A3s meet

[Deepol]

I've no details of locos, dates of where and when unfortunately but it's an interesting shot of two A3s about to pass each other with Pullmans.

[giner]

Sorry, can't help with any details, but I just wanted to say what a unique shot. I've certainly never seen one like it before. Thanks for posting it. I can't wait for some of the members with expert knowledge of such things to chime in.

[2002EarlMarischal]

What a great shot!

Well, just from looking closely at the photo, it seems that both A3's were single chimney with GN tenders. The nearest has the later BR totem emblem on the tender which I believe puts the photo after June 1957. Apart from Humorist, the A3's received double chimneys between June 1958 and January 1960 so I think we can narrow the photo down to a date between June 1957 and January 1960. That's the best I can do with my A3 knowledge.

As far as the train is concerned, the oncoming one appears to have coach boards which suggests a named train, but there is nothing on the Pullman on the nearest train.

Over to other members now.......

[2002EarlMarischal]

Could the trains be "The Queen of Scots"?

In 1952 the down train left Kings Cross at 12.05pm, reaching Glasgow at 9.02pm. The up left Glasgow at 10.50am. reaching Kings Cross at 7.50pm. Obviously they must have crossed somewhere.

Or maybe the "Yorkshire Pullman"?

[manna]

G'Day Gents

From the little bit of trackside fencing visible, I'm thinking more NE rather than GN.

manna

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

I wonder if it's near Beeston in Leeds Two tracks, deep cutting, fences a long way from the railway?

In which case we could be looking at either the QofS or the YP.

[S.A.C. Martin]

So the Pullman nearest the camera is "Car no.80" - what set was it in, during 1957-60?

It is a remarkable picture, and I personally have never seen a photograph of two A3s passing each other. It may be unique.

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Blowing the picture up, on the top A3 there is a figure standing in the doorway, with the door open (Pullman car) which to me would indicate that the trains are not moving very fast, and could be in the middle of a PW slack, did these trains run on Sunday !!

manna

[giner]

Wasn't it just the "Harrogate Sunday Pullman" that ran on Sundays? Would that fit the timeframe here?

[sirbrian]

Both locomotives in the photograph are 'blowing off' and neither locomotive is showing any exhaust. So I believe that we can conclude that both trains were stationary at the time that this photograph was taken. Perhaps the photograph was posed for an advertising or a publicity purpose.

Sir Brian

[52D]

Brian could be correct, my initial thoughts were dn QoS and up Tyne Tees pullman.

[harvester]

From the steam from safety valves my guess would be the "top" A3 is stationary and the nearest camera still traveling , maybe a pw slack? Could it be north of Leeds towards Harrogate and afternoon QOS? One A3 might even be Harvester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Must go and check timetables.

[StevieG]

" From the steam from safety valves my guess would be the "top" A3 is stationary and the nearest camera still traveling , maybe a pw slack? .... "

This comment got me thinking : Without any known relevance to previous theories on this, and possibly with no validity at all with the photo, but might this have been somewhere where double track became single, with the one train 'waiting for the road' while the other is just ambling off the single track section? ; - Or even an occasion/location where this was one end of a temporary period of 'Single Line Working', having much the same effects?

[harvester]

2002EarlMarischal not too sure about single chimneys, to me engine facing away seems to be double, well coaled too so could be heading away north from Leeds after an engine change and reversal at Central. Lots of leaves about and Rosebay Willow Herb so may be late spring/summer and checking timetable QOS would pass each other north of Leeds. Cannot see any signals but single track section maybe, was there any on the Wetherby section as I believe this was an occasional change of route to regain the ECML?. Oh well probably only about 200 miles out!!!!!!!!!!

[Bryan]

Just a thought.
Could it be the approach to Crimple curve between Pannal and Harrogate?
There is an overbridge approx 300yd Leeds side of the start of the curve, photographer could be standing on that. Making the near track the Down line.