1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML

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1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML 23/11/2021 at 16:20 #142446
swiftaw
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This question is totally out of left field I know.

I grew up by the WCML near Wigan in the early-1990s. At that time there was a small fleet of Class 37s (I think numbered 3767x) based at LA for China Clay operations, and every Tuesday evening two of them would haul a train up the WCML.

My question is, where were they going?

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1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML 23/11/2021 at 17:05 #142447
jc92
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Laira had an FCLL pool of around 6 or 7 37/5s outstationed at St Blazey for China clay traffic.

Which part of the WCML as its quite long? The only flow I can think of is to Cliffe Vale in which case looking at a 1991 WTT theres 6M72 0410 MO Eastleigh Cliffe Vale.

On looking theres also 6S67 0452 MWFO St Blazey to Mossend and 6S55 0950 WO burngullow Irvine (for paper production).

"We don't stop camborne wednesdays"
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1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML 23/11/2021 at 17:14 #142448
swiftaw
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I think I mentioned, I used to see them near Wigan, pretty sure it was a Tuesday evening heading North, around 9pm. This would've been somewhere in the 1991-1993 range.
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1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML 23/11/2021 at 18:13 #142449
58050
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swiftaw in post 142448 said:
I think I mentioned, I used to see them near Wigan, pretty sure it was a Tuesday evening heading North, around 9pm. This would've been somewhere in the 1991-1993 range.
You would have seen them on the 'Silver Bullets' nickname for the metalic tank wagons they hauled from Cornwall to Irvine & return which was one of the longest freight workings in the country at that time. In 1990 the Cl.37/5 locos based at Plymouth laira were part of the FJLL pool outbased at St. Blazey TMD. In total 7 locos in that pool. The China Clay was conveyed in bogie tanks to the paper mill at Irvine in Scotland.

Last edited: 23/11/2021 at 18:13 by 58050
Reason: corrected typo

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1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML 23/11/2021 at 18:19 #142450
swiftaw
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58050 in post 142449 said:
swiftaw in post 142448 said:
I think I mentioned, I used to see them near Wigan, pretty sure it was a Tuesday evening heading North, around 9pm. This would've been somewhere in the 1991-1993 range.
You would have seen them on the 'Silver Bullets' nickname for the metalic tank wagons they hauled from Cornwall to Irvine & return which was one of the longest freight workings in the country at that time. In 1990 the Cl.37/5 locos based at Plymouth laira were part of the FJLL pool outbased at St. Blazey TMD. In total 7 locos in that pool. The China Clay was conveyed in bogie tanks to the paper mill at Irvine in Scotland.
Thanks. Did I remember correctly that they were 37671-7?

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1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML 23/11/2021 at 18:42 #142451
postal
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58050 in post 142449 said:
The China Clay was conveyed in bogie tanks to the paper mill at Irvine in Scotland.
The mill trades as UPM Caledonian and is shown on the Paisley sim on the line from Barassie Jn towards Kilmarnock. It was opened in 1989. The default 2006 Paisley TT includes the workings in and out of the mill.

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1990s: China Clay 37s on the WCML 23/11/2021 at 19:17 #142452
58050
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swiftaw in post 142450 said:
58050 in post 142449 said:
swiftaw in post 142448 said:
I think I mentioned, I used to see them near Wigan, pretty sure it was a Tuesday evening heading North, around 9pm. This would've been somewhere in the 1991-1993 range.
You would have seen them on the 'Silver Bullets' nickname for the metalic tank wagons they hauled from Cornwall to Irvine & return which was one of the longest freight workings in the country at that time. In 1990 the Cl.37/5 locos based at Plymouth laira were part of the FJLL pool outbased at St. Blazey TMD. In total 7 locos in that pool. The China Clay was conveyed in bogie tanks to the paper mill at Irvine in Scotland.
Thanks. Did I remember correctly that they were 37671-7?
The loco numbers in the FJLL pool during 1990 were numbered 37669 to 37675.

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