Southern Thumpers

Hi All

I must apologise for lack of blog updates over the last few months I have been too busy with other Internet based projects.
As well as keeping my Flickr site up to date I'm also setting up a photography business , but more of that when it's ready to be launched

Anyway back to the Blog.
This year for me has been the year of the Thumper, these are the diesel units which were used on the Southern region of British Railways.
Initially designed to be a stopgap measure until some lines could be electrified these units were based upon conventional electric units with a large engine fitted to provide power.

The most famous of these are the Hastings units, these were unique as the Hastings Line was built to a reduced loading gauge so therefore all locomotives and coaching stock which traversed the line had to be built to a narrower profile.
These units lasted in service until the line was electrified in the mid 80's, at the same time of electrification the tunnels were singled to give a wider loading gauge enabling conventional trains to traverse the line

The Hastings units had 3 separate classes all to the untrained eye being identical.
The first 7 units No's 1001-1007 were built on underframe's of 56ft 11 ins giving an overall length of 58ft and a unit length on 358ft 9 1/4 ins 

These were classed as 6S or later became Class 201

Most enthusiast's know about the preserved Hastings unit on the main line but what isn't realised is the current unit 1001 is a hybrid from 3 separate units.

The above image is vehicle 60001 from the first unit 1001 which is preserved by Hastings Diesels Limited at their base at St Leonard's, this vehicle is still the condition it was when withdrawn in 1985.

The Second class of Hastings unit was the 6L or 202 units 1011-1019, these were built on underframe's which were 64ft 6ins long with each vehicle being 64ft 6ins and a total unit length of 397ft 9 1/4ins.

these were only noticeable by the amount of windows in the passenger compartments 4 instead of 3 in the motor cars and 8 not 7 in the trailers

This shot shows the main line unit with Power Car 60018 originally from unit 1013, the whole train is seen passing through the station at Reading which is currently undergoing a major rebuild

The third and final type of Hastings units were the 6B's or 203's units 1031-1037 these were identical to the 202's with the exception that one of the second class trailers was replaced by buffet cars, the main drawback of having the buffets was when formed into a 12 car units there would have been two power cars nose to nose in the middle of the train and therefore was impossible for people to walk through the train. All the buffet cars were withdrawn by 1980's and replaced by vehicles from withdrawn units.

It is surprising that 2 former buffet cars still survive and both vehicles had amazing histories after being withdrawn from general service

The first is 60750 from unit 1031, after being dumped for a few years it was taken over by the APT project as an experimental platform for the tilting train.

60750 or Lab4 as it was now known became the first vehicle to be tilted on any main line.

Another buffet to survive is 60755 which was converted into an inspection saloon and still travels around the country being hauled by a locomotive.

This vehicles claim to fame is that it was used to convey Charles & Diana on their honeymoon 

The class 205's

These are the most common of the DEMU type totalling 33 in all were built to the conventional loading gauge looking almost identical to the EPB commuter EMU

Built as a stop gap measure it was intended that these would be converted into conventional electric units but when the final withdrawal came in 2004 it was over 40 years since introduction and the routes the trains ran over were still un-electrified.

They were finally replaced by conventional diesel units

The photo above is of unit 1125 or 205025 as it later became which is a regular performer on the Mid-Hants Railway. it has been restored into the 1960's green livery and is a regular performer on the line

The of the main types were the 207's

Due to some loading gauge restrictions in the Oxted area were built to a width of 8ft 6ins as oppose to the 9ft of the 205's  or the 8ft of the Hastings units.

Not many of these units survive with there being only 3 complete units to survive and one individual power car.

The unit above is 1317 or 207017 which made its debut in preservation in 2012.

It has been fully restored inside and and out and done to a very high standards and must be the best preserved thumper out there.

When I saw it the trailer car hadn't been finished and was running in primer, there was a delay in finishing die to the bad weather experienced this year.

If your visiting the Tumbridge Wells area the near future make sure you go to the Spa valley Railway to see 1317

Steam, Diesel & Electrics

On Saturday 21st I took a trip up to Coventry for the Electric Railway Museum as I am a fan of EMU's

Before I left I found out there was to be a steam special heading through my home town of Reading hauled by Tangmere. My normal location was Sonning Cutting but I realised the sun would be right in my face so I went to reading West. The sun was still strong but I managed to get some shade from the high trees.

The it was off to Coventry, the museum has a few open days every year and it was many years since I last visited and I knew a lot had changed

One of the stars of the show is the LMS 503 unit, restoration has started on this after many years

Another unit which is in dire need of attention is the 4SUB part of one leading car has been spruced up but thats all.

I know I sound critical but the practical approach would have been to save one unit restore it then move on to the next, but unfortunately most of their units came up for disposal all around the same time so all funds had to go into save whatever they could

Another unit which needed attention was the 2 EPB, as they didn't have the resources for the job a local graffiti was used to paint a mural on the side, I know a lot of people won't like it but it give the unit a little bit of protection until its restoration time comes around

Another unusual unit is the 501, these look the same an an EPB but were shorted for working on the North London lines, many platforms were short and this was the maximum size unit which could be accommodated. it is only in the last couple of years the platforms were lengthened for the new generation of trains

The group are most proud of the pair of Clacton Units, these are the last remaining ones of their kind and are in excellent condition 

Afterwards I headed over to Northampton where they have two line the first was the Northampton Ironstone Railway Trust and the second was the Northampton and Lamport Rly 

Sadly both were not in operation but the NIRT was totally closed so I could only manage a few shots over the fence

They seem to be a tiny site but it is full of EMU's including a rare Double Deck unit (sheeted over in the background).

No work has been carried out on these units since they were preserved almost 20 years ago and are just rotting away and taking up valuable space.

Personally I think whoever owns these vehicles should transfer them to the Electric Railway Museum where they can be cared for

The N&L was totally different even though they were closed the people on set let me look round with pleasure.

There they had a couple of main line diesels 31289 and 47205, the 31 needs a body refurb but work has happened to tart it up a bit but the 47 is in stunning condition I think it must be ex works

More shots of the can be seen on my Flickr site

10 Minutes in Reading

On July 7th I heard there was a couple of special coming through Reading so living just down the road I just had to pop down.

Britannia class 70017 Oliver Cromwell was booked to come through so I thought as I havnt seen it for a little while its worth a shot.

Also the Hastings Diesel Unit was due in just as Cromwell departs, so this means I have to give priority to one or the other.

I knew the Hastings was due in on platform 7 but I didn't know which platform Cromwell was headed so I tried to find the best place to catch them both which isn't easy as the station is undergoing a major rebuild.

Then a station announcement came saying it was due on platform 10 which was the other side of the station so I got in position to get shots of it coming in.

Fortunately it came in a minute or so early which gave me chance to get a couple of shots then dash over the other side for the hastings unit.

As the steamer was pulling out I could see a slim strip of yellow in the distance which was motor car 60016 "Mountfield" 

There are currently 3 operational Hastings Motorcars and 60016 has been painted with a full yellow end which a small number carried in the late 60's.

Unfortunatly there was a First Great Western HST in platform 8 blocking my view but after a little bit of cursing it cruised out exposing the full length of the platform. 

As it rolled in I managed to get shots of all 6 vehicles in the formation, and as it was only in for 3 minutes I had to dash down the platform to get shots of it departing.

So Happy with my efforts I wandered back over to platform to wait for my train back to Reading West as the heavens opened so I was thankful of the shelter then there was an announcement saying to stand clear of platform 9 as a non stopping train was coming through.

I though this would be a freight hauled by the regular 59's or 66's but instead it was a 67 hauling the Orient Express Pullmans.

Well you can't win them all but I got some good shots of Cromwell and the Hastings which you can't beat for 10 minutes work

Oliver Cromwell sitting under the new station complex at Reading

The hastings unit lead by 60016 alongside platform 7

1938 Stock variations

Last week I visited the Isle of Wight for a day riding on heritage trains, the steam line and the old LT 38 stock.

Its a few years since I visited and the fleet has had an overhaul and repaint back into original LT colours.

When I went back through my photo collection I realised I had photographed most of the livery variations used on the 38's so I thought I would post them here

The original Livery with the window bars painted cream, many of the last units used on the Northern Line also had this livery variation to mark the end of service

This is the preserved Unit seen in 1996 at Cockfosters Depot

This is the more conventional livery seen on the vehicle preserved at the LT Museum at Covent Garden

Some units were used by the engineers and received yellow livery

This is the weedkilling unit which was taken out out service a couple of years ago but still survives at West Ruislip Depot

And now for something completely different, The tunnel cleaning train.

A heavily converted 38 stock has been turned into what is basically a giant vacuum cleaner.

Like the weedkiller was withdrawn a few years ago as the job is now done using a few modified wagons.

These are the last 38's still owned by the Underground

The Isle of Wight

 When the 38's were first taken over to the Island they had been given a full overhaul at Eastleigh and recived Network South East Livery.

When the NSE livery was getting a little shabby it was given a pale blue with dinosaur graphics, as many dinosaurs have been found on the island over the years.

For me personally I didn't like it and it cheapened the look of the classic 38's

Bringing us up to date is the original livery.

A few years ago the the Dino livery faded rather quickly and one set was painted in London Transport red allbeit with a yellow warning panel to comply with todays regulations.

It was planned for the fleet to have different liveries from various companies I.e. Southern and BR but this never emerged and the lot were pained LT red 

One unit which was never mentioned on the Island was the spares train.

The Idea was if a spare body shell was need they had two to chose from but these were stripped for spares in 1991 when the fleet was reduced in size. 

A bit of a sad ending is unit 001.

When the fleet was reduced by half in the 90's the best vehicles were kept and the rest were kept for spares.

001 is seen in the grave yard having been partially stripped of spares and was later cut up

A plethora of Pecketts

Over the last couple of months I haven't had much opportunity to get to preserved lines due to the extremely wet drought we have been experiencing.

Many of the lines I have visited have been the smaller ones who run "Industrials". For me I love to see these locos running and are just as interesting as the big main line steam engines, but most of the locos I have been seeing are Pecketts

The first I visited was the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Line, they dont have any steam of their own but do hire in a different loco every year.

This years loco was Peckett 1859 'Sir Gomer'.

I have a bit of a personal attachment with this loco as I remember seeing it run at Mountain Ash colliery  when I was a kid in the 1970's.

Also I was involved in the restoration of it at Cardiff before the then owning group then moved to Barry.

  

Another line I visited was the Bristol Harbour Railway, I was so impressed at my visit in the winter when nothing was running (see previous blog) I had to go back on an operating day.

Sadly the drought conditions ment I got drenched but the  dockside cranes made a brilliant backdrop for steam.

This line may only have one locomotive Peckett 1940, as it is a council run attraction but it is well worth a visit especially if your thinking about modelling an industrial railway.

Another place which had Pecketts was the National Railway Museum

The first running was 'Teddy' No 2012 this is claimed to be the smallest standard gauge steam loco

The second Peckett at the event was 2150 also known as the 'Mardy Monster'.

This is the largest and most powerful saddle tank locomotive in the UK.

I remember seeing this loco dumped at Maerdy Colliery in the 70's (also not two spellings of Maerdy, on the loco it's spelt the english way), back then the loco was in a condition where it could have come out of Woodhams so it's good too see it up and running.

For more of my pics of these lines and other events I went to where there are no Pecketts have a look at my Flickr site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_adams/

Bristol Docks

A few weeks ago I went to Bristol and it was getting dark when I ventured down to the dock area.

As I'm currently planning my model railway I'm currently on the look out for inspiration and the dockside gave me lots of that.

Four of the old cranes have been saved along with the  railway line, have you ever wondered how you can utilise the old Airfix Dockside crane kit well heres how.

Even though im not planning a dockside I am planning an industrial section so bits n pieces will be used.

Hope you like the photos and I hope you can get inspiration out of them too. 

Happy New Year

Happy New year to everyone in cyber land 


The last few months due to lack of time and even less funds I haven't had any time to do any modelling whatsoever, as far as photography is concerned i aint done much of that either.
I have been sorting out some of my pics what I took in 2011 and used them to update my Flickr site 
I tend to put the miscellaneous and ones which for some reason never made it on to Flickr on my site at this time of year, it  makes up for lack of up to date photography.
To find my pics click the link 


http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_adams/


Hope you like them