I visited Shrewsbury Shed 84F back in the early 60s. Good shed friendly Superintendent took myself and a couple of other trainspotters around the facility. Great video. Thanks
This took me back!. I used to catch a steam train from Shrewsbury to my Boarding School in Kent from the late 50s to 1963. All the sounds and smells came rushing back. Lovely memories from this beautiful town. Thank you for uploading this remarkable film.
Loved watching this. I'm a Shrewsbury girl, and I love seeing the beautiful steam trains and the wonderful noises they make. Thank you for showing this!
The Swindon unit and the Salisbury steamer are on p6, known to us locals as the bays. Loved seeing the roads out of p1&2 into Cripple Sidings, and my old Pway cabin. 👍
I watch this video whenever I want to cheer myself up and remember long gone happy days sitting by the track in Paulsgrove Portsmouth in the 1960's. Thank you so much for this footage. You've made an old man very happy. Steve BURN (64)
I did Shrewsbury sheds in about 1961 as a youngster. The shed superintendent got a railman to take a group of us train spotters around the shed. Ex LMS and BR 4-6-0s outnumbering GWR 4-6-0 on that day. Black Fives mostly great film brought back memories
Diane, thanks for taking the time to view and comment, much appreciated. I'm glad that by watching this video that it bought back some fond and happy memories for you. Regards...Bill
Excellent film, although I was only a boy in the 60'S I remember visiting the Coleham Sheds with Coleham school. We were able to look inside the engine rooms of both a Brush and BoBo, they were new at the time. I worked on the platforms of Shrewsbury Station as a postman in the early 80's and then spent 10 years working the York Mail until its demise. AndyBrooke
+Andrew Brooke Cheers Andrew, I remember Coleham Sheds well during my firing days in the early 60s having dropped many a loco onto the shed or taken loco's off the shed, and having worked into and out of Shrewsbury many times. Nice to know you enjoyed watching this slice of history from the 60s. Jim Clemens did an excellent job when recording these scenes for everyone to enjoy. Best Regards...Bill
Absolutely fantastic footage of the steam era at Shrewsbury and a privilege to be able to view this material on RUclips. Very enjoyable viewing and super atmospheric footage Bill and thanks to you and Michael for sharing for everyone to enjoy. Regards - Allan.
Cheers Allan, so glad you enjoyed watching this slice of bygone days, you may have noticed the distinct lack of former GW loco's as they had mostly been withdrawn by 1965, but thanks to Jim Clemens we can all sit back and enjoy these superb scenes from Shrewsbury towards the end of steam, thanks for looking/commenting...Bill
I spent the early years of my existence sat at the end of platform 1, I have many happy memories of train spotting in the early 1970’s and as the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line ran at the back of my nans house I would watch the steam engines go by. I used to go the shed every Sunday morning, to which there was always quite a few class 40’s. No one around and we would climb up into the cabs. Right next to the sidings was the Shrewsbury Town football ground to which I spent 40 years going there. Oh happy days.
visited Shrewsbury on numerous occasions between 1952 and 1959 as my fathers brothers and sisters and parents lived there. A great GWR convert- as a boy I lived alongside the Wolverhampton to Snow Hill line at Swan Village-and always looked forward to visiting. My memories...Britannias,Semis etc on running-in duties from Crewe Works..spotlessly clean of course.My auntie's back garden looked up to the line on the north end. Regularly bunking the shed . I don't remember once ever being chucked out. Easy to access from footpath running alongside the lines.The railway workers used this access also. My uncle Ray was a fireman and he regularly fired on the Severn Valley line. He started as a call-up boy and started work at about 3am. Remember relatives weddings at the Abbey where views of engines crossing the bridge nearby was my highlight of the day. Have visited station a few times in the last few years. Brings back wonderful memories from 60 years ago. Thank you for all you do. Do not stop posting videos . You are so appreciated. ROY ADLINGTON
Cheers Roy, It's nice to know that the video bought back some fond and happy memories for you from all those years ago. Somewhere on my channel there is a video showing Swan Village it's called Snow Hill to Shrewsbury. It's one of 3 where I tried to recreate the route of the Cambrian Coast Expres from Paddington to Shrewsbury in the 60s. Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated. Regards...Bill
What a busy place it used to be. That busy it had two sheds in Coleham. Now it has an Igloo and a solitary class 97/37 for Cambrian use. Very sad. Once again, nice video. Thanks for sharing. 👍😎
Cheers Robert, I know in my own mind the final few years of steam will never be forgotten. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment. Regards...Bill
Excellent film Bill - thank you for posting. It captures a moment in rail history (repeated around the country) as steam was phased out. I'm just a few years too young to have witnessed this - so my hearty thanks to the late Jim Clemens and his son Michael for recording this footage of a bygone era. Best wishes, Brian
+Brian Seaman Cheers Brian, I remember scenes such as these filmed at Shrewsbury well during my firing days, happy days, great memories, and as you say Jim Clemens did a superb job filming the various movements at Shrewsbury and also Michael who gives such an informative commentary. Many thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed this blast from the past, regards...Bill
Another wonderfully atmospheric video with excellent and well informed commentary Bill. I've said it in the last video you uploaded, but I'll say it again - a wonderful legacy for future generations to enjoy and hats off to John and Michael Clemens! Best wishes. Ken
Cheers Ken, as you rightly say Jim Clemens did a superb job of filming these evocative and memorable scenes, and Michael also adds that special touch with his knowledge and informative commentary. We have to thank them both for all the work they have both put in, so that we can all look back and enjoy what used to be an every occurence, but unfortunately no longer, thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed watching....Bill
All your archive shows consist of excellent quality film for the era and very informative commentary. My "favourite" button has been working overtime , thanks !
It's nice to know that you have enjoyed watching various videos from the 60s etc. Thanks for taking the time to view and for your kind comment, much appreciated, cheers...Bill
Just love this - takes me back to my youth in the 1960s. Used to catch up with all those Black 5s at Criccieth on the Cambrian Coast line. Never failed to stop and watch these fabulous machines as they plied their trade along the beach coast-line from Porthmadog and Black Rock and crossed the level-crossings coming and going in and out of Criccieth. Remember the scrubbed-clean double-header Manors of the Prince of Wales investiture train, with the Queen on board (1969), in the days when you could actually reach Caernarfan via the line from Criccieth and Afon Wen. Lovely! Great memories! 😊😄👍
Shrewsbury station is quite sinuous. It was interesting to watch quarter-mile-long welded rail, joined at nearby Hookagate, being carried northwards. It bends, like a snake!
Great video clips, thanks. Such a shame to see locos allowed to get in such a run down state but at least two of the locos filmed managed to survive to be enjoyed today.
+Peter Brackenbury Cheers Peter, thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated. Unfortunately as steam traction was being phased out very little maintenance was carried out to keep loco's in tip top condition, but we did our best with what was available. Luckily we now have many preservation groups that keep their loco's at there very best for everyone to enjoy. Regards...Bill
I remember steam my dad use to work at toton sidings first as a guard and then as a yard marshal as we lived in housing owned by BR in midland street long eaton i miss steam trans . Long live steam
I used to travel to Ellesmere in Shropshire when i was young. Then Beeching closed the line. From Alderley Edge to Crewe, then one or two more trains. Loved our carriage, private compartment and a corridor to access the loo. The doors had windows with a thick leather strap to open the window if needed. It was magicsl. My parents bought sandwhiches with us. Then at Crewe statiin our flasc was filled with sweet tea and Smiths crisps with the blue packets containg salt to use as an option. Then we'd arrive at Ellesmere station and have a short walk to Victoria Street. Heaven.
i remember changing trains at Shrewsbury in the late sixties to go on to Wem. No steam locos by then that i saw but what made Shrewsbury memorable for me was being told that a part of the station was actualy over the river, not sure if any of the waiting areas are. i will have to google it now as this video has garnered my interest.
John, thanks for looking/commenting much appreciated glad you enjoyed watching this video and that it bought back some fond memories of Shrewsbury Station in the mid to late 60s. Regards...Bill
Cheers, glad you enjoyed watching this memorable filming by Jim Clemens all those years ago, how things have changed over the last 50 years or so, thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated...Bill
My little brother, four at the time, used to say, about the steam "It's coming out of the of the top of his head, and now it's coming out of his ears!"
Add me to the time machine list, if we all got together we might be able to build one, ha ha. but who knows one day, a great piece of railway history. MANY THANKS
Bloody governments bloody diesels these beasts were human they were alive. They breathed seeing these in woodhams Barry was heartbreaking so nice so many were saved I've got Severn Valley railway near me guess I'm one of the lucky ones nice video happy days never forgotten 😄😄👍👍
Cheers Dave, my sentiments exactly. Thanks to all the preservation groups throughout the country we can still look back on the glorious days of steam. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment much appreciated. Regards...Bill
In the steam age, everything around the railway was filthy. Steam engines were labour intensive, ridiculously inefficient and highly unreliable. Nice to look at but way way out of date, they should have been phased out in the twenties, then we might not have the road dominance we have today.
Cheers Richard, someone of my age can fully appreciate these wonderful clips filmed by Jim Clemens all those years ago, as I knew Shrewsbury very well during my firing days, these clips certainly bought back some great memories for me, you may well have noticed a distinct lack of GW loco's, as they were mostly withdrawn during 1965 but at least two survivors were seen. And as you rightly say very atmospheric clips of Shrewsbury all those years ago, thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed watching...Bill
I wish i was born around 1956 so I’d be able to remember this.. but sadly i was born 52 years too late.. oh well, at least this historic footage lives on.
Shrewsbury Station in the 60s was much busier than today especially with the amount of freights passing through. today freights are very few compared to all those years ago. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment, I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past, cheers...Bill
A fabulous record of the end of steam, albeit slightly depressing given the state of the engines and the fact that there were a lot fewer types of locos around too, mainly ex-LMS and standard types. Even the class 47 diesels look grimy and uncared for!
Loved it. I'm fortunate in being just old enough to remember BR steam, just as shown here. The journies from Aberystwyth to Hampshire on the CCE were full of interest. I can just remember Shrewsbury's all-over roof, viewed from a down train bypassing the station by using the Abbey Foregate curve. Does anyone know what service this was? For years I was convinced we once had a Southern pacific at the head of an Up Pines Express (Platform 7), but it MUST have been a Britannia.
Stephen Smith Cheers Stephen, glad you enjoyed watching, and for your kind comment.I believe the overall roof at Shrewsbury Station was taken down around 1964/5. I knew Shrewsbury well during the early 60s during my firing days at Stafford Rd and Oxley Sheds. Regarding The Pines Express being worked by a Southern Pacific, that would have indeed been are rare event, they usually backed on at Oxford, I have known Brits and Black Fives etc work the service, and also for a short while The Pines worked over what we called the Crewe Branch from Nantwich Jnc via Market Drayton and Wellington (Salop), thanks for looking, and that it bought back some fond memories for you, cheers...Bill
84asrd84boxy It is great to get a post from a railwayman. I always envied and respected footplate crew especially for their skill and position of extreme responsibility. Walking up to a Manor waiting to depart from Aberystwyth it was wonderful to be told that I owned a share in it as BR was of course a national asset. Idid not mind which part of it was, even if just a few rivets: it was MINE. I was born too late to do anything but watch steam as a bystander and with only six up and down passenger trains a day, plus some goods, Aberystwyth was not really the place to see it. So what memories I do have are extra special. These would be my 'video loops' which of course only exist in my minds eye: a 76XXX passing us looped (I think) at Comins Coch, blasting away on an up goods train with the sun over its shoulders, illuminating the towering exhaust from behind.... two 76XXXs on a School Special to Chester and back... a 9F dumped on the approaches to Shrewsbury in that area which dealt with long welded rail (rods off and rusty it looked a sorry sight.... and after all it was still MY ENGINE and nobody asked my opinion about scrapping it)... BR3MT tanks at Barmouth, one having its fire cleaned.... high-stepping Manor 7823 viewed from the train as it took the curves on the down CCE.... and the exhausted young fireman at journy's end.... 9Fs at Shotton steelworks.... an ex-woks GW Prarie tank which took us towards Aberystwyth from what was I think Platform 2 (I was annoyed it wasnt a Manor; but now I'm so glad. I think it was already a preserved loco but I cannot be sure)....the joining of the Pwllelli and Aberystwyth portions of the CCE at Dovey Junction (it took about ten minutes of pure entertainment).... an hour at Chester General in the company of Standard 4.s and 5s, Black Fives and rays of sunlight illuminating the steam and smoke under the station roof in sunbeams... the fright caused to me as a passenger, by steam trains passing the other way at speed, with steam on and safety valves lifted.... Southern Pacifics blasting through in readiness for attacking the bank beyond Winchester station in the up direction... and the strange spitting sound of raindrops falling on the smokebox of a locomotive that had stopped to take water somewhere in North Wales (it was a down train and the platform was near a farmyard about two hundred yards from it.... this being probably my earliest memory. The smell of the railway I liked too: the creosolt of the sleepers and smoke (which improved the taste of egg sandwiches especially in tunnels and which varies a lot in smell). There was that more ominous smell of steam blown from cylinders which almost smelled of 'electricity' - hard to describe but you would know it of course. And the sounds too - squealing flanges, banging of loose coupled mineral waggons - and the steam locomotive in all its many moods from raging to rest..... and the views of heavy industry which I liked much better than the fields, grey mountains and green valleys around our house. It was my railway; it was OUR railway and I am among the many who were devoted to it. Just one request, no matter how you set about it, it would be great if you could record your experiences. I don't mind how many times I read accounts from footplate crew, they are always wonderful and let's face it, they won't be around forever to tell us their stories. Perhaps my favourite is a book called 'Behind the Steam' by a GW driver from Pembrokeshire which, while full of fondness for the railway also deals with the demoralising exhaustion of trying (and failing) to fire a heavy train with just the muscles of a fifteen year old boy. The driver had to do all the work as the lad recovered lying on his back flat out on top of the coal in the tender. Would I want to change places with him? YES!
Stephen, many thanks for your very interesting reply, and the fond memories you recall from your experiences and interest in railways. Personally I was always a fan of the former GWR, and their loco's, that's why I decided to join the BRWR firstly as an apprentice at Stafford Road Loco Works, then transferring to the footplate at Stafford Rd shed until closure in 1963, that's when we all were transferred to Oxley shed until that closed in 1967, after that I was a secondman at Wolverhampton High Level which became our new booking on point. I left the railway in September 1968, I think somewhat disillusioned that steam on the mainline had now gone forever. I did put pen to paper in 1984 trying to recall some of my footplate experiences, and sent the so-called manuscript to a publisher who wanted to know more about how the job affected my social life etc, I couldn't be bothered to respond. It has been lying here gathering dust for many years, and I daresay will remain to do so. Regarding the CCE I have 3 videos on my channel following the route from Paddington to Shrewsbury, these may be of interest to you. Michael Clemens of B&R Videos kindly gave me permission to show some of his fathers (Jim Clemens) work covering part of the route. Finally, I have since found out that it was during 1963 not 1964/65 that the overall roof at Shrewsbury Station was removed. Take Care Bill
84asrd84boxy Dear Bill, I think it might be worth another go at publishing your memories! (I take your point about not wishing to digress into one's social life, when the main point is working experiences.) What I've noticed is fewer and fewer accounts appearing by crew familiar with steam and more an more accounts from enthusiasts which can never be as interesting. So I think you have every chance if you submit to another magazine or wait till an editor is changed for a new one. I certainly see that life on diesels would be less interesting (and a reason for leaving the railway). Therewas something else that came to mind and that was marks made on sleepers for about four miles approaching or more likely after Leamington Spa. We were travelling wrong road towards Didcot and learned that there had been a goods train derailment which had led to the death of a railwayman. This sad news made for a gloomy trip which would have been unusual for me. Just a couple more things... in Aberystwyth there was a tradition whereby loco crew would SW for miles if there were newly weds on the train. Reminded of this my new Father in Law tipped the driver of a Class 24 who sounded his horn all the way from Aberystwyth to Ynyslas a distance of thirteen miles of continuous noise. The guard escorted us very somemly from Second to First Class; perhaps because hed known my Wife's late Grandfather who was a Driver based in Aberystwyth. That was Sept 20 1975 and I don't think I recall anybody else having the same star treatment! What a great send-off. There was also an open day at Snowdown colliery (Kent) when we were given the opportunity to drive an Avonside 0-6-0 on empties. What surprised me was how thin the fire was and how basic the tools available for keeping the locos there in service: large plien hammers, caulking irons, spanners and a welding set seemed to be about it. The driver (born in Kent but with a strong Scottish accent) joked: 'There's thirty years of coal under our feet but it will take four-hundred years to dig it out!' meaning he thought closure would be coming soon - and it did. The other thing was how big the clearances were in the big end brasses... about a quater of an inch... and yet the loco was easily on top of the work it had to do. What a grand day out. For the sake of completeness I should mention Large Panniers at Shrewsbury and Didcot respectively, another 9F east of Reading on tank waggons, an immaculate but disused 0-4-0 inside Mostyn Ironworks after the place had closed, and the nightmare I had after my Mother took me into the Shed at Aberystwyth where a Driver sounded the whistle inside the building. It frightened me a lot (age barely three years old) and that night with the sound still ringing in my ear, I was sure my cot was moving around the bedroom - my heartbeat being mistaken for the sound of waggons running over rail-joints. Scared out of my wits I tried to make my way to my Parents bedroom only to bang my head on the bathroom sink when I thought I was walking down the landing, disorientated and lost. Now THAT would be my earliest railway memory!!! On a happier but funny note, I placed myself at the top of the slide at Plascrug play ground next to the railway at Aberystwyth, as this was the best place to watch the Down CCE come in. It was a blazing hot day and my Mother supplied me with a lot of orange squash, So now we have a problem: dash to the Gents for a 'natural needs break' - at the risk of missing the train which I'd waited so long for... or hang, on legs. crossed to make sure I did not miss it. So now then here comes a Manor on the CCE, polished beautifully and approaching the station very briskly... and in the excitement the inevitable happened and nature took its course - still only about three years old, I was. None of the other children could figure out why they could slide down the slide quickly while I got stuck on it due to errr ummm increased friction in the trouser area LOL. Plascrug was a great place to be to be 'blessed' by a very fine mist of water which came from the locomotives which I think were having boiler washouts. And finally I had a theory that the reason why photographs of steam locos were so much better than my drawings was because photos were thin slices of reality, skimmed off a bit like the way ham slicing machines worked in the Co-op, very slicing off thin slices of meat. My best guess that if too many photos were taken the boiler plate would be worn too thin by the slicing and the loco could explode. This theory was disproved when realising that if photographs were thin slices of stuff, then there should always be colours in the photo-slices. Black and white photographs showed my theory was wrong because how could slicing leave the colours behind in the thing... But the good thing was that if photographs were NOT 'slices of stuff', then nobody was going to get killed by a steam engine exploding because it ahad been photographed (ie sliced) too much. Phew! At least no worries on that score.
+84asrd84boxy I had that 'Firing and Driving Experience' mentioned a while back. Firing Left handed was very strange but thank goodness 'Cheltenham' did not go off the boil. The vacuum brake was a revalation - much more sensitive than I was expecting (15 inches enough to hold the train on the Mid Hants banks). The other thing that was a surprise was feeling the driving wheels grind a bit on the rail (on the edge of slipping). This gave me the strange impression of weighing 18 tons MYSELF and the wheels were an extension of my own feet. Sounds daft to say it. The footplate crew and guard were great at instilling confidence. The exhaust steam injector was playing up a bit so a lot of care had to be taken keeping the water level up while going over the top of the gradient. You know all this stuff of course! BTW we were using a long and fairly narrow shovel which I also found awkward. How long before firing becomes second nature?
Thank you for the great footage and the clear, explanatory commentary. It must have been something special to watch the men in the signal box deal with such a variety of routes coming into Shrewsbury. Was there a special grade for them?
Cheers Edward, thanks for looking/commenting much appreciated. I am not sure if the signalmen at Severn Bridge Jnc Box were of a special grade. I believe the box had approximately 180 levers to operate. Shrewsbury Station is now just a shadow of it's former self, during the 1960s approximately 100 plus freight trains per day use to pass through there. Today now just a handful are routed through there. Regards...Bill
At least one survivor is the magnificent Severn Bridge signal box and an array of lower quadrant semaphore signals (including restricted clearance rarities). For how much longer?
I was born in September '63 in Melbourne and never saw a steam train in revenue service until I was 26 in India where I rode several passenger steam trains.
Steam ended in 1968 in the UK, but we are very lucky nowadays with preservation Societies who have restored many steam loco's that now work on various mainline charters. Thanks for looking/commenting. Regards...Bill
+MLP Team Thanks for taking the time to view and comment, glad you enjoyed watching this blast from the past, this was my era on the footplate, cheers...Bill
It's a credit to the original 'build' of these locos that they managed to haul anything at all, given the appalling state of maintenance into which BR allowed them to fall. The Manor on the Cambrian Coast Express at 4':36" has incredible amounts of steam pouring from her front cylinder caps but still bravely attempts to get her train on the move! These ladies were badly done by in the cause of mass-dieselisation. Was this originally a sound film or was the audio recorded separately and dubbed on? Whichever it was it's commedably good and authentic. I just wish - when I 'were but a nipper' in the 60's I'd taken more pictures of these 'old ladies' round Accrinton, Blackburn and Preston where I used to 'spot'! :(
Ian McKinnon Cheers Ian, obviously as you state towards the end of steam very little maintenance was carried out on any surviving steam loco's. To their credit all loco men coped really well with what they had to work with, having fired many of the classes myself shown it could be a little awkward sometimes, it depended on what sort of state any given loco was in at the time. Regarding the commentary in the video Michael Clemens did a fantastic job describing his late father Jim Clemens's work recording these wonderful scenes from the 1960s, thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated...Bill
Black Fives never looked better than at the end: unlined black livery with some work-staining. At risk of repeating myself, why did GW designed tender locos have no cab doors while GW tanks did?
Cheers Stephen, thanks for looking/commenting much appreciated. Throughout the video I couldn't see the sign you mentioned, although someone may have it or was it scrapped like many other railway artefacts ?. Regards...Bill
Unfortunately I personally do not have any clips of Winchester, you may try looking at other Jim Clemens DVDs you may find what you are looking for. Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated...Bill
I visited Shrewsbury Shed 84F back in the early 60s. Good shed friendly Superintendent took myself and a couple of other trainspotters around the facility. Great video. Thanks
This took me back!. I used to catch a steam train from Shrewsbury to my Boarding School in Kent from the late 50s to 1963. All the sounds and smells came rushing back. Lovely memories from this beautiful town. Thank you for uploading this remarkable film.
Loved watching this. I'm a Shrewsbury girl, and I love seeing the beautiful steam trains and the wonderful noises they make. Thank you for showing this!
Great commentary apon a great historical film. A pleasure to watch. Nice to be reminded there were steam survivers.
The Swindon unit and the Salisbury steamer are on p6, known to us locals as the bays.
Loved seeing the roads out of p1&2 into Cripple Sidings, and my old Pway cabin. 👍
I watch this video whenever I want to cheer myself up and remember long gone happy days sitting by the track in Paulsgrove Portsmouth in the 1960's.
Thank you so much for this footage. You've made an old man very happy.
Steve BURN (64)
I did Shrewsbury sheds in about 1961 as a youngster. The shed superintendent got a railman to take a group of us train spotters around the shed. Ex LMS and BR 4-6-0s outnumbering GWR 4-6-0 on that day. Black Fives mostly great film brought back memories
Brilliant footage, I was born in 1957 remember going to the sheds with my older brother him and his mate collected the engine numbers.
Diane, thanks for taking the time to view and comment, much appreciated. I'm glad that by watching this video that it bought back some fond and happy memories for you. Regards...Bill
Excellent film, although I was only a boy in the 60'S I remember visiting the Coleham Sheds with Coleham school. We were able to look inside the engine rooms of both a Brush and BoBo, they were new at the time. I worked on the platforms of Shrewsbury Station as a postman in the early 80's and then spent 10 years working the York Mail until its demise. AndyBrooke
+Andrew Brooke Cheers Andrew, I remember Coleham Sheds well during my firing days in the early 60s having dropped many a loco onto the shed or taken loco's off the shed, and having worked into and out of Shrewsbury many times. Nice to know you enjoyed watching this slice of history from the 60s. Jim Clemens did an excellent job when recording these scenes for everyone to enjoy. Best Regards...Bill
Absolutely fantastic footage of the steam era at Shrewsbury and a privilege to be able to view this material on RUclips. Very enjoyable viewing and super atmospheric footage Bill and thanks to you and Michael for sharing for everyone to enjoy.
Regards - Allan.
Cheers Allan, so glad you enjoyed watching this slice of bygone days, you may have noticed the distinct lack of former GW loco's as they had mostly been withdrawn by 1965, but thanks to Jim Clemens we can all sit back and enjoy these superb scenes from Shrewsbury towards the end of steam, thanks for looking/commenting...Bill
Excellent video and nostalgic sound track. I knew that station and the sheds so well between 1957 -1960. Not a diesel in sight during those years!
Proud to be born in Shrewsbury! The steam trains may have gone, but everything else is pretty much the same!
My Dad was possibly on one of these trains. He was a Fireman then a Driver at Shrewsbury. Wish we could see the Train crew.
Great vid . 👍😎
Thanks for giving me a whole new perspective on Shrewsbury Station.
Thanks for taking the time to view and comment, nice to know you enjoyed watching the video. Regards...Bill
I spent the early years of my existence sat at the end of platform 1, I have many happy memories of train spotting in the early 1970’s and as the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line ran at the back of my nans house I would watch the steam engines go by. I used to go the shed every Sunday morning, to which there was always quite a few class 40’s. No one around and we would climb up into the cabs. Right next to the sidings was the Shrewsbury Town football ground to which I spent 40 years going there. Oh happy days.
visited Shrewsbury on numerous occasions between 1952 and 1959 as my fathers brothers and sisters and parents lived there. A great GWR convert- as a boy I lived alongside the Wolverhampton to Snow Hill line at Swan Village-and always looked forward to visiting. My memories...Britannias,Semis etc on running-in duties from Crewe Works..spotlessly clean of course.My auntie's back garden looked up to the line on the north end. Regularly bunking the shed . I don't remember once ever being chucked out. Easy to access from footpath running alongside the lines.The railway workers used this access also. My uncle Ray was a fireman and he regularly fired on the Severn Valley line. He started as a call-up boy and started work at about 3am. Remember relatives weddings at the Abbey where views of engines crossing the bridge nearby was my highlight of the day. Have visited station a few times in the last few years. Brings back wonderful memories from 60 years ago. Thank you for all you do. Do not stop posting videos . You are so appreciated. ROY ADLINGTON
Cheers Roy, It's nice to know that the video bought back some fond and happy memories for you from all those years ago. Somewhere on my channel there is a video showing Swan Village it's called Snow Hill to Shrewsbury. It's one of 3 where I tried to recreate the route of the Cambrian Coast Expres from Paddington to Shrewsbury in the 60s. Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated. Regards...Bill
What a busy place it used to be. That busy it had two sheds in Coleham. Now it has an Igloo and a solitary class 97/37 for Cambrian use. Very sad.
Once again, nice video. Thanks for sharing. 👍😎
Can smell the smoke, love these old films
Great sound recording! I liked seeing the early diesels mixed with steam.
Cheers, Nice to know you enjoyed watching. Regards...Bill
I remember standing in the local bridge when they went under - This brought back the smell of sulfur and steam from 50 years ago- wonderful, thanks :D
Thanks for taking the time to view and comment, nice to know that the video bought back some fond and happy memories for you, cheers...Bill
Great film of steam round the Shrewsbury area gone but not forgotten
Cheers Robert, I know in my own mind the final few years of steam will never be forgotten. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment. Regards...Bill
Excellent film Bill - thank you for posting. It captures a moment in rail history (repeated around the country) as steam was phased out. I'm just a few years too young to have witnessed this - so my hearty thanks to the late Jim Clemens and his son Michael for recording this footage of a bygone era. Best wishes, Brian
+Brian Seaman Cheers Brian, I remember scenes such as these filmed at Shrewsbury well during my firing days, happy days, great memories, and as you say Jim Clemens did a superb job filming the various movements at Shrewsbury and also Michael who gives such an informative commentary. Many thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed this blast from the past, regards...Bill
Another wonderfully atmospheric video with excellent and well informed commentary Bill. I've said it in the last video you uploaded, but I'll say it again - a wonderful legacy for future generations to enjoy and hats off to John and Michael Clemens! Best wishes. Ken
Cheers Ken, as you rightly say Jim Clemens did a superb job of filming these evocative and memorable scenes, and Michael also adds that special touch with his knowledge and informative commentary. We have to thank them both for all the work they have both put in, so that we can all look back and enjoy what used to be an every occurence, but unfortunately no longer, thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed watching....Bill
Thanks. Brings back memories of visiting our grandparents and travelling by steam train. Brisbane, Australia.
All your archive shows consist of excellent quality film for the era and very informative commentary. My "favourite" button has been working overtime , thanks !
It's nice to know that you have enjoyed watching various videos from the 60s etc. Thanks for taking the time to view and for your kind comment, much appreciated, cheers...Bill
Just love this - takes me back to my youth in the 1960s. Used to catch up with all those Black 5s at Criccieth on the Cambrian Coast line. Never failed to stop and watch these fabulous machines as they plied their trade along the beach coast-line from Porthmadog and Black Rock and crossed the level-crossings coming and going in and out of Criccieth.
Remember the scrubbed-clean double-header Manors of the Prince of Wales investiture train, with the Queen on board (1969), in the days when you could actually reach Caernarfan via the line from Criccieth and Afon Wen.
Lovely! Great memories! 😊😄👍
thanks a lot for uploading this!
Shrewsbury station is quite sinuous. It was interesting to watch quarter-mile-long welded rail, joined at nearby Hookagate, being carried northwards. It bends, like a snake!
Great video clips, thanks. Such a shame to see locos allowed to get in such a run down state but at least two of the locos filmed managed to survive to be enjoyed today.
+Peter Brackenbury Cheers Peter, thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated. Unfortunately as steam traction was being phased out very little maintenance was carried out to keep loco's in tip top condition, but we did our best with what was available. Luckily we now have many preservation groups that keep their loco's at there very best for everyone to enjoy. Regards...Bill
Many thanks for this wonderful video. Great to see this footage of a glorious era. :)
Nicholas, thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated, glad you enjoyed watching this blast from the past, cheers...Bill
I remember steam my dad use to work at toton sidings first as a guard and then as a yard marshal as we lived in housing owned by BR in midland street long eaton i miss steam trans . Long live steam
+Colin Wood Cheers Colin, thanks for looking/commenting, and glad this video bought back some fond memories for you, regards...Bill
Thank you Bill
Colin Wood that’s interesting
I used to travel to Ellesmere in Shropshire when i was young. Then Beeching closed the line. From Alderley Edge to Crewe, then one or two more trains. Loved our carriage, private compartment and a corridor to access the loo. The doors had windows with a thick leather strap to open the window if needed. It was magicsl. My parents bought sandwhiches with us. Then at Crewe statiin our flasc was filled with sweet tea and Smiths crisps with the blue packets containg salt to use as an option. Then we'd arrive at Ellesmere station and have a short walk to Victoria Street. Heaven.
i remember changing trains at Shrewsbury in the late sixties to go on to Wem. No steam locos by then that i saw but what made Shrewsbury memorable for me was being told that a part of the station was actualy over the river, not sure if any of the waiting areas are. i will have to google it now as this video has garnered my interest.
John, thanks for looking/commenting much appreciated glad you enjoyed watching this video and that it bought back some fond memories of Shrewsbury Station in the mid to late 60s. Regards...Bill
Fantastic viewing once again!!
Cheers, glad you enjoyed watching this memorable filming by Jim Clemens all those years ago, how things have changed over the last 50 years or so, thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated...Bill
My little brother, four at the time, used to say, about the steam "It's coming out of the of the top of his head, and now it's coming out of his ears!"
Add me to the time machine list, if we all got together we might be able to build one, ha ha. but who knows one day, a great piece of railway history. MANY THANKS
Cheers Ernie, if only we could turn back the clock and enjoy these days once again, glad you enjoyed watching this slice of history, take care...Bill
I would love to go back in time and go to Shrewsbury or Wellington in the 1950s
Bloody governments bloody diesels these beasts were human they were alive. They breathed seeing these in woodhams Barry was heartbreaking so nice so many were saved I've got Severn Valley railway near me guess I'm one of the lucky ones nice video happy days never forgotten 😄😄👍👍
Cheers Dave, my sentiments exactly. Thanks to all the preservation groups throughout the country we can still look back on the glorious days of steam. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment much appreciated. Regards...Bill
In the steam age, everything around the railway was filthy. Steam engines were labour intensive, ridiculously inefficient and highly unreliable. Nice to look at but way way out of date, they should have been phased out in the twenties, then we might not have the road dominance we have today.
Steam trains. You love them or you hate them
Thank you for posting this.
TC
Great to see so much steam action as late as October 1966. It's a pity BR had more or less given up on cleaning steam engines by then, though.
so much atmosphere in stations those days. Everything so animated and making hissing, blowing and chuffing noises. Pity HD wasn't out then.
Cheers Richard, someone of my age can fully appreciate these wonderful clips filmed by Jim Clemens all those years ago, as I knew Shrewsbury very well during my firing days, these clips certainly bought back some great memories for me, you may well have noticed a distinct lack of GW loco's, as they were mostly withdrawn during 1965 but at least two survivors were seen. And as you rightly say very atmospheric clips of Shrewsbury all those years ago, thanks for looking, glad you enjoyed watching...Bill
I wish i was born around 1956 so I’d be able to remember this.. but sadly i was born 52 years too late.. oh well, at least this historic footage lives on.
Stunning ,born in 1972 i missed all this,All platforms in use!
Shrewsbury Station in the 60s was much busier than today especially with the amount of freights passing through. today freights are very few compared to all those years ago. Thanks for taking the time to view and comment, I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past, cheers...Bill
A fabulous record of the end of steam, albeit slightly depressing given the state of the engines and the fact that there were a lot fewer types of locos around too, mainly ex-LMS and standard types. Even the class 47 diesels look grimy and uncared for!
Loved it. I'm fortunate in being just old enough to remember BR steam, just as shown here. The journies from Aberystwyth to Hampshire on the CCE were full of interest. I can just remember Shrewsbury's all-over roof, viewed from a down train bypassing the station by using the Abbey Foregate curve. Does anyone know what service this was? For years I was convinced we once had a Southern pacific at the head of an Up Pines Express (Platform 7), but it MUST have been a Britannia.
Stephen Smith Cheers Stephen, glad you enjoyed watching, and for your kind comment.I believe the overall roof at Shrewsbury Station was taken down around 1964/5. I knew Shrewsbury well during the early 60s during my firing days at Stafford Rd and Oxley Sheds. Regarding The Pines Express being worked by a Southern Pacific, that would have indeed been are rare event, they usually backed on at Oxford, I have known Brits and Black Fives etc work the service, and also for a short while The Pines worked over what we called the Crewe Branch from Nantwich Jnc via Market Drayton and Wellington (Salop), thanks for looking, and that it bought back some fond memories for you, cheers...Bill
84asrd84boxy
It is great to get a post from a railwayman. I always envied and respected footplate crew especially for their skill and position of extreme responsibility. Walking up to a Manor waiting to depart from Aberystwyth it was wonderful to be told that I owned a share in it as BR was of course a national asset. Idid not mind which part of it was, even if just a few rivets: it was MINE. I was born too late to do anything but watch steam as a bystander and with only six up and down passenger trains a day, plus some goods, Aberystwyth was not really the place to see it. So what memories I do have are extra special. These would be my 'video loops' which of course only exist in my minds eye: a 76XXX passing us looped (I think) at Comins Coch, blasting away on an up goods train with the sun over its shoulders, illuminating the towering exhaust from behind.... two 76XXXs on a School Special to Chester and back... a 9F dumped on the approaches to Shrewsbury in that area which dealt with long welded rail (rods off and rusty it looked a sorry sight.... and after all it was still MY ENGINE and nobody asked my opinion about scrapping it)... BR3MT tanks at Barmouth, one having its fire cleaned.... high-stepping Manor 7823 viewed from the train as it took the curves on the down CCE.... and the exhausted young fireman at journy's end.... 9Fs at Shotton steelworks.... an ex-woks GW Prarie tank which took us towards Aberystwyth from what was I think Platform 2 (I was annoyed it wasnt a Manor; but now I'm so glad. I think it was already a preserved loco but I cannot be sure)....the joining of the Pwllelli and Aberystwyth portions of the CCE at Dovey Junction (it took about ten minutes of pure entertainment).... an hour at Chester General in the company of Standard 4.s and 5s, Black Fives and rays of sunlight illuminating the steam and smoke under the station roof in sunbeams... the fright caused to me as a passenger, by steam trains passing the other way at speed, with steam on and safety valves lifted.... Southern Pacifics blasting through in readiness for attacking the bank beyond Winchester station in the up direction... and the strange spitting sound of raindrops falling on the smokebox of a locomotive that had stopped to take water somewhere in North Wales (it was a down train and the platform was near a farmyard about two hundred yards from it.... this being probably my earliest memory. The smell of the railway I liked too: the creosolt of the sleepers and smoke (which improved the taste of egg sandwiches especially in tunnels and which varies a lot in smell). There was that more ominous smell of steam blown from cylinders which almost smelled of 'electricity' - hard to describe but you would know it of course. And the sounds too - squealing flanges, banging of loose coupled mineral waggons - and the steam locomotive in all its many moods from raging to rest..... and the views of heavy industry which I liked much better than the fields, grey mountains and green valleys around our house. It was my railway; it was OUR railway and I am among the many who were devoted to it.
Just one request, no matter how you set about it, it would be great if you could record your experiences. I don't mind how many times I read accounts from footplate crew, they are always wonderful and let's face it, they won't be around forever to tell us their stories. Perhaps my favourite is a book called 'Behind the Steam' by a GW driver from Pembrokeshire which, while full of fondness for the railway also deals with the demoralising exhaustion of trying (and failing) to fire a heavy train with just the muscles of a fifteen year old boy. The driver had to do all the work as the lad recovered lying on his back flat out on top of the coal in the tender. Would I want to change places with him? YES!
Stephen, many thanks for your very interesting reply, and the fond memories you recall from your experiences and interest in railways.
Personally I was always a fan of the former GWR, and their loco's, that's why I decided to join the BRWR firstly as an apprentice at Stafford Road Loco Works, then transferring to the footplate at Stafford Rd shed until closure in 1963, that's when we all were transferred to Oxley shed until that closed in 1967, after that I was a secondman at Wolverhampton High Level which became our new booking on point.
I left the railway in September 1968, I think somewhat disillusioned that steam on the mainline had now gone forever.
I did put pen to paper in 1984 trying to recall some of my footplate experiences, and sent the so-called manuscript to a publisher who wanted to know more about how the job affected my social life etc, I couldn't be bothered to respond. It has been lying here gathering dust for many years, and I daresay will remain to do so.
Regarding the CCE I have 3 videos on my channel following the route from Paddington to Shrewsbury, these may be of interest to you.
Michael Clemens of B&R Videos kindly gave me permission to show some of his fathers (Jim Clemens) work covering part of the route.
Finally, I have since found out that it was during 1963 not 1964/65 that the overall roof at Shrewsbury Station was removed.
Take Care
Bill
84asrd84boxy
Dear Bill, I think it might be worth another go at publishing your memories! (I take your point about not wishing to digress into one's social life, when the main point is working experiences.) What I've noticed is fewer and fewer accounts appearing by crew familiar with steam and more an more accounts from enthusiasts which can never be as interesting. So I think you have every chance if you submit to another magazine or wait till an editor is changed for a new one. I certainly see that life on diesels would be less interesting (and a reason for leaving the railway). Therewas something else that came to mind and that was marks made on sleepers for about four miles approaching or more likely after Leamington Spa. We were travelling wrong road towards Didcot and learned that there had been a goods train derailment which had led to the death of a railwayman. This sad news made for a gloomy trip which would have been unusual for me. Just a couple more things... in Aberystwyth there was a tradition whereby loco crew would SW for miles if there were newly weds on the train. Reminded of this my new Father in Law tipped the driver of a Class 24 who sounded his horn all the way from Aberystwyth to Ynyslas a distance of thirteen miles of continuous noise. The guard escorted us very somemly from Second to First Class; perhaps because hed known my Wife's late Grandfather who was a Driver based in Aberystwyth. That was Sept 20 1975 and I don't think I recall anybody else having the same star treatment! What a great send-off. There was also an open day at Snowdown colliery (Kent) when we were given the opportunity to drive an Avonside 0-6-0 on empties. What surprised me was how thin the fire was and how basic the tools available for keeping the locos there in service: large plien hammers, caulking irons, spanners and a welding set seemed to be about it. The driver (born in Kent but with a strong Scottish accent) joked: 'There's thirty years of coal under our feet but it will take four-hundred years to dig it out!' meaning he thought closure would be coming soon - and it did. The other thing was how big the clearances were in the big end brasses... about a quater of an inch... and yet the loco was easily on top of the work it had to do. What a grand day out. For the sake of completeness I should mention Large Panniers at Shrewsbury and Didcot respectively, another 9F east of Reading on tank waggons, an immaculate but disused 0-4-0 inside Mostyn Ironworks after the place had closed, and the nightmare I had after my Mother took me into the Shed at Aberystwyth where a Driver sounded the whistle inside the building. It frightened me a lot (age barely three years old) and that night with the sound still ringing in my ear, I was sure my cot was moving around the bedroom - my heartbeat being mistaken for the sound of waggons running over rail-joints. Scared out of my wits I tried to make my way to my Parents bedroom only to bang my head on the bathroom sink when I thought I was walking down the landing, disorientated and lost. Now THAT would be my earliest railway memory!!! On a happier but funny note, I placed myself at the top of the slide at Plascrug play ground next to the railway at Aberystwyth, as this was the best place to watch the Down CCE come in. It was a blazing hot day and my Mother supplied me with a lot of orange squash, So now we have a problem: dash to the Gents for a 'natural needs break' - at the risk of missing the train which I'd waited so long for... or hang, on legs. crossed to make sure I did not miss it. So now then here comes a Manor on the CCE, polished beautifully and approaching the station very briskly... and in the excitement the inevitable happened and nature took its course - still only about three years old, I was. None of the other children could figure out why they could slide down the slide quickly while I got stuck on it due to errr ummm increased friction in the trouser area LOL. Plascrug was a great place to be to be 'blessed' by a very fine mist of water which came from the locomotives which I think were having boiler washouts. And finally I had a theory that the reason why photographs of steam locos were so much better than my drawings was because photos were thin slices of reality, skimmed off a bit like the way ham slicing machines worked in the Co-op, very slicing off thin slices of meat. My best guess that if too many photos were taken the boiler plate would be worn too thin by the slicing and the loco could explode. This theory was disproved when realising that if photographs were thin slices of stuff, then there should always be colours in the photo-slices. Black and white photographs showed my theory was wrong because how could slicing leave the colours behind in the thing... But the good thing was that if photographs were NOT 'slices of stuff', then nobody was going to get killed by a steam engine exploding because it ahad been photographed (ie sliced) too much. Phew! At least no worries on that score.
+84asrd84boxy I had that 'Firing and Driving Experience' mentioned a while back. Firing Left handed was very strange but thank goodness 'Cheltenham' did not go off the boil. The vacuum brake was a revalation - much more sensitive than I was expecting (15 inches enough to hold the train on the Mid Hants banks). The other thing that was a surprise was feeling the driving wheels grind a bit on the rail (on the edge of slipping). This gave me the strange impression of weighing 18 tons MYSELF and the wheels were an extension of my own feet. Sounds daft to say it. The footplate crew and guard were great at instilling confidence. The exhaust steam injector was playing up a bit so a lot of care had to be taken keeping the water level up while going over the top of the gradient. You know all this stuff of course! BTW we were using a long and fairly narrow shovel which I also found awkward. How long before firing becomes second nature?
Thank you for the great footage and the clear, explanatory commentary. It must have been something special to watch the men in the signal box deal with such a variety of routes coming into Shrewsbury. Was there a special grade for them?
Cheers Edward, thanks for looking/commenting much appreciated. I am not sure if the signalmen at Severn Bridge Jnc Box were of a special grade. I believe the box had approximately 180 levers to operate. Shrewsbury Station is now just a shadow of it's former self, during the 1960s approximately 100 plus freight trains per day use to pass through there. Today now just a handful are routed through there. Regards...Bill
At least one survivor is the magnificent Severn Bridge signal box and an array of lower quadrant semaphore signals (including restricted clearance rarities). For how much longer?
I was born in September '63 in Melbourne and never saw a steam train in revenue service until I was 26 in India where I rode several passenger steam trains.
Steam ended in 1968 in the UK, but we are very lucky nowadays with preservation Societies who have restored many steam loco's that now work on various mainline charters. Thanks for looking/commenting. Regards...Bill
All the locos at the time were filthy lumps !
Brilliant!!
Thanks for your kind comment and for looking much appreciated. Regards...Bill
oldies but goldies we still care about you
+MLP Team Thanks for taking the time to view and comment, glad you enjoyed watching this blast from the past, this was my era on the footplate, cheers...Bill
your welcome,
It's a credit to the original 'build' of these locos that they managed to haul anything at all, given the appalling state of maintenance into which BR allowed them to fall. The Manor on the Cambrian Coast Express at 4':36" has incredible amounts of steam pouring from her front cylinder caps but still bravely attempts to get her train on the move! These ladies were badly done by in the cause of mass-dieselisation. Was this originally a sound film or was the audio recorded separately and dubbed on? Whichever it was it's commedably good and authentic. I just wish - when I 'were but a nipper' in the 60's I'd taken more pictures of these 'old ladies' round Accrinton, Blackburn and Preston where I used to 'spot'! :(
Ian McKinnon Cheers Ian, obviously as you state towards the end of steam very little maintenance was carried out on any surviving steam loco's. To their credit all loco men coped really well with what they had to work with, having fired many of the classes myself shown it could be a little awkward sometimes, it depended on what sort of state any given loco was in at the time. Regarding the commentary in the video Michael Clemens did a fantastic job describing his late father Jim Clemens's work recording these wonderful scenes from the 1960s, thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated...Bill
The Steam Ban of August 1968 on Mainland UK should have never happened. Northern Ireland was better letting steam carry on.
Those were the days
Fantastic.
dougattrenholmebar Doug, many thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed watching this blast from the past, cheers...Bill
Fabulous beasts!
Great Video, I have subscribed.
Thanks for looking/commenting. I have subbed back, cheers...Bill
84asrd84boxy Thanks.
Very nostalgic
Black Fives never looked better than at the end: unlined black livery with some work-staining. At risk of repeating myself, why did GW designed tender locos have no cab doors while GW tanks did?
noy a 4ukin in sight .love it
+Les Crompton Cheers Les, thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed it, regards...Bill
Does anybody have that sign which used to be on Platform 4 'No BRUTES Beyond This Point'? I'd buy it off you at the right price!
Cheers Stephen, thanks for looking/commenting much appreciated. Throughout the video I couldn't see the sign you mentioned, although someone may have it or was it scrapped like many other railway artefacts ?. Regards...Bill
Great old videos. I've subscribed to your channel and would appreciate same. Thanks.
Shrewsbury in Floopaloo
the honsea old railway line to hull and sowf port
Is it possible to do winchester
Unfortunately I personally do not have any clips of Winchester, you may try looking at other Jim Clemens DVDs you may find what you are looking for. Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated...Bill
They still chug along..
Shrewsbury in Floopaloo