When steam engines rusted at Barry

Small boys love trains. Especially steam engines.

I was born in 1963, when the steam age was fast drawing to a close. The year Flying Scotsman hauled its last scheduled train for British Railways. The diesels were taking over, and the state rail network lost all sense of pride as expresses were hauled by steam engines in filthy, rusty condition.

I never saw a steam train in public service: the nearest I came was a National Coal Board locomotive in the early 1970s. But my consolation was an amazing place called Barry scrapyard at Barry Island on the South Wales coast, where hundreds of old steam engines were rusting away in the salty sea air. Here I was able to clamber over engines ancient and modern. The youngest was just three years older than me - a BR 9F heavy freight engine that lasted just five years. What a scandalous waste of taxpayers' money. This photo taken at Barry shows me, aged 20, on the footplate of 92219, the penultimate steam engine built by BR. The engine was 23 years old at the time (1983). It was built in January 1960 but withdrawn in September 1965. You can see a photo of 92219 on a freight train the month before I was born here.

Barry scrapyard was the domain of Dai Woodham, who bought hundreds of steam engines from BR for scrap but gave most of them a stay of execution. Britain's preserved railways owe Dai Woodham a huge debt of gratitude because the engines he saved now provide most of their motive power. The scrapyard closed twenty years ago.

This is the earliest photo I have of me at Barry. It was taken by my father Bob Skinner in 1979 and shows me, aged 15, on the footplate of LMS 0-6-0 4F 44123, built in 1927 (so a year younger than Dad!) and withdrawn in June 1965. I understand this engine is awaiting restoration at the Avon Valley railway near Bristol.

UPDATE: I have posted a number of photos of locomotives at Barry scrapyard on Ertblog. 

 

Visit the new Ertblog on Wordpress at robskinner.net!

Comments

[Loz Russell]

What a smashing blog. You are so lucky to have witnessed these things. I was unfortunately born in 1973, too late to ever witness steam in service but it looks to have been something incredible. It has always been an ambition of mine to visit Barry Island and pay homage to the wonders of the steam age. I live in Brighton, not far from the station and I can remember bits of the old Brighton Railways which have now long since gone. Would love to have been there, hence the website :o)

[Loz Russell]

Sorry, URL is wrong. Please check my sites, I think you'll like them.

http://ghost-trains.sampasite.com
http://brighton-works.synthasite.com

Please keep up the good work, it's great to see what I missed :o) Loz

[Timothy Takemoto]

Sorry...There is no need to reply to the last question from me on your blog. I googled the phrase "heritage railway" as used in the post above and came accross this list, including some railways that use steam locomotives.

http://www.heritagerailways.com/abc.html