For the sake of individual privacy, I do not publish the email addresses of correspondents to the Shedmaster.

Suddenly I noticed a member of the station staff striding intently in my direction. I figured, here we go again - just like my usual visits to platform 7 at Clapham Junction - the old heave-ho! But at the last second, he stopped and opened a small gate in the fence between the platform and the car park where, unnoticed by me until that instant, a luxury motor coach had pulled up. Next minute, the entire West Ham team and attendants filed through the gate and assembled on the platform. Just then, the 'up' Bournemouth Belle, with a Merchant Navy on the head-end, pulled into the platform. I was able to shake hands and chat briefly with Bobby Moore before a bunch of fans from further down the platform showed up. In all the milling around of supporters and the players joining the train, the only other team member I was able to talk to was Ronnie Boyce, who was leaning out a window, smoking, while trying to organize a card game. I completely missed Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters whom I would have also liked to have shaken hands with.

The team had presumably arrived in Southampton on the 'down' 'Belle earlier in the day. I wonder if any of the enginemen on this great website were in charge of our World Cup heroes that winter Saturday and whether they knew of their celebrity passenger cargo? I always thought that the engine on that 'up' train was MN Belgian Marine but I see now that it couldn't have been, as 35017 was scrapped the previous year. Anyone have record of which loco was allocated that day?

There is a reference on the web : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:949_Hecate_Eastleigh_1950.jpg - Shedmaster

During those last few years I was lucky enough to have the same loco on consecutive days on several occasions which gave me some idea of what it must have been like to have ''your own engine''. One occasion was the week 7th to 12th of May 1965. Des Holley and I were booked ''pass'' to Southampton to relieve Weymouth men on the afternoon up Jersey Boat train. They would roll in and stop right for water and I would climb up on the tender and ''put the pipe in'' whilst they got their gear and vacated the footplate. The Weymo' men would then take over the watering whilst we got ourselves sorted and with a bit of luck we would be away, right time at 17:51. It seemed to be a point of honour amongst Weymo' men that they could get more fire in the box than anyone else and it was not unusual to literally find white hot coals falling out of the firehole on this turn which made for a good start to the day for us. On one ocassion it even led to me getting my hands on the regulator as far as Farnborough on this turn, 18 years old and driving the up Jersey with a West Country and 12 on......magic. On the Monday and Tuesday we had 35023 and 35026 respectively and a tick in the comments box infers a good trip. On Wednesday in rolls 34082, 615 Squadron with 13 on. After taking water we left So'ton right time and had an amazingly easy trip to Waterloo. The comments show a big tick and ''250 all the way''. Imagine my surprise when, the next evening, there she was again with the same results. The next two evenings'(we worked the turn on our Rest day), followed the same pattern and my impression was that 34082 handled the job every bit as easily as the two Merchants. I clearly remember commenting to Des on her steaming to which he casually replied ''Yeh, I 'spect the boilers a bit thin,'' I didn't give that comment a second thought at the time, I would now. It was a wonderful week that I will always remember. I wonder, does anyone else remember this fine loco. She didn't have a grand, memorable name but I had several more trips on her before she was withdrawn in April 1966. She always performed well and will always be remembered as my favourite Bullied Pacific.

I have always had a great effection for 70A I have even named my house Nine Elms. I visited it on 30/03/67 and at the back of the shed 34002 was up in the air on the hoist. A week later I visited the shed and it was down but still under the hoist. This is all from memory and I wondered what problem lead to her withdrawal?

Alan Goodwin replied: It last worked in the first week of January 1967 and was taken out of service for repairs to a driving wheel bearing. It was probably cannibalised for spares and was withdrawn week ending 2nd April.

Jerry Sullivan replied:
What you have said about the LNER loco's is perfectly correct they were the finest in every way and I see that Pete Stewart was jammy once again with the A4. I often wonder considering the number that were built why a lot more were not taken up by preservation railway's instead of the Bulleid's - they even have one cut in half in York Museum but I see they built a new A1 Tornado which say's something. I suppose I am a fan of the Bulleid's as that was what I worked with and considering the crap coal we sometimes had to endure they done what was asked of them and they were forgiving to even the worst fireman as even I at the age of sixteen just learning where the smokebox was situated was able to fire one to Salisbury and back with the advice of that wonderful driver Dicky Knopp. I can assure you that it wasn't due to any skill on my part, I still had the engine cleaner's rag hanging out my back pocket. Every locoman in every region alway's thought that they had the best but with the LNER I think they knew they were the best. I still liked Churchward's engines they just looked right but if I ever see a Bulleid (engine) I still tingle all over - it's like coming home to an old friend.

I was an Eastleigh fireman in steam days, starting in 1962, and there was never much ''love lost'' between Eastleigh and Nine Elms. In 1976 I moved to Waterloo to get my drivers job and in 1988 I joined the Acting Traincrew Supervisors Panel, (formerly Running Foremen), covering the job as required until I moved to Woking in 2002. I spent many happy hours talking to ex Nine Elms men and especially remember Fred Burridge who had an amazing recall of his years on steam right down to loco and duty numbers.

I have recently written several articles for the Mid Hants magazine hence the stiring out of the 1960s note books. Although not a Nine Elms man I spent more years at Waterloo than I did at Eastleigh and was even a member of the Waterloo steam team from 1990 till E.W.S took it all over after privatisation so I do feel some affinity with the place. I definitely want to get to the reunion this year and will pull out all the stops to do so .

On the 1875 map of the Nine Elms layout, can anyone throw any light on the Royal Station on Wandsworth Road? Obviously this was not the original Nine Elms station to the north of the main line, yet I’ve seen odd references in the past to Queen Victoria using Nine Elms station after it stopped being used as a passenger station, when Waterloo opened in 1848. It looks like historians might be ignorant of the purpose-built station shown on the map. I wonder what it looked like and what became of it?

Adrian Daffern has replied:
In his excellent book on Nine Elms, Barry Curl states that in 1854 a new Royal station was built south of the mainline with access from Wandsworth Road for the convenience of Queen Victoria who had used a platform in the now goods station. He states that it was little used when the Queen spent most of her time at Windsor and was demolished at the end of the century. There is a diagram on page 24.

Firstly may I congratulate you on an excellent website.I enjoy reading the stories and have the books by Bert Hooker and Jim Lester which are both very good. I was interested in the milk train in particular George Hopkins piece when he had to return one Sunday via Sutton and West Croydon which was known as the "Wall of Death". I live backing onto this line and wonder why it called this? Can you help? In the 1960's I was a schoolboy and I remember steam trains passing at the back. A down freight at about 11.15 the same loco returning up with freight at about 15.15. Loco's were always 4-4-0's. I have always assumed these were from Norwood Junction Depot? I don't know where they went in the 4 hours in between my sightings?

Having come across your incredible website (linked from Wikipedia I think) just last week, and finding myself totally absorbed and fascinated by all the antics, activities, characters/workers/drivers etc and of course, the fabulous history at the Nine Elms Works, it got me recalling my own youthful years (No, sorry, I wasn't employed in any sense by the Nine Elms Works) as a lad (born in 1956) living in Battersea (Savona Estate - just up the road really) and seeing and observing the daily activities of the trains from usually the other side of the fence. From Seldon House, Stewarts Road, where I lived until 1972, we had the pleasure of watching the various trains coming and going under the Dogs Home Bridge and the multi lines in front of our flats, between us and Stewarts Lane, and on occasion the very special trains, which were a great treat indeed.

It was terrifying when one of our footballs went over the fence (Our play area was just 30 feet away from the fence) and onto or near the lines - especially that electric 3rd rail - and we had to draw straws as to who would clamber over and retrieve the ball. Some were braver than others... It was not too bad if it was a short kick over - maybe two lines at most; but if it travelled half way across or more, it was often there for many days... Sometimes some nice rail worker would toss the ball back over, and of we went again, until next time. Apparently some lad from across the way - Stewarts Lane - was electrocuted one day, and it frightened the wits out of us from thereafter.

My mother (Margie Dawkins) worked down the Stewarts Road carriage cleaning area when I was really young (maybe late 50s or early 60s), and tripped over her cleaning water bucket one day when stepping up onto a train to be cleaned out, and the water hit the line and went soaring off up the tracks, apparently. Lucky mum, I guess. She also 'went out' with a few of the drivers and workers at the various depots between Stewarts Road/Lane and Nine Elms, and I recall her being wolf-whistled on numerous occasions (Dad was off in the Malaya Scouts head hunting or such at the time) and her waving back eagerly - to which I would often scald her, for being such a hussy... I recall all the driver with the black shiny caps they wore... the gits...! As young lads we used to try to get as close the Nine Elms Works as possible, to take the numbers and descriptions of the various engines moving about in the goods yard. And I recall us being afraid to go anywhere near that coal hopper, because of the noise it generated, when it was doing whatever it did to earn its living. I also remember all the chutes that were carrying the coal from the river, I guess, right across Nine Elms Road. It was like some Sci-fi movie being played out on a daily basis, and it stunk to high heaven along that road a great deal of the time as I recall - maybe that was the Gas Works though.

What I wanted to ask here, if its OK, Is: Did any of the drivers/workers of the Nine Elms Works live locally, say, in the Woodgate Street area nearer the goods sheds, when they were still standing; or even the Tweed Street and Arden Street area, closer to Dogs Home Bridge!?! And if so, are there any memories and or pictures from any of these now vanished streets and areas, as I am currently doing research on these areas, as well as tracing my family ancestry, which started off in several houses (numbers: one, three and thirty to date) in Tweed Street, as far back as about 1888... After this area was knocked down, they moved to various streets down the old Patmore Estate. Thessaly Road, Stockdale Road, Sterndale Road, etc...

Would be nice to here from anyone here with any memories of these places...

And thank you all once again for giving me such pleasure as seeing these incredible pictures from yesteryear, and capturing such an important part of our historic way of life, especially down the Nine Elms Works yard/s...

I just received the Irwell book on the M7 0-4-4T's and in the history of each locomotive it shows they were built at Nine Elms, but it shows both a lot number and a works number for each locomotive. Did Nine Elms issue serial/works numbers? This is the first reference I have ever seen for Nine Elms works numbers. I have a list of 815 locomotives built at Nine Elms, and other sources confirm the total they built is in fact 815.

Does anyone know the correlation between the lot numbers and the works numbers? Based on the M7 book they are not strictly in order, but must be in order of out shopping or something similar as while the works numbers listed in the M7 book generally run in order there are gaps, which I presume is where another locomotive from another lot number fits in.

It is with great interest that I have been looking at the web site, I was only at 70A for a short time, Aug 63- Sep 64, it’s a long story, but ended up at Hither Green on a 8c move, was made from Passed Cleaner to Fireman on the 2.12.63, on vacancy list No 82. Anyway the point is, when booking on one day in June 64, the previous two days alteration sheets were in the bin outside the list clerks office, I am now glad that I did, but I put them in my bag, they are now framed and on the wall where I keep the computer, so Alan Dedman may be pleased to know that on Mon 29th June 1964 he was on 69/5 Duty booking on at 1155, there are so many names on the list, it makes good reading, I done my cleaning with such worthy’s as Dave (bronco) Bryce, Martin Hole, and Tom Molt, the others have slipped from memory.

Roger Carrell's items have been moved to the Roger Carrell page

I am pleased that John Wild has confirmed I was right about him being the fireman on 34064. Did he confirm the driver was Arthur "Spot" King? There must be hundreds of other ex Nine Elms chaps still to make contact. The news helps to cheer me up and forget the awful weather.

Just to say how much I enjoyed reading the memories of John Wild recently. I really don't know if I knew him or not but his memories are fantastic. He relates the stories in true "loco fashion", even though he must have left the railway before 1967 and they read as if it all happened just last week. Fantastic! Please let him know how much I enjoyed it, if you can. Moreover, we finally have the name of the fireman on 34064 with "Spot King".

Having been an avid fan of the Nine Elms site since I stumbled across it a year or so ago I thought I would inform you of the passing of my father, Robert Flood at the age of 72. Though never a 70A man (70D & 71A) he was nevertheless a frequent visitor to the shed and many of the names on the site are familiar to me from conversations we had in the past, Jim Lester, Alan Wilton, Reuben Hendicott & the Domm brothers are some that instantly spring to mind. The photos below show Dad in October 1958 as a young fireman on 30857 "Lord Howe" while the other (right) shows him returning to mainline steam aboard S&DJR No 53809 in September 1987...he is wearing the same cap complete with SR Engineman's badge in both photos, which has now come into my possession.

Photos Stewart Flood collection

Let me set the scene, early evening, May 9 1966 Basingstoke station and a group of well known "enthusiast names" are waiting for the 7:32pm to Waterloo, rumour has it that "someone is going to have a go". In rolls 34006 with a lightly loaded 7 coach train from Salisbury (easy meat for a Light Pacific) we clamber aboard, expectant, it was very obvious from an early stage that this was going to be "one of those runs" around 85mph being reached by Hook, after a P/Way slowing immediately after Basingstoke station, in excess of 90 at Winchfield and a maxima of between 96 and just over 100mph at Fleet, before the dreaded "double yellows" were spotted at Farnborough, this check slowed us down to 25 at Farnborough, yet an almost unbelieveable maximum of around 89 was achieved at Brookwood before another adverse signal outside Woking, this time a dead stand outside the station. So frustrating and annoying, a brialliant run being puntuated by signal checks. The estimated net time between Basingstoke and Woking being in the region of 19 minutes, which I believe possibly to be one of the fastest times recorded, especially with a Light Pacific.

Anyway the punch line is, the Fireman was Ray Macquade, I was talking to him at Waterloo regarding the very fast running and rather naively asked him who the Driver was, with a broad grin on his face he very proudly looked up at me (he being a bit shorter than me) and replied "me of course" !! He was handed the regulator at Basing and left to it. I shall never forget that moment, or come to that, the run, according to Ray 34006 did not need much prompting, "she went like a rocket" and had it not been for the sigs at Farnborough a far higher maxima would surely have been recorded, (interesting to speculate what might have been) the Loco's speedo, according to Ray was registering over 100mph but these were never that accurate, but for Ray's sake I just hope that on this occasion 34006's speedo was.

This tale will go down in history for me, as one that made a Firemans dream come true, what it must have ment to Ray is beyond belief, I remember being on that train and thinking, this is some fantastic run, almost getting carried away with the euphoria, such was the noise from the engine and the sheer acceleration and speed, then the sig checks!!, to bring it all crashing back down to earth and reality.

Those were heady days to be remembered and not easily forgotten, to be filed away forever under "Great Moments in my Life", I still remember 44 years on!