| By
1961, the writing was on the wall. The BR/Sulzer type 4's had arrived.
But all was not well with the new diesels, and for some time the Jubilees, Patriots,
and Black 5's continued to appear on many of the principal workings.
And with the gradual takeover of West Coast Main line services by the English Electric type 4's, a number of Royal Scots were cascaded on to the Bristol line. In fact, the final years of steam on the route showed a greater variety of Express Motive power than at any time previously. In addition to the Scots, there were more Patriots, Eastern Region B1's, a few Britannias, and on one occasion, even a Clan. So for a while, it was almost "Business as Usual" for the Bristol allocation of Jubilees. So 45561 Saskatchewan, 45572 Eire, 45577 Bengal, 45602 British Honduras, 45651 Shovell, 45660 Rooke, 45662 Kempenfelt, 45663 Jervis, 45682 Trafalgar, 45690 Leander, and 45699 Galatea, continued to appear, though often on less prestigious duties than hitherto. But eventually, they were moved away. Several went to Shrewsbury shed, and were seen on express services between Wolverhampton and Chester (the Paddington to Birkenheads), on Central Wales line services, and on a variety of duties on the North and West Route both north and south of Shrewsbury. But summer Saturdays on the Lickey route continued to entertain, even though the Somerset & Dorset line traffic had been lost in 1962. During 1962, I saw 45659 Drake, 45685 Barfleur, 45618 New Hebrides, 45682 Trafalgar, 45568 Western Australia, 45585 Hyderabad, 45575 Madras, 45573 Newfoundland, 45725 Repulse, 45685 Barfleur, 45570 New Zealand, 45690 Leander, 45656 Cochrane, 45576 Bombay, 45733 Novelty. Also Royal Scots 46162, 46116, 46151, 46164. And one Britannia, 70015. |
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| Note: the above picture, of 45651 passing Pikes Pool, has already appeared on these web pages, but it is the only pic of a Jubilee on the Lickey that I ever took. | ||||
| In
1963, my visits to the line were infrequent. But I saw 45712 Victory,
45668 Madden, 45647 Sturdee, 45676 Codrington, 45612 Jamaica, 45639
Raleigh, 45631 Tanganyika, and 45568 Western Australia.
In 1964, I saw 45611 Hong Kong, 45674 Duncan, 45557 New Brunswick, 45716 Swiftsure, 45602 British Honduras. Indeed, the last Jubilee I ever saw on the Lickey was 45602 British Honduras on the 9.05am Bradford to Paignton on 29th August. But I live in hope! |
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