21 thoughts on “New photos now online!

  1. AlanL says:

    Had a bit of trouble recognising this at first but I can see Wansford signalbox in the distance.I always thought the footbridge here was old but it must be 1950’s?

    • Matthew says:

      Hello AlanL
      You are absolutely right! If you hover your mouse over the photo a description will pop up to give you all the details. If you click on it, it will make it larger as well.
      Thanks for your comment.

  2. Matthew says:

    I think that is the weighbridge station? If you have a look at the main Driffield Station gallery there is a photo of it there. Looks like the right shape?

  3. AlanL says:

    No, the weighbridge was the brick building I photographed in 78 and is on the Driffield station page I here. I think the wooden building must have been either for the crossing keeper or else a wagon numbertaker’s office.

      • AlanL says:

        Forget that! I just checked on the authoritative website “SixBellsJunction” and on the second of june 62387 ran a railtour which included Malton – Driffield then Driffield to Selby http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/ Unless she ran tender first over the M&D I gues she must have been turned at Driffield?
        The tour on the 23rd used 62731 “Selkirkshire” from Alne to Kirkby Moorside then via Gilling over the M&D then via Bridlington and straight to Whitby.

        • Matthew says:

          Glad that is all cleared up.

          On the matter of the turntable, I am desperate to find a photo of it as have never seen one.

          Can anyone help?

          • AlanL says:

            I’ve put out a query on the LNER Forum but so far the only reply I’ve had is from a guy who remembers it in the 1940’s (!) and he says it was 45 feet diameter.

        • Neil Gow says:

          You can rest assured it did not turn at Driffield, the turntable was long gone by then, it either went to Bridlington to turn or it came into Driffield tender first.

          I saw a B1 on a similar excursion around that time, I believe photographs of the B1 running tender first can be seen in various East Yorkshire rail books, as it traverses the M&D line.

          Two points to consider, the NER cabs were big and weather proof and the enginemen in those days would have been a much hardier type than those of today.

          Reference the footbridge, up to the 60’s this was a road crossing, a schoolfriend was the signalman’s son. The crossing was close in the 60’s and the foorbridge installed. Exact date not known.

          I can also state the 62387 was a regular engine in Driffield until replaced by the D49’s and DMU’s. The driver tried to explain to us the workings of its air pump which chattered away.

          • AlanL says:

            Interesting info Neil! I’ve seen the photos of the B1 tender first.I’ll admit you could write down what I know about steam engines on a fag packet but I would imagine they would avoid tender first running if they possibly could for the obvious reason that the driver would be facing in the wrong direction? It would be like driving your car in reverse, and then of course you’d have to catch the tablets at Wharram and so on….

  4. Neil Gow says:

    Running tender first was a very regular occurence in steam days, mainly on freight workings but not unknown on passenger either. Driving a steam locomotive is not the same as a motor car and the fireman could easily move about the cab to cope with the token. It was not unknown to see a steamer going as fast backwards as they did forrard.

    Most NER and LNER cabs were big, commodious and reasonably weatherproofed compared to some. Try running tender first on a GWR locomotive it adds a new dimension to the preservation engine work.

    • AlanL says:

      Some info just posted on the LNER Forum
      “Just checked the NERA “Servicing the NE Railways Locomotives”
      Comment on Driffield states location Goods Yard, Maker C I’Anson, Uncovered, built 1880, 45ft at a cost of £305 and had a Cup and Pintle bearing.
      Some other T/Tables have more detail including OOS dates but not this one.

      • Matthew says:

        Interesting stuff Alan! I was always under the impression that it was just before the Skerne Road box, and not in the station yard? HHmmmm.

    • AlanL says:

      Matthew, regarding this picture on the “North Grimston” page you have a shot of it at North Grimston and as Neil Gow says, it was running tender first.

  5. TRIFF says:

    Great set of new photos-I can only wait,hope and pray that some new ones of North Grimston will emerge. Anyone out there have any knowledge of the type of passenger coach that would have been used on the line in the last few years of the service and the loco likely to haul it/them? I am assuming compartment/non gangwayed and a Malton shed based engine.but any specific details would be great-TRIFF

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