The first Cat loader I worked on.

Discuss track loaders here

Topic author
martyn williams
Posts: 6393
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:06 pm
Real name: MARTYN WILLIAMS
Location: South Wales
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 359 times

The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #1 by martyn williams » Sat Jul 06, 2013 4:45 am

This is the very first Caterpillar traxcavator that I worked on in 1976. A 951 with side tip that was operated by BR for track renewal work. Photo was taken of it in the yard at Radyr , Nr Cardiff. The workshop was just down the sidings.
Martyn
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.


County1174lwb
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:40 pm
Real name: Ian Greenaway
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 3 times
Flag: Great Britain

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #2 by County1174lwb » Sat Jul 06, 2013 6:41 pm

Classic picture there, is it me or has the wagon got a distinct bow in it..?


Topic author
martyn williams
Posts: 6393
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:06 pm
Real name: MARTYN WILLIAMS
Location: South Wales
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 359 times

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #3 by martyn williams » Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:00 pm

It has a slight bow in it.Those departmental wagons are years old.Designs predate BR. They could carry 25 ton.Wagons were matched with machines.The wagons also had drums of oil and diesel strapped on them to top up the machines. We had a 10 RB face shovel on one wagon along with Hymac's and JCB 110's I wish I had taken photos of the stuff we worked on in those days
Martyn


County1174lwb
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:40 pm
Real name: Ian Greenaway
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 3 times
Flag: Great Britain

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #4 by County1174lwb » Sat Jul 06, 2013 10:25 pm

My family has a long history with Swindon works, three generations infact. They had the kit for every job and it was all kept in house. You could get anything made there if you knew the right people..!
I only live 5 miles from the former works and when the hooter used to go they would say the whole village rattled with the kit that came from there..:-)


Topic author
martyn williams
Posts: 6393
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:06 pm
Real name: MARTYN WILLIAMS
Location: South Wales
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 359 times

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #5 by martyn williams » Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:09 am

When I worked there I remember the hooter and the hundreds of workers on bikes coming up Rodbourne road exit the end of their shift.A great works packed with skill. Best year of my working life at Swindon :thumbup:
I am still on the rail, had to attend a loco in trouble at Upton Nervet goods loop yesterday,then on to Hinksey, Oxford on another job.Clocked up 273 miles in the van.Good weather though.Off again this morning
Martyn

see video on the works below


Topic author
martyn williams
Posts: 6393
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:06 pm
Real name: MARTYN WILLIAMS
Location: South Wales
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 359 times

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #6 by martyn williams » Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:50 am

[video]http://youtu.be/ATwKqdpH4Mw[/video]


County1174lwb
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:40 pm
Real name: Ian Greenaway
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 3 times
Flag: Great Britain

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #7 by County1174lwb » Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:13 pm

Thanks for putting that documentory up, have not seen it for ages.. Got it on VHS somewhere :roll: If only they knew what was around the corner...! I certainly remember the end of shift at the tunnel entrance, we used to wait there for my gramp to come out. I will never forget that smell of oil from the tunnel, it still smells the same now.
My great grandad, both gramps and my mother worked there, as did my wife's great grandad, her father and her uncle. So as you can imagine I've seen and heard a lot about the place. I take it you worked on the loco side of things then?


Topic author
martyn williams
Posts: 6393
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:06 pm
Real name: MARTYN WILLIAMS
Location: South Wales
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 359 times

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #8 by martyn williams » Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:24 pm

I cover the WR on loco and wagon call outs and incidents these days.Cover a large area ,and do a 1000 miles per week on average.
I spent my first years training at Swindon, Dean street B R apprentice school. I was in a railway hostel at 56 Bath road, Old town Swindon.We had a reunion at the museum last year.You may have seen it on TV.
My boss at the training school was Roy Hazell, with instructors Jack Packer. Graham Howell and Jack Lucker, Joe Whittle and Jack Bevan.I used to spend my dinner hour in the loco scrapyard lol There is a Swindon Apprentice Faceboock page :thumbup:
Happy days
Martyn


Topic author
martyn williams
Posts: 6393
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:06 pm
Real name: MARTYN WILLIAMS
Location: South Wales
Has thanked: 296 times
Been thanked: 359 times

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #9 by martyn williams » Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:33 pm

Photos shows the out station gang of 1974 outside the training school, I was a Canton Apprentice, other boys from Bath Road Bristol, Landore Swansea, Reading, Old Oak London. Exeter Those 40 years have flown by :lol:
Martyn
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.


County1174lwb
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:40 pm
Real name: Ian Greenaway
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 3 times
Flag: Great Britain

Re: The first Cat loader I worked on.

Post #10 by County1174lwb » Sun Jul 07, 2013 10:01 pm

Some cracking hairstyles on display..!


Return to “Track Loaders”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests