A4 steaming through Oakleigh Park

[2562]

Couldn't resist posting this one. Do the signals and Box date the photo?
[img]A4%20Oakleigh%20Park.jpg[/img]

[strang steel]

I dont know, but would hazard a guess that the weather dates it to January 1963.

[Mickey]

Hey 2562 a "great picture" especially for showing the s/box cos there isn't that many of that box.

Around 1967-70 there use to be a regular signalman there (i didn't know him at all) maybe about 40-45? that always use to come to the open window whenever a stopping passenger train use to pull away from the up slow line platform, he was always dressed in B.R. trousers, shirt & westcote with a lever cloth in his hand, the picture of a old time signalman.

Could be the cold snowy winter of 1962/63?.

[giner]

Lovely photo, 2562. Thanks. Right in my first stomping grounds when we'd spend days on that footbridge halfway between the station and the tunnels. Unfortunately, it's obscured by smoke in the photo. Cheers.

[strang steel]

Could be the cold snowy winter of 1962/63?.

My thinking was that it is obviously a very cold day, not just because of the snow lying but because it is still on vertical surfaces such as the telegraph pole behind the signal box.

Given that it is winter, there is unlikely to be enough light (despite the reflective nature of snow cover) on an overcast day for colour photography except between about 11 am and 2pm.

So, the temperature is still well below freezing either late morning or early afternoon. Now I am not saying that days such as this did not occur in other winters, because they did, but they were much more common in Jan 1963 when most of England had a week where temperatures did not rise above freezing for the entire time.

So that is my best guess.

[60800]

Now for the hard part. Which A4 is it?

[giner]

Good luck with that, Blackout. Too dirty for a 34A loco?

That strong blue cast on the photo seems to be a characteristic of Kodachrome in winter scenes. I recall various family photos taken in snowy conditions that ended up like that. More than likely, though, the years have probably taken their toll as well. So I'm guessing at some cheapo 127 or Instamatic camera without any filters. That's what most of us seemed to have in those days.

[2562]

So I'm guessing at some cheapo 127 or Instamatic camera without any filters.

I'll have you know my Dad spent hours fiddling with light meters and exposure on his SLR! Family portraits used to take forever

I can confirm the Kodachrome bit. Good luck to anyone trying to ID the loco - I'm staring at the original and can't see any distinguishing marks!
Here are 2 more. The A3 may be in the same time frame, still a tough one to identify. No prizes on this A4 tho'

[strang steel]

The number of people on the tracks by the side of the A3 and the amount of snow still around suggested initially to me that it might be 60103s final trip in BR service, but I cant make out the smokebox number clearly enough to identify the loco.

It would make sense if the A3 photo was taken a short time after the Oakleigh Park one in Jan 1963.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Was there snow on the ground for 60103's last trip?

The last digit looks to me as though it could be a 7?

[strang steel]

Wikipedia says that 60103 ended its service with BR in Jan 1963, BB.

I have a video with it on somewhere, but I cant remember which one it is. However, I doubt there were many days in Jan 1963 when snow was not on the ground.

[giner]

So I'm guessing at some cheapo 127 or Instamatic camera without any filters.

I'll have you know my Dad spent hours fiddling with light meters and exposure on his SLR! Family portraits used to take forever

I can confirm the Kodachrome bit. Good luck to anyone trying to ID the loco - I'm staring at the original and can't see any distinguishing marks!
Here are 2 more. The A3 may be in the same time frame, still a tough one to identify. No prizes on this A4 tho'

A3 in the snow.jpg

Quicksilver.jpg

Sorry, Andy. I wasn't meaning to cast any aspertions on your Dad's photography. Indeed, I reckon he was a lucky fella to have an SLR and filters an' all. As I said, I think most of us cobbled along with a two-pounds-ten plastic Instamatic from Boots, which is why I came to the conclusion that I did. I only wish I'd used mine more for snapping photos of locos.

Got any more pics. to post?

[StevieG]

Couldn't resist posting this one. Do the signals and Box date the photo?
[img]A4%20Oakleigh%20Park.jpg[/img]
_________________
Regards,
Andy.

Hey 2562 a "great picture" especially for showing the s/box cos there isn't that many of that box.

Around 1967-70 there use to be a regular signalman there (i didn't know him at all) maybe about 40-45? that always use to come to the open window whenever a stopping passenger train use to pull away from the up slow line platform, he was always dressed in B.R. trousers, shirt & westcote with a lever cloth in his hand, the picture of a old time signalman.

Could be the cold snowy winter of 1962/63?.

For what it's worth 2562, the box and signals in this shot remained until about May/June 1970, when the Oak.Pk.-New Barnet resignalling was done (became the 1st part of the soon-after authorised King's Cross Resignalling scheme, which saw off all boxes from King's Cross to Biggleswade, the 'Hertford loop', and Hitchin-Royston).

Micky,
From visiting New Barnet South quite a lot during 1967-1970, there was only one regular man right through most of that time at Oak.Pk. ; - Freddy Freer, who I never met or saw : Always worked 'straight' on the block bells, which you had to remember whenever you were working with him in the next box in-switch. Latterly, there was the quite young Roger Gardiner who I visited once or twice (possibly after Mr.Freer if he retired before the box was abolished); and who then moved on to Elmswell box.

[StevieG]

" .... Here are 2 more. The A3 may be in the same time frame, still a tough one to identify. No prizes on this A4 tho'

A3 in the snow.jpg

Quicksilver.jpg

"

...of little value in dating, I'm sure, but the King's Cross signalling in the A3 photo remained until about Sept. '71, when control of most of it (not quite all; a few ground discs were abolished) was transferred from the old box at the end of plats. 5/6 to the present power signal box building.

[Mickey]

Sounds like Mr.Freer Stevie?. The fella that i remember seeing at Oakleigh Park was always dressed in a B.R.uniform of black trousers, white shirt & westcote with a lever cloth in his hand.

I am not quite sure if he lasted until the time that the s/box closed in late 1970 but i do recall him being there around 1967-68 maybe into 69?.