GW locos working to Blisworth

[Barry Taylor]

Just read Dick's note about LNER types working east from Woodford, which reminds me of the few odd occasions when we got a GW 22xx 0-6-0 at Northampton via the SMJ and Blisworth - presumably deputising for one of our usual 4F's ?
However - so far I've been unable to find anyone who has seen a photo of these GW locos at our end of the SMJ / Northampton - we had three or four around 1960 - 61, and I also recall something about a Hall class that got as far as Blisworth in the mid -1950's. I'm not too sure about the validity of that claim - must try to find the reference
Anyway - any photos known of the 22xx's ?

[Dick Bodily]

I didn't realise that this had happened on more than one occasion. I saw the 22xx at Blakesley working towards Blisworth on the celebrated occasion when it was mentioned in the Railway press ( TI etc).

[Barry Taylor]

Hi Dick
I've had a look at my SMJ notes, which are from a variety of railway magazine sources, and there were apparently the following-
17/12/1958 - 2279 seen at Blisworth
22/12/1960 - 2257 was at Northampton shed and was used on a local freight to Wolverton and back !
8/10/1961 - 2210 was at Northampton shed and stayed until 13th (I remember seeing this one standing at the back of the shed)
16/10/1961 - 2201 at Northampton shed for a day
I'll have to look further for the reference to a 'Hall' class at Blisworth
Amongst other strange workings I also have notes of-
A York B16 working to Stratford via Woodford on a troop special - 4/5/1957
L1 class 67740 and 67741 working from Woodford to Honeybourne over SMJ with two brakevans on route learning trips for enginemen, in connection with the use of the new curve at Stratford
There were also two occasions when GWR railcars were used over the SMJ -
1953 - W16 used on a special from Solihull to St Pancras via Stratford, Olney and Bedford - for Solihull Society of Arts
24/7/1954 - Diesel car special Paddington to Olney for the City Opera Club worked via Blisworth, and Northampton - I have the Special Trains notice for this with timings etc and it was allowed 20 minutes at Blisworth, presumably to wriggle from the SMJ to Northampton line.
Wish I had a photo of either of these two !
Regards

Dick said:

I didn't realise that this had happened on more than one occasion. I saw the 22xx at Blakesley working towards Blisworth on the celebrated occasion when it was mentioned in the Railway press ( TI etc).

[Dick Bodily]

I'm pretty sure it was the 2257 occasion that I witnessed. I suppose it's remotely possible that the 22xxs on Northampton shed may have arrived via the Leamington - Weedon line.

In addition to your notes:-
'The Last Years of the GC Main Line' by R Robotham mentions a 'Castle' working from Woodford towards Stratford on a through freight in the 60s.
There's also a picture of an unrebuilt Patriot 45511 'Isle of Man' standing at Blisworth SMJ's platform on a cattle train on 13/9/1960 in 'Steam Nostalgia around Northampton' by Coleman & Rajczonek, of course it doesn't necessarily mean that this Warrington 'Pat' actually went along the SMJR.
In the same book there's a picture of 3F 3822 working a Northampton - Weston - Super - Mare special towards Blisworth LNWR station. The caption describes how the train was shunted across the main line, 3822 was turned on the SMJR turntable and then took the train on via the SMJ to Broom Junction. It implies that 4F 4122 may have banked the towards Tiffield. At Broom 4F 4167 took over. The date was 13/9/1931.

Any rate must say, what fantastic research, some amazing stuff here, well done Barry. What else have you got on the SMJ?

[Dick Bodily]

I have checked through some old notes and can confirm that it WAS 2257 that I saw at Blakesley heading towards Blisworth on a pickup sometime in December 1960, unfortunately I didn't record the actual date. Also in my notes for around the same time of theyear were;
D3059 ( listed as 15A in April, but most probably 2E) on the morning down pickup and 92135 ( probably 21A then it was in April 1960) light engine up direction.

Dick


Dick said:

I'm pretty sure it was the 2257 occasion that I witnessed. I suppose it's remotely possible that the 22xxs on Northampton shed may have arrived via the Leamington - Weedon line.

In addition to your notes:-
'The Last Years of the GC Main Line' by R Robotham mentions a 'Castle' working from Woodford towards Stratford on a through freight in the 60s.
There's also a picture of an unrebuilt Patriot 45511 'Isle of Man' standing at Blisworth SMJ's platform on a cattle train on 13/9/1960 in 'Steam Nostalgia around Northampton' by Coleman & Rajczonek, of course it doesn't necessarily mean that this Warrington 'Pat' actually went along the SMJR.
In the same book there's a picture of 3F 3822 working a Northampton - Weston - Super - Mare special towards Blisworth LNWR station. The caption describes how the train was shunted across the main line, 3822 was turned on the SMJR turntable and then took the train on via the SMJ to Broom Junction. It implies that 4F 4122 may have banked the towards Tiffield. At Broom 4F 4167 took over. The date was 13/9/1931.

Any rate must say, what fantastic research, some amazing stuff here, well done Barry. What else have you got on the SMJ?