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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: andycadman on Tuesday 08 May 18 20:41 BST (UK)

Title: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Tuesday 08 May 18 20:41 BST (UK)
I have been asked to research the history behind a locomotive driven by a relative of a local lady.  The locomotive travelled between two local ironworks both one of which closed in 1965, the line travelling alongside a local road also now also long disappeared.
I am going to use this story as article in the next local newsletter which I edit. (The lady is in the process of writing the story behind the engine driver). The first is of the engine driver with his engine. It would be nice if someone could enhance it and add some colour as the newsletter is in colour.  I have also found a photograph of a train travelling down the line but it is very poor quality.  You can actually see the goods wagons. They are painted M.R. (Midland Railway) so this probably predates 1923 when the M.R was absorbed into the newly formed L.M.S. However, the MR on the wagons does not guarantee the photo to be pre 1923. The repainting of the railway stock, 1000's of locos, station signs, carriages and humble mineral wagons would have taken many years. You can also just make out the steam from the engine towards the right of the photograph. If someone could enhance this photograph, perhaps add some colour in order that the wagons and the steam from the locomotive can be seen more clearly it would be really appreciated, (along with other features).
Many thanks,
Andy
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Tuesday 08 May 18 22:47 BST (UK)
Hope you like this one.
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Tuesday 08 May 18 23:17 BST (UK)
And a quick clean of the landscape shot.

Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: McGroger on Wednesday 09 May 18 08:41 BST (UK)
Andy, no matter how long I stare at the 2nd photo and/or play around with it, I can't seem to see the steam from the loco. Would you able to describe exactly where it is, please - maybe then I'll be able to focus on it and work on an enhancement.
Peter
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: japeflakes on Wednesday 09 May 18 08:58 BST (UK)
Could this be the steam (far right)?   MRMRM on wagons
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Wednesday 09 May 18 11:16 BST (UK)
Thank you Japeflakes for helping to clarify things. The red arrow shows the steam coming directly from the engine and then as you move to the left you can just make out the steam dissipating into the trees.

Thank you also to DrDude45 & Peter for you enhancements to the photographs. Much appreciated.

As the newsletter is in colour if anyone can add some colour to the photographs it would be also appreciated.

I have a picture of the entire locomotive, taken just after it was sold on to another ironworks if it is of any help.

The plate just above the engine driver gives the name of the manufacturer it says “Peckett and Sons” at the top and “Bristol” below.

Andy
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: Henry7 on Wednesday 09 May 18 12:40 BST (UK)
The oval plate also has the maker's number 1961, and the date the engine was made, 1937.  So presumably this photograph was taken shortly before WW2 - or maybe after about 1948?

Does your photo of the whole engine show any other wheels at the rear end, or was it a four-wheeler?

 

 
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Wednesday 09 May 18 13:00 BST (UK)
Here is little more info about the engine:

The 0-4-0ST engine shown (Peckett 1961 of 1939) was delivered new to Butterley in 1939 and numbered No BC53, it was allocated to Butterley Works at Ripley where it appears to have remained until it was transferred to Codnor Park Forge in 1952. However it was sold in 1954 to W Bush & Son Ltd (Plant & Scrap Dealer), at Somercotes. It was resold from there to the Skinningrove Iron Company for further use. Therefore the picture at the top must have been taken pre sale to Bush in 1954.

I hope that this helps.  Attached to this message is photograph after it was moved on from the local ironworks.
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: Henry7 on Wednesday 09 May 18 17:10 BST (UK)
Sorry Andy, I misread the date on the plate and certainly "1939" would make more sense - from books which quote other Peckett numbers & dates. Sadly I don't have any references to this particular locomotive.

Is it known quite how the engine was painted in your first picture - I mean what was the ground colour and the colours of the neatly lined panels?  I'd expect this will be on record somewhere, or some industrial-loco enthusiast will have notes.

Harry.
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Wednesday 09 May 18 18:15 BST (UK)
Thank you for getting back Harry. All the information that I have is in the attached file. I have not got definite information as to colour I am afraid.

 Andy
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Wednesday 09 May 18 19:35 BST (UK)
did you want the steam restored brighter in that image I made? I can do that.

Also, did you want the 3rd image restored or was that an example?
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: Henry7 on Wednesday 09 May 18 19:38 BST (UK)
Interesting, Andy. 

As to the painting of the engine, maybe the Industrial Locomotive Society or the Industrial Railway Society might be able to advise - but I don't suppose I'm telling you anything you don't already know.

Harry
(just a railway-nut but not an expert on industrials). 
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Wednesday 09 May 18 19:45 BST (UK)
It would be great if the steam could be restored to the image.  I just gave the third image to give a full view of the engine.  However, if it can be enhanced, an enhanced image would be appreciated.  Many thanks - Andy
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Wednesday 09 May 18 19:58 BST (UK)
I see the one puff on the right, I will enhance that, any others I'm missing?

Also will put some work on the 3rd image.

Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Wednesday 09 May 18 20:03 BST (UK)
Something like this work better?
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Wednesday 09 May 18 20:07 BST (UK)
Looking good - Many thanks - Andy
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Wednesday 09 May 18 21:09 BST (UK)
Here's a cleaned and tweaked version of the 3rd pic. Enjoy!
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Wednesday 09 May 18 21:12 BST (UK)
Wow! That looks super - Thank you again - Andy
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Wednesday 09 May 18 22:31 BST (UK)
Glad you're happy. Let me know if you need more done.
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: McGroger on Thursday 10 May 18 01:39 BST (UK)
My try.
Peter
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: McGroger on Thursday 10 May 18 04:49 BST (UK)
And the engine & driver.
Peter
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Thursday 10 May 18 09:29 BST (UK)
Two brilliant improvements - thank you so much Peter.
The one of the engine driver with his train is spot on.
The other photograph shows up the waggons really clearly together with the steam which is just what was needed.
Is there any possibility of getting the water colour a little more realistic. I attach a modern day picture of the reservoir which I hope will be of help.   
Andy
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: McGroger on Thursday 10 May 18 10:40 BST (UK)
Hope this is better for you, Andy. Colour is not my strong suit - partly colourblind. If it's still not quite right I certainly have no objection to other restorers with better colour vision using my restores and adjusting it for you.
Cheers,
Peter
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: DrDude45 on Thursday 10 May 18 22:04 BST (UK)
Just trying to help McGroger, I lowered the saturation and evened the overly bright green in the center.

Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: McGroger on Thursday 10 May 18 23:26 BST (UK)
Thanks, DrDude.
Peter
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: hoobaloo on Tuesday 15 May 18 14:01 BST (UK)
Late one, bit of artistic license, John.
Title: Re: An Engine Driver at Codnor Park Forge - help with photographs please.
Post by: andycadman on Tuesday 15 May 18 15:22 BST (UK)
A big thank you to Dr Dude, Peter & John for your help with this project. Much appreciated.
Andy