Collecting British Locomotive Railwayana

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47840

47840 North Star approaching Shaldon Bridge on 28^th July 2002 with 1M87 09:53 Penzance - Manchester Piccadilly. Photograph by Andrew Watts.

Welcome to the Collecting British Locomotive Railwayana website which has been designed with four prime aims:-

to display original photographs of the many different styles and designs of locomotive nameplates that were, and still are, in use around Britain’s railway system. There are now over 525 photographs in the Nameplates section of this site, arranged by locomotive class. The photographs include examples from the classic classes through to the latest Virgin Voyagers and Pendolinos. Additional photographs are added frequently, so be sure to visit regularly

to give a brief insight into the arena of collecting locomotive plates, including Builders Plates, Depot Plaques and Nameplates which come under the category of modern traction railwayana

to act as an incentive to visit one of the many Auctions & Events to find out what the hobby is really all about, Collecting modern traction railwayana is becoming more popular as each class of locomotive is phased out from the railway network

to provide a means for fellow collectors to advertise their

. For a varied selection of locomotive, coach and wagon plates for sale, please take a look at the

section

Due to problems with the previous supplier, my guestbook has changed. Please let me know what you think of the site, good or bad, by filling in this short form .

This is not a commercial site, however please browse my for good quality products at competitive prices. The small commission received goes towards the running costs of the site.

Andrew John Watts

50035 Cab

D444

50031 & 50049

D444 Dedication

220017

My enthusiasm for English Electric built locomotives began with the Deltics whilst visiting Retford in the 1960s. I lived at Doncaster from 1973 until 1990, and the sight & sound of a Deltic flying through the centre road cannot be beaten. Prior to the Deltics withdrawal in January 1982, in the evenings and at weekends, I was usually to be found on an 'East Midlands' rover riding up and down the East Coast Main Line between Doncaster & Peterborough. I have been a life member of the Deltic Preservation Society since 1979.

I also admired the Class 50s as they came through Doncaster Works for refurbishment and from 1982 onwards I switched to 'West of England' rovers riding behind 50s until their withdrawal from normal service in May 1992. May 1992 was, coincidentally of course, when I got married!

This photograph of myself driving 50035 Ark Royal was taken by my wife, Helen Watts, at Kidderminster during my Footplate Experience Course at the Severn Valley Railway on Friday 10^th August, 2001.

The second photograph is the view from the drivers seat of 50035 looking South at Bridgnorth whilst awaiting departure to Kidderminster during the same course. Photograph by Andrew Watts.

These courses run regularly throughout the year and are highly recommended, giving you a unique chance to drive a Class 50 on the Severn Valley Railway. Further Information can be obtained from either The Fifty Fund or the Severn Valley Railway.

The third photograph is of Class 50 D444 (50044), after which this web address is named, at Ropley, Mid Hants Railway, on Friday 21^st May, 2004 in a non authentic but distinctive two tone green livery. D444 has been my favourite Class 50 since the late 1970s and is now, along with 50031 Hood and 50035 Ark Royal, operated and maintained by The Fifty Fund. Photograph by Andrew Watts.

The fourth photograph is of 50031 Hood & 50049 Defiance storming through Stafford just after 7 o'clock on Friday 23^rd July, 2004. This magnificent pair of large logo 50s were working 5Z50 06:09 Crewe CS - Old Oak Common CS, a positioning move for Pathfinder Railtours Eden Belle from Guildford to Par the following day. Photograph by Andrew Watts.

The final photographs are of the rededication ceremony of D444 on Saturday 14^th October, 2006 at Kidderminster, forming part of the Severn Valley Railway's festival to mark the completion of the overall canopy and buffet. Lieutenant Scott Sellers from HMS Exeter was invited to perform the ceremony and is pictured with (from left) Roland Bull, Scott Lewis, Craig Kinsey and myself. D444 is fitted with BR(W) style nameplates contemporary with her Green livery. Photographs by Helen Watts.

Nameplate

Further details about 50031 (D431) Hood, 50035 (D435) Ark Royal, D444 (50044) Exeter and 50049 (D449) Defiance, and also information on how to become a shareholder, can be found at The Fifty Fund web site.

I started my railway career on 15^th September 1979 working for Travellers Fare on an excursion from Sheffield to Stratford upon Avon & return which was hauled by 40167. The last train that I worked was an excursion from Doncaster to Berwick upon Tweed & return on 19^th September 1981 which was hauled by 47217.

I returned to the railway with on 13^th September 2004 at Birmingham New Street station and then returned to on-board catering in April 2005.

I am currently working for in Birmingham. Here is a photograph of 220017, the first train in the striking new CrossCountry livery, at Birmingham New Street on 14^th November 2007.

HST

Harold Ernest William Watts 1904 - 2002
My love of railways would not have started was it not for my grandfather, Harold Watts. His railway career started at age 14 with the Great Central Railway (GC), which became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), finally becoming part of British Railways (BR). He retired at age 65 after over 50 years railway service. My memories of steam are of grimy O4s trundling noisily through Shirebrook North on 16T coal trucks. As a special treat, I was sometimes taken to Retford in the evenings to watch the express passenger trains flying through, headed by Gresley Pacifics and green Deltics. At the time that I started school, he was mechanical foreman at Shirebrook Diesel Depot (SB) which had recently opened. I can clearly remember accompanying him there one weekend surrounded by gleaming Green Brush 4s (47s), Sulzers (25s) and Claytons (17s). The first photograph, taken in December 1968, is of my grandfather and driver Ted Mayes with Brush prototype HS4000 Kestrel at SB. At this time Kestrel was working off SB hauling coal trains between Mansfield Colliery and Whitemoor. I was lucky enough to go in the cab and sit in the second man's seat, I was 7 at the time! Here is a photograph of him whilst enjoying a footplate ride between Loughborough and Leicester North on 6990 Witherslack Hall during the Great Central Centenary Celebrations in May 1999, he was 94 at the time. I also accompanied him during his ride on the footplate on this occasion. My grandfather sadly died in June 2002 at Doncaster, aged 97.

Photographs on this site are taken by myself, except where credited otherwise. All photographs are © copyright and must not be used elsewhere without requesting permission. Thank you for your interest in Collecting British Locomotive Railwayana and please visit again soon. Why not click here to add Collecting British Locomotive Railwayana to your list of Favourite sites?