92220 Evening Star at Birmingham Snow Hill ...but when?

[tonygst]

Trying to put a date on my past! I lived in Kirkham near Blackpool, an LMS area. Trainspotting on the GWR at Snow Hill was therefore, always a treat.
One day (1961-1962??) I was at the south end of the station when I saw people getting excited as a steam loco pulling goods make its way from the north end of the station. It was like a Mexican Wave of trainspotters.
When the train got to me, I joined the wave. My records disappeared as I grew up and now I am trying to pin down what date this event might have occurred. It must have been in the summer months...school holiday time.
I know it must have gone through Snow Hill many times but I just wonder if anyone has records of this train's movements through the great station.

 

[Pedrocut]

Cant find any mentions in the Press.
Apparently Evening Star was the last steam engine built by British Railways, and went out of service in 1965.

 

[brummy-lad]

Hi Tony and welcome to the forum, I remember seeing Evening Star in one of the sheds in Aston or Saltley in the early 60s.
Have you tried putting "Evening Star" in the search box there are quite a few threads about it.

 

[tonygst]

Cant find any mentions in the Press.
Apparently Evening Star was the last steam engine built by British Railways, and went out of service in 1965.

Many thanks for looking. Very kind of you Stay safe.

 

[tonygst]

Hi Tony and welcome to the forum, I remember seeing Evening Star in one of the sheds in Aston or Saltley in the early 60s.
Have you tried putting "Evening Star" in the search box there are quite a few threads about it.

Thanks Brummy-lad. I have done a lot of internet searching but with no luck. My next search might involve the steam train magazines...often they carry articles by drivers, firemen, shed foremen etc., that have very detailed logs. Maybe I should have kept more detailed logs myself! Cheers

 

[RobT]

BR 9F 92000, an 86A Newport engine hauling a lightweight mixed freight waits patiently on the middle road at Snow Hill station. The big clock on platform 7 says 12.50 so 92000 may well have to wait for the Birmingham Pullman set to leave at 13.00 for Paddington. The 9F will follow as far as Tyseley Junction and take the North Warwickshire line to Cheltenham and onward across to South Wales.

https://flic.kr/p/agjJAf

 

[RobT]

Here is 92215 at Snow Hill on 29th March 1961

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: British Railways 2-10-0 Standard Class 9F No 92215 is seen at the head of an up Class E express freight service as it passes through the up through road on 29th March 1961

www.warwickshirerailways.com

 

[tonygst]

BR 9F 92000, an 86A Newport engine hauling a lightweight mixed freight waits patiently on the middle road at Snow Hill station. The big clock on platform 7 says 12.50 so 92000 may well have to wait for the Birmingham Pullman set to leave at 13.00 for Paddington. The 9F will follow as far as Tyseley Junction and take the North Warwickshire line to Cheltenham and onward across to South Wales.

https://flic.kr/p/agjJAf

Yes, but it is not 92220. Thanks

 

[tonygst]

Here is 92215 at Snow Hill on 29th March 1961

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: British Railways 2-10-0 Standard Class 9F No 92215 is seen at the head of an up Class E express freight service as it passes through the up through road on 29th March 1961

www.warwickshirerailways.com

I appreciate your help. Sadly it is not THE engine in question. And it must have been in summer ie the school holidays. Thanks.

 

[tonygst]

Here is 92215 at Snow Hill on 29th March 1961

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: British Railways 2-10-0 Standard Class 9F No 92215 is seen at the head of an up Class E express freight service as it passes through the up through road on 29th March 1961

www.warwickshirerailways.com

Cheers but it is not the big boy in question. Only that engine places the possible date of my visit.

 

[tonygst]

Here is 92215 at Snow Hill on 29th March 1961

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: British Railways 2-10-0 Standard Class 9F No 92215 is seen at the head of an up Class E express freight service as it passes through the up through road on 29th March 1961

www.warwickshirerailways.com

Appreciate it but it has to be 92220.

 

[tonygst]

Cant find any mentions in the Press.
Apparently Evening Star was the last steam engine built by British Railways, and went out of service in 1965.

Thanks.

 

[Radiorails]

Here is some info for non railway buffs.
,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Standard_Class_9F_92220_Evening_Star

92220 Evening Star

92220 was completed at Swindon, at a cost of £33,500, in March 1960 as the 999th and last steam locomotive built by BR. It was turned out in GWR green livery with a copper capped chimney and given …

preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com

It would appear that 92220 was a Cardiff based loco at the time and was probably a regular visitor to Birmingham.

 

[tonygst]

BR 9F 92000, an 86A Newport engine hauling a lightweight mixed freight waits patiently on the middle road at Snow Hill station. The big clock on platform 7 says 12.50 so 92000 may well have to wait for the Birmingham Pullman set to leave at 13.00 for Paddington. The 9F will follow as far as Tyseley Junction and take the North Warwickshire line to Cheltenham and onward across to South Wales.

https://flic.kr/p/agjJAf

Good to know. Sadly my search continues. Thanks

 

[tonygst]

Here is some info for non railway buffs.
,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Standard_Class_9F_92220_Evening_Star

92220 Evening Star

92220 was completed at Swindon, at a cost of £33,500, in March 1960 as the 999th and last steam locomotive built by BR. It was turned out in GWR green livery with a copper capped chimney and given …

preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com

It would appear that 92220 was a Cardiff based loco at the time.

Cheers

 

[tonygst]

Here is 92215 at Snow Hill on 29th March 1961

Birmingham Snow Hill - British Railways Period Locomotives: British Railways 2-10-0 Standard Class 9F No 92215 is seen at the head of an up Class E express freight service as it passes through the up through road on 29th March 1961

www.warwickshirerailways.com

Got it but it must be 92220

 

[tonygst]

Here is some info for non railway buffs.
,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Standard_Class_9F_92220_Evening_Star

92220 Evening Star

92220 was completed at Swindon, at a cost of £33,500, in March 1960 as the 999th and last steam locomotive built by BR. It was turned out in GWR green livery with a copper capped chimney and given …

preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com

It would appear that 92220 was a Cardiff based loco at the time and was probably a regular visitor to Birmingham.

But when exactly?

 

[Brookfields Lad]

Tyseley Shed: BR 2-10-0 Standard Class 9F No 92220 'Evening Star' is seen minus its nameplates in Tyseley shed on 31st January 1965

www.warwickshirerailways.com

92220 seen here at Tyseley on 31st January 1965.

 

[Radiorails]

92220 was shedded at Cardiff at the time so was probably a regular visitor

 

[tonygst]

Here is some info for non railway buffs.
,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Standard_Class_9F_92220_Evening_Star

92220 Evening Star

92220 was completed at Swindon, at a cost of £33,500, in March 1960 as the 999th and last steam locomotive built by BR. It was turned out in GWR green livery with a copper capped chimney and given …

preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com

It would appear that 92220 was a Cardiff based loco at the time and was probably a regular visitor to Birmingham.

OK

 

[Ray T]

Hi, Tony.
As a boy trainspotter I was one afternoon shocked to see Evening Star pass slowly over my regular spotting place of the Montpellier St bridge by Camp Hill Station. Unfortunately, like you I can only date the event to 1961 or 62. The engine was without coaches and was heading in the direction of Birmingham New St or Snow Hill. My fellow train-spotters didn't believe me at first, but one of them checked the loco's movements and it was indeed in the area at the time. I never witnessed it again.

 

[devonjim]

92220 was shedded at Cardiff at the time so was probably a regular visitor

This is totally off thread but there seems to be true railway buffs around and I need an explanation! One summer evening possibly 1948 I was at Tyseley watching the rail activity. There was the usual late evening "double on the main" and the train was Snow Hill to Paddington. There was such excitement, the engine was a Castle Class 7001 Sir James Milne. I have truly remembered this incident all these years, ok I did a bit of research on Google to help my memory but why would this engine have generated such a reaction.

 

[Radiorails]

GWR locomotive 7001, built in 1946 carrying the name Denbigh Castle, was re-named Sir James Milne in 1947. This was to mark when the GWR became nationalised.

James Milne (railway manager) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[tonygst]

Hi, Tony.
As a boy trainspotter I was one afternoon shocked to see Evening Star pass slowly over my regular spotting place of the Montpellier St bridge by Camp Hill Station. Unfortunately, like you I can only date the event to 1961 or 62. The engine was without coaches and was heading in the direction of Birmingham New St or Snow Hill. My fellow train-spotters didn't believe me at first, but one of them checked the loco's movements and it was indeed in the area at the time. I never witnessed it again.

Good story; thanks. I am not alone with dateless Evening Star story.

This is totally off thread but there seems to be true railway buffs around and I need an explanation! One summer evening possibly 1948 I was at Tyseley watching the rail activity. There was the usual late evening "double on the main" and the train was Snow Hill to Paddington. There was such excitement, the engine was a Castle Class 7001 Sir James Milne. I have truly remembered this incident all these years, ok I did a bit of research on Google to help my memory but why would this engine have generated such a reaction.

 

[tonygst]

Good story; thanks. I am not alone with dateless Evening Star story.

Good one. Great that steam can create such memories...and raise such questions. Coincidence...Tyseley was where I changed trains when going from Shirley to Snow Hill.