The Rail Enthusiast thread

[Andy in Germany]

I think Class 20s are still used by DRS on weedkilling trains. They were the first diesels delivered under the 1950s Modernisation Plan and a few are still going nearly 70 years later. Single cab design means they are nearly always seen in pairs, nose-to-nose. A mere 1000hp each.

English Electric diesels did pretty well among all the duffers turned out by other manufacturers. Their only real failure was the Baby Deltic. The Class 40 was a bit meh, being too underpowered to replace Gresley steam Pacifics, but was reliable enough.

Wasn't one of the problems with the Baby Deltics that their engine was designed to keep going, not stop-and-start as was needed for the traffic it was used on?

 

[rogerzilla]

Not sure. I know it had a lot of reliability problems which were kind of sorted out just as BR decided to eliminate all classes with a small number in service. The big Deltics had their own issues which were manageable until BR took over maintenance from EE. Both had horrendous emissions of smoke (2-stroke diesels).

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

Saw this on the Book of Faces and thought it may interest those on this thread:

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-51387764

We have this, as a memorial at Wakefield Cathedral (where he was Bishop)
There's the official photograph inside, but none of his 'works'
Sadly!!




View: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213966642312438&set=a.10213169383541467&type=3&theater

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Due to a change of plans, in what was happening today (originally Scarborough & Whitby), daughter & I headed out for a (late) morning in Harrogate
I drove up the A1 to Wetherby, through the town centre, onto the A661 through Spofforth (1), & hence on to Harrogate

Before we even got to Spofforth, I had a detour, to the site of the old Station, off Linton Road in Wetherby
(there was also a 'RaceCourse' station)

I oh so want that A1 sign!!

Pre signs; https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5798829

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/w/wetherby_second/index.shtml

Scroll down to Wetherby
http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/Church Fenton Harrogate.htm











1. Visited earlier in this thread, for the viaduct

 

[NorthernDave]

Interesting to note that now Northern are phasing out the Pacers, I've spotted a few single car Class 153s (aka Dogboxes) on the Caldervale line, presumably on the Leeds - Bradford - Halifax - Huddersfield service which was almost exclusively operated by Pacers.

Given the longstanding overcrowding on these lines, a lesson in being careful what you wish for, perhaps?

 

[classic33]

Interesting to note that now Northern are phasing out the Pacers, I've spotted a few single car Class 153s (aka Dogboxes) on the Caldervale line, presumably on the Leeds - Bradford - Halifax - Huddersfield service which was almost exclusively operated by Pacers.

Given the longstanding overcrowding on these lines, a lesson in being careful what you wish for, perhaps?

"Platform 31/2 at Bradford Interchange!

Been on a few from Leeds now, usually in the hour before evening peak period.[/I]

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Passed through Hunslet this morning, after giving daughter a lift into Leeds
It seemed wrong not to have a little visit

Hunslet Engine Works
Jack Lane

The redundant signs are still there, but there's nothing within the yards, & no national network connection anymore



https://britishlistedbuildings.co.u...ny-offices-city-and-hunslet-ward#.XlKreEB2vIU

http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/hunslet.asp

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/986098
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4575011


http://www.quarryhunslet.mste.co.uk/public/intro.php

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

And, 'next door' to the above building

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.u...ks-offices-city-and-hunslet-ward#.XlKsJkB2vIU

And the glorious iron gate plates still survive!!
https://britishlistedbuildings.co.u...ring-works-city-and-hunslet-ward#.XlKs30B2vIU

Pre 'refurbishment' (not sure if used, or just 'decorative windows'?) https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3845971
http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/hunslet.asp

 

[rogerzilla]

I'm doing the letters on an old GNR gate sign in instalments, because it's pretty tedious work. I expect they did them with a roller when they were new. I have a garage wall covered with stuff like this.

Funny how the typesetter grabbed the wrong sized "A" for "AND".

 

[classic33]

I'm doing the letters on an old GNR gate sign in instalments, because it's pretty tedious work. I expect they did them with a roller when they were new. I have a garage wall covered with stuff like this.

Funny how the typesetter grabbed the wrong sized "A" for "AND".

Area around that "A" appears to have damage. Maybe the "A" got damaged and was replaced with what were to hand.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

UPDATE & NEW IMAGES

Whilst out with daughter this morning, I pulled over to photograph quite possibly the last remaining (visible) structure connected with the narrow-gauge railway that ran between Ledston Luck Colliery, & Peckfield Colliery, adjacent to the Leeds-York main-line, where it was loaded onto wagons

I was driving from Castleford, along the (A656) 'Barnsdale Road', which becomes the 'Ridge Road', after Peckfield Bar (where A63, Leeds - Selby crosses it)

Below this occupation bridge is a cutting, albeit very heavily overgrown...
I've noticed the Gate before, but never quite made the connection

View attachment 365562

http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/specials/ledstonluck.htm


This link, should(!!) open a 1954 OS map of the area
http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=53.7901&lon=-1.3432&layers=10&b=1

This picture shows the line, alongside the RidgeRoad, with the Leeds-York railway cutting visible
View attachment 365566

Recently, I've been told that the occupation bridge, & cuttings aren't the only survivors of this colliery narrow-gauge

This afternoon, after a visit to Rothwell Library, I took the long way home
Through Swlliington, down to the 'Old George Roundabout' as it's locally known (where the 'Selby TurnPike'/A63, crosses the 'Aberford & Wakefield TurnPike'/A642), then up past Garforth Cliff, to Peckfield Bar (again, where the A63 crossed the 'Barnsdale & Leeds Road - HookMoor Branch)
Having managed to pull up safely on this rather busy road, & taking advantage of gaps in the foliage...…. without falling on my posterior, I took what photographs that I could
Apologies for quality, but it was grim weather and the auto-focus was trying to focus on branches instead!!

Lo & behold!, two blocked up apertures!!


To the north side of the A63

To the south-side of A63

The cutting/'tunnel' are more or less, where the power lines pass over the A63
(just left of the 'P' of 'Peckfield)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2754979

 

[NorthernDave]

So Northern is no more (well Arriva Rail North, anyway) and now everything will be sorted as the government take over running their services.

Apart from the fact it's the same frontline staff, running the same unreliable trains on the same creaking and chronically underfunded infrastructure, what could possibly go wrong?

 

[classic33]

So Northern is no more (well Arriva Rail North, anyway) and now everything will be sorted as the government take over running their services.

Apart from the fact it's the same frontline staff, running the same unreliable trains on the same creaking and chronically underfunded infrastructure, what could possibly go wrong?

Bear that in mind when the 142's are returned from Neville Hill.

Then think about how you'll get to & from platforms 1 & 2, in Halifax, when they close the footbridge.

 

[rogerzilla]

Finished! Just needs screwing to the garage wall now (it's too big for the actual garden gate, and weighs as much as it).