Bilbraborn

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Posts posted by Bilbraborn

  11. Trowell Junction in Colour-Early 1975

    in Pete's Nottingham Transport Forum

    Posted

    Firbeck always seemed to know what was happening on the steam scene. It was a pleasure to knock around with him and visit loco sheds, derelict railways, walk across derelict viaducts. Just recently I went to visit my son and his new girlfriend at Kirk Hallam. I told them about the times we cycled around the roads which criss-crossed the ironworks, and the myriad of railways and collieries which were once where Shipley Country Park is located. They were amazed as everything is so different now.

    On a lighter note, maybe Firbeck can remember when we cycled along the narrow roads near Stanton by Dale in the pitch dark. When we banged on the roofs of the cars gently rocking in the laybys.

    • Upvote 1

  18. Anybody on here worked on the Railway?

    in General Chat about Nottingham

    Posted

    I started as a carriage cleaner at Nottingham Carriage Sidings in 1978. I applied for a vacancy as a Senior Railman Carriage shunter at the same location in 1980. I got the job and spent the next five years shunting the same trains I used to clean. Every week-day morning we dispatched two trains to Glasgow and five to London, mostly mark 1 stock hauled by class 45s. The London trains gradually acquired mark 2E and Mark 2F air conditioned stock. This as well as the summer holiday trains. As the sidings became run down during the early 80s, coal mines closed and all our freight diagrams were transferred to Toton. Nottingham became a depot for engineering trains and I was transferred to Derby Etches Park carriage sidings in 1985 which was larger and busier. I spent my last years doing supervisory work until I took early retirement in 2004.

    My grandfather started after the Great War as an engine cleaner, working his way up the grades through Passed Cleaner, Fireman, Passed Fireman to driver. In his last years, because he was an Alderman on Nottingham City Council, he stuck with the job as 'Drop-pit Shunt' on night shift at the loco depot as it was easy to cover when he was doing council work. My Dad didn't work on the railway but his two brothers did, one as a clerk dealing with paperwork from the National Coal Board. The other was a General Purpose relief yard foreman, ending his railway days riding his Honda 90 from Nottingham to Rowsley covering nights in its final days.

    My son started in 1990 training in all clerical work. He is now at the Travel Centre in Derby.

    • Upvote 1

  20. Trainspotting

    in Pete's Nottingham Transport Forum

    Posted

    The other one came up for auction not long ago. The name plates of ex-GWR Bulwell Hall and Wollaton Hall are both at the Wollaton Park industrial Museum. As is the nameplate off Stanier Pacific (better known to us kids as Semis) City of Nottingham. That is unless someone has swiped them.