Used to go there on a Yorkshire Ranger in the days when clouds of kids would go out spotting
Me and my friends were always out and about with either the Yorkshire or Northumbria Ranger tickets, used to get all over the placeUsed to go there on a Yorkshire Ranger in the days when clouds of kids would go out spotting
Get off at Mexborough, get the bus for 2p, then ask nicely at the depot for a look round. That must have been 79 or 80. Sometimes they'd send a driver round with you all, even got cab rides if you were lucky
If you got a grumpy foreman they'd give you a sheet with the numbers of all the engines that you could see from a safe distance.
Blimey, jumpers for goalposts etc
Had the Yorkshire Ranger ticket in the past - bus was Sheffield centre to Magpie pub for the Tinsley shed if I remember correctlyMe and my friends were always out and about with either the Yorkshire or Northumbria Ranger tickets, used to get all over the place
Brinsworth, Three MagpiesHad the Yorkshire Ranger ticket in the past - bus was Sheffield centre to Magpie pub for the Tinsley shed if I remember correctly
I was close with the Magpie - It was 40 years ago last time I did itBrinsworth, Three Magpies
We had a book called the Loco Shed Directory (I think ?) it gave directions on how to get to all the Motive Power Depots and where to get good views of what was inside. That's how we ended up behind BREL Doncaster looking for Deltics. It was great until I fell in the canal and needed rescuingHad the Yorkshire Ranger ticket in the past - bus was Sheffield centre to Magpie pub for the Tinsley shed if I remember correctly
That was probably book I had as well - along with Motive Power Pocket book It was always good fun mooching around trying to see into the depots. Thornaby was always a problem to get into - only managed a couple of times, despite it being local. One of the times we were let in was because the manager was chuffed (?) with himself as they were refitting the Peak class 46 Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry.We had a book called the Loco Shed Directory (I think ?) it gave directions on how to get to all the Motive Power Depots and where to get good views of what was inside. That's how we ended up behind BREL Doncaster looking for Deltics. It was great until I fell in the canal and needed rescuing
Yes, Toton was notoriously difficult. York was probably easiest.Ha ha, yeah. Some very evocative stories and images here.
Thornaby defo one of the hardest ones to get round, that's true. Never got round Toton either but the walk to the office to ask meant you saw loads of the engines anyway. Locoshed Directory told you to get the Trent bus from Derby to Sandiacre, which my mate pronounced "Sandy-Akkra" to mass hilarity from all on board, bless him.
They had an open day at Doncaster in 1970 for the 'renaming' of the Blue Peter. So not only did you get to see loads of engines, you also got Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves.Those were the days, anyone remember the open days at Crewe and Doncaster?