| For all Steam
enthusiasts, the period from 1958 to 1968 was a period of despair, as
Steam locos were gradually replaced by Diesels and Electrics on
both freight and passenger trains.
For me, the blow was softened a little by the splendid sounds of the Western Class 52 Diesel-Hydraulics which I came across whilst travelling on the Paddington to Birmingham route in 1963. And the Hymeks were good to listen to also. |
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| In 1964, I decided to
use one week of my two weeks annual holiday entitlement travelling on the Western
Region, using a WESTERN RAILROVER ticket. The intention was to travel
"Western class 52", on the Paddington to West of England,
South Wales, and Gloucester lines, and to travel behind Hymeks between
Worcester and Paddington. Also, I wanted to travel on the Cornish main
line from Plymouth to Penzance, which I had never done.
Additionally, I hoped to get steam haulage on the Exeter Cental to Salisbury ex Southern line, upon which the Bulleid Pacifics still reigned supreme, and also some Saturday steam haulage on the Bristol to Birmingham line. |
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| Below is a list of what I actually achieved: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The weather was
excellent
throughout and the highlights were.. (1) 8 runs on Western diesel
hydraulics, plus 1 run on a Hymek. (2) My first experience of travelling
on a Sleeper. (I slept all the way from Slough to St Austell). (3) My
first journeys over the Cornish main line, seen to great advantage in
the glorious early morning sunshine. (4) A final run on the
"Atlantic Coast Express" from Exeter to Salisbury. (5)
Surprising motive power in the form of a B1 class 4-6-0, from Gloucester
to Worcester.
My one disappointment was that I had to abandon my Friday plans through a throat infection. It had been my intention to do two Hymek trips from Worcester to Paddington and return. |
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