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 Forum: Introduce Yourself   Topic: Introduction - Bob Willis

Bob Willis
Posted: 11 Jan 2014, 12:46 

Replies: 5
Views: 33298
Hi Phil I'm afraid I don't look at the BDCA website as much as I should... I can remember the tank wagon in question, an old battered 45 tonner. Yes the air bags weren't really suitable for what we wanted to accomplish!!! They were tough but had limited lift. We were given a set but rarely used them...

 Forum: General Breakdown and Recovery Discussions   Topic: 1Z99/2Z99 Headcode

Bob Willis
 Post subject: Re: 1Z99/2Z99 Headcode
Posted: 11 Jan 2014, 12:32 

Replies: 1
Views: 16226
I have been out of the picture for a while now, but when I was in charge of Thornabys Tool vans from 1976 to 1990 (ish) we always used 1Z99 when going to any incident and 2Z99 when returning back to the depot.

 Forum: Introduce Yourself   Topic: Introduction - Rob Morel

Bob Willis
Posted: 26 Feb 2011, 23:53 

Replies: 4
Views: 19536
Re Re-Railing ramps, these were a useful piece of kit which need a lot of skill to get the right results, yard staff had the knack off to a fine art rather than send for the tool vans, a quick easy fix. But the 'General Appendix' stated that under no circumstances should they be used to rerail bogie...

 Forum: Introduce Yourself   Topic: Introduction – Colin J Rush

Bob Willis
Posted: 11 Feb 2011, 13:59 

Replies: 7
Views: 32154
Colin, Your mention of Frank Kidd brought back a lot of memories. Frankie was a fitter at Thornaby when i was an apprentice there in the early 60's and he was the leading fitter on the toolvans until he got the supervisors job at March. Suffice to say i learnt a lot of fitting skills from Frankie. I...

 Forum: Introduce Yourself   Topic: Introduction – Colin J Rush

Bob Willis
Posted: 06 Feb 2011, 00:02 

Replies: 7
Views: 32154
I'm not sure, but ASLEF was for footplate crews only, the NUR was for all other grades including workshop staff who weren't in the engineering unions. Crane drivers until the later years, when it was harder to find people willing to go on the vans, were always fitters assistants and Breakdown Train ...

 Forum: General Breakdown and Recovery Discussions   Topic: Coal and Water Tankers in Breakdown Trains

Bob Willis
Posted: 05 Feb 2011, 23:51 

Replies: 12
Views: 54394
As you say, the 45T Cowan & Sheldon cranes i worked with had a large water tank built into the main carriage, (also helped the stability?) I cant remember how much it held but it certainly would last at least two days of working. There was a steam water lifter which was used to transfer the wate...

 Forum: Introduce Yourself   Topic: Introduction - John Cafearo

Bob Willis
 Post subject: Re: Introduction
Posted: 26 Jan 2011, 16:21 

Replies: 13
Views: 47505
I've been in the same boat as Chris, only i had a loaded bogied ballast wagon chasing me down the beam on a 6" cant, luckily the end of the mess van was in the way and stopped it!! I have had to lift and move bodily locos, coaches and wagons from track to track because of track damage at a dera...

 Forum: Introduce Yourself   Topic: Introduction - Bob Willis

Bob Willis
 Post subject: Introduction - Bob Willis
Posted: 25 Jan 2011, 18:01 

Replies: 5
Views: 33298
Hello all, I spent my whole working life on the railway at Thornaby TMD. from Diesel Fitter apprentice in 1962 up to Production Manager (locos). I'm not sure if I was made redundant or retired in 2007 but I'm glad I got out of the new railway! I was Thornabys Toolvan Supervisor from 1977 to 1990 and...

 Forum: Breakdown Crane Modelling   Topic: MP3 - 5" Gauge live steam

Bob Willis
Posted: 25 Jan 2011, 17:46 

Replies: 20
Views: 96125
When completed it would be nice to see it at a 5" main Line rally at the Gilling East track.
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