Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[oldravendale]

Thank you, everyone, for your comments which all help to build up a bigger picture.

This next one falls in to the "better" category - in fact it's quite atmospheric. It's described as "Braintree Yard Servicing Area. June 1956". The locos are easily identified as J17 65545 and J68 68663. Furthermore the J17 shed plate shows it to be a Stratford (30A) engine which agrees with BRDatabase. It left Stratford for Colchester in 1958 and was withdrawn in 1959. Unfortunately the shed plate on the J68 is not readable but it was a Stratford loco and withdrawn in 1960.



Brian

 

[robertm]

Interesting that the J17 has train heating and vacuum brakes. Ex M&GN perhaps?
Bob

 

[oldravendale]

I reckon you are right on the money, Bob. BRDatabase says that the J17 was at South Lynn in 1948 (regrettably there are no allocations previous to that date) before going to Cambridge in 1951 and thereafter wandering around the system for a bit.

Brian

 

[Martin Shaw]

That J17 moved around a bit, shed allocations from Yeadon, March date unknown, South Lynn 14/12/42, Cambridge 20/9/51, Stratford 25/11/51, Plaistow 24/2/52, Shoeburyness 13/4/52, Stratford 30/12/53, Colchester 14/12/58. As well as being vacuum fitted for the M&GN section, it was also fitted with Hudd ATC for the LTS, unsurprisingly they weren't much cop as passenger engines on the tightly timetabled LTS lasting less than a year there and not much used.

Regards
Martin

 

[Eastsidepilot]

J68 68663 was always a goods loco, there were difference's between the passenger and goods versions , the passenger loco's had condensing pipes and raised tank tops, screw reverse and balanced wheels whilst the goods had flat top tanks, lever reverse with a dished rear cab plate to stop the crew pinning themselves to it with the lever, they were usually fitted with un-balanced ten, twelve or fifteen spoke wheels.

Col.

 

[oldravendale]

During the brief hiatus in our ability to upload files I've done a couple more. I'm quite taken by both these, although neither are conventional images by any means. After these two there's only another couple in the Witham/Braintree area which Tim asked me to deal with first, then we'll be in to the wider world.

Firstly there's "Witham Station 1954. Braintree Branch Loco Watering." It clearly features F5 67196, a Stratford engine withdrawn in 1955.



And next "Witham 1954. B2 4-6-0 Blickling". The BR number was 61607. In 1954 it would have been a Colchester engine, moving to Cambridge in 1956 and being withdrawn at the end of 1959 or the beginning of 1960.



Brian

 

[robertm]

Alas my trips to Witham were after the B2s and B17s had gone. Just Britannia’s and B1s. I do remember the buzz though when that lovely down starter was pulled off, colour light signals have no personality.
Bob

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Firstly there's "Witham Station 1954. Braintree Branch Loco Watering." It clearly features F5 67196, a Stratford engine withdrawn in 1955.

View attachment 132702

And next "Witham 1954. B2 4-6-0 Blickling". The BR number was 61607. In 1954 it would have been a Colchester engine, moving to Cambridge in 1956 and being withdrawn at the end of 1959 or the beginning of 1960.

View attachment 132703

Brian

Got to be the driver operating the water column valve as he's got the slightly cleaner overalls .

The B2 shot is taken from where the F5 is standing, and the building in the background is one of the malthouses.

Col.

 

[oldravendale]

This is described as "Braintree 1954". I read the smokebox numberplate as 67221, an F6, by January 1955 based in Cambridge but moving to Stratford at the end of 1955. It was withdrawn in October 1957. (SLS). Allowing for Tim's "fluidity of dates" that could still fit the photo. According to BR Database it was scrapped in November 1957 and although not confirmed this is likely to have been at Stratford Works.



Brian

 

[oldravendale]

I think this is the final Witham/Braintree photo, and it's not bad at all. I know Tim had a small selection of his photos published in Steam Railway or some similar rag and this may be one of them.

He describes it as "Maldon Branch Service at Witham Easter Monday 1958". After consultation it looks like F5 67214 which was at Stratford from the beginning of December 1956 and withdrawn from there in May 1958. (BRDatabase states that this loco started life as an F4 in 1907 and was rebuilt to an F5 in 1915. (SLS). It was scrapped in the same month as it was withdrawn (BR Database) which suggests the dirty deed was probably done at Stratford Works.

Nevertheless it's a charming if rather "picture postcard" photo.



Brian

 

[DougT]

Brian

It’s hard to tell, so there’s going to be some conjecture, but I read the number as 67214 which would make it a Stratford loco withdrawn in May 1958. So whilst I an offer an alternative number, I wouldn’t stand a chance of being able to determine whether it is that loco from its configuration and external condition.

I must confess that until about three weeks ago I didn’t even know what an F4 was (other than a McDonald Douglas Phantom...)

it’s a cracking thread to follow however, loving these images.

Doug

 

[robertm]

Another wonderful nostalgic picture. I agree it looks like 67214 on the bunker side, can’t make out the smoke box plate. It is certainly standing at the platform where the Maldon trains departed. The coach formation is also typical with an exGER brake in brown livery at the rear.
Please find some more photos, this has been a great thread.
Bob

 

[Eastsidepilot]

67214 was a Stratford loco from Nov. '56, has the larger 8 1/2" pump fitted in '24. Condemned in '58.
We've seen her before at Maldon in post #85.

Leading coach is a Thompson corridor composite.

Col.

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you all. I'll buy 67214 as the most likely candidate. It fits the picture and the date rather better than the alternative!

Excellent additional info about the coaching stock as well.

For those concerned about the lack of further images it's only the Witham area now exhausted. Plenty more from all over the country to come.

Brian

 

[Osgood]

Did Tim take an interest in industrials?

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Thank you all. I'll buy 67214 as the most likely candidate. It fits the picture and the date rather better than the alternative!

I've had a closer look (after playing with the contrast) and it is 67214.

 

[oldravendale]

Nothing industrial so far, Tony.

Thanks Dave. It'll now be 67214!

Brian

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Thank you all. I'll buy 67214 as the most likely candidate. It fits the picture and the date rather better than the alternative!

Excellent additional info about the coaching stock as well.

For those concerned about the lack of further images it's only the Witham area now exhausted. Plenty more from all over the country to come.

Brian

Brian,

Having confirmed the F5 as 67214 and just for peace of mind 7219 had the F6 style cab.

Col.

 

[oldravendale]

Due to some people finding it difficult to view photos I've been holding back, but it now appears that single images may be working quite well, so I'll press ahead before I'm over run with unseen images. This one is "70006. Liverpool Street. 1958." Britannia 70006 was "Robert Burns", a Norwich Thorpe loco at the time, from May 1951, going to March in December 1961 and then Carlisle Kingmoor in December 1963 where it was withdrawn in May1967. (SLS). It was scrapped at J McWilliams, Shettleston, (BR Database).

This photo gives a good sense of the gloom, grime and smoke pollution which I remember as Liverpool St in the late 1950s and early 1960s.



Brian

 

[oldravendale]

Moving on to July 1961 and Kings Cross. Clearly, by this time there had been a considerable improvement in equipment. A classic shot of A3 60039, Sandwich, a 34A Kings Cross loco leaving with the Yorkshire Pullman. An abiding memory for me is standing on the end of that platform and seeing the plethora of A4s, A3s, A1s and occasional A2s. N2s on the locals. Evidentially Kings Cross kept its top link locos in fine condition - it was always possible to distinguish a Gateshead loco at the time because they were usually utterly filthy. 60039 was allocated to Kings Cross in April 1957 where it was withdrawn in March 1963. (SLS). The Railway Observer advises it was despatched from Kings Cross to Doncaster light engine on 3rd April 1963. Yeadons say it entered the woks on 5th April and was observed in the yard on 23rd April by the SLS. BR Database reports the scrapping date as 5th April 1963 but in the light of other evidence that looks rather early.

Kings Cross was a favourite location for me, along with Waterloo. Both were so light and airy compared with most of the London alternatives.



Brian