Something for the weekend sir?
Back to a misty March in 1977 and a shot of a class 40, no. 40100, as it approaches the eastern end of Healey Mills Yard with a ballast train, likely intended to support engineering work planned for the weekend.
The disc-fitted class 40s were always my favourite and just seemed to have more of a prehistoric look over the headcode fitted ones - put it this way, there was little doubting their heritage as first of the first-generation diesels. Based on my 1977 Ian Allan Locoshed Book, 40100 was allocated to Healey Mills when the shot was taken, so presumably the run out to collect the ballast wasn't a long distance working.
In the background can be seen Quarry Hill, maybe better known to sat-nav motorists as the A642 - remarkably free of traffic at the time and a condition unlikely to be encountered today. To the left is the old oil-tanker repair works - still doing reasonable business, but now a thing of the past. In the background there looks to be a surprising amount of washing hanging out to dry, despite it being a Wednesday.
Ilford FP4 developed in Acutol
30th March 1977
Something for the weekend sir?
Back to a misty March in 1977 and a shot of a class 40, no. 40100, as it approaches the eastern end of Healey Mills Yard with a ballast train, likely intended to support engineering work planned for the weekend.
The disc-fitted class 40s were always my favourite and just seemed to have more of a prehistoric look over the headcode fitted ones - put it this way, there was little doubting their heritage as first of the first-generation diesels. Based on my 1977 Ian Allan Locoshed Book, 40100 was allocated to Healey Mills when the shot was taken, so presumably the run out to collect the ballast wasn't a long distance working.
In the background can be seen Quarry Hill, maybe better known to sat-nav motorists as the A642 - remarkably free of traffic at the time and a condition unlikely to be encountered today. To the left is the old oil-tanker repair works - still doing reasonable business, but now a thing of the past. In the background there looks to be a surprising amount of washing hanging out to dry, despite it being a Wednesday.
Ilford FP4 developed in Acutol
30th March 1977