Inspired by Dick Blenkinsop
DURING my lockdown two things happened as a result of reading the wonderful article about Dick Blenkinsop and his excellent photographs in RM's May edition.
Firstly, I bought the book Big Four Cameraman. Secondly, it reminded me that in 1961, at the age of 15, I managed to do something Dick may wish he'd done.
At that time I lived at Mablethorpe, and my'spotting 'mates and I realised the writing was on the wall for steam, and we had better get to Scotland while we could.
To be sure of getting into sheds we applied to BR for permits and received quite a few. We travelled by train and stayed in youth hostels.
First stop was York for the shed and yard then onto Leeds for three sheds, with another youth hostel for the night.
Next morning we took the1hamesClyde Express' via the S&C with 'D31'to
Carlisle. The three sheds at Carlisle were the next victims before retiring to our hostel.
Next day, up to Glasgow for sheds at Eastfield, St Rollox and Parkhead. Another youth hostel overnight before heading to Edinburgh for Haymarket, Dairy Road, St Margaret's, Bo'ness and Bathgate sheds. The latter two even had engines not in the Ian Allan books, as they were stored awaiting disposal - we were just in time!
After a night in the Scottish capital the next day took us to sheds at Kipps (Coatbridge), Motherwell, Hamilton, Polmadie and Corkerhill on the way back to Glasgow.
On the return south to Carlisle behind 'D49'we passed Dumfries shed and grabbed what we could.
Then back over the S&C to Leeds and York for another trip round there and finally home.
That was some adventure, and along the way we saw 1,016 locos, the majority steam.
It was sadly obvious if we had gone 12 months later we would have missed so much.
Fortunately, Itook along my Brownie camera, so much ofwhat we saw was committed to film, and I still have the negatives and the notebook.
Why just negatives? Ijust couldn't afford the prints and then never got round to it. Possibly I should print them now?
Roger Bryant. Grantham