Short trains rule OK

[teedoubleudee]

Just come across this photo on Facebook. Just goes to show what you can safely model and stay true to prototype. Photo credt is given as W.A.C. Smith/Transport Treasury

[Walkingthedog]

That’s a great picture TWD, do you think that loco will be able to cope?

[Brian]

I should think that sized loco burnt more coal moving those wagons than it managed to deliver!
Nice picture though.

[LC&DR]

When I worked at Tinsley Yard in the early 1980s on a Friday night / Saturday morning we would watch anxiously for a a overnight Speedlink service from Dover via Willesdan to Leeds which frequently which often brought us one Ferry Van from Spain or Italy full of fruit destined for Parkway Market Sheffield which was booked to arrive just before 6am. The yard officially shut at 6am, but were duty bound to deliver the wagon of perishibles, because if we didn't it would not be until Monday morning, because the Yard would not be fully functioning again until then.

It usually meant ringing round, shunters, guards, drivers, and signalmen and using powers of persuasion to get Tinsley Park, box open, and a loco crew who knew Parkway market siding in on overtime (Tinsley Yard box, Shepcote Lane and Woodburn were open continuously). The wagon hauled by a type 3 would run into the Express Freight Yard, and we would have a Diesel Shunter standing by to take it round to Parkway. Officially the Speedlink service was supposed to go forward to Leeds / Healey Mills, but there was rarely any forward traffic.

I couldn't go home off nights until I got confirmation the wagon had been placed and the pilot was on its way back.

I don't think this traffic earned BR any profit, two locos, two sets of crew and a signalman shift! My overtime was free because management were not paid it

[teedoubleudee]

I should think that sized loco burnt more coal moving those wagons than it managed to deliver!

Ha ha, that thought had crossed my mind too. The caption contained the following info - "Here is 90768 near Ponfeigh heading for the WCML with a short coal train from Douglas Colliery on 1 October 1960."

[Postman Prat]

qu0te............

Just come across this photo on Facebook. Just goes to show what you can safely model and stay true to prototype.


Of course you'd never see the prototype on such a short train!!

[General DeGaulle]

Here's a picture of the train from Lancaster Green Ayre to Morecambe probably taken in 1966. Even as a four year old I used to wonder why such a big engine was needed for such a short train.