The LNER Encyclopedia

Less exotic perhaps, but although by then an official BR employee with own orange vest (1st generation, with rubber buttons), I had no trouble wandering around the area immediately to the south of Finsbury Park, with camera, up and down signals one 1970 Spring weekend day, even though my work was actually on the LM.
Mind you, I suppose there weren't many other workers about on a Saturday afternoon.

Well maybe, but it seems to me that we might have won because the Yanks were on our side, even though (as usual) they were late to the party!

Chaz

In those days, mind, orange vests were looked upon by many as a fashion accessory - here we are on a Sunday afternoon (a time when I was seldom away from the railway in those days) near Watton at Stone. Archie Lawrence RIP, on the extreme right, Relaying Inspector Hitchin, sees no real need for such fripperies, although he has one in his coat pocket. However, taking a cabride on any sort of a fast train soon convinced you of their benefits.

G'Day Gents

Hitchin, thats got to be about 1975, electrification posts up but no OHL equipment put up yet,track renewals, replacing the old worn out track, god it use to be rough over that bit of line and noisey.
I had one of those horrible orange vests, most enginecrew, just use to flick it over there shoulder when they crossed the track, then back in the bag or pocket, almost impossible to put on in the confines of a loco cab, if you had your overcoat on

Ah,dear Gronks!!What will become of them?I hope there are plenty being bought up by preserved railways,such as the one at the NYMR.They might not have the glamour,but they can't be allowed to disappear.It's a shame none of the class 13's were saved.

Your right FF, about the best diesel built, comming close is 101's and 156's.

Mr B ,,, No trains today (Saltburn-Middlesbrough), Not much sleep either, dam tammper!!!

Can i see the base of the Hitchin water softener behind the 350?

Wot, like this one, in its own exhaust...? This was the 08 originally from Swinden Quarry near Grassington photographed at Embsay station after two or three barrow loads of limestone dust had been removed from its innards - I wasn't standing on the far side of the car-park by chance...



(It's now in better condition, both mechanically and externally...)

Good god,that's belching well!!!Great stuff,Limestone,but it get's everywhere!

I have a pic of two 08s at Swinden quarry about 20 years ago, both were in Tilcon livery if I remember, will sort them out when I return home.

I look forward to seeing them!!

For a little while now, I've wondered what will replace the Gronks. I know there were a lot built and that is partly why they've survived so long, but surely someone is going to start replacing their fleet soon?

If they go the GE/EMD route then the current US switchers continue to be relatively large things - even the new Gensets and Green Goats. I assume a gronk-replacement would be smaller but work on similar principles (Gensets have 3 banks of small engine/generator sets which switch on as needed; Green Goats are diesel-electric hybrids with regen braking - most of the hood contains batteries)


Richard

When in Saudi the type of shunter that shunted the oil refineries was American, sort of looking like an overgrown version of a class 20.

That could cover a lot of switchers going back many decades - especially the older ones. The more modern US switcher shape has a high cab and are a bit shorter than the mainline locos (which have now morphed into forward-looking cabs).

GenSets & Green Goats look similar to conventional modern switchers but both have lower main hoods. Back in November I was at UP's Centennial Yard (or Davidson Yard or whatever it is called these days) in west Fort Worth, and caught a rake of Gensets heading out West. Presumably they'd been serviced or something like that at the loco depot at the other east of the yard (not in the photos). No. 5098 is pushing. Going by the exhaust stacks, some of the diesels were also running on some of the gensets.

Other notes: Yes the camera wanted a flash (the UP's red lining is hiviz reflective red); and yes that is a functioning hump yard in the background. It looks like a I caught a hopper as it left the second set of retarders. The camera was packed away in the car so I had to rush to get these photos. Sometimes I see a BNSF Genset when I'm walking the dog in the early morning, but a rake of Gensets is not something you see very often!

i know class66's do their own shunting-i suppose the 70's will be able to as well.Kind of negates the need for a 21st century gronk!!