Returning to Grantham

[Andy W]

The WR EE Type 3 engines (both the RSH and EE builds) did their acceptance runs from Doncaster Works so presumably that was the empty stock trip seen on that day.

[DaveF]

A couple of photos of Dad's from the early 50s at Grantham:

Grantham A1 60119 Patrick Stirling up ex pass early 1950s

Grantham 60053 early 1950s In BR blue livery, coach beyond is in teak.

David

[61070]

Thanks for these two evocative pictures Dave. I've been trying to make out the smaller wording on the running-in board (when we were there in the '60s the BR enamel sign in the same position simply said 'GRANTHAM').
Is it:

CHANGE FOR NOTTINGHAM
SLEAFORD, BOSTON
AND LINCOLN ?

[strang steel]

Thanks for these two evocative pictures Dave. I've been trying to make out the smaller wording on the running-in board (when we were there in the '60s the BR enamel sign in the same position simply said 'GRANTHAM').
Is it:

CHANGE FOR NOTTINGHAM
SLEAFORD, BOSTON
AND LINCOLN ?

Yes John, I think that is correct. At least that is the same conclusion I came to as well.

And yes great photos, especially the colour one. I am surprised the loco is so close to the departing train. Do you think it may have been assisting with the start, for some reason or another?

[DaveF]

Thanks for these two evocative pictures Dave. I've been trying to make out the smaller wording on the running-in board (when we were there in the '60s the BR enamel sign in the same position simply said 'GRANTHAM').
Is it:

CHANGE FOR NOTTINGHAM
SLEAFORD, BOSTON
AND LINCOLN ?

I've had a look at the original print (Dad lost his negatives in a house move I think), it is no clearer than the scan.

I think you are right, but I would have expected Skegness to feature, but none of the words look long enough.
I can't find another Grantham photo (there are a good number in the albums he left me) which shows a running-in board, nor can I find one in any of my books.

David

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Thank you for sharing, your dads photo's, the blue A3, in colour is a great surprise, can't be many of them about

Re: loco following close behind departing train, some drivers like to follow very close to the departing train, I have been with drivers who have been only 3' behind the rear coach all the way along the platform at KX, while others will wait until the train is halfway along the platform, before they move, I think it may depend on how close they are to knocking off

manna

[rob237]

... I am surprised the loco is so close to the departing train. Do you think it may have been assisting with the start, for some reason or another?

Almost certainly idling up to the Yard Box splitter signal, by following the departing stock.
Then to await taking over a later KX working...
Saw this trailing manoevre several times in the 50's.
Cheers
Robt P.

[ianwales]

Hi all

What a fantastic thread this is, I am anoher who would dearly love to have the space to model Grantham, as it happens I am building a OO gauge model that I can work as and give me a bit of the flavour of Grantham, I wonder if someone on here would have the answer to a question I have.

I've recently come across a couple of photos showing an evening High Dyke to Aldwarke fitted iron ore train, one of which has an A3 on the front and the other had an A1, my question is, how did this loco get to High Dyke to work this train, what was its previous working, is it a loco that would have come off a train at Grantham?

Ian

[61070]

Hello Ian,

Thanks for your compliments. Though I kicked the thread off it's the many contributors who have made it, so thanks to them and welcome to you!

I can't answer to your question but there has been discussion on the High Dyke branch and the ironstone traffic, including the fitted pacific-hauled trains to Aldwarke, at:

high-dyke-frodingham-iron-ore-route-t3466s0.html

high-dyke-branch-t3620.html

Hope this helps.

[61070]

... I am surprised the loco is so close to the departing train. Do you think it may have been assisting with the start, for some reason or another?

Almost certainly idling up to the Yard Box splitter signal, by following the departing stock.
Then to await taking over a later KX working...
Saw this trailing manoevre several times in the 50's.

Interesting to see a variation on this theme illustrated in the current issue of British Railways Illustrated (Jan 2012), page 166, top photo - 60083 in 1955, en route to the shed having just come off an up train, is alongside the down platform facing south and has reversed back towards the rear of a down passenger train. The train it had brought in is still in the up platform alongside.

[61070]

Last year I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman who had been a cleaner and fireman at Grantham between 1948 and 1954, when he left the railway. He's allowed me to copy a few photographs that he took during this period and has given permission for them to be used here. Here are three of ex-GN locos. The Atlantic, 62822, became the last C1 in normal service and hauled the Ivatt Atlantic Special betwen King's Cross and Doncaster as its swansong on 26 November 1950.

[strang steel]

If anyone obtains a copy of Lincolnshire Railway Memories by Paul Anderson, you will find three more photographs of 62822 at Grantham, while working local trains to Boston in 1950 with similar looking coaching stock.

It would seem that this was a regular working for the Atlantic in the last year before withdrawal.

[workev]

Hi folks,

Back after a break!

Does anybody know if an O1 made it to Grantham? I jave asked on the Locomotives thread how similar an O1 is to an O4, just wondered if any made it to 34F?

Ian

[strang steel]

If you mean allocated to Grantham, then the answer is no.

However, if you mean present on Grantham shed at any time, then the answer is 'possible' although I dont remember seeing any photos of one there, but there were a few at Colwick for a time.

As Colwick had regular turns to New England and locos do fail from time to time, I suppose it is possible that one may have appeared there for a day or so.

[DaveF]

I can't help on 01s but while looking through Dad's photos I did come across these of A4s just north of Grantham:

No, it's not, It is probably 60019 Bittern - (Edited by DaveF - twice)

They may be of interest.

Sorry about the image quality.

David