For Modellers

[Malcolm]

One last one for today.

Malcolm

[hq1hitchin]

Thanks for another variety selection Malcolm, two of them are of particular interest to me:-
The Farringdon Flower Show; can anyone tell me what a diesel shunting loco would be doing down there??
(Incidentally, we all acknowledged the efficiency of the "Underground", but to provide a look-out for the daisy waterer seems a bit over the top.
P.Way work at King's Cross,1930; that signal between the crane and the camera, the arm appears to be tapered and I keep thinking of the USA style of motorised upper quadrant that was introduced in some areas between the wars. Can any signalling specialist confirm this, or is it my clapped-out eyesight again?
We all hope that the flu is abating.
Alec.

Snow Hill banker, I think Alec. The Farriongdon St. goods depot was severely damaged in the blitz, can you remember what it was like in your time? Yes, very glad to learn that your flu has gone, Malcolm, do they have free healthcare in Japan, as a matter of interest?

[Malcolm]

Free health care? Free? What's that?
No such thing over here.

Most health insurance schemes involve the patient paying 30 percent.

Malcolm

[wehf100]

Great photos. I have done a fair bit of research into Grimsby Commercial docks, and had not seen the VERY instructive picture of the Coal unloading machinery. I'm sure no one is THAT interested, but it is the Northernmost hoist of the two built for the 'new' Alexandra dock, to the west of the older 'Royal' dock. They were out of use very quickly after the opening of Immingham, not just because Immingham hoists could managed twice as much coal, but also because the lock to access Alexandra docks was a notorious bottleneck (one that was not widened until the 1970's). The dock was used primarily for the unloading of timber, as can be very vaguely made out in the photograph. I believe the ex- coal hoists were kept in place for a few years an may even have become associated with the handling of timber. By 1936 the northern hoist was described as un=used, and the southern-most as dismantled.

Incidently, the photograph of brickpit sidings is taken only a few hundred yards away to the north of the hoists.

cheers for the photos. Any more of Grimsby?!?!?

Will

[Malcolm]

Re: Grimsby,

Only these ones.

Malcolm.

[lead_plug]

I wondered if it could be the banker because the engine spur appeared unoccupied. Although he is much further along the platform than we ever went in order to use the crossover. Perhaps he was returning to Depot.
In steam days we were provided with N1's. I recollect that we took out a fresh engine in time for the start of the evening freight session. Strangely enough it was provided by Top Shed, we had to go there passenger from Hornsey, pick up the prepared engine and toddle off to the murky depths. KX had a couple of N1's earmarked for the job, both with reliable sanding gear. On some N1's, leaks in the bunker tank caused havoc with the back sands, and the crew's personal effects when stood on the top of the tanks.

Regarding Farringdon Depot, it was not one of my favourite destinations indeed I very rarely seemed to have gone there. We were provided with "Starvers" (J 52) for the job, these were condensing 0-6-0ST's designed by Patrick Stirling and given a domed boiler by Mr Gresley. These used to thud and roll over the poor track and wagon turntables that seemed to abound in the dark dungeon of a place. I can't remember any details of the track layout, could be because I never had to get off the engine to make tea there. We were in and out in very short time.
My first ever train driving effort was on the Farringdon one night. For some inexplicable reason the driver decided that I should find out what it was all about (I was a passed cleaner at the time) and changed sides at the Met station. I had previously seen the debris from a Midland man's mistake - a wagon pulled into two halves by a coupling snatch on the approach to Farringdon St. and was scared of doing the same. My entry into the depot felt like going into the unknown- it's different when the responsibilty is yours for the first time.
And I was never at my best when creeping about the tunnels at 3 am! Still, all ended without disaster.

Regarding war damage, I believe that Farringdon Street Depot was damaged by a V2 rocket - or was it Smithfield? Could someone consult that recently published book on London railways damaged by enemy action for me?
Alec

[Malcolm]

Another one of coaches for the modellers amongst you (shame about the golfers).

Malcolm

[Bill Bedford]

Another one of coaches for the modellers amongst you (shame about the golfers).

Malcolm

Have you any more info on the location of this shot?

[Malcolm]

Bill,

The picture is supposed to show golfers driving from the 16th tee of Ilford Golf course, which was built next to a railway embankment. I looked it up on Google Earth to see if I could find it and came up with the following satellite shot (Courtesy Google Earth).
The address of the club is:
Ilford Golf Club
291 Wanstead Park Road
Ilford
Essex
IG1 3TR.

Malcolm

[Bill Bedford]

Bill,

The picture is supposed to show golfers driving from the 16th tee of Ilford Golf course, which was built next to a railway embankment. I looked it up on Google Earth to see if I could find it and came up with the following satellite shot (Courtesy Google Earth).

That is odd. The stock is from a Harwich boat train, as it has 2nd class compartments, and yet it appears to be in a siding.

[Malcolm]

What is odd? That is listed as the location of the photo. Satellite picture appears to confirm.
GE coaching stock on a GE siding next to a golf course. There's no way we can ever find the reason. Why worry?

Malcolm

[hq1hitchin]

What is odd? That is listed as the location of the photo. Satellite picture appears to confirm.
GE coaching stock on a GE siding next to a golf course. There's no way we can ever find the reason. Why worry?

Malcolm

Malcolm/Bill


It looks like Ilford flyover in the pic with the dreaded Ilford hostel at the bottom - the name Aldersbrook sidings comes to mind - anyone confirm, although the whole layout altered completely when they built the flyover in the late 30s for the Shenfield electrification? .

[Bill Bedford]

What is odd? That is listed as the location of the photo. Satellite picture appears to confirm.
GE coaching stock on a GE siding next to a golf course. There's no way we can ever find the reason. Why worry?

What is odd is that stock that only ever worked between Liverpool St and Harwich is parked in a siding in Ilford. Did the LNER retain a spare ex GE Boat train set after the stock was up graded?

[hq1hitchin]

What is odd? That is listed as the location of the photo. Satellite picture appears to confirm.
GE coaching stock on a GE siding next to a golf course. There's no way we can ever find the reason. Why worry?

What is odd is that stock that only ever worked between Liverpool St and Harwich is parked in a siding in Ilford. Did the LNER retain a spare ex GE Boat train set after the stock was up graded?

Well, yes, I expect it was spare stock by the time the photo was taken and Ilford would be as good a place as any to store it. Thornton Fields would have been the main carriage stabling point at the London end of the G.E. but there would have been plenty of other locations where stock could be kept until needed.On the GN, for instance, there was New Southgate. So what is mysterious about it? In those days, believe it or not, the railways used to run relief trains....

[jwealleans]

What Bill's getting at, I think, is that it is still branded '2', when Second Class had been abolished on almost all trains years previously. The Harwich Boat Trains and some of the former Jazz services (?) were the only places it persisted under the LNER. OTTOMH.

So if this was now a spare set in general service the '2' branding should have been removed.

The photo may have been taken just after the set came off the Boat Train working of course.... from memory the LNER replaced the Harwich sets not long before WW 2; did they replace them prior to that?

I don't recall what the other workings which retained Second Class were - is it possible that this stock is from those instead?