&S

[9001 St Paddy]

Memories that will never fade for the rest of my life , sadly my sone will never experience the thrill of running down the Hertford branch light engine , hauling freight trains (8P50 was our regular turn)

On one of the television episodes of Catweazle from 1970 Catweazle himself is seen entering one of the tunnels north of Hertford north station (i don't think it was Moleswood tunnel?) anyway moments later he came running out of the tunnel followed closely by a Brush type 2 with a short train of wagons and a brake van doing a ton (the films looks like it was speeded up a bit more) i have a feeling that could have been 8P50 but i would have to take another look at it again to be sure?.

D9001 St Paddy DELTIC POWER!!

[elydock]

Russell, thanks so much for posting your picture. Dave also gave me some brilliant (and fast cab rides) and is very responsible for my railway career. I got to know him very well and I'll never forget him or his kindness to us spotty youths.

[9001 St Paddy]

Kings Cross in 1971 or 72 i remember seeing a Deltic standing at the head of a waiting down express departure in the platform next to the old no.10 platform with the Deltics twin napier turbines humming away like a good un and shooting the exhaust skywards anyway wot grabbed my attention was the secondman who was about 5'-8'' or 5'-9'' tall with short'ish unkempt hair who looked in his mid/late 20s and who wore a blue bib & braces overall and must have weighed in somewhere between 20 & 22 stones and was excessively fat and just about squeezed in through the locos doorway when climbing on board?.

The driver was already sitting in the driver's seat so this particular fella wasn't a driver although he was either a 'top link' secondman or a passed fireman but i don't think he was a Kings Cross locoman cos i don't recall seeing him around the Cross so i assume he was a northerner?.

Anyone know who i'm describing?.

[hq1hitchin]

Thanks so much for the portait of Dave, Russell, it captures the man to a T. Have taken the liberty of sharing it with his former colleagues as I'm not aware of any other pics of the Hitchin legend. A lovely man, RIP

[elydock]

Here is one of mine taken in 1991 when he was on platform duties at Royston after his rough shunt at Hornsey. He retired soon after and I'll never forget him.

[8P50]

http://gregdash.fotopic.net/p36356596.html Mr Impey himself.

Excellent! Don't have any photos of Dave but here's one of Hitchin driver Ron Saunders and another well known Hitchin character, Archie Lawrence, Relaying Inspector (extreme right). Notice the ambivalent approach to h.v. clothing - Archie has one in his jacket pocket, just in case...

Saw this the other week , then whilst going through some old stuff i found this ...... the legend that is Dave Impy at the controls of a class 31. When i say legend I truly mean it. I was in my early teens and Dave used to give us cab rides. I went to school in Enfield and was a member of the "railway museum" at Molewood (by the tunnel). You could here him coming for miles with his signature "On Ilkla Moor bar tat"

He inspired a whole new generation of rail enthusiasts who went on to various jobs on the rails as drivers ,Civil engineers and others who now own there own loco's

RIP Dave

Memories that will never fade for the rest of my life , sadly my sone will never experience the thrill of running down the Hertford branch light engine , hauling freight trains (8P50 was our regular turn) or rushing down the east coast mainline in a 47 thanks to H&S

I was just researching the diagram for 8P50 that ran from Bounds Green to Hitchin in remembrance of my time driving the train (under supervision) from Dave Impey as a school kid and was pleasantly surprised to see this posting from my old chum Russ!
I have so many fond memories of trips in the cab with Dave and other drivers operating from KX, including me driving a Deltic light down the platform and running empty stock to Ferme Park in a 31, and I suspect that the reason for kids today like mine not having the same interest is they aren’t engaged in the ‘hands on’ way we were.
I get the whole H&S thing, but given all our adventures across the country riding trains, wandering around loco sheds uninvited, and generally venturing onto track areas we shouldn’t have, how many of us were killed or injured? Not too many I’m sure
I just visited the Spa Valley which is near me in Kent to see the Warship and McRat that was visiting, but neither could beat riding behind their Brush-2 and I shall never forget our last run out of Moorgate riding the final 31 pulled suburban stock to Hertford North fan fared in style on the run-around at the destination with a detonator chorus!
It’s all quite boring now by comparison.....

[thesignalman]

Saw this the other week , then whilst going through some old stuff i found this ...... the legend that is Dave Impy at the controls of a class 31.

The loco is 31217 and the photograph by Norman Cadge, taken 3/7/75.
https://433shop.co.uk/index.php?route=p ... ct_id=7105

John