Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[oldravendale]

Hello Paul @hrmspaul and thanks for your question about the L1 and L1s in general. Thanks too for the further comments @40057 and Tony @76043 . For myself I believe it was a combination of issues, probably the rapidly changing environment meaning that their raison d'etre disappeared and that they weren't terribly good engines so other, more successful if older designs perpetuated. It'd be good to have a definitive and referenced reason though.

As for the breakdown train, Paul, regrettably (as with most of us at the time) Tim's interests were almost entirely loco-centric so I have nothing more on the breakdown train. As for the comments by others about the stability of pannier tanks I couldn't possibly comment. I remember seeing a film taken with a telephoto lens many years ago of a pannier on a local at Old Oak, probably a stand-in for a rostered 61XX tank, and it was bouncing about all over the place - it appeared that there was a real risk it'd throw itself off the track!

812 Class 0-6-0 57614 on a coal train in sidings at Ayr Yards on 14th September 1961 and another photo at the same time and in the same place is in post #1710. This loco was at shedded at Ayr at the time and was withdrawn from there at the beginning of October 1962. (BR Database). It was scrapped at Arnott Young, Troon, during February 1964. (BR Database, Rail UK and WHTS which also records it being sighted in store at Ayr on several occasions through 1963 and also at Arnott Young in January 1964).



Now known to be 14th September 1961 and previously in post #88 this is 2P 55189 at Carstairs and one of Tim’s “Station Pilots”. It was allocated to Carstairs in September 1960 and withdrawn at the end of December 1962. (SLS). It is in preservation at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway - see 55189 (CR 419, LMS 15189 & BR 55189)



I commented in post #1677 that this is one loco I was truly hoping Tim had photographed while in Scotland - it was something of a Holy Grail for those of us living in the South East. It's Royal Scot 46102, Black Watch and is photographed here probably at Carstairs on 14th September 1961. It was alleged to have made a trip south just once although I've never seen first hand confirmation that this ever took place. It was a Polmadie engine for its entire life and BR Database shows it to have been withdrawn from there on 29th December 1962. Rail UK agrees. However the SLS advises that it was transferred to Corkerhill on 19th November 1962. It was certainly recorded in store at Corkerhill on 14th April 1963. Ultimately it went to J McWilliams at Shettleston where it was despatched by the end of May 1964.



Jubilee 45673 Keppel carrying a 67A Corkerhill shed plate believed to be at Carstairs on 14th September 1961. It was allocated to Corkerhill in June 1960 and withdrawn on 29th December 1962. (SLS). However, by 31st August 1962 it was in store and then went to Campbell’s, Shieldhall (RO) where it was scrapped in December 1963. (BR Database).



Brian

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

I raked around the railways of Ayr in my youth but cannot identify where 57614 is. The only diamond crossing I can think of is on the line to the harbour where it crosses the lines into the old station/goods depot but there was no platforms near the crossing. I will have to dig out the maps when I get home.

The engine was a regular on the ‘twins’ and I saw her frequently on that turn always worked smokebox uphill with empties and tender first back with fulls. There is a van, possibly having delivered supplies/tools to the pit, between the minerals and engine so it looks to me like a train coming from one of the many pits in Ayrshire.

Keppel is not at Carstairs which didn’t have canopies like that. My first impression was Paisley Gilmour street but there is an arched roof way in the background. I’m sure it isn’t St Enoch, the platforms were on a curve, so could it be Edinburgh Princes Street?

Ian.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

I raked around the railways of Ayr in my youth but cannot identify where 57614 is. The only diamond crossing I can think of is on the line to the harbour where it crosses the lines into the old station/goods depot but there was no platforms near the crossing. I will have to dig out the maps when I get home.

The engine was a regular on the ‘twins’ and I saw her frequently on that turn always worked smokebox uphill with empties and tender first back with fulls. There is a van, possibly having delivered supplies/tools to the pit, between the minerals and engine so it looks to me like a train coming from one of the many pits in Ayrshire.

Keppel is not at Carstairs which didn’t have canopies like that. My first impression was Paisley Gilmour street but there is an arched roof way in the background. I’m sure it isn’t St Enoch, the platforms were on a curve, so could it be Edinburgh Princes Street?

Ian.

Kilmarnock, Ian ?

Col.

 

[Culreoch]

I raked around the railways of Ayr in my youth but cannot identify where 57614 is. The only diamond crossing I can think of is on the line to the harbour where it crosses the lines into the old station/goods depot but there was no platforms near the crossing. I will have to dig out the maps when I get home.


Ian.

I don't think it's 57614 pictured here, on grounds the photos in post 1710 earlier show a different chimney and no coal rails on the tender. I don't recognise the location either though.

45673 is at St Enoch I reckon, possibly some of the southern platforms. You can see the arch in the background above the canopies, and the 'braces' between canopies also matches. Could really do with a 67A Jubilee like that in model form....

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you Ian @Ian@StEnochs for your suggestions there, and to Col @Eastsidepilot too. I'll add to the available data. As indeed I will for the query raised by @Culreoch . At this distance in time all I have to go on are Tim's notes but it appears that your comments are entirely justified. Nonetheless a nice "everyday" picture but we'll have to settle for the loco as "unidentified".

An unidentified Crab 2-6-0 and Black 5 on a mineral train at an unknown location, unlikely but possibly Carstairs – more likely a Glasgow outer suburban line on 14th September 1961.



Standard Class 4 2-6-4T 80111 on 14th September 1961 believed to be in the same location as the photo above and probably taken from the footbridge.



Five pictures featuring 43XX 2-6-0 5380 at Old Oak Common in May 1963. In the second photo is 57XX pannier tank 9755 seen previously having fallen off the p-way and being re-railed. The 43XX was allocated to Didcot as long ago as June 1947 (BR Database) and went in to store in June 1963 being withdrawn in September. (SLS). It went to Cashmore’s, Newport for disposal (RO) although there’s a suggestion that it went to Cooper’s Metals, Sharpness on 31st December 1963. (WHTS). However, this must be considered doubtful as WHTS advises it was in store at Southall between September 1963 and May 1964 and was then seen at Swindon Works Stock Shed Yard in June while in transit to South Wales.












Brian

 

[40057]

I am pretty sure the first two photos are Newton-on-Ayr.

Martin

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

I am pretty sure the first two photos are Newton-on-Ayr.

Martin

Yes these are at Newton-on-Ayr.

The first looking South with the signal for the Junction for the Mauchline line which is just through ‘Tams Brig’ hidden by the footstep of the pedestrian bridge

The second view looks north with the extensive sidings of Falkland yard visible. This view hasn’t changed much except added catenary, the station building is still there but no longer in railway use, the station is still open but unmanned. The track in the yard is very overgrown and has seen little use since the import of coal ceased.

Ian.