From what I have seen in a 1949 WTT the only engines allowed to work on the Cardigan branch were 0-6-0s and 0-6-0Ts.
I know later on that 45xx and 4575 locomotives were allowed to work the branch BUT according to records 8107 was allocated to Cardigan prior to nationalisation.
Is this correct or just an error that crept into the record books?
Be interested to know as she was my favourite of the large prairies on the Pembroke branch when I started in earnest looking at engines (1958 onwards).
Regards
Graham
Engines on the Cardi-Bach branch (W&CR)
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Pembrokelad
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RichardHC
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Re: Engines on the Cardi-Bach branch (W&CR)
The book "An Historical Survey of Great Western Engine Sheds 1947" by E Lyons (OPC 1972) certainly shows 8107 as being allocated to Cardigan as well as 0-6-0PT 2018. The book says that "the locomotive allocation listed to each shed was taken from the 1947 engine register book at the British Rail archives."
Cardigan was a sub-shed to Neyland and another large prairie 8102 was allocation to Whitland (also a Neyland sub-shed). I have certainly seen pictures of these two working on the Tenby/Pembroke branch but not on the Cardigan branch. The pictures I have seen of the Cardigan branch almost always feature "small prairies" of the 45XX class or 0-6-0PTs.
I have also looked at the Oakwood Press book on the Cardigan branch but this makes no mention of "large prairies" working on the branch.
There is also a "Railway Roundabout" film of the Cardigan branch which is of interest but again does not feature "large prairie" 8107.
One can only think that Mr Lyons' book is based on inaccurate information. Did sub-sheds really have a firm allocation of locomotives? The maintenance facilities at these small sheds must have been very limited and apart from very routine day to day maintenance locomotives would have had to return to the "home" shed on a regular basis for the heavier jobs. There would therefore have been a regular exchange of locomotives and there may not have been a firm allocation of specific locomotives at these small rural sheds. (Just my thoughts - no evidence though).
Cardigan was a sub-shed to Neyland and another large prairie 8102 was allocation to Whitland (also a Neyland sub-shed). I have certainly seen pictures of these two working on the Tenby/Pembroke branch but not on the Cardigan branch. The pictures I have seen of the Cardigan branch almost always feature "small prairies" of the 45XX class or 0-6-0PTs.
I have also looked at the Oakwood Press book on the Cardigan branch but this makes no mention of "large prairies" working on the branch.
There is also a "Railway Roundabout" film of the Cardigan branch which is of interest but again does not feature "large prairie" 8107.
One can only think that Mr Lyons' book is based on inaccurate information. Did sub-sheds really have a firm allocation of locomotives? The maintenance facilities at these small sheds must have been very limited and apart from very routine day to day maintenance locomotives would have had to return to the "home" shed on a regular basis for the heavier jobs. There would therefore have been a regular exchange of locomotives and there may not have been a firm allocation of specific locomotives at these small rural sheds. (Just my thoughts - no evidence though).
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Pembrokelad
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- Location: Cornwall
Re: Engines on the Cardi-Bach branch (W&CR)
Many thanks Richard and Noel.
I can only assume that it is an error!
Regards
Pembrokelad
I can only assume that it is an error!
Regards
Pembrokelad