Modern Traction in the 1960`s
5 February 2020
On February 5th our guest was David Percival to present Modern Traction in the 1960s.
This was a selection of images taken nationwide featuring a wide variety of the above classes, many f which would soon be confined to history including the phasing out of hydraulic traction by the National Traction Plan. His local area around Langley Junction on the ECML showed Class 20, 31and 47 with both classes of Deltics on a variety of workings including expresses, local stopping services and freight including the SR Class 33 locos on the Cliffe to Uddingston cement trains. The experimental DP2 was shown working the Master Cutler and the infrastructure at the time also featured. On joining enthusiast tours visits were made to various depots including Longsight ,Heaton Mersey and Carlisle Kingmoor with modern traction including Class 40s stabled alongside steam locomotives. Hull Dairycoates depot housed many of the stored Class 14 hydraulic shunters, some of which found further use in private industry. Locally Norwich and March depots showed a collection of Class 31s and a railbus was seen on the Saffron Walden branch before closure. Some images also showed steam workings including at Waterloo where all three forms of traction could be seen. In the south west hydraulic classes were seen including Warships, Hymeks and Westerns on shed and out working and in Scotland a Class 17 Clayton was observed working at Stirling with Class 29s on the West Highland Line. With his work enabling travel across the country many lineside views were featured including a dramatic sunset at Ribblehead viaduct and coal workings on Tyneside. The human aspect of the rail network included footplate staff in conversation at Crewe and a lone figure on the platform at Liverpool Lime Street.