Returning to Grantham

[61070]

Andy - welcome to the thread. That's a wonderful photo, and a rare one I'm sure. Thank you very much for sharing it here. Those cleaners look a determined bunch - they've done a marvellous job on No. 1418 and surely would go on to make good firemen and drivers.

The location certainly has the 'feel' of Grantham about it and could well be looking north, towards Grantham North box in the far distance, as you suggest. I'll see if I can find anything that could make identification more certain, and hopefully there are others on here who will be able to give fact and opinion.

If you have any more it would be great to see them.

[61070]

Attached is a screen print from the Old Maps website. It appears to confirm that Grantham is a very likely location for your photograph. I've indicated where the photographer could be, a possible location for No. 1418 (which is the area where locos would stand when prepared and ready to go off the shed), and the line of sight through to the North box, showing features which appear on the map. The map is from 1904 but the 1931 edition shows little, if any, change in the track layout of that area (I suspect the photo would date from broadly within that period). Let me know what you think.

[Andy@34F]

Attached is a screen print from the Old Maps website. It appears to confirm that Grantham is a very likely location for your photograph. I've indicated where the photographer could be, a possible location for No. 1418 (which is the area where locos would stand when prepared and ready to go off the shed), and the line of sight through to the North box, showing features which appear on the map. The map is from 1904 but the 1931 edition shows little, if any, change in the track layout of that area (I suspect the photo would date from broadly within that period). Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the welcome. Looking at the map it probably would fit. I was unsure initially because of the way the embankment and trees on the left of the picture dropped away. However without knowing the angle the photographer was standing it is difficult to say. It could be that the trees are about on the route of the footpath that uses the subway.

I do have a second photo of the same loco with seemingly a different line-up of staff. There are a few other photo's that may be on Grantham shed and a selection of some done as postcards. There's also a couple of shots of 'Pendennis Castle', most likely taken at Market Overton. Also a shot of 'Flying Scotsman' in the Up Sidings.

[Andy@34F]

As promised. 'Flying Scotsman' at Grantham.

[Iron Duke]

Andy,

Thank you for posting this most interesting picture of FS at Grantham.
hope you do not mind, but I have taken the liberty of enhancing your photograph.
I was wondering about the shadow at the bottom of the picture and the enhancement seems to confirm that this is perhaps the coaling stage?
Do you know the year the picture was taken Andy?

ID

[Andy@34F]

Andy,

Thank you for posting this most interesting picture of FS at Grantham.
hope you do not mind, but I have taken the liberty of enhancing your photograph.
I was wondering about the shadow at the bottom of the picture and the enhancement seems to confirm that this is perhaps the coaling stage?
Do you know the year the picture was taken Andy?

ID

Think nothing of it Sir. I could've probably done it myself, but have been a little busy on another matter for a few days. I'm afraid i don't have a date it was taken though. My guess is that it was on its way to the High Dyke Branch heading for Stainby etc...

I have asked another one of our forum members if he knows. Whilst it does have a similar shape to it, could it just be the photographer creating his/her own shadow?

[strang steel]

I am not sure the shadow would be the coaling stage because the tracks nearest the camera all seem to be flat bottom rail, which would presumably make them the main running lines?

[Flying Fox 34F]

Iron Duke,
Andy asked me last night. I suspect that the shadow is the photographer. The coaling tower was much further from the mainline and looking closer at the photograph the picture would be in the early seventies. The materials and the location boxes imply it was when the re signalling was taking place. The other thing that would date the picture is the cylinder covers. In the late sixties they were painted green in the Darlington style, but whether or not it was in 1965 I do not know. Someone on here will have the answer I suspect
Paul
Flying Fox 34F

[strang steel]

I have slowed this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrtf7zpolAI right down to single frames and the cylinder covers do appear to be green (as the train arrives at Sleaford); at least they are a lighter shade and there is a hint of white lining on the edges.

The video purports to be August 1965, and I have no reason to doubt it - although I do not remember this occasion. Maybe I was on holiday.

[Iron Duke]

Yes totally agree, could not possibly be the coaling stage as it had gone by then.
Also this is looking west, the angled top piece would not have shown up in this direction (sloping down to right).
Probably taken from somewhere between the yard box and the granary. See attached for orientation.

ID

[strang steel]

Austerity at Grantham

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotorus/80 ... 0376790978

[60156]

Austerity at Grantham

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotorus/80 ... 0376790978

They must have had cleaners to spare at Frodingham, don't think any Colwick 'ozzies' ever looked that clean!

[61070]

Austerity at Grantham

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotorus/80 ... 0376790978

That's a good sharp photo and we get to peer in through the doors of the flat-roofed shed near the south end of the down platform! I'm none the wiser about what went on in there, but I don't remember ever seeing it open. Thanks for keeping a lookout for such gems as this - I don't think I'd ever have found it.

[61070]

Attached is a screen print from the Old Maps website. It appears to confirm that Grantham is a very likely location for your photograph. I've indicated where the photographer could be, a possible location for No. 1418 (which is the area where locos would stand when prepared and ready to go off the shed), and the line of sight through to the North box, showing features which appear on the map. The map is from 1904 but the 1931 edition shows little, if any, change in the track layout of that area (I suspect the photo would date from broadly within that period). Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the welcome. Looking at the map it probably would fit. I was unsure initially because of the way the embankment and trees on the left of the picture dropped away. However without knowing the angle the photographer was standing it is difficult to say. It could be that the trees are about on the route of the footpath that uses the subway.

I do have a second photo of the same loco with seemingly a different line-up of staff. There are a few other photo's that may be on Grantham shed and a selection of some done as postcards. There's also a couple of shots of 'Pendennis Castle', most likely taken at Market Overton. Also a shot of 'Flying Scotsman' in the Up Sidings.

I've just read that No.1418 was a Grantham loco in January 1923 (you may already know this), which I suppose makes the picture even more likely to be at Grantham. The ring of burnished rivets toward the edge of the smokebox door rang a faint bell with me. I've now remembered that when No.60112 St Simon went across from Grantham to the Southern Region in August 1963 someone picked out a little of the rivet detail and the 'door knob' on the smokebox door in white paint. See download/file.php?id=5549&mode=view . Perhaps this was an old Grantham tradition recalled and applied?

[Andy@34F]

I think that confirms all we knew about No.1418. Thanks again.

And now for an intruder in our midst. Seen here on the Stainby system; again sadly undated.