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‘Black Fives’ and the Calne branch
In your Calne feature (Steam World, August) you illustrated No. 45407 on the Calne-Weston-super-Mare train. I used to see this often, near Weston, and the usual motive power was a Standard ‘3MT’ 2-6-2T but I think Barrow Road used whatever was spare. Whilst I cannot confirm that 45407 worked throughout, I cannot imagine that a diesel locomotive was supplied just to work the branch, with steam coming on at Chippenham or Bath. I presume the stock for the train was worked to Calne from Bristol in the morning rather than being left there all week.
Paul Chancellor by e-mail
(Judging by the late Don Lovelock’s pictures of the Calne branch, it was not unusual for locomotives which were over the official axle-weight limit to be used on the branch. However, I suspect that in this instance the ‘Black Five’ may have replaced the branch locomotive at Chippenham, perhaps an out-of-course movement to get it back to Bristol. Certainly, Don’s photographs show the train normally being worked throughout by a 2-6-2T. -Ed)
Just where was 75062? Was it really Shap?
That shot of No.75062 (page 46 , August) has had me digging deep. I don’t think it was taken between Tebay and Shap summit for two reasons. If it was at Shap, then it seems to have been taken from the east side looking west, as there is a track visible (with a powerful glass) in the foreground. Such a view would have steep fells in the background and not a gentle hillside view. Second and main reason
