French Railways (SNCF) pacific 231K 22 La France outside the shed at Steamtown, Carnforth, 16th April 1979.

Locomotive History
231K 22 was built by the Chemin de Fer Paris - Lyon - Marseilles Pailway (PLM) in 1914 and was rebuilt by the Societe National des Chemins de Fer Francais (SNCF) in 1937. The Pacific hauled crack expresses to the French Riviera and also powered the Calais-Paris "Fleche D'Or" (equivalent of the British Golden Arrow). This locomotive can now be found at a heritage site in Germany

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Tags:   16th April 231K22 Epson 4490

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Barton Transport was one of the major “non municipal” bus operators in the East Midlands. The company was based at Chilwell on the outskirts of Nottingham and gained a reputation for having a fascinating and varied fleet of vehicles during the 1950s and 1960s, many of which I would have had a ride on as I was a frequent traveller on Barton buses as a young lad. However that was to all change with the aid of government grants in the early 1970’s. This allowed Barton’s to disposal of the fascinating and varied fleet and standardize on new coaches. The first were a batch of Leyland Leopard chassis fitted with Plaxton 53 seat coach bodies which arrived in 1973 and this set the standard for most of the subsequent purchase although some Bedford chassis with Duple bodywork were also purchased. 480 (RCH 480R) is a 1977 Leyland Leopard PSU3C/4R chassis fitted with a Plaxton 53 seat Supreme Express coach body and is seen here at Broad Marsh bus station, Nottingham, 30th April 1979

Tags:   30th April Praktica LTL Ektachrome 200 Epson 4490

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Swedish Railways S class 2-6-2T 1178 stands in the yard at Wansford, 21st April 1979.

Locomotive History
1178 was built in 1914 by Motala Verkstad, Sweden and when withdrawn in 1959 instead of being broken up it was put into the Swedish strategic reserve. It arrived in the UK for preservation in 1975 and in June 1977 it worked the Nene Valley Railway's opening train. Being an ideal size for the line, economical, and easy to operate, 1178 was used frequently, however by 1985 it was stopped with leaking boiler tubes. Due to a motive power crisis, it was returned to traffic in 1989, after a very light overhaul. By 1992 the engine was in poor condition and was withdrawn. It has not run since.

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Tags:   21st April 1178

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Swedish Railways S class 2-6-2T 1178 awaits departure from Wansford, 21st April 1979.

Locomotive History
1178 was built in 1914 by Motala Verkstad, Sweden and when withdrawn in 1959 instead of being broken up it was put into the Swedish strategic reserve. It arrived in the UK for preservation in 1975 and in June 1977 it worked the Nene Valley Railway's opening train. Being an ideal size for the line, economical, and easy to operate, 1178 was used frequently, however by 1985 it was stopped with leaking boiler tubes. Due to a motive power crisis, it was returned to traffic in 1989, after a very light overhaul. By 1992 the engine was in poor condition and was withdrawn. It has not run since.

Praktica LTL, Ektachrome 200

Tags:   21st April 1178 Praktica LTL Ektachrome 200 Epson 4490

© All Rights Reserved

Barton Transport was one of the major “non municipal” bus operators in the East Midlands. The company was based at Chilwell on the outskirts of Nottingham and gained a reputation for having a fascinating and varied fleet of vehicles during the 1950s and 1960s, many of which I would have had a ride on as I was a frequent traveller on Barton buses as a young lad. However that was to all change with the aid of government grants in the early 1970’s. This allowed Barton to disposal of the fascinating and varied fleet and standardize on new coaches. The first were a batch of Leyland Leopard chassis fitted with Plaxton 53 seat coach bodies which arrived in 1973 and this set the standard for most of the subsequent purchase although some Bedford chassis with Duple bodywork were also purchased. 1294 (XRR 623M) is a 1974 Leyland Leopard PSU3B/4R chassis fitted with a Plaxton 53 seat Elite Express III coach body and is seen here at Broad Marsh bus station, Nottingham, 30th April 1979.

Tags:   30th April 1294 Praktica LTL Ektachrome 200

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