Just 'click' the thumbnails for a fullpage image! (1280 +827 nominal)
Woodhams Yard at Barry Island in May 1977
This visit in May-77 was to be my last.By this time only about 110 engines were left and most were in shocking condition with boiler-bands sprung etc.Asbestos was lying everywhere.Having seen most of these remaining locomotives 9 years before looking pretty complete it was a real eye-opener.Shortly after this visit Mr Woodham had all the engines remaining stripped of their asbestos contamination so they really did look like abandoned hulks from then on.This time the sun was shining again as in 1968 so my Pentax loaded with Ektachrome was kept busy! I never went back again and the yard was finally cleared in late 1987. A story that lasted 20 years and has changed the face of UK rail preservation...........................Thank you Mr Dai Woodham...............
1917 built 2-8-0T 4253 sits against the buffer stops at the far end of Woodhams Yard.It was eventually sold to the Pontypool&Blaenavon Railway and kept at Big-Pit.Departure date from Barry was Aug 1987,ten years after this picture was taken.The engine has subsequently moved on to the Kent&East Sussex Railway where restoration in 2012 is actively under way.
..Spring 1977..
GWR 2-8-0 3862 sits between a couple of 2-10-0 9F's.Just look at all that asbestos spilling out from under the cladding on the 38xx.Todays H&S exec would have a 2 mile exclusion zone around the whole yard and only people in rubber suits and gasmasks would be allowed near! Interestingly the 9F behind 3862 is 92219 that was completed at exactly the same time as 92220 lauded as the 'last' built BR steam engine.Numerically that is true but 92219 is exactly the same age but historically was totally ignored...
..Spring 1977..
GWR 2859 and SR 30847 sit in the sunshine enjoying the sea air at Woodhams-Yard in Barry -South-Wales.Both these engines made it out in one piece into preservation.36 years later 2859 is yet to steam whilst 30847 went to the Bluebell Railway and was restored to working order again.
..May 1977..
Only two Hughes 'Crabs' made it to this S-Wales scrapyard.This one 42765 left in April 1978 and was steamed again in 1993.After 10 years of service the engine was stripped down again and in 2012 this 2nd overhaul is nearing completion.All this recent work has been done on the East Lancs Railway.
..Spring 1977..
30499 stands peacefully waiting time along with other members of the same class (S15)
..Spring 1977..
34058 'Sir Frederick Pile' was rebuilt from the 'Air-Smoothed' original in 1960 and lasted precisely 4 years before being condemned as 'life-expired'? It arrived here at Barry in 1964 and had already spent 10 years here when this shot was taken.Finally bought for preservation it was to wait until 1986 before leaving for the Avon-Valley Railway at Bitton nr Bristol.Very little obvious work was done there on this engine but many new parts were obtained or fabricated.However notice to quit was given after a stay of 25 years (2011) and this engine has now moved on to the Mid-Hants-Rly for the restoration to hopefully be completed. ..Spring 1977..
Another picture of 34058 37 years ago at Barry when it still looked like a virtually complete rebuilt Bullied-Pacific. ..Spring 1977..
'Sidmouth' 34010 looks ready to leave Barry Island all painted up in rust preventitive undercoat.However it would be a further 8 years before it left this site.Having arrived in Sept 1965 was to spend a total of 17 years here.Now as the graffitti indicates went to the NYM-Rly initially but is now at Herston Works Swanage. Read all about it HERE ..Spring 1977..
73082 was one of 20 SR based BR Class-5 engines given the names off of withdrawn 'King Arthur' N15's.This one was named 'Camelot' formerly carried by 30742. It was saved by the 'Bluebell Railway' and went there in 1979.The rebuild was completed in 1995.This included manufacturing a complete new tender as loco was bought without one.In 2005 after 10 years service the engine is now having yet another refurb and is expected to be back in use in 2012/13.
..Spring 1977..
GWR 3802 sits in the sun waiting for rescue.
..May 1977..
LNER built 8F 48518 from 1944 has become a parts doner for a proposed GWR 'County' in 2011.After 46 years since withdrawal loco is now just a pile of spares being shared out amongst the groups that need them.Possible rebuilding using parts from a repatriated Turkish 8F has been talked about but nothing is planned as of 2012.
..May 1977..
Hughes-Crab 42765 was one of just two of this type to end up in Woodhams.Both were saved,this one going to the K&W-Valley Rly.Later transferred to the East-Lancs Rly where restoration continues.It spent 11 years at the seaside and departed in 1978.No doubt when restored (For the 2nd time) will be in the superb 'Crimson Lake' livery of the old LMS as 13065. ..May 1977..
45491 stands looking fairly complete.Rescued in 1981 originally went to Fleetwood (Via Blackpool) and now resides at Swanwick-Junction,part of the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley.47 years have passed now (2012) since it steamed last but hopefully this year or next will see the restoration completed. ..May 1977..
D601--If this engine was available now even in the state it was in in Woodhams in 1974 people would be falling over themselves to be the selected group to obtain this and restore to working order.Alas in the early 70's thoughs about saving 1st generation diesels was non-existent.It languished on until june-1980 and was finally laid to rest then.Considering the number of 31's and 37's saved now a tragic oversite. ..May 1977..
A longish telephoto shot of 45293 and 92245 sitting amongst the weeds,in company with a pair of unidentified GWR products. 45293 eventually ended up at the 'Colne Valley Railway' and to date has not been steamed.92245 has fared even worse,becoming one of the Barry Ten and to this day lays derelict in the old Barry Wagon Works about 1/2 a mile away from where this picture was taken.
..May 1977..
The oldest engine to enter Woodhams was 2807,built in 1905 sits next to classmate 3803 from 1939,32 years later. 2807 went to the G&W Rly and finally made it back into steam moving for the first time on 4th june 2010 for 47 years.-------------3803 was rescued in Nov 1983,going to Tyseley where is was steamed for the first time in 2006. Both loco's are currently in use on Heritage railways around the Country.
..May 1977..
'Jinty' 47279 minus its chimney sits in the sun waiting a saviour.5 years later it went to the Worth Valley Railway and was fully restored to working order. ..May 1977..
48624 was number 135 to depart Barry.This 8F came out of service in 1965.She left the scapyard in 1981 and in May 2009 returned to service at Peak-Rail after 28 years of hard labour. Click HERE to view a video of her on the first day in service as a restored engine.
..May 1977..
4270 and 34028 sit by the entrance to Woodhams-Yard in Barry.Acting as Gate Guardians! 4270 now part of the Gloucester and Warwick Railway collection but has yet to be restored 37 years later. 34028 however went to the Swanage Railway and is once again a fully operational engine. ..May 1977..
This 'unique' in many ways Class-21 D6122 was actually a failure in terms of its operational capabilities so only lasted from 1959 to 1967.Apparantly this example was sent south from Scotland after withdrawal for use at Hither-Green in re-railing exercises/training.That is why it ended up in Woodhams at Barry as it was lumped together with all the other 'for scrap' locomotives going to S-Wales from the south around that time.Looking quite complete after being there for about 8 years, it was to remain intact as the sole remaining example until June-1980 when it was cut up along with that other celebrated 'North British' diesel D601.A tragic omission looking back from the 21st century,but thats life! Hindsight is wonderful thing.
..May 1977..
BR-Mogul 76084 standing out like a sore-thumb in its protective coat of red-lead undercoat during initial efforts of preservation.This engine became the 143rd to leave and in 2011 was just a few months away from resteaming again after a gap of 44 years.This engines claim to fame is the fact that this was the last BR Mogul to be withdrawn from capital stock in Dec 1967.
..May 1977..
A rusty 92245 butts up against 'Merchant-Navy' 35022 in the warm sunshine here on the dockside at Barry.Note how the rebuilt Bullied MN-Class was loosely modelled to resemble the Standard-Class styling introduced just a few short years before these Bullied Pacific MN-type were rebuilt to a more conventional look. ..May 1977..
Looking more complete here in the yards at Barry 37 years ago than it ever has to date. 48173 has had a chequered history since arriving in South-Wales in 1965.It languished here until late 1987 when it was bought and transported to the Avon-Valley Railway at Bitton nr Bristol.However virtually no meaningful work was ever carried out and it finally moved on the the Churnet Valley Railway in 2008.Though still a rusting hulk steps towards full restoration now look to be a possibility. ..May 1977..
80098 stands in the sunshine looking fairly complete.Left the yard 10 years after this shot was taken in 1984.It went to Butterley (Midland Railway Centre) and eventually steamed again in 1998.The loco actually held a 'Mainline Certificate' for a while.Testiment to the quality of the rebuild. ..May 1977..
35022 'Holland-America Lines' and 34101 'Hartland' sit cab to cab waiting the torch in Barry-Scrap.This never happened as both went on to be rescued for preservation.35022 did just 10 years as a rebuild and 34101 less than six.A scandalous waste of time/money and effort.Note the 4 bolts on 34101's deflectors,these were used to affix the 'Golden-Arrow' emblem as this was a regular on this famous working out of London-Victoria.
..May 1977..
A nice example of how the seemingly (at first glance) similar Merchant-Navy and WC-BB light Pacifics differed.See how much more massive the firebox on 35022 is compared to 34101.Amazing! and most enlightening. Both engines are safely preserved,34101 was returned to service many years ago on the North-Yorkshire Moors Railway whilst 35022 is still being overhauled on the East-Lancs Railway at Bury.(As of 2011) ..May 1977..
GWR Heavy Freight 2-8-0T 5224 sits in line waiting for the call tpo Preservation.This came in 1978 when it was transported from here at Woodhams to the GCR at Loughborough.Engine was fully returned to steam by 1984 in BR Black. ..May 1977..
A general view from a vantage point in the tender of one of the engines stored there.Beyond the rank of ex-GWR freight 2-8-0's and Tanks can be seen an un-rebuilt Bullied WC/BB and the two NB Diesels D6122 (nearest) and D601 that were both broken up here in 1980.