European Railroad Discussion > Some Old BR Steam

An American, A. E. Brown, was living in the Newbury area in 1955-56.  He is well-known for his coverage of the southeastern US, but he kept busy during his time in the U.K.  I have scanned something over 200 negatives that I will post from time to time unless these are already common knowledge among British railfans.  If this is the case, someone please say and I won't waste everyone's time.

Gordon

1.  Swindon, 4-56
2.  Reading 3-28-56
3.  Grafton South Jct.  5-56


 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/20 09:00 by gbmott.

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I have not seen these before. Wonderful quality images. How well kept the trackside was back then. chris uk

Amazing photos. My knowlege of British steam might not fill a thimble, but these look incredibly old school for the time they were taken.

Fine images all, Gordon. With all due respect to our British friends, even if they are all familiar stuff to them, please still post them for us over on our side of the pond to enjoy. I think there are plenty of us over here who look at and enjoy the European forum regularly. I don't think it will not be a waste of anyone's time.

Thanks for these images, and thanks in advance for considering this request.

MC
Musekgon, Michigan USA

Back in the 1950's, trainspotting with my older brothers around Reading, the "Saints" were being scrapped. I never saw one, but they did.

I believe the "Saints" were a rebuild of an older GWR 4-6-0 (possibly a "Star")

Please post more, excellent set. The Grafton shot is on the Midland & South Western Junction, which connected Cheltenham with Southampton, with some running powers. I'm pretty sure the south to east curve, which the train is crossing, was only built during WW2, the M&SWJ closed in 1961.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/20 11:29 by 86235.

eminence_grise Wrote:
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> Back in the 1950's, trainspotting with my older
> brothers around Reading, the "Saints" were being
> scrapped. I never saw one, but they did.
>
> I believe the "Saints" were a rebuild of an older
> GWR 4-6-0 (possibly a "Star")

Saint Martin was rebuilt and became the first of the GWR's Hall class.

Saints and Stars were mutually exclusive, the former were two cylinder locomotives, the Stars has four cylinders, they were the precursor to the Castle class.

Keep on posting!  Every picture is new if you haven't seen it before...

Please keep posting whatever you have! Always enjoy vintage photos from England not only for the locomotives and train sets but also the marvelous trackwork and signals that complete many of the scenes. Thank you!

Tom

55002 Wrote:
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> I have not seen these before. Wonderful quality
> images. How well kept the trackside was back then.
> chris uk

Back when labour was cheap!

86235 Wrote:
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> Please post more, excellent set. The Grafton shot
> is on the Midland & South Western Junction, which
> connected Cheltenham with Southampton, with some
> running powers. I'm pretty sure the south to east
> curve, which the train is crossing, was only built
> during WW2, the M&SWJ closed in 1961.

Ive been corrected the line the train is crossing over is a bit older than WW2, dates back to the early years of the 20th Century. Built by the GWR to give access to the large military camp and town at Tidworth, a major traffic centre for the M&SWJ.