More adventurous for "Railsoc" were the Saturday tours, starting at an early hour, and heading on an extended day trip. Half-fare railcards at the ready! The first of these which I could attend was this trip to Keighley, which included my first travel by rail on the West Coast Main Line and Settle and Carlisle routes, As I recall it was a cold and dark start from Waverley, with frost on the sleepers around the Calders in early light. The first train locos were 47704 to Carstairs, then 87019.
It must have been getting on for 10am by the time we got to Appleby, now hauled by 47533. The service we were using was a Carlisle (or Glasgow) to Nottingham train, one of three trains a day of this pattern, which were withdrawn in 1982 in an attempt to run the line down for closure, but that was in the future and the S&C had more recently celebrated its centenary in 1976. These trains only called at Appleby and Settle, the other stations only saw recreational and occasional Saturday Dales Rail services. I believe that my motivation for taking the picture were the first example of S&C architecture seen, the then recent events for Bishop Treacy, and a previous visit made in 1973. Compare with my 2013 visit.
Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus 79964 ("DRB 64") is seen at much the same place as here on 3rd October 2015. Various Railway Society members are seen on the platform. I believe that we chose to dismiss the charms of the railbus, and wait for the first steam train of the day - I cannot see the detail of this timetable. Beyond the station, the mill chimney appears to be that adjacent to the Midland Railway yard, now demolished and replaced by an Asda.
When the steam train came, it was USA Transportation Corps S160 2-8-0 5820 Big Jim, then recently restored to traffic, following an import from then communist Poland. I must admit to being rather disappointed, as I was hoping for a UK main line locomotive, since coming from Scotland, I had only experienced 60009 and 46464 for steam haulage to that date. Big Jim is seen on the run around at Keighley - built by Lima, works number 8758 of 1945, and later Tr203.474 in Poland. It was moved to the UK in November 1977, and used in the filming of 'Yanks' in 1978. The buildings beyond the railway station have all subsequently been cleared, and are now occupied by the Keighley campus of Leeds City College.
Our train progressed to Damems Loop where we crossed D0226 on a permanent way train. The concept of a preserved diesel locomotive was pretty novel to me at that time. One of my fellow Railsoc members, Ken, is touting an SLR for his version of this scene.
Upon arrival at Oakworth, children run to join the train - they will be in their early to mid-40s now. LMS 3F 0-6-0T 47279 (Vulcan Foundry, 1924) was an only an arrival of two months from Barry Scrapyard. We later returned to Oakworth and examined the locomotive which was missing many parts - it looked to my eyes like an impossible task, but it was restored to traffic in 1988, and has run through two periods in traffic, most recently coming out of service in 2011 and currently awaiting overhaul in the museum at Oxenhope. The telephone poles seem here have subsequently been removed, although pole routes exist elsewhere on the line.
BR 4MT 4-6-0 75078 in the shed yard at Haworth. marked 'No Handbrake', This was a Southern Region locomotive, built at Swindon in 1956, so was only 23 years old at this time! Ultimately allocated to Eastleigh from May 1965 until withdrawal in July 1966 and removal to Barry scrapyard. Rescued from the scrapyard in 1972 and returned to traffic in 1977. At this time, the locomotive was still running with its BR boiler tubes. Now through its third KWVR overhaul, and returned to traffic in 2015. The board on the right promotes Duckham's Lubricants. In those days, visitors could responsibly wander around the locomotive shed area.
All the locomotives seen were first sightings for the class, many also on the main line, and also my first familiarity with engines restored from Barry scrapyard. LMS 8F 8431 was built by the GWR at Swindon in 1944, and was allocated to the Western Region from 1955 until withdrawal in 1964. Removed from Barry to the Worth Valley in 1972, it was returned to traffic in 1975. At this time in 1979 8431 had recently received repairs for a frame fracture. It last worked in 2000 and is currently in the museum at Oxenhope.
LMS 2MT 2-6-2T 41241 in red livery is a Worth Valley stalwart, It was built at BR Crewe in 1949 and allocated to the Western Region. In 1965 it was allocated to Skipton, and it is said it was worked to Keighley each day to work the Worth Valley turns, but the branch was by then closed, so the locomotive was kept idle there. Purchased from Skipton and delivered to the Worth Valley in March 1967, where it hauled the re-opening train in 1968. In January 1977 the boiler was lifted, a new bottom plate fitted to the smokebox, repairs made to the firebox, and when seen it was awaiting new large flue tubes. Reassembly took place place through 1978 and 1979, with new water tanks, cab side sheets and bunker. The locomotive was repainted black when returned to traffic.
Currently 41241 is under overhaul at Haworth ahead of the 50th anniversary events in 2018. In a poor example of preparing my shot, my briefcase is seen in the foreground (it was all I had then, a backpack would have been a better idea, but not on a student budget).
Midland Railway 4F 0-6-0 43924 constructed at Derby in October 1920, so at the time of this visit was 59 years old, It was the first locomotive to be recovered from Barry scrapyard, in September 1968, and was restored to steam in 1974. At this time the locomotive was running with superheater elements taken from 'Crab' 42765. The 55F shedplate is for Manningham, as also spelt out on the bufferbeam, a former Midland Railway Bradford shed, hence local to the location. Currently again in traffic. The crane receiving attention on the right has caused me some puzzling, as those on the railway today were delivered later. I have 1976 and 1981 dated stock books from this first and a later second visit, and the latter says that Cowan Sheldon 30 ton crane RS1087/30 of 1960 was acquired from BR at Longsight. It moved on in 1983 to the Severn Valley Railway.
Big Jim is seen heading up the valley at the Ebor Lane bridge. It appears that we must have walked from Haworth to Oakworth, although I have no recollection of this - just that we had some time to spare at Oakworth later.
We appear to have arrived at Oakworth for another view of 5820 on an uphill train. We would be waiting here for the return train to Keighley.
Edinburgh University Railsoc on tour. Unfortunately I remember very few names. On upper left was John (Hayes?), and next to him I think was James (?) Frisby. 2nd from right in the front row was Ken. If any of you are out there and reading this, my email is below. A motley collection of bags, including two marked 'Adidas'.
I do recall something about this picture. The far side of Oakworth station was then 'Oakworth Zoo' (listed here as the Brontë Zoo), and I was cautious of the attentions or otherwise of a billy goat there. Indeed others were too:
Push & Pull, Autumn 1979
I can just recall 5820 steaming into Oakworth for the return to Keighley. Ingrow was not an operating station in those days, there being no building there at that time. It did house the 'Ingrow Boiler Works', as seen here from the passing train, The boiler and frames are those of Hughes Fowler 'Crab' 42765, the recent star visitor to the Watercress Line Autumn Steam Gala, restoration being completed on the East Lancashire Railway some years later. Delivery to Ingrow was in 1978 and restoration activity was "being undertaken privately"through 1979 with an emphasis on the boiler, while the tender was located at Southport.
As can be seen this picture was taken against lowering sunlight,and was the last of my roll of 12 shot on 126 film - an extravagance and many trips went unrecorded on film. The boiler behind that of the Crab is believed to be that of 80002, which had serious firebox issues at that time, as acquired from BR days,
We would soon be in Keighley for the return trains - firstly to Skipton, then to change onto a train for the S&C. While at Skipton, 55016 Gordon Highlander passed on a tour. This was the L.C.G.B. Deltic Discoverer Rail Tour, which I believe that we passed somewhere around Ais Gill when it was northbound (more info: one two three four five six). The return over the S&C was in the dark, although I recall leaving the lights of Settle behind while climbing uphill, and the noise from the loco through Blea Moor tunnel, although until consulting my notes had no recollection that it was 45003.
My spotting list for the day follows - many less numbers from after dark on the return. The number of scrappings in the late 1980s and early 1990s representing a step change from this era of a nationalised multi-service railway, with much local variation, on a scale which could not be perceived on that day in 1979 - when it looked like Sulzer Type 2's and 4's would be forever.
The front cover of the Autumn 1979 edition of 'Push & Pull', magazine as obtained on this visit. Printed by Crown Press (Keighley) Limited, Chapel Lane, Keighley.
