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Track renewal 1956

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 2:16 am
by martyn williams
Found this old film,the shunting loco in the film was one that I have wiorked on.It was still in use in 2003, it used to be based at Radyr yard Cardiff , its now in preservation.
[video]http://youtu.be/8PZtZ0cCJU8[/video]

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:48 am
by Ianto36
Cracking video fair play Martin, not a HV vest, hard hat, pair of gloves, safety glasses or HSEQ Person in sight, the good old days and they probably met in the pub beforehand! And for dinner!

Ian

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:25 pm
by donbuz
Ianto36 wrote:Cracking video fair play Martin, not a HV vest, hard hat, pair of gloves, safety glasses or HSEQ Person in sight, the good old days and they probably met in the pub beforehand! And for dinner!

Ian

hi martyn i live at maltby s667qb i often hear the freigtliners going up past our estate .in 1947 bad winter i lived at a hamlet called slade hooten a couple of miles away and remember drivers throwing coal off as they went past bottom of our garden so we could have a fire and cook (no gas or electric)

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 2:39 am
by martyn williams
The Radyr based diesel 060 shunter,now in preservation.Only 5 were built for this type of on site track renewal work.I last worked on it in 2002.It has air start. Ruston 6vphl engine,I have spares for this engine and a new carb for the donkey start compressor.
Martyn

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 2:57 am
by martyn williams
651 at LLanishen,note same track lifting machine as in the film :thumbup:
Martyn

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:29 pm
by essexpete
What a lovely piece of history and thanks Martyn for posting. Hope you don't mind mw posting a link elsewhere.

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 5:54 pm
by martyn williams
No problem mate. When Radyr yard closed, the shunter was moved to Canton depot and was not used much.The air start compressor played up so I used to charge up the system from a main line loco.To start the engine you just turned a valve to motor the diesel .I think all these locos are now in preservation.I remember they were transported in an enginnering train to site.Sometimes a Hymac 580 C was taken on the same train Great little loco that was used constantly at Radyr PAD sidings working alongside a KL66 and rail mounted cranes.I was based there in Summer of 76 as an apprentice learning track machinery. Got a great tan working there :thumbup:
Martyn

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 12:17 am
by dpan
Martyn this locomotive has an electric propulsion system correct. Your discussions mention different mechanical repairs or overhauls, is the electric system another groups responsibility. Great vintage video, well organized task.

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:40 am
by martyn williams
She is a diesel electric loco. Very reliable in service with BR.The only problem we had was with the donkey compressor for starting.Like all donkey engines,a bit tempremental. Other locos of this type were based at Swindon and Reading. We carried out major overhauls of diesel electrics on main line locos.This loco was out based at Radyr and came back to Cardiff for exam and maintenance.
I remembered something else I did whilst based at Radyr.I overhauled a Ford 4000 tractor during my training.So this was my first go at tractor restoration in the summer of 76.Wonder where it ended up ?
Years later I ended up looking after a Sentinal 040 at Newport.It weighed 35 ton.Will try to find photo of it :thumbup:
Martyn

Re: Track renewal 1956

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:51 am
by martyn williams
This photo was taken at Radyr this is where the loco worked most of the time in the week,the track rebuild off site was carried out at this depot,the building in the background was the plant workshop.This is an housing estate now.
Martyn