1. The John Mynors Memorial, morning and evening

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 17. The John Mynors Memorial & Rocket 150-14.09.80 > 1. The John Mynors Memorial, morning and evening
We managed to catch The John Mynors Memorial Train hauled by ex GWR 5051 ‘Drysllwyn Castle’ twice in the morning on its outward run from Paddington to Bridgnorth (5051 removed and reattached at Dorridge). We also saw it in the darkness on its return just south of Birmingham at Dorridge.
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Former Aynho station Often referred to as Aynho for Deddington or sometimes Aynho Lower to avoid confusion with the nearby Aynho Park Platform (on the Chiltern route), the former station that was correctly named Aynho is seen from the B4031 road bridge that spans the GWR route from Banbury to Oxford. The building is an Elizabethan styled structure known by Brunel as a 'roadside' station that found great favour with the railway company with several versions of it found throughout their vast network. The station closed in March 1964 but in this 1980 view, the building is looking a little run-down and in use by a solid fuel company. Today, it is looking in a better state now a private residence with a well-kept garden surrounding it. Keywords: Former Aynho station
5051, outward leg of The John Mynors Memorial, London Paddington-Bridgnorth (SVR), Aynho Junction 5051 ‘Drysllwyn Castle’ makes a fine sight as it gets away from a signal check with a GWR box in the background and firmly in the territory that it should be! It is leading the outward leg of The John Mynors memorial charter that left Paddington and was heading for the Severn Valley Railway. Unfortunately, the fabled Six Bells Junction web site has precious few details of this railtour. However, my contemporary notes state that John Mynors was a leading member of the Great Western Society who bought and financed the restoration of a number of GWR steam locomotives including Drysllwyn Castle. They also state the train was running some thirty-five minutes late by this stage in its journey. The train is seen passing Aynho Junction having taken the direct route up the Cherwell Valley from Oxford. The Chiltern route lines are also seen with one diverging to the left (the up to Marylebone) and joining to the right behind the box with this one crossing the Oxford route on a steel-framed viaduct just out of view around the curve. There is an audio recording of this event on my Youtube channel, see....https://youtu.be/c1ZaSjuyMyw Keywords: 5051 The John Mynors Memorial London Paddington-Bridgnorth SVR Aynho Junction Drysllwyn Castle
5051, outward leg of The John Mynors Memorial, London Paddington-Bridgnorth (SVR), Aynho Junction Having been brought to a halt just south of Aynho Junction behind where I am standing, former GWR 4-6-0 5051 ‘Drysllwyn Castle’ gets away with the outward leg of The John Mynors Memorial charter from Paddington to the Severn Valley Railway. 5051 came off the train at Dorridge with 25303 and 25258 taking the train onwards to Kidderminster. From there it was hauled to Bridgnorth and back by Churchward 2-8-0 freight loco. 2857 just prior to it being taken out of service for a much needed full overhaul. I hope that those sitting in the buffet restaurant car appreciated their positioning right behind the fine copper-topped locomotive taking in the full majesty of its exhaust whilst taking their breakfast! There is an audio recording of this event on my Youtube channel see....https://youtu.be/c1ZaSjuyMyw Keywords: 5051 The John Mynors Memorial, London Paddington-Bridgnorth SVR Aynho Junction Drysllwyn Castle
5051, outward leg of The John Mynors Memorial, London Paddington-Bridgnorth (SVR), Hatton Bank SP226663 A dramatic photograph of 5051 ‘Drysllwyn Castle’ as it approaches the summit of Hatton bank just near the station of the same name. The locomotive is proudly wearing the headboard commemorating John Mynors who bought Drysllwyn Castle from Barry (along with four other GWR locomotives) and financed its return to steam. He died suddenly at the age of fifty-seven on 31.03.79. According to a locomotive performance log that I have discovered on the internet, at this point on Hatton bank 5051 was doing a creditable forty-three miles per hour. However, that particular log erroneously has 5051 as 'Earl Bathurst' but on this day Didcot turned it out with its original Drysllwyn Castle plates as carried for just one year from new in 1936. Keywords: 5051 The John Mynors Memorial, London Paddington-Bridgnorth SVR Hatton Bank SP226663
5051, outward leg of The John Mynors Memorial, London Paddington-Bridgnorth (SVR), Hatton Bank SP226663 (Courtesy of Graham) This particular photograph is courtesy of Graham being initially consigned to his rejects box. This was probably as he, like I, was not a fan of going-away photographs but also as it exhibits some motion blur. 5051 wearing its ‘Drysllwyn Castle’ nameplates that it only carried for one year when new in 1936 is seen storming up Hatton bank just approaching the station. It is leading the outward leg of the John Mynors Memorial Train that started out from Paddington and ended up at the end of the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth with 5051 coming off at Dorridge for diesel haulage from there onwards. This photograph makes an interesting comparison to the next photograph taken by me! Keywords: 5051 The John Mynors Memorial London Paddington-Bridgnorth SVR Hatton Bank SP226663
5051, outward leg of The John Mynors Memorial, London Paddington-Bridgnorth (SVR), Hatton Bank SP226663 This is my version of the previous one! Graham passed his transparency on to me as a reject but whilst my version has less motion blur its composition is not so good! It shows 5051 ‘Drysllwyn Castle’ storming up Hatton bank approaching the station that is just level with the houses in the distance. Notice the balaclava and goggle-wearing enthusiast leaning from the droplight holding what appears top be a radio/cassette recorder out of the window. Without some protection to the microphone, I feel that the recording would suffer from the scourge of wind noise! Also, notice the Plasser and Theurer track machine stabled in the siding further around the curve. Keywords: 5051 The John Mynors Memorial London Paddington-Bridgnorth SVR Hatton Bank SP226663
5051, return leg of The John Mynors Memorial, Bridgnorth (SVR) London Paddington, Dorridge station Having spent the middle part of the day being serviced at Dorridge 5051 ‘Drysllwyn Castle’ is being prepared to lead the returning John Mynors Memorial Train back to Paddington. The passengers had enjoyed a day on the Severn Valley Railway being hauled there and back by 25308 and 25258 with former GWR 0-6-2 2057 hauling their train on the line itself. This particular photograph was originally confined to the rejects box being far too dark to make anything out with the locomotive just appearing as a silhouette. However, whilst still a pretty poor image it is amazing what Photoshop can do to brings things back a little! There is an audio recording of this event on my Youtube channel see.... https://youtu.be/L_evjLR9H5w Keywords: 5051 The John Mynors Memorial, Bridgnorth (SVR) London Paddington Dorridge station Drysllwyn Castle

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