Returning to Grantham

[workev]

John,

The working of 70037 going north seems to have been so unusual there are a few shots of it at Grantham.

Another B16 shot as well, so maybe this was not as uncommon as we think.

I seem to recall that a discussion re 70000 was on here before, and the was the same one, obviously not Grantham, but maybe the working in 1963 threw up a few Brits.

Need to find a WTT now and look at what th eworking was.

Ian

[workev]

John,

Well I've been looking for an excuse to get an 8F on my layout (especially a Doncaster built one as well, 48534), so I think you may well have given me one. Though not conclusive as you say, there may have been a chance....

John (61070) will no doubt have spoken to many 34F folks who may or may not have confirmed it. Whilst I have seen photos of 43xxx locos, I have never seen mention of other standard classes on shed, let alone an entire weekend.

Ian

[strang steel]

1957 might have just been a taster, but 1958 has become something of a jackpot year for unusual workings.

Although my biggest shock was looking at the Jan 1958 TI which has reports back dated for about 8 weeks due to publication deadlines.


Nov 25th 1957 49417 pass Sleaford with Frodingham iron ore service, returned on empties the next day TI 01/58

Once again, there is no mention of the service originating at High Dyke and given that the
0-8-0s home shed was Rugby, it is more than likely to have come from the Belvoir direction, but I have never heard of an LNW 0-8-0 on a Frodingham train. I wonder where they found the crew who knew the loco and the route?

Lots of excuses for extra variety in 1958:-

Feb 1958 (first 3 weeks) M79128+M79683 Grantham-KX ATC test train TI 4/58

Mar 1st 1958 62061 pass Boston on High Dyke-Frodingham iron ore service TI 5/58
I wonder how a K1 fared up the 'hill' at Ancaster?

Mar 4th 1958 61417 9.0p.m. Newcastle-KX class C freight RO 4/58

Jun 30th 1958 u.i.d J39+31737 working from Ashford to Tweedmouth RO 8/58
Has anyone a clue as to why an ex-SR D1 4-4-0 would need to be at Tweedmouth?

July 5th 1958 73010 7.15a.m. Yaxley-York class C freight RO 8/58

July 7th 1958 70040 u.i.d. class F working comprising 27 “decrepit” brake vans RO 8/58

Aug 8th 1958 61454 down fitted freight TI 10/58

Aug 11th 1958 D207 at Boston on a trial High Dyke-Frodingham iron ore train TI 10/58

Aug 14th 1958 60507 5.15p.m. Hull-KX as far as Grantham, returning on 6.35p.m. ex KX RO 9/58
I wonder how many Grantham spotters were never believed when they said they had seen Highland Chieftan at the station?

Aug 16th 1958 61460 10.28a.m. KX-Scarborough RO 10/58 TI 10/58

Aug 23rd 1958 70003 11.18a.m. KX-Hull 2.45p.m. return RO 10/58 TI 10/58

Aug 23rd 1958 70037 u.i.d Doncaster-KX parcels TI 10/58

Aug 25th 1958 70003 9.45p.m. KX-Doncaster goods RO 10/58

Aug 28th 1958 70041 up Car Sleeper TI 10/58

Aug 29th 1958 70041 12.0 KX-Newcastle RO 10/58

Sep 3rd 1958 70041 5.35a.m. Newcastle-KX RO 10/58

Nov 13th 1958 61657 5.12a.m. Doncaster-Grantham class J freight RO 12/58

[kudu]

31737 is the preserved Wainwright D, withdrawn in 1956.

Presumably it wasn't in steam.

Was Tweedmouth used to hold locos pending restoration, perhaps? Seems a long way to go, though.

Kudu

[52D]

An excellent spot of the J39 towing an interloper to Tweedmouth, there were three Southern locos stabled in the roundhouse while the old York museum was being refurbished. Note all the locos have their rods off for towing.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1 ... =1&theater

[workev]

So at least 4 different Brits in 1 week in August 1958, and others previosuly.

B16s now seem to be common place at that time, and a B17 to Grantham!

I assume the more unusual locos were all substitutes, would be good to see what these were as well in time.

John, thanks for your efforts here, very much appreciated.

Ian

[strang steel]

Thanks Ian, I enjoy browsing through these old magazines, they contain a wealth of information which is invaluable.

From what I have read, it would seem that Doncaster works began to overhaul a number of Britannias in 1958, certainly the occasional one or two appear on works visit lists. The ex-works locos seemed to be used on various fast freight or parcels workings presumably as advanced running-in turns.

70041 is an exception though as that appears to have been a regular on Newcastle passenger workings for a week or so.

[workev]

John,

Is there any mention of whether 70041 hauled the whole journey, or was it taken off anywhere? They could have been undertaking a trial of course.

Would so many Brits have been released from works in such a short time?

It seems thet were on Up and Down workings. Is it linked to any issues with normal locos at this time?

70010 and 70040 were based at Norwich whilst the others were at Stratford at this time.

Interesting stuff!

Ian

[Solario]

Dec 15th 1956 60519 on Clarence Yard-Hull freight through Grantham TI 2/57

With my interest in Hull railways, I noticed this entry in SS's list.
Unless I am very much mistaken, Clarence Yard is Tees side, so what on earth was a Hull bound train doing in Grantham?
A mistake by Trains Illustrated maybe?
Maybe missed its turning?

[strang steel]

70038 is listed as being out of Doncaster works in Dec 1957, 70039 70010 Feb 1958, 70003 March 1958, 70008 70035 April 1958, 70009 70030 70011 May 1958, 70002 June 1958, 70040 July 1958, 70041 70037 August 1958, 70012 October 1958, and then there are none until Feb 1959.

Unusual steam workings seem to be much less reported during 1959, as observers appear to be concentrating on the movements of the shiny new diesels.

[strang steel]

Dec 15th 1956 60519 on Clarence Yard-Hull freight through Grantham TI 2/57

With my interest in Hull railways, I noticed this entry in SS's list.
Unless I am very much mistaken, Clarence Yard is Tees side, so what on earth was a Hull bound train doing in Grantham?
A mistake by Trains Illustrated maybe?
Maybe missed its turning?

There are/were a number of Clarence Yards dotted around the country. I am not an expert in the geography of the area (unlike others on this forum) but I took this reference to mean the Clarence Yard close to Finsbury Park.

[workev]

John,

So it seems that 70041 was being run on on the Newcastle-KX runs, and maybe 70037 on the parcels; does'nt explain the others though, especially 70003 and 70010 unless thet required remedial attention taht could not be undertaken at Stratford works.

Keep up the good work!

Ian

[strang steel]

John,

So it seems that 70041 was being run on on the Newcastle-KX runs, and maybe 70037 on the parcels; does'nt explain the others though, especially 70003 and 70010 unless thet required remedial attention taht could not be undertaken at Stratford works.

Keep up the good work!

Ian

I know that we are in danger of drifting off topic here, but I think you are right because throughout 1958 there are no details of any Britannias having a heavy overhaul at Stratford, despite there being monthly reports of the locos that were repaired.

This is surprising to me, as I just assumed they would go there.

Many ex-works Doncaster locos were sent on a trip to Barkston and back, but it would seem that brand new diesels mostly of the Brush 2, BRCW 2 and NBL 2 classes were doing this on a regular basis, so maybe they just put the more reliable ex-works steam locos on more mundane timetabled workings?

However, there are no clues as to where the Brits changed engines, if they did.

[workev]

It's always struck me as strange that more Brits were not seen at Grantham, especially when some were based at Immingham and March.

Its good to see that a little old detective work reaps dividends though, B16s and at least one B17 are new to me.

The very fact that the Nottingham-Boston line passed within a few miles of Grantham, with all the variety that would bring, does not get much of a mention here, and neither do running-in turns from Doncaster. One the Marsden 32 DVD there is a sequence showing an A4 at Essendine suffering from a hot-box and having to limp back to Doncaster.

So the stuff you are finding out now shed some light on what obviously were turns that did not involve 34F crews.

Ian

[rob237]

...The very fact that the Nottingham-Boston line passed within a few miles of Grantham, with all the variety that would bring, does not get much of a mention here, and neither do running-in turns from Doncaster..

The Nottm-Boston traffic, via Barkston, perhaps provided less variety than you would think...
Primarily East Midlands based B1's,K2's and K3's.

The Donny running-in turns invariably turned back to the Plant via the Barkston triangle.
I've often mentioned the workings on here...with little response...

Cheers
Robt P.