VSOE Visits Cornwall 25th - 27th April 14

67024 67006 VSOE Victoria Truro St Germans bank Friday 25th April 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

VSOE from Victoria to Truro nears its journeys end at Dowgas with locos 67024 leading 67006 25th April 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

On Trevithick day at Camborne the VSOE Pullman to Truro behind a pair of Class 67s.26th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

The Pullman passes the former Holman Bros works. 26th April 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

67006 67024 Dawlish VSOE Saturday 12.00 26th April 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

VSOE Merthen Farm with the Truro to Victoria 27th April 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

VOSE Dainton 13.55 27th April 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

VSOE 67006 & 67024 VSOE Exeter 27th April 2014 Copyright David Tozer

Tysley to Paignton charter - thence steam to Kingswear

D1015 Western Champion at Exeter St Thomas 11.16 26th April 2014 Copyright David Tozer

1015hampion heads the 1z15 Tyseley to Kingswear at Dawlish from Lea Mount 11.02 Sat 26th April 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

D1015 Western Champion at Paignton with the 1Z16 Tysley- Kingswear charter.The western and D1755 which were providing the train heating were removed Copyright Graham Bowden

Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway loco 4277 now on train for the trip to Kingswear 27th April 2014 Copyright Graham Bowden

Great Western Tracker 3    10th May 2014    
A DMU Railtour by the Branch Line Society together with the Locomotive and Carriage Institute

2Z11 07.00 Exeter SD to Penzance
Newton Abbt                   07.55
Laira TMD                 08.33 / 09.05
Mount Gould             09.10 / 09
Plymouth                  10.22 / 10.48
Liskeard                         11.15
Lostwithiel DGL        11.38 / 11.40
Par DGL                  11.51 / 12.16
St Austell sdgs         12.35 / 13.05
Truro                             13.24
St Erth                          13.46
Penzance                13.54 / 14.20

Then visits Penzance station sidings & Reception line at Ponsandane

 2Z12 15.30 Penzance to Exeter SD
St Erth                          15.37
Truro yard                16.00 / 16.05
Truro                       16.13 / 16.15
Par                          16.37 / 16.41
St Blazey                 16.45 / 16.49
Par Chapel sdg         16.51 / 17.11
Bodmin Pkwy            17.24 / 17.28
Bodmin General*        17.32 / 17.39
Bodmin Parkway        17.43 / 17.44
Liskeard                         17.55
Plymouth                   18.20 / 18.31
N Abbt                            19.09
Exeter SD                       19.30

Headboards. FGW were not happy to have headboards in place whilst the train was on the mainline, and 'in motion'. Some times we did leave them in place for short sections into sidings though. It is the L&C I headboard which was carried at the opposite end to the BLS one.

140510aa1 GW Tracker 3 goes just about as far as it is possible to go at the Cattewater terminus The Locomotive and Carriage Institute headboard displayed Copyright Stuart Smith

Left to Right. Barry Trout (Network Rail, Mobile Operations Manager). Don Church (FGW, Guards Competence Manger). Gary Churchward (FGW, Senior Conductor). Stuart Smith (FGW, HSS Driver). Tim Maddocks (Network Rail, Customer Service Manager). Matt Cambourne (FGW, Train Planning Manager). The photo was taken by Kev Adlam, BLS General Secretary Copyright

Our first sighting of the GW Tracker 2 railtour was as it ran into Plymouth at about 10.20 having already visited Laira, Mount Gould and the Cattewater branch 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

3 car class 150 927 stands at platform 6 at Plymouth. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

The Branch Line Society headboard on the rear of the train. For some reason these headboards were not displayed for much of the journey. 10th May 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen

Moving on now to Lostwithiel we see the down loop signal is off for the railtour to come out of the loop and run non stop through the station. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

150 927 now leaves the loop and gains the main line to pass by the signalbox at Lostwithiel which luckily has a future - it is to be preserved. Next stop for the railtour will be the down loop at Par. (Roger catches an up service to Bodmin Parkway to catch the next down from there to pass the railtour in the loop. An opportunity was missed at Lostwithiel station - see explanation below. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

Lostwithiel Yard. An approach was made to Network Rail at the planning stage of the tour to traverse the disused yard, but we were told it is owned by DB Schenker. Upon contacting them, they quoted a figure in excessive of £1000 - and this just to get the track inspected for our possible use, let alone any work that May have needed to be undertaken.

With the railtour now safely locked in the Par down loop the main line signal is pulled off. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

The railtour in the Par down loop 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

The loop starter signal is firmly on as the railtour waits in Par Loop. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

Craig Munday being a Network Rail employee gives us a privileged view of the railtour standing in the down loop at Par.10th May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

Roger having passed the railtour at Par now sees it climbing the last few yards of the bank to St Austell. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

Railtour passengers take the opportunity to stretch their legs at St Austell while the railtour waits for an up service to clear the platforms and get within the signals at Par. It will then be safe for Craig Munday to operate the ground frame to allow the railtour to cross onto the up metals. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

In this view by Roger Winnen from the road overbridge we see a rare view of Craig Munday (With white hat) ready to work the ground frame. Copyright 10th May 2014

With the points set 150 927 leaves the down main at the crossover. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

the railtour now proceeds carefully down the line towards the former goods yard at St Austell. With this shot in the bag Roger ran to the next bridge, just around the bend. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

A picture by a breathless Roger taken from the footbridge of the unit now at the buffers on this spur now only used to reverse trains operating a St Austell - Penzance shuttle during engineering work. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

Roger, having gained his breath and composure followed the railtour to Penzance in 150 246 which after a ten minute break returned with Roger aboard as far as Truro. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

A picture of the railtour in platform 2. Time now to board 150 246 in platform 3 and get ahead of the railtour. 10th May 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

Tracker 3 at the Motor rail terminus at Penzance 10th May 2014 Copyright Driver Stuart Smith

GW Tracker 3  BLS  The return journey

There was time for Roger to have a cup of tea at Truro before getting to the 'black bridge' to witness the railtour arriving on time - it came straight into the yard. 10th May 2014. Copyright Keith Jenkin

as can be seen there is little left of sidings at Truro - this one is the longest, a short siding diverges just before the footbridge. The train proceeds cautiously towards the buffer stop in the distance. 10th May 2014 Copyright Keith Jenkin

It would seem that the only chances for photography were for the crew - a far cry from the good old days when everybody piled out for their pictures. 10th May 2014 Copyright Keith Jenkin

A 'zoomed in shot' by Roger Winnen. Copyright. 10th May 2014 (With a CRS meeting in the evening members had to abandon photography at that point. Rain had been forecast for all the day, in the event there was only an extremely heavy shower while we waited for our train to Redruth under cover at Truro station)

We are most grateful to Craig Munday who takes up the story from here on. The railtour stands in the Newquay platform at Par. Copyright

The railtour leaves the 'public metals' and heads into Chapel Siding. 10th May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

What a smashing shot, what a shame when those semaphores finally go - a privileged shot as Craig Munday witnesses the BLS tour in Chapel sidings. 10th May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

It looks as if the unit is lost with a Topsham destination here in Chapel siding at Par. Notice hwo the main line alongside is considerably higher. 10th May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

Driver Kris Read (Exeter based) and a trainee driver both looking very pleased with life in Chapel Siding 10th May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

And finally after Craig Munday has swung the points to allow the railtour off the main line and into the transfer siding for the Bodmin and Wenford. Copyright Craig Munday. 10th May 2014

28th June 2014    Western Hauled Railtour to Penzance

140628 D1015 looks a treat as it passes through Redruth on the down leg of the railtour. 28th June 2014 Copyright Roy Palmer

2015

25th April 2015                 The British Pullman   

67026 Diamond Jubilee and 67005 Queens Messenger passes Hayle on route to Penzance. 25th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen

British Pullman arrives Penzance 26th April 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

British Pullman Penzance 26th April 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

150425aa 67026 Diamond Jubilee and 67005 Queens Messenger arrives at Penzance. Copyright Roger Salter

British Pullman Penzance 26th April 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

The Class 67s ran around the train at slopers siding prior to departing for Plymouth e.c.s. Copyright Roger Salter

67005 Queens Messenger heads the train through St Erth Station. Copyright Roger Salter

The train formed a return service from Plymouth to Taunton and an evening special Exeter to Kingswear. Copyright Roger Winnen

67005 and 67026 on the Truro to Victoria at Creech on Sunday 26th April 2015 Copyright Roger Geach

28th and 29th April 2015
              Great Britain V111  
     

David Tozer sees the Railtour at Stoke Canon, 28th April 2015 150428a Copyright David Tozer

A smashing shot as 70000 Britannia runs into Exeter St Davids Copyright Roger Winnen

Britannia at Exeter St Davids 28th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen

Britannia at Exeter St Davids. 28th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen.

One cannot blame Roger for taking another shot at Exeter after all it would seem that steam is going to get even rarer, though one hopes not. 28th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen

Roger rushed on and got ahead of the 'Great Britain' - here we see it passing through Totnes behind 66122. Copyright Roger Winnen

Minutes later Britannia followed through light engine en route for Laira where it spent the night. 28th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen

66122 on the Victoria to Penzance Great Britain Railtour at Respryn on Tuesday 28th April 2015 Copyright Roger Geach. Roger reports that the sun went in 15 mintes earlier!

This glorious picture is as 66122 bursts out of Buckshead Tunnel into a cutting decorated with Bluebells and Pink Campion. 28th April 2015. Copyright Craig Munday Note this location is strictly private and accessible only on special permission being gained from the farmer.

With power shut down 66122 commences to coast down grade towards Truro. Note again, access to this site was granted by the local farmer. 28th April 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Nearing Penzance 66122 nears Marazion. 28th April 2015 Copyright Roger Salter

A closer view at the same location, in retrospect it seems a great pity that the GB8 headboard wasn't carried in Cornwall - it would have completed the picture. 28th April 2015 Copyright Roger Salter

29th April 2015

66122 preparing the stock at Penzance. 29th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen

The Great Britain Railtour in platform one at Penzance 29th April 2015. Copyright Roger Winnen

A Cross Country set in platform two forms some interest as the passengers prepare to board GB8 railtour in platform one. 29th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen.

The departure of Rogers HST causes some interest and provides Roger with a 'moving stage' to get his three quarter front view of the Railtour. 29th April 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen

'Rogers HST' had not reached Truro by the time the 'Great Britain Railtour' arrived at Camborne. The prestige railtour was therefore held for a few minutes. Copyright Roger Winnen

What a shame, no headboard. Camborne 29th April 2015. Copyright Roger Winnen

One of Cornwalls 'mountains' dominates the background. Redruth is very proud of Carn Brea whose Castle and Monument overlook the town. 66122 has passed near the houses seen relatively close by beneath the castle passed the 'Fairfield' before executing a right angled turn while crossing the viaduct, passing through the station and through the tunnel to pass the site of Drump Lane Goods Yard. Drump Lane Signalbox lay on the up side just to the left of the picture. Copyright Keith Jenkin

Still from Drump Lane footbridge as 66122 heads for Truro. The overgrown land in the foreground was once a busy goods yard, just beyond the locomotive on the up side lay Harris Bacon Factory. 29th April 2015 Copyright Keith Jenkin

A gleaming Great Britain V111 Railtour coasts down past Carlyon Bay Golf Course. A nice shot by Craig Munday

A lovely shot by Trevor Tremethick - some might say spoilt by the lead locomotive, however it is at last carrying the headboard a feature sadly missed on the Cornish Section of the railtour. 70000 seems to be giving a shove as the train passes under a footbridge between Tavistock Junction and Plympton. 29th April 2015 Copyright Trevor Tremethick.

A disappointed David Tozer waits close by the site of Silverton station to greet the 'Great Britain V111' railtour as it heads east. The reasons for the assistance (1) Poor Coal & (2) Fire risk following a long spell of dry weather. Copyright David Tozer.,

2nd May 2015  Morning
BLS & PLEG Railtour to Friary and Laira 

150502a Class 08 08644 Laira Diesel Depot 1962-2012 heads the ECS HST into Plymouth for the PLEG and Branch Line Society Tour. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502c At the rear 08645 Mike Baggot. This tour to Laira Diesel Depot was run to support The Mind Charity, with all stewards giving their services free of charge and paying to travel were in excess of £8,000. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502d Now carrying the headboard Branch Line Society “Diamond Jubilee”. Copyright Roger Winnen

The railtour before departure - 2nd May 2015 Copyright Martin Duff

150502e The train departs Plymouth with the 08 plus HST plus an 08 for Laira, she has the green and the RA symbol. Copyright Roger Winnen.

150502g2 08644 + FGW HST at Friary this lunchtime working the 2Z11 12.05 Plymouth - Laira - Plymouth charity special. 08645 (grey) was on the other end. The lead loco in this case looking very smart with it's 'bulled up' buffers! The bridge in the distance carries Tothill Avenue over the former rail alignment to the terminus at Plymouth Friary. 2nd May 2015 Copyright Martin Duff

The other end of the train was very nearly into the site of Plymouth Friary, all but about 200 yards. 2nd May 2015. Copyright Martin Duff.

150502f Photographed from the 12.54 Plymouth-Paddington service the special skirts the River Plym east of Laira. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502g It was sheer luck to photograph this train at this point, being in the right place and passing at the right time Copyright Roger Winnen

The railtour on return to Plymouth. 2nd May 2015 Copyright Martin Duff

2nd May 2015  Paignton Pink Panther Potter Railtour run by the BLS and PLEG

150502k The Paignton Pink Panther enters Goodrington Sands behind D3014 to traverse the many sidings some of which were only laid between 1955-1957 together with a turntable which was removed to Churston after the abolition of steam. Copyright Roger Winnen

Paignton Pink Panther Potter enters Goodrington Sands behind D3014 to transverse the many sidings, some of which were only laid between 1955 and 1957 together with a turntable now removed to Churston. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502j With D2192 the train leaves Cliff Park Sidings at Goodrington, notice the gradient at the far end. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502l The top and tail train leaves Cliff Park siding. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502m Two for the price of one as 7827 Lydham Manor pulls into Goodrington Sands on a service from Kingswear. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502n More coverage of the yard at Goodrington as the Swindon built shunter transverse the yard. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502o D2192 Stands with its train at Goodrington Sands Halt which opened in the 1920s and rebuilt in 1955.6 with the road overbridge and new station buildings replacing Tanners Lane Level Crossing. Roger Winnen

150502p The weather was closing in as I arrived at Churston by the No 12 Bus from Goodrington. However the train had already been into the shed on the right of this photograph! A rare thing indeed. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502pp The special stands at Churston Station formally a junction with the Brixham Branch which closed in May 1963. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502q The train heads for the turntable at Churston, indeed a rare event. This turntable originated at Goodrington Sands and was installed at Churston in the late 1988s. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502r Concentration the driver of D2192 at Churston. Copyright Roger Winnen

150502s The train now traverses the long siding adjacent to the turntable which once housed the stock for the Saturday 09.45 Churston to Paddington. Copyright Roger Winnen.

150502s The journey as nearly over as the train enters the engine shed road at Paignton Queens Park Station. Copyright Roger Winnen.

150502t The Railtour going inside the shed at Paignton where it terminated. Copyright Roger Winnen

27th June 2015  
Pathfinders Railtour 
191F from Tame Parkway (dep. 04.45) to Penzance for Mazey Day.

The railtour near Powderham on its way down 27th June 2015 Copyright David Tozer

Into Cornwall, a smashing 'long shot' as 66194 heads the railtour over Coldrennick Viaduct. Copyright Peter Salmon

Craig scrambled through near jungle to get this shot near Respryn. 27th June 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Nearing Redruth, at Apex Summit. 27th June 2015 Copyright Roger Aston

66194 Heads the Mazey Day special to Penzance seen crossing Angarrack Viaduct, Hayle. Copyright Roger Salter

66194 Running around its train at slopers siding Penzance. Copyright Roger Salter

66194 Waiting to push back its rolling stock used on the Torbay Express from Bristol to Kingwear on Sundays. Copyright Roger Salter

The return charter awaits its passengers at Penzance. 27th June 2015 Copyright Roger Winnen

Homeward bound passing through Bodmin Parkway as the special heads for the West Midlands. Copyright Roger Winnen