John bycroft   0 #1 Posted July 18, 2021 My mate, David Oldfield, were avid train spotters in the 50's and frequently visited the train sheds. We weren't allowed in of course, but it was easy to climb the wall and get around the barbed wire. Being close to the big old steam engines was exhilarating and, providing no one was looking, we used to board the engines, which to us train spotters was known as cabbing.  The Totley cutting was a great place to patiently wait for passing trains. Life was good, especially in the summer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Runningman   142 #2 Posted July 18, 2021 Hi John, could go on all night about Millhouses Shed 19B and then 41A Used to look forward to Sunday morning when often there was a Clan Class on shed having brought down the night sleeper. Totley cutting and the sight of those Beyer Garrat's, MAGIC Fond memories but can't think now why I spent so much time writing numbers down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
mikeG Â Â 16 #3 Posted July 19, 2021 Had many trips to Totley Cutting 1958/9. Saw the occasional Beyer-Garratt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Runningman   142 #4 Posted July 19, 2021 Saturday morning and the occasional LNER V2 came in from York Too long to turn on the table at the Midland Station The crew took the loco up to the Totley Cutting to turn it round Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Dreb48   35 #5 Posted July 19, 2021 The Cutting was a great place to spend your summer days.  I’d go early morning after breakfast and stay there all day,  usually till the Thames Clyde Express came through. You could also kill time racing round the dirt track on your bike. You got such a wide range of engines with a lot of passenger traffic on the London line and heavy goods on the Manchester line. Often hopped on the bike to do Millhouses shed if word got round there was something special in. Happy, trouble free days !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Runningman   142 #6 Posted July 19, 2021 Yes, you had to be a fit lad to see all the locos at the cutting Darting from one side to the other and then up to the cutting PHEW !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Dreb48   35 #7 Posted July 19, 2021 1 minute ago, Runningman said: Yes, you had to be a fit lad to see all the locos at the cutting Darting from one side to the other and then up to the cutting PHEW !! Summer Saturdays were the best with all the excursions. Somebody would shout ‘ Up London ‘or. ‘Down Manx’ as soon as they saw the signal arm raise and you’d run one way or the other hoping not to miss one. Meanwhile if there was an engine stood in the cutting you could go and  chat with the driver. Got packed up with marmite sandwiches and a bottle of Tizer and I was set for the day Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
John bycroft   0 #8 Posted July 19, 2021 (edited) I was a rank amateur at it, but used to love the trains, the noise the rumble of their huge wheels and the smell of the coal burning. Sheer bliss for a young lad. Edited July 20, 2021 by John bycroft Preferred text Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Runningman   142 #9 Posted July 20, 2021 A strange tale re Millhouses Shed, you might not believe this ! I worked with a lad called Jack Thompson, ex fireman at Millhouses He was in a loco cab at the side of the coal stack when a guy he knew walked past. He said hello and the guy didn't reply, miserable sod he said ! At work the following morning he was told that particular guy had died the day before, that was before he thought he had seen him !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
John bycroft   0 #10 Posted July 22, 2021 That certainly does sound strange.  I don't think that it would be listed in any of Ian Allen's books though, so no use to the train spotter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Tbt   0 #11 Posted January 25, 2022 Remember going to Millhouses sheds one Sunday and being chased out of the sheds after seeing Clan Dornock Firth which had been in for attention. This would have been about 1955. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...