03's 120, 145 & 151 at Llanelli Goods Depot. 1984.
In the early 1980's BR still had a number of operational class 03's on the books with small pockets of the class at several locations around the UK. In 1984 East Anglia, the North East, Birkenhead and finally Swansea in Wales were the main out posts for the remaining members of the once 230 strong fleet. Their retention was often for specific locations where lighter axle loading locomotives were required. One of the largest concentrations were the nine locomotives allocated to Swansea Llandore Depot. All these had been modified with the cab roof height lowered by 6 inches to permit use on the 12½ mile height restricted Burry Port & Gwendreath Valley Railway.
Eleven class 03's in total were converted with cut down cabs and conversion dates were spread over a number of years. The first examples done to replace steam were six locos modified in 1965 as a numerical block of numbers, D2141-46. D2143 and D2146 were early casualties both being withdrawn in 1968 leaving four to operate the line until several more were converted in the early 1970's. Under TOPS numbering the first four became 03 141, 142, 144 & 145. Subsequent conversions in date order were : 03 119 (1970), 03120 (1972), 03 151 (1974), 03 152 (1974) and finally 03 382 (1981). Trains on the BP&GVR were generally triple headed so Llandore Depot generally had 2 x sets of three class 03's available plus a couple for maintenance or spares. The BP&GVR line ran north from Pembrey & Burry Port to serve the coal mine at Cwmmawr and the coal washery at Coed Bach. The southern half of the route between Kidwelly Branch Junction and Burry Port was often affected by flooding so in 1983 BR reinstated the 1 mile long connection that had closed in 1965 between Coed Bach and the mainline at Kidwelly. This allowed the closure of the problematic 4¾ mile section between Burry Port and Kidwelly Branch Junction east of Coed Bach. The class 03's used on the branch were generally out stabled at Llanelli where the traincrew were based at weekends, they were replaced in April 1985 by three cut down cab class 08's.
Seen here in LLanelli Goods Yard stabled for the weekend are 03 120, 03 145 & 03 151.
03's 120, 145 & 151 at Llanelli Goods Depot. 1984.
In the early 1980's BR still had a number of operational class 03's on the books with small pockets of the class at several locations around the UK. In 1984 East Anglia, the North East, Birkenhead and finally Swansea in Wales were the main out posts for the remaining members of the once 230 strong fleet. Their retention was often for specific locations where lighter axle loading locomotives were required. One of the largest concentrations were the nine locomotives allocated to Swansea Llandore Depot. All these had been modified with the cab roof height lowered by 6 inches to permit use on the 12½ mile height restricted Burry Port & Gwendreath Valley Railway.
Eleven class 03's in total were converted with cut down cabs and conversion dates were spread over a number of years. The first examples done to replace steam were six locos modified in 1965 as a numerical block of numbers, D2141-46. D2143 and D2146 were early casualties both being withdrawn in 1968 leaving four to operate the line until several more were converted in the early 1970's. Under TOPS numbering the first four became 03 141, 142, 144 & 145. Subsequent conversions in date order were : 03 119 (1970), 03120 (1972), 03 151 (1974), 03 152 (1974) and finally 03 382 (1981). Trains on the BP&GVR were generally triple headed so Llandore Depot generally had 2 x sets of three class 03's available plus a couple for maintenance or spares. The BP&GVR line ran north from Pembrey & Burry Port to serve the coal mine at Cwmmawr and the coal washery at Coed Bach. The southern half of the route between Kidwelly Branch Junction and Burry Port was often affected by flooding so in 1983 BR reinstated the 1 mile long connection that had closed in 1965 between Coed Bach and the mainline at Kidwelly. This allowed the closure of the problematic 4¾ mile section between Burry Port and Kidwelly Branch Junction east of Coed Bach. The class 03's used on the branch were generally out stabled at Llanelli where the traincrew were based at weekends, they were replaced in April 1985 by three cut down cab class 08's.
Seen here in LLanelli Goods Yard stabled for the weekend are 03 120, 03 145 & 03 151.