Bath Road based Class 08s in 1970

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Mon May 23, 2011 8:20 pm

stantheman wrote:
Andrew wrote:OF COURSE! The O8s had brake vans, the 03s had match wagons. Apologies for being so emphatic earlier that O8s had match wagons - and thanks to "Oldchapie" for pointing this out. My memory has started playing tricks on me!!
Isn't this an 08 with shunter match wagon?

www.flickr.com/photos/bristolsteam/5560 ... hotostream

Correct!

trafalgar45682 · Post by **trafalgar45682** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:23 pm

I wondered why 45369 had suddenly become a popular shot !

jules · Post by **jules** » Tue May 24, 2011 6:29 am

Isn't this an 08 with shunter match wagon?

That's not a match wagon. That's what I believe is called a "Shunter's Gig". Match wagons were just ordinary flat wagons, or any other wagon, though usually flat for visibility.

A shunter's gig was a whole different matter though. It had running boards to ride on (as with the chap in the pic) and a lockable top box to keep all your bits and pieces in (lamps, brake sticks, shunting poles, a re-railer, spare couplings, tea, kettle, sarnies etc. etc.)

Most were strictly bound to their home location and would have had "Bristol TM" or wherever emblazoned on the side.

The 08 is on the Bristol Goods Depot duty I mentioned in an earlier post, at the top of the steep incline opposite Platform 1. Personally, I never recall gigs being used at TM but I only got let in there on a regular basis in '67.

Anyone remember the platform ticket machines?

We used to stay in all day, despite the fact a 1d platform ticket was only officially valid for an hour. Very, very occasionally, we were ejected and had to buy another one!

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Tue May 24, 2011 8:25 am

jules wrote:
Isn't this an 08 with shunter match wagon?
That's not a match wagon. That's what I believe is called a "Shunter's Gig". Match wagons were just ordinary flat wagons, or any other wagon, though usually flat for visibility.

A shunter's gig was a whole different matter though. It had running boards to ride on (as with the chap in the pic) and a lockable top box to keep all your bits and pieces in (lamps, brake sticks, shunting poles, a re-railer, spare couplings, tea, kettle, sarnies etc. etc.)

Most were strictly bound to their home location and would have had "Bristol TM" or wherever emblazoned on the side.

The 08 is on the Bristol Goods Depot duty I mentioned in an earlier post, at the top of the steep incline opposite Platform 1. Personally, I never recall gigs being used at TM but I only got let in there on a regular basis in '67.

Anyone remember the platform ticket machines? We used to stay in all day, despite the fact a 1d platform ticket was only officially valid for an hour. Very, very occasionally, we were ejected and had to buy another one!

Yep,

I remember the Platform Ticket machines (and also the chocolate machines)... I still have a few of the platform tickets stored away somewhere.

clarky · Post by **clarky** » Tue May 24, 2011 1:27 pm

Thanks for all your help chaps!

Please keep the info coming!

The 03 info is great as well!

I'm interested in ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that worked around Bath Road in 1970!

Cheers

Clarky

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Tue May 24, 2011 2:00 pm

stantheman wrote:
Andrew wrote:OF COURSE! The O8s had brake vans, the 03s had match wagons. Apologies for being so emphatic earlier that O8s had match wagons - and thanks to "Oldchapie" for pointing this out. My memory has started playing tricks on me!!
Isn't this an 08 with shunter match wagon?

www.flickr.com/photos/bristolsteam/5560 ... hotostream

Phew! I'm not losing it then!

I think the Temple Meads station pilots had brake vans as opposed to the ones in the goods yard that had match wagons........

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Tue May 24, 2011 2:10 pm

Andrew wrote:
bristolian wrote:[Hello Andrew - you might like these:-

http://bristolian.rrpicturearchives.net ... id=1101985
http://bristolian.rrpicturearchives.net ... id=1036844
http://bristolian.rrpicturearchives.net ... ?id=701663

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.
Thank you - yes! I didn't know about this site!!

A

I've a load of shots in those galleries there, I'll no doubt transfer all of these to Flickr too at some point...

AndyK · Post by **AndyK** » Tue May 24, 2011 4:44 pm

jules wrote:
Isn't this an 08 with shunter match wagon?
That's not a match wagon. That's what I believe is called a "Shunter's Gig". Match wagons were just ordinary flat wagons, or any other wagon, though usually flat for visibility.

A shunter's gig was a whole different matter though. It had running boards to ride on (as with the chap in the pic) and a lockable top box to keep all your bits and pieces in (lamps, brake sticks, shunting poles, a re-railer, spare couplings, tea, kettle, sarnies etc. etc.)

Most were strictly bound to their home location and would have had "Bristol TM" or wherever emblazoned on the side.

The 08 is on the Bristol Goods Depot duty I mentioned in an earlier post, at the top of the steep incline opposite Platform 1. Personally, I never recall gigs being used at TM but I only got let in there on a regular basis in '67.

I also started spotting at Temple Meads in 1967, and I do remember seeing a gig in use at TM goods depot. It was labelled "Canons Marsh". However I don't think it lasted very much longer.

jules wrote: Anyone remember the platform ticket machines? We used to stay in all day, despite the fact a 1d platform ticket was only officially valid for an hour. Very, very occasionally, we were ejected and had to buy another one!

Yes, and I also remember the machine with a big dial which would emboss your name on a metal strip

jules · Post by **jules** » Tue May 24, 2011 5:22 pm

Ah the chocolate machines! Payne's Poppets if I recall correctly ... nothing else like 'em!

bristolian · Post by **bristolian** » Tue May 24, 2011 6:29 pm

jules wrote:Ah the chocolate machines! Payne's Poppets if I recall correctly ... nothing else like 'em!

And Nestle's Dairy Crunch!

stantheman · Post by **stantheman** » Tue May 24, 2011 7:01 pm

jules wrote:Ah the chocolate machines! Payne's Poppets if I recall correctly ... nothing else like 'em!

I remember there was a 'Five Boys' chocolate machine on Platform 9 (now of course P3) immediately after WW2 which displayed 'Empty' for about 4 years. I have no idea if it was ever refilled!

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Wed May 25, 2011 6:52 pm

Was the official name not "Shunting Runner"?

As a schoolboy in the late '60s/early '70s I used to go down to Temple Meads most Saturdays from Montpelier and spend however long I felt like on the platforms with just my single from Montpelier. I don't think I was ever challenged. A big attraction was a total babe who I believed worked in an office off the Old Station at TM. She used to catch the same train in from Montpelier, wearing the tiniest skirt!

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:57 pm

Andrew wrote:OF COURSE! The O8s had brake vans, the 03s had match wagons. Apologies for being so emphatic earlier that O8s had match wagons - and thanks to "Oldchapie" for pointing this out. My memory has started playing tricks on me!!

Photo on this page http://www.reallygoodtrains.co.uk/reallybristol3.html

jules · Post by **jules** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:21 pm

Revisiting another old thread

If I remember correctly, another (but different) reason many 03s were almost permanently connected to match wagons was that the 03 in some locations was notoriously unreliable at operating track circuits.

I don't think this was ever a problem at Temple Meads, but the issue did arise at Peterborough, Newcastle, several Scottish locations and most likely elsewhere. Anomalies in the signalling equipment I suppose.

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:11 pm

Taunton also had four class 03s allocated there for a long time. These had no duties at Taunton, but were all operated down at Bridgwater at the docks (which must have therefore been a sight busier than they are now). I believe there were no fuel facilities at Bridgwater so each in turn would waddle back to Taunton periodically at 20 mph for refuelling. One used to turn up from time to time mid-afternoon in the week.

It didn't seem to need the shunter's wagon attached for this, despite there being IBS signals along the route which were wholly dependent on track circuits. These wagons were an old GWR feature, and I can mainly recall them being attached to pannier tanks. They held the shunters' poles, had lockers for other equipment, and side running boards which the shunters rode on down the yard. Health & Safety nowadays would have a fit!