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Can you help to identify the locations of these images?


Class 117 DMU at an unknown location

No details with this slide, one of two showing a fire on a Class 117 DMS. The headcode is still in use so circa early/mid-1970s. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 117 DMU at Unknown, WR

No details with this slide, one of two showing a fire on a Class 117 DMS. The headcode is still in use so circa early/mid-1970s. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Met camm lightweight at Unknown, ER

A Met-Camm "Lightweight" DMU on a Norwich (City) - Melton Constable - Cromer service, location unknown, 4 October 1958. The number on the DMBS appears to read E79068. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Hi Stuart. This one has been puzzling me for a time, but noting the angle of the shadows, and using OS maps again to identify any location with an apparent one sided shallow cutting, I have found a possible location. Just outside Norwich City, where the line runs East-West, there was/is such a cutting. The track bed is now a cycle/walking route (Marriott's Way on Google Earth/streetview) and the immediate area still appears to have a rural feeling about it. I believe this may have been taken from a position just East of where todays A140 (Sweet Briar Road) passes over the line. Approximate grid ref TG 206099. Unable to locate any other photos of the line in this immediate area though, so will leave it to you... Rob Paterson 15/01/24 04:29

Thanks Rob! It does look like it could be a good option. I'll leave it in the unknown locations for now to see if we can get further confirmation... Stuart Mackay 18/01/24 01:50


Class 108 DMU at an unknown location

The only details with this negative (with a blue square Derby Lightweight twin) were 'on Cheshire Lines'. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 119 DMU at an unknown location

Class 119 DMU set L584. Location unknown, the slide process date was January 1978. The power cars were noted as 51070 and 51098, the centre car is presumably 59429. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Not an area I’m familiar with, but the lower building in the background bears some resemblance to one “wing” of the old Slough Panel Box. It would fit with the crossover move in progress. John McGrevey 23/08/23 22:41


Class 119 DMU at an unknown location

Cardiff allocated Class 119 DMU set C596 (presumably 51076 + 59416 + 51099) circa 1978, location unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Lifeboat station in the background? I’ve had a look at locations of lifeboat stations in South Wales and nothing seems to fit. That looks like an illuminated ’STOP’ sign with its back to us. John McGrevey 7/08/23 01:58

Could it possibly be Fishguard Harbour, the lifeboat station there has a barrel corrugated metal roof Stuart Prentice 9/08/23 19:51

I agree with Mr. Prentice re the roof. There’s no historical data regarding the track layout/signalling that I can find in the usual places, the branch now working on a “one in-one out” basis. John McGrevey 15/08/23 19:13


Class 121 DMU at Unknown, WR

Former Class 121 unit 55035, renumbered into Departmental stock as ADB 975659, pictured at an unknown location in the 1980s. Curly42.

Significant signalling work going on going by the concrete troughs. Possibly Westbury? Several other pictures of this car there on the site. John McGrevey 10/07/23 04:53


Class 127 DMU at an unknown location

A Class 127 parcel DMU with 55984 closest, location unknown, circa 1986. Paul Redmond.

This is probably the same location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134227013@N08/48392838707/ - the Class 310 EMU has Milton Keynes on the blind. Stuart Mackay 16/05/23 06:49

That looks like Bletchley box in the background. John McGrevey 16/05/23 07:56

I agree there is some similarity with Bletchley Box, however there is no sign of the flyover which at that distance I would have thought would be in view. The flickr picture you mention is Harrow and Wealdstone and I don't think it is looking north there either. Stuart Prentice 17/05/23 21:38

Been having another look at this. Rugby looking north? The OHL gantry spanning an area without track would fit. John McGrevey 19/08/23 12:16


Class 104 DMU at an unknown location

No details with this slide. It shows a four-car DMU - three BRC&W vehicles and a Met-Camm TBSL - so probably on the North Eastern Region, circa mid-1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 116 DMU at an unknown location

Brand new Derby suburban motor second W50894, date/location unknown. Its first allocation was Cardiff Cathays in January 1958. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Motor Second not Trailer Second Eddie Knorn 3/04/23 17:02

Thanks Eddie - caption corrected! Stuart Mackay 3/04/23 19:57


Class 118 DMU at Unknown, WR

A BRC&W suburban triple (W51316 leads) with a Cross-Country set on the rear, date/location unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 105 DMU at Unknown, ER

A Cravens DMU with DTCL E56438 closest. Date/location unknown, Cambridge is displayed on the destination blind which was its home depot from new until moving to Finsbury Park in April 1966. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Hi Stuart. Not an answer as such to the location question, but possibly a clue for those with more historical knowledge than I - the loco hauled coach to the right appears to be E86208E, which was part of Gresley quad-art set 78, allocated to Kings Cross suburban services. This loco hauled vehicle was withdrawn October 1965, tantalisingly close to the date the unit was transferred to FP. Don't know if that might help at all? Rob Paterson 24/01/24 16:18

Thanks Rob - hopefully it will help with someone narrow down where their two paths would cross. Date wise, the latest picture on here of a Cravens still with whiskers is July 1964, so this is very likely before its move to FP. Stuart Mackay 25/01/24 01:53


Class 105 DMU at an unknown location

A Cravens DMU with DMBS E51276 closest, date / location unknown - possibly near Shireoaks East Junction, looking west towards Worksop. Paul Redmond.

The surrounding negative numbers in Paul's photostream are at Worksop. Image 26675 is at the same location, this is a reverse shot at the same location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134227013@N08/51714756971/. Stuart Mackay 11/02/23 20:28


Class 117 DMU at an unknown location

Class 117 DMU set L428 (presumably 51408 + 59518 + 51366), date/location unknown. The slide process date is January 1987. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 113 DMU at an unknown location

Not a great quality image but the content is of great interest showing a burnt out Class 113 DMCL. It is likely 51770 - a victim of a fire on board the 7.58am Skipton to Manchester train at Shoe Mill, Baxenden, on 12 March 1964 which moved to Doncaster Works for cutting. Michael Boot Collection.

The shed doesn’t match Currock. See https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5290478 John McGrevey 13/06/23 06:11

Thanks John - reference to Currock and 51763 removed! Stuart Mackay 22/06/23 20:24


Class 101 DMU at an unknown location

A Class 101/108/101 hybrid DMU - date/location unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 108 DMU at Unknown, LMR

Class 108 DMU set T062 (51948 + 52039), location unknown, circa 1991. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 119 DMU at Unknown, WR

The Oxford Railway Society Bristol Area Branch Line Tour at an unknown stop. The tour began in Reading and was operated by Class 119 sets L586 + L587, the vehicles visible here are presumably 51077 + 59420. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 101 DMU at an unknown location

A two-car Met-Camm DMU with M54256 closest, date/location unknown, circa mid-1980s. The vehicle was based at Chester until late 1985 when it moved to Cardiff and shortly after placed in store. It moved to Haymarket then further north to become the Kyle observation saloon 6300. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 105 DMU at Unknown, LMR

A London Midland Region publicity (negative Y743-622 2) image showing a Class 105 power twin DMU - date / location unknown. British Rail.


Class 119 DMU at an unknown location

A GRC&W image showing a new Cross-Country set circa February 1959. Gloucester Railway Carriage And Wagon.


Met camm lightweight at an unknown location

A Met-Camm publicity image that was used in several of their trade adverts such as celebrating 300, 500 and 600 diesel railcars supplied. It shows an Eastern Region Met-Camm Lightweight set with Lowestoft on the destination blind, location unknown, circa early 1956. It seems to be a posed shot (and so not necessarily in East Anglia) - there are no passengers on board and unless the track in the foreground is out of use it is on the wrong line for the driver to be at this end. The colour of the seats can be clearly seen in the DTS(L), maroon moquette and tan vinyl. Metropolitan Cammell.


Blue pullman at an unknown location

A Midland Pullman set - date / location unknown. AndrewHA Collection.


Met camm lightweight at an unknown location

A Met-Camm Lightweight DMU heading for Aldeburgh, date / location unknown. Steve Davies Collection.

Somewhere on the Aldeburgh branch, possibly the distant signal for Saxmundham Junction. The signal appears on the cover of the Oakwood Press book about the branch: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aldeburgh-Branch-Locomotion-Papers/dp/0853617236 I expect the exact location will be described in the book, but I don't own a copy. Kenneth Leiper 11/09/19 19:57


Class 101 DMU at an unknown location

A Class 101 / 108 hybrid set, date / location unknown. Walter Burt Collection.


Met camm lightweight at Colne Valley

A Met-Camm Lightweight DMU heads away from the camera, date unknown. Location is just given as 'Colne Valley'. Steve Davies Collection.

Not an area I’m familiar with at all, but from some online research it looks as though closure of Colne Valley to passengers predates this livery, so the location might be open to question? John McGrevey 23/03/21 05:46


Class 101 DMU at an unknown location

Class 101 set C801 (presumably 51446 + 51517), date / location unknown. Walter Burt.


Class 101 DMU at an unknown location

A two-car Class 101 set, date and location unknown. Walter Burt.

Possibly Kirkham on the York-Scarborough line; looks very familiar Mel Holley 16/03/21 03:46

This may be near Kirkham Abbey level crossing. See https://earth.app.goo.gl/2aqqDf John McGrevey 23/03/21 05:57

Thanks Mel and John. I had a look at Kirkham Abbey Level crossing and, assuming the DMU is heading away from the crossing, one side is heavily curved. The other side (with the crossing) looks straight, but there seems to be a slight bent to the right in this image. This image - https://www.flickr.com/photos/90474967@N05/17068811131 - seems to be taken from the crossing and there seems to be a bank on the right, not evident in the 101 picture. Also the signal has a support wire in the 101 image absent from the 185 image. Stuart Mackay 24/03/21 06:35


Derby lightweight at an unknown location

The Ultrasonic Test Train - 975008 + 975007 - location / date unknown. Walter Burt.


Class 105 DMU at an unknown location

A Cravens set date / location unknown; probably East Anglia. Steve Davies Collection.


Class 101 DMU at Birmingham Area

Met-Camm set TY402 - which at this time would probably be 50323 + 59116 + 50305 - working with a Derby suburban set in the Birmingham area, circa 1970. Stuart Mackay Collection.


Class 101 DMU at an unknown location

A four-car Met-Camm set heading for Leeds in 1963. Steve Davies Collection.


Class 105 DMU at East Anglia

A Cravens set heads away from the camera, Norwich on the destination blind. Date / location unknown. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Could be the north end of Diss station, looking north-east towards Norwich, see the background of photo 3886. Kenneth Leiper 15/05/18 18:17

Thanks Kenneth, it seems to be a match. Added to caption! Stuart Mackay 16/05/18 07:42

It appears to me to be a single line, Diss is double, also the telegraph poles at Diss have 8 arms, as per 3886, here we only have 5, add to that the signal posts at Diss are tubular steel, where we have a wooden one, so I feel it probably isn't Diss. Stuart Prentice 17/05/18 13:55

Good points Stuart. I'll put it back on the unknown list for further comment. Stuart Mackay 18/05/18 07:34


Class 108 DMU at an unknown location

A three-car Class 108 set led by 53926 on August 7, 1987. Location unknown, the vehicle was allocated to Swansea Landore depot at the time. Steve Davies Collection.


Class 105 DMU at an unknown location

Cambridge bound Class 105/101 hybrid set 74 presumably somewhere in East Anglia. Exact location and date and unknown. Steve Davies Collection.


Class 108 DMU at an unknown location

A refurbished Class 108 set passing a Plasser Theurer tamping machine. Date / location unknown. Steve Davies Collection.


Class 114 DMU at an unknown location

Sadly no details with this image, so the date and location are unknown. It's formed of two Class 114 DMBSs back to back, and a 4-car Class 104. Possibly a railtour or excursion? Stuart Mackay Collection.

That's Skelton Tower between Goathland and Levisham. John Freear 28/03/20 02:32

Thanks John. It had a look at the track layout around the tower on google maps, and the curves all seem to be of the opposite hand to that in the image when trying to view the tower behind the train. Stuart Mackay 28/03/20 05:34


Class 118 DMU at an unknown location

Probably a Class 118 - taken at speed - date / location unknown. Phil Deane Collection.

Just taking another look at this one. The background has a very "West of Scotland council housing" look to it, although assuming it's a 118, that presumably wouldn't add up! John McGrevey 2/02/17 07:02

Again assuming 118, and looking like a 4 track section (Up/Down/Up/Down) could it be between Newport and Cardiff? Can't see any housing to match on today's google earth, but given this image (BR blue) likely taken over 40 years ago, many estates as pictured will have long since been rebuilt, but I do 'get' the Scottish angle. Rob Paterson 19/10/23 20:16


Class 103 DMU at an unknown location

A Derby Works image (58-299) of 50400 and presumably 56155 circa April 1958. Location unknown. British Railways.


Met camm lightweight at an unknown location

Three 2-car Met-Camm Lightweights, the leading in car in blue livery with just a small yellow panel. Location / date unknown (late '60s), but they are ER vehicles and perhaps the catch points sign may be a clue as to where? Steve Davies Collection.

The route concerned is also fitted with Track Circuits (white diamond on the signal post). How common was this on ER routes in the 60's, I have no idea? Rob Paterson 19/10/23 20:31


Derby lightweight at an unknown location

A four-car Derby Lightweight set - date and location unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Appears to be Single Line Working. John McGrevey 16/11/17 00:56

I know it doesn't help with identifying the location, but this looks to me like a four car unit. There is no sign of a brake an in either driving car but there does appear to be one at the leading end of the third car, which would make this one of the Newcastle-Middlesbourgh units, but not necessarily seen in the north-east. Stuart Prentice 2/01/21 18:52

Thanks Stuart. Yes, it appears to be a four-car - caption updated! Stuart Mackay 3/01/21 08:31

I bought a better scanner so I've been able to scan the full large format negative - this might give more clues to the location! Stuart Mackay 25/01/23 21:08

Looking at the new image, that sign with its back to us may well be a “Whistle” board, so we might be near a crossing. Its positioning reinforces the impression that there’s some Single Line Working in progress. Another observation is that this is a rather wide formation, so might we be in former broad gauge territory? John McGrevey 26/02/23 06:17

 

    Recently Solved Locations


Class 114 DMU at Tissington

Three Derby Heavyweight twins in Tissington station on the Ashbourne line circa early 1960s. Wikipedia notes regular passenger services ended in 1954 but the station remained open for excursions until 1963. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The landscape doesn't look like Lincolnshire to me and the buildings and canopy have an LNWR 'look' about them, see pictures of Uppingham for instance, I would say possibly Leicestershire however I can't find anywhere that would fit at the moment. Ian Hazlehurst 26/03/24 09:53

Tissington station on the Buxton to Ashbourne line, looking south west. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tissington_railway_station Kenneth Leiper 26/03/24 14:01

Thank you Ian and Kenneth - added to caption! Stuart Mackay 26/03/24 14:46


Class 101 DMU at Selby

Class 101 DMCL E50160 standing in for a Trans-Pennine power car heading East away from Selby. Date unknown, likely when the vehicle was allocated to Hull Botanic Gardens between October 1975 and May 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Heading east away from Selby. John Freear 19/03/24 19:22

Selby indeed, looking west towards the swing bridge and station. Jonathan Horswell 22/03/24 15:14

Thanks John and Jonathan - added to caption! Stuart Mackay 25/03/24 04:00


Class 108 DMU at Peasley Cross, St Helens

A (blue square) Derby Lightweight twin (M51913 and presumably M56496) thought to be working the shuttle between St Helens Junction and St Helens Shaw Street (now Central). Date unknown, the shuttle ended in June 1965, so the yellow panel dates it to the 1963-5 period. Behind the unit used to be Peasley Cross station which closed in 1951. There are not many passengers on board, and the seat moquette which I can see better on the original scan is the same as that used in the 2nd class of the Marylebone quads (see image 15353) and the Ayrshire Swindon Inter-City sets (image 24623). Stuart Mackay Collection.

Could be west of Thatto Heath on the St. Helens to Huyton line. Looking east from near Main Avenue bridge with Thatto Heath signal box in the background and the houses of Scholes Lane on the left. The train is thus heading away from St. Helens. Kenneth Leiper 14/03/24 10:14

May I put another option up for consideration? I think the line at that point is in a cutting so you wouldn't see Scholes Lane. My suggestion is this could be a Shaw Street to Junction shuttle, hence not many passengers, and it is heading for the Junction with the houses on Jackson Street to the left. There appears to be the correct amount of buildings in the background. Possibly taken in the vicinity of what appears to be a footbridge linking Alma Place with Manor Street. Ian Hazlehurst 14/03/24 18:00

Yes, Jackson Street is a better match. See photo here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ingythewingy/8915589629 The signal box in the background would be Broad Oak Junction. Kenneth Leiper 14/03/24 23:30

Many thanks Kenneth and Ian - added to caption! Stuart Mackay 15/03/24 02:08


Class 114 DMU at Darton

A Derby Heavyweight DMU heading to Leeds, the '8' headcode indicating a service from Sheffield. Thought to be taken just south of Darton station, date unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.

The '8' headcode was used for Sheffield to Leeds services, see photo 9330. A possible location is south of Darton station, looking south east towards Barnsley with the terraced houses in Station Road in the background. Kenneth Leiper 22/02/24 09:54

Thanks Kenneth - added to caption! Stuart Mackay 26/02/24 02:17


Class 105 DMU at Stratford-upon-Avon

Tyseley set TS413 with Class 105 DMCL M50786 and a Class 101 DTCL, presumably M56411, in view at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1976. Stuart Mackay Collection.

I may be wrong but the background building looks very much the IDC offices in Stratford-upon-Avon, the football field is where Stratford FC apparently used to play (not my subject!) and the two chimneys were where the Stratford Canners food canning factory was until fairly recently. The signal post on the right would have been the inner home. The train appears to be leaving or going into platform 3 after a shunt from a P1 arrival although the apparent lack of a driver suggests the former. Peter TANDY 13/02/24 11:48

This picture shows a similar backdrop... http://petertandy.co.uk/55012(2)_009_SonA_250784 Peter TANDY 13/02/24 11:54

And therefore not in Oxfordshire at all, but Warwickshire Jonathan Horswell 13/02/24 17:48

Peter (and Jonathan) - thank you - now added to caption! Stuart Mackay 14/02/24 05:21


Class 100 DMU at Lundin Links

A GRC&W twin at Lundin Links on the Fife Coast line on 10 July 1965. SC56306 is noted as the closest vehicle which was a Leith Central vehicle at the time. Stuart Mackay Collection.

Approaching Lundin Links on the Fife Coast line, looking south west towards Leven. The trackbed is now a road and can be viewed on Streetview. Kenneth Leiper 9/02/24 09:13

Thank you Kenneth - added to caption! Stuart Mackay 9/02/24 15:01