Current and Proposed New-Builds

Oh dear, that has brought back an embarassing memory.
In 1978/9 I was based at Rosyth dockyard, so, as as I still lived at home in Sussex I frequently took an Aberdeen night train from Kings Cross to Inverkiething and if I could not get a legitimate* berth on the sleeper, then on the advice of an old seadog mate if I found an vacant compartment I would empty the contents of a can of Campbells (well I was going to Scotland) Cream of vegatable or chicken soup on the carpet **near the door, thus ensuring a good unmolested nights sleep. Invariably when I was awoken by the unmistakenable sound of crossing the Forth bridge there would be a matelot on the the other cushions and the conversation would inevitably lead to the same man's advice, RIP Dago!! Mk1's are well comfy, fact.

*Not one of those "no berths available sir, but for £5 (in 1978!!!) I can move someone to get you a berth" on a 60% full sleeper ggrrr
**Edit, the contents were emptied onto newspaper, we were not that uncouth.

 

Such happenings were quite normal on overnight trains. Staff were quite happy with it and the light bulbs were always put back and everything left fit for other passengers. I always took my shoes off, too.

 

I think a little bit of wee has come out....!

 

Indeed, several of our TSOs at the GCR are the later build with fluorescent lighting and formica and a friend of mine, who owns one, was most miffed when the original formica was covered in sticky backed fake wood vinyl for a filming job. Or rather he was miffed at the effort required to remove the stuff.


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On the early loco front. The major gaps are a replica Royal George. The first 0 6 0 goods engine and a Stephenson Colliery engine. Both of which would fit in at Shildon or Beamish.

 

As a student in the 1950's regularly slept on the cushions Sunday evening from Glasgow Buchanan Street to Liverpool Central (?). Guards very accommodating and would check we were 'awake' by St Helens. More recently sleeping in support coach on depot - but voyager's engines left running all night restricted sleep.

 

Surely either Central or St Enoch to Liverpool Exchange?

 

...and not via St.Helens.
Ray.

 

on my visits to old oak in the mid /late '50s ,I always took lunch in one of the carriages that stood between the shed and the main line. always 1st class of course .
dunno what any of them were , cos I just looked at the build plates .remiss of me , I know. The ones I liked best were the 1920s versions .

going to Weymouth for hols the compartment stock with the round roof in the corridor were nice . courtesy of Mr Maunsel I guess

Saturday spotting trips meant a trip from Harrow to Willesden on one of the old ex LNWR EMUS. very comfy and excellent ride . and you could stick your head out
the 1938 tube stock was best avoided

 

Very elegant but were they any good?

 

What's that got to do with it?

 

Presumably the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, then, although I think Virginia and some other states may be commonwealth's too.

 

I think apparently rather disappointing.

 

Any indicators as to why? underpowered? Poor steamers?

Maybe a better question would be ‘are there any Cambrian locos worth reconstructing?’

 

They had some nice little 2-4-0Ts.

 

Yes, two of them, 1196/7 actually ran for BR for a short time in 1948/9

 

After the 1922 merger with the GW, the small Cambrian loco stud suddenly became non-standard oddities amongst the most standardised stud in these islands, if not the whole of Europe. For any loco to survive under such circumstances it would need to be either outstanding, or occupy a specialist niche unworthy of too much further investment. The bulk of the Cambrian fleet, most especially passenger locos, didn't tick either box.

Edit: Recalling the date much Cambrian (and other absorbed) stock was withdrawn, the economic depression of the 1920's probably had more than a bit to do with the timing.

 

The ones that did survive seem to have been Swindonised fairly quickly. A new build Cambrian loco would certainly meet the ‘filling a historical gap’ criteria but maybe too niche to attract funders.

 

I seem to recall that initially the GW did a lot of work rebuilding absorbed engines with standard boilers etc. after the grouping, but when the depression hit they had a surplus of power which at which point they changed course and swept away most of the non-standard classes, rebuilt or not.

 

Quite possibly so. Taking the Cambrian as an example, successfully marketing a newbuild project would have to tug different heartstrings (and purse strings!) to an iconic express loco. The folks building the G5 look to have found their target audience rather well, unpretentiously proud of it's regional associations.

The CHR's firm association with local regeneration efforts have been noted on that line's own thread. A newbuild Cambrian loco plus period train could be something readily marketable as one hell of a flagship project to put the renaissance of Oswestry and it's environs very firmly into the national eye ... if the concept can be successfully targeted at appropriate backing.