Trainspotting

Swindon Works & Shed visits
 

Between 1953 and 1966, I made five visits to Swindon Works. The first, in 1953 was a coach tour organized by a Midlands Locospotters Club that, as well as visits to Swindon Works and Shed, also included Reading and Didcot Sheds. The next visit, in 1954, was a SLS Railtour that included Bristol Bath Road, Bristol St Phillips Marsh, and Westbury sheds. Then in 1964 and 1965, there were three visits included in Railtour itineraries, two of which also included Eastleigh. I have selected the 1953 visit (including Reading and Didcot) and one of the 1964 visits. Below are details of what was seen.
 
 1953: EARLY SUMMER (DATE NOT KNOWN) 
 
  READING SHED (81D) 
 
6002 King William IV 5941 Campion Hall
5942 Doldowlod Hall
4085 Berkeley Castle  5959 Horsley Hall
5034 Corfe Castle 5993 Kirby Hall
6923 Croxteth Hall
4920 Dumbledon Hall 6933 Birtles Hall
4939 Littleton Hall 6961 Stedham Hall
4943 Marrington Hall 7902 Eaton Mascot Hall
4962 Ragley Hall 7906 Fron Hall
4995 Easton Hall
5901 Hazel Hall 6845 Paviland Grange
 
2828  (2-8-0) 9309 (2-6-0) 6101 (2-6-2T) 9401 (0-6-0T) 5766 (0-6-0T) 1153 (0-4-0T)
2861 9313 6103 9404 5772
3847 6104 9405 5791 W1 (Railcar)
2256 (0-6-0) 6105 7708 W13
6338 (2-6-0) 2264 6109 3723 (0-6-0T) 7777 W18
6360 6111 4606 7788
6366 2411 (0-6-0) 6129 4661 9763 30485 (4-6-0)
9303 2516 6130 4665
9305 6137 4670 1407 (0-4-2T) 31626 (2-6-0)
9306 6100 (2-6-2T) 6161 5762 1447
 
TOTAL 71 
 
  DIDCOT SHED (81E) 
 
7001 Sir James Milne 4994 Downton Hall
7007 Great Western 5918 Walton Hall
  5935 Norton Hall
4921 Eaton Hall 6943 Farnley Hall
4931 Hanbury Hall 6952 Kimberley Hall
4933 Hagley Hall 7919 Runter Hall
 
2819  (2-8-0) 5330 (2-6-0) 6359 (2-6-0) 9015 (4-4-0) 8435 (0-6-0T) 3721 (0-6-0T)
3802 5397 9413 4649
3845 6313 2259 (0-6-0) 6116 (2-6-2T) 9417 5752
6329 3212 6118 5783
3024 (2-8-0) 6336 3622 (0-6-0T) 7710
6340 2532 (0-6-0) 1502 (0-6-0T) 3709
 
TOTAL 39 
 
  SWINDON SHED & STOCK SHED (82C) 
 
70016 Ariel 4907 Broughton Hall
4912 Berrington Hall
4097 Kenilworth Castle  4916 Crumlin Hall
5009 Shrewsbury Castle 4925 Eynsham Hall
5010 Restormel Castle 4951 Pendeford Hall
5022 Wigmore Castle 4967 Shirenewton Hall
5062 Earl of Shaftesbury 4972 Saint BridesHall
5070 Sir Daniel Gooch 4992 Crosby Hall
5084 Reading Abbey 5922 Caxton Hall
5091 Cleeve Abbey 5934 Kneller Hall
7015 Carn Brea Castle 5949 Trematon Hall
7025 Sudeley Castle 5959 Mawley Hall
7037 Swindon  5967 Bickmarsh Hall
6935 Brownsholme Hall
1004 County of Somerset 6965 Thirlestaine Hall
1011 County of Chester 6973 Bricklehampton Hall
6975 Capesthorne Hall
4062 Malmesbury Abbey 7914 Lleweni Hall
7923 Speke Halll
6832 Brockton Grange
 
90152  (2-8-0) 78008 (2-6-0) 5226 (2-8-0T) 3682 (0-6-0T) 9790 (0-6-0T) 1428 (0-4-2T)
90312 78009 3684 9795 1446
4538 (2-6-2T) 3725
2818 (2-8-0) 46525 (2-6-0) 5509 3780 7424 (0-6-0T) 5802 (0-4-2T)
2852 46527 5510 4612 5804
2855 5534 5755 2060 (0-6-0T) 5805
2865 2224 (0-6-0) 5540 5770 5806
3825 3213 5564 6739 1366 (0-6-0T) 5807
  5566 8793 1367 5812
4375 (2-6-0) 2474 (0-6-0) 5574 9600 1369 5814
5327 9629 5817
5396 9008 (4-4-0) 8436 (0-6-0T) 9720 1336 (2-4-0)
6320 9010 8472 9721 W27 (Railcar)
6384 9020 9400 9773 5 Portishead
6391 9026 9476        (0-6-0)
 
TOTAL 107 
 
  SWINDON LOCOMOTIVE WORKS & YARDS 
 
6001 King Edward VII 5090 Neath Abbey
6010 King Charles I 5099 Compton Castle
6011 King James I  7005 Lamphey Castle
6020 King Henry IV 7006 Lydford Castle
6021 King Richard II
6022 King Edward III 4003 Lode Star
6027 King Richard I
6028 King George VI 4908 Broome Hall
4926 Farleigh Hall
70022 Tornado 4968 Shotton Hall
4971 Stanway Hall
1013 County of Dorset 5906 Lawton Hall
5981 Frensham Hall
4080 Powderham Castle  5999 Wollaton Hall
4084 Aberystwyth Castle 6936 Breccles Hall
5001 Llandovery Castle 6966 Witchingham Hall
5013 Abergavenny Castle 6996 Blackwell Hall
5015 Kingswear Castle
5035 Coity Castle 6806 Blackwell Grange
5076 Gladiator
5078 Beaufort 7823 Hook Norton Manor
 
75030 (4-6-0) 3022 (2-8-0) 3153 (2-6-2T) 4510 (2-6-2T) 8737 (0-6-0T) 2148 (0-6-0T)
75031 3034 4512 8779 2167 (0-6-0T)
4151 (2-6-2T) 4527 9626 2195
90585 (2-8-0) 6305 (2-6-0) 5138 4581
90676 6318 5196 5511 5402 (0-6-0T) 1436 (0-4-2T)
6379 1442
2802 (2-8-0) 7320 6123 (2-6-2T) 8479 (0-6-0T) 1709 (0-6-0T)
2823 6146 1991 207 (0-6-2T)
2867 2354 (0-6-0) 3674 (0-6-0T) 2038 309
3843 2409 4273 (2-8-0T) 4631 2067 344
4288 4679 2122
  2202 (0-6-0) 7700 2129 18000 (GT)
2138 18100 (GT)
TOTAL 91 
 
On this visit to Swindon Works, there was excellent representation of Great Western steam motive power to be seen. The two Gas Turbine locos, 18000 and 18100 seemed to spend more time in works than out. In fact I never saw either working a train. The works tour had to be rushed, following our late arrival. The Works loco listings are likely to be incomplete. It is also probable that locomotives seen passing on the main line have been included in the works listings. As a 14 year old, my only ambition was to note the numbers and underline them in my ABC. We had a group photograph taken on 70022 Tornado. If only I still had it. 
 
 SUNDAY 16th AUGUST 1964: 
 
  SWINDON SHED & STOCK SHED (82C) 
 
5060 Earl of Berkeley 5934 Kneller Hall
5074 Hampden 5955 Garth Hall
7005 Sir Edward Elgar 5963 Wimpole Hall
6900 Abney Hall
1000 County of Middlesex 7902 Eaton Mascot Hall
1010 County of Carnarvon 7914 Lleweni Hall
1012 County of Denbigh 7916 Mobberley Hall
1014 County of Glamorgan 7926 Willey Hall
4916 Crumlin Hall 6804 Brockington Grange
4919 Donnington Hall 6873 Caradoc Grange
D1031 Western Rifleman D826 Jupiter
D1041 Western Prince D843 Sharpshooter
D1073 Western Bulwark D864 Zambesi
 
6379 (2-6-0) 6130 (2-6-2T) 9605 (0-6-0T) 42760 (2-6-0) D7004 Hymek 15100
9680 D7009
2244 (0-6-0) 4569 (2-6-2T) 9790 43940 (0-6-0) D7064 D3512
4591 44135 D9505
7221 (2-8-2T 1658 (0-6-0T) D4115
3677 (0-6-0T) 1664 D1717 (Brush) D4119 D2086
6106 (2-6-2T) 3702 D4120 D2146
6122 4626 W21 (Railcar) D6915 (EE3) D4122
7782 D6896 D4124
TOTAL 62
 
  SWINDON LOCOMOTIVE WORKS & YARDS 
 
5988 Bostock Hall D1007 Western Talisman
6951 Impney Hall D1009 Western Invader
6976 Graythwaite Hall D1012 Western Firebrand
7924 Thorneycroft Hall D1017 Western Warrior
7929 Wyke Hall D1021 Western Sentinel
D1027 Western Lancer
6823 Oakley Grange D1035 Western Yeoman
6853 Morehampton Grange D1036 Western Emperor
6862 Derwent Grange D1047 Western Lord
D1050 Western Ruler
7802 Bradley Manor D1061 Western Envoy
7803 Barcote Manor D1066 Western Prefect
D1071 Western Renown
D837 Ramilles
D850 Swift D602 Bullog
 
92223 (2-10-0) 76075 (2-6-0) 8102 (2-6-2T) 4699 (0-6-0T) D9509 D9521
76076 D9511
73034 (4-6-0) 8466 (0-6-0T) D6828 (EE3) D9512 D3026
43001 (2-6-0) 8497 D9513 D3029
2818 (2-8-0) 43115 9425 D7004 Hymek  D9515 D3032
43120 9457 D7008 D9516 D3754
42945 (2-6-0) 43137 D7011 D9517 D3824
42954 4600 (0-6-0T) D9518
42975 2210 (0-6-0) 4659 D9506 D9519 PWM 653
42978 4698 D9508 D9520
   TOTAL 72
 
By 1964, Swindon works was a very different place. The Kings of course had gone, and the Castles were well on the way. And the works was now overhauling ex LMS Stanier and Ivatt 2-6-0's. The "New build" work comprised class 14 diesels. Little did we know that they were to have a very short lifespan. Western diesel hydraulics were well in evidence. Three on shed and thirteen on works.