Petrol-driven Gresley A4?.

[Bryan]

Why didn't I take more notice of the Southport line?
I used to live within sight of it and usually watched them passing while fishing in the lake under the footbridge.

[mr B]

Like us all at that age Bryan, fishing, motor bikes and GIRL's on your mind !

Mr B

[Bryan]

2 out of 3
Never had the motorbike

[Mickey]

As a seven year old when i saw the Ally Pally A4 in 1964 it was railways, railways, railways, railways, railways and more railways all the way!. And it's what i've been working at for the last 38 years since 1972. Micky GNR/LNER all the way...

[mr B]

It seems that loco Duke of Edinburgh and stock (built by Barlow) went to Knowsley Safari Park, the track sold of to Windmill Farm, then onto Southport when Windmill updated their stock.

Mr B...I'll stick to Arriva its free!

[Mickey]

15th May 2010. I had an A4 'in steam' pass the s/box this morning about 05:35 headed by a two tone green BR English Electric type-4 diesel pulling the A4 which was pulling a support coach heading for Kings Cross to work a special down the ECML. I was unable to see the name (i presume it was Union of South Africa?) because a class 66 pulling a freightliner passed the box at exactly the same time going in the other direction!!!. Damn damn damn... Micky

[Bryan]

Meant to be BITTERN actually.

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t10/t0515a.htm

[Mickey]

It crossed my mind that it may have been Bittern. That freightliner was passing in the other direction at exactly the sametime but hopefully she may come back tonight or tomorrow going back to Southall and then i can have a close up look at her as she passes by. Micky

[mr B]

Well Micky the Ally Pally streak was 46 years ago so you could have forgotton, but only to-day with the on set of 'old timers' you could be forgiven !!!

Mr B

[Mickey]

Thanks mr B. That b****y freightliner passing at exactly the sametime as Bittern was passing on the other road p****d me off the rest of the day!. Micky GNR/LNER all the way...

[Mick Berg]

I remember the miniature railway very well. I thought the A4 was a good replica of the real thing. There was a diesel or petrol engine in the tender, did that drive a generator? That I don't know. There was a signal gantry, and I think level crossing gates where the entrance to the Lake crossed the line.

When we were kids we would jump on the back of the train thus avoiding the fare, tuppence I think. One day the fairground guys who ran the train hid a couple of their heavies in the back seat and rumbled us when we tried to jump on!

On a sad note, I believe there was a fatal accident at some point in the railway's history. I'd be interested to know if anyone can confirm this.

I was very lucky to grow up very near to the Palace and Park. There were all kinds of interesting things to see and do.

Mick Berg.

[Mickey]

I remember the miniature railway very well. I thought the A4 was a good replica of the real thing. There was a diesel or petrol engine in the tender, did that drive a generator? That I don't know. There was a signal gantry, and I think level crossing gates where the entrance to the Lake crossed the line.

Mick Berg.

Yes i thought that the A4 loco was a 'good replica' as well but the pictures that i've seen of it on here it doesn't look how i remember it somehow but it was back in 1964 that i last had a ride on the Alley pally railway as a youngster so it probably looked realistic to me back then?.

Yes i also remember the signal gantry & level crossing as well.

The railway is long gone but if you walk around the back of the cafe and boat house you will see the brick work for the station platform which stands a couple of feet off the ground and runs for about 100 yards

[gordons19]

Was searching for info on the Ally Pally miniature railway and found this thread. I was there too in the early 50's and remember the A4 in brilliant shiny green with the name "Duke of Edinburgh'. Did most of the things such as bunking onto the back and you are right, there was an accident in 1954 where the train toppled over and killed 6 people.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Six people killed, that would be a major accident, then. Today that would get the H & S into the cardiac ward in milliseconds

Have you any more information !!!

manna

[gordons19]

Well funnily enough I've been thinking about it overnight. I read it somewhere on the web and yet searches on Alexandra Palace or accident, miniature railway etc have drawn a blank. I'll do some more searches and see if I can locate the forum again that mentioned it. I was surprised as that was 'my time' and feel sure I would have remembered it. I'm sure I didn't dream it....