Ashburton Grove.

[ttc0169]

Nice photos' date=' Noel! Any chance of a look at the fiddle yard? Are the lower and upper levels connected or are they completely separate?[/quote'] Here you go Patrick.... The lower and upper levels are not connected,but I may make an attempt to connect them in the future. Thanks gents for your comments.

 

Thanks to driver301 who built this M class expressway bus a few years ago-I knew it would come in handy one day...

 

 

 

M class 100IK negotiates the narrow roads at Ashburton grove on a Ballina-London'Supabus'service,the tractor driver turned into the field shortly after this photo was taken...!!!

Edited May 28, 2016 by ttc0169

[ttc0169]

Late night operations at the MPD sees 56 074 in for fuel,oil and water while the HST set undergoes a B exam in the shed.

 

 

[The Derry Road]

Loving this Noel:tumbsup:

[ttc0169]

 

Some driver training taking place at the factory sidings using the Class 47 and 56.

Edited November 23, 2016 by ttc0169

[krose]

Nice one Noel. Tidy looking layout.

[ttc0169]

Nice one Noel. Tidy looking layout.

 

Thanks Karl-more additions are planned after my Warley visit.

[krose]

Ill look forward to that.

 

If you get a chance can you post some photos for those of us that couldn't make the trip to Birmingham

[jhb171achill]

That's a very nice layout!

[ttc0169]

 

A new arrival at Ashburton grove 37 251 shunts some TEA tank wagons at the factory sidings.

Edited December 2, 2016 by ttc0169

[Warbonnet]

Absolutely lovely Noel. You can't beat BR blue and the subsector years

[RedRich]

Looks smashing Noel. I agree with Fran on the subsector livery. I loved the class 60's in the triple grey re-branded Mainline, EWS, Loadhaul, and Transrail liveries before they were repainted.

 

Rich,

[Noel]

You can't beat BR blue . . .

 

Agree, especially with a rake of blue/grey mk2. Bachmann Class 37s in original BR blue livery with later generation chassis with operating lights have been difficult to source on eBay. The Class 37 has had an amazingly varied and extended working life in so many different liveries starting with BR green hauling maroon ex-LMS and ex-GWR stock.

[ttc0169]

[ttc0169]

 

Happy Christmas from the management and staff of BR's Ashburton grove depot.

 

37 251 does some last minute shunting at the factory sidings preparing the liner for departure.

Edited December 23, 2016 by ttc0169

[jhb171achill]

I love the BR blue era.

[ttc0169]

I love the BR blue era.

Likewise jhb.

[ttc0169]

[ttc0169]

New arrivals at Ashburton Grove are two class 20 locomotives, two TPO's and two typical West Yorkshire 1980s single and double deck buses.

[Admin]

Stunning Noel ! Yer making me want to take out the BR stock again :)

[ttc0169]

 

A lunchtime arrival at Ashburton Grove's up loop, Class 20-20 063 arrives with a trip working consisting of four oil tanks for use at the factory sidings, after running round the tanks it will propel them to the discharging point.

Edited March 29, 2017 by ttc0169

[ttc0169]

A class108 passes on the mainline with a Leeds-Doncaster local service, while 20063 shunts the tanks into position for unloading, after uncoupling the loco will operate light engine to the MPD for servicing.

Edited March 29, 2017 by ttc0169

[ttc0169]

 

56 070 has arrived at the factory sidings and will shunt the wagons in the morning to form the 0800 departure.

Edited June 25, 2017 by ttc0169

[ttc0169]

The ever versatile class 08 diesel shunter no 08 672 makes a welcome addition to the Ashburton grove locomotive fleet.

[krose]

Nicely weathered Noel.

[ttc0169]

Not a great start to 2018 when 56 070 failed at the factory sidings, 08 672 is seen here hauling the failed 56 to the MPD for attention,

Later on the 08 returned to shunt the wagons from the factory sidings to the loop in preparation for the two class 20s to work the train forward.

In the meantime a HST screams by with the up Highland Chieftain. 

 

[ttc0169]

08 672 and 56 070 are pictured here on the depot at Ashburton grove getting serviced before the evening shift begins.

The 56 then departs the depot.

[popeye]

Very nice. 

[ttc0169]

56 070 rests in the head shunt while the 2x20s have arrived from the MPD and will work the Speedlink liner in the morning.

The 08 will shunt the wagons into position out on the running loop before departure.

 

[ttc0169]

20063 has charge of two TPOs which have been looped to allow an afternoon express to overtake....

 

[ttc0169]

Due to a driver shortage, an unusual movement took place earlier when 56 074 was added to the front of 2x20s which were hauling the freight liner in order to return it to the MPD for examination.

 

[jhb171achill]

I thought you meant 074!

[jhb171achill]

I see that CIE have managed to provide a cross-channel service to the area, via Expressway bus!

[Mayner]

12 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

I see that CIE have managed to provide a cross-channel service to the area, via Expressway bus!

Funnily enough the first time I saw a Bus Eireann coach (complete with Red Setter logo was in London . Another bizarre moment was passing a Lough Swilly Transport tractor and trailer unit on the M6 in the West Midlands, for a moment I though the LLSR had gone into cross-channel haulage.

CIE/Bus Eireann used UK based contractors to operate services to and from London and other destinations in the UK. At one stage the coaches bore Bus Eireann branding. 

[jhb171achill]

I remember reading somewhere years and years ago that CIE buses could sometimes be seen in Britain (particularly London) in lieu of CIE Tours buses. 

Which is exactly what the scenes above look like!

I saw a LLSR artic in Dublin in the late 1970s. It carried a number on the trailer like a wagon number; their bus conductors were still known as “guards”, and the tractor unit of the lorry was in the dark green carried by erstwhile locomotives. It looked like a throwback to the past. 

They can’t have had many trucks on the road, as they tended to hire them in from CIE.

I travelled on several Lough Swilly bus services in the ‘70s. I regret not going up to Derry a few years ago to get one of the last ones.

jhb171Senior footplated one of the big tender locos into Burtonport back in the day; I was never able to achieve THAT!!

[Mayner]

Lough Swilly Transport Ltd seems to have offered direct road freight services between Donegal and the UK. The company appears to have operated between 1983&2004 and had a registered office in Dublin and may not have had a connection with the LLSR.

The Lough Swilly Transport tractor and covered trailer were fairly modern and looked like they were set up for logistics work, possibly for line haul work for parcels traffic between Donegal and major centers in the UK.