Andrew writes:-   I recently stayed at Lydford, and cycled the splendid Granite Trail to Okehampton.
Passing Bridestowe Station, the trail has been diverted slightly to the east of the  exLSWR mainline, for a short distance, to give the present owners some privacy.
It appeared that an existing track had been used for this purpose and on further investigation, consulting an old ordnance survey map, I found the existence of a tramway leading from Bridestowe Station to a point some 7 miles distant at Kitty Tor and Amicombe Hill.
Please see attached map.
It transpires from some research, that the tramway was built for the Duchy of Cornwall in 1879 for the extraction of Naptha Oil from peat.
It was built to the standard gauge, although horse drawn for almost it entire life it served some kilns at Rattlebrook and involved a reversal near Corn Ridge.
During the 1920’s a petrol lorry was converted for use on railway and was used to dismantle the railway in 1932.
The railway is still traceable and makes an enjoyable and accessible walk to the heart of Dartmoor with relative safety and gentle gradients.
I have not been able to find any historic photographs of the line and wonder if society members know of the existence of any?
 
                     Best wishes Andrew        Many thanks Andrew

A busy afternoon at Par. I was showing a group around the box at Par when I became aware that the passage of 6P24 was not all is should be. We expect the distant (repeater) for PR100 to click back to on after 12 or so minutes. This gives us information that the train is "up the hill" and about to be swallowed up into Treverrin Tunnel. It was clear after 20 minutes that the clay had probably stopped. 

The train eventually was declared a failure and assistance summoned from Long Rock with 57605 being scrambled up to us. Penzance crew Nigel Gilbert (Newquay class 57 fame - the very same locomotive too), and Driver Tim Comer. 

Two trains were sent to Lostwithiel around the errant clay train by implementing Single Line Working (the first time an IET has been signalled this way I suppose). 

The loco went into assist with the usual banging of detonators (I still jump after 30 years, and coupled onto the rear. The ensemble trundled back to St Blazey, and the class 57 back to its depot. 

Back on the 25th August Peter Murnaghan took a look at the Newquay Branch which somehow got involved with a 'Pride' event. At the time I was having severe problems with the Broadband Connection. This was coming and going.  I did attempt to upload the following pictures, however unfortunately they were lost somewhere. Although my broadband does seem to be back it does drop out whenever there is a phone call - so it still needs more attention.  BT found a faulty printed circuit board. My apologies to Peter Murnaghan for his pictures not appearing on site- a technical hitch.

Today Sunday 16th September we had our first official Class 800/3 9 car working to and from Penzance, 800309 working 1C79 10.57 from London Paddington and then returning with 1A98 17.35 to London Paddington, the return working being captured passing Marazion Copyright Andrew Triggs

Restormel
Chris Harvey 

To come next week - The Plymouth Miniature Railway - a selection of pictures captured by Clive Smith. Note Clive says - he has been enjoying the beautiful Italian Amalfi Coast and the lovely island of Corsica, I will still be reading the site daily, sitting by the Pool! Now there's devotion!!

​The editors of the CRS magazine regret the omission of the name of the author of the article ‘Bere Alston to Meldon - after Closure’ in the Autumn 2018 CRS magazine. This was not intended, but was entirely due to an unfortunate oversight on their part. The author of this excellent article was Tony Hill. The editors sincerely apologise for the omission of his name.”

​The last H.S.T. of the summer timetable will leave Newquay today and the units are unlikely to return next year, other than as specials or run by Cross Country.

What was once a summer Saturday procession was down to two on the last occasion yesterday. I caught the 0857 Plymouth and the 1728 Newquay. Light rain caused wheelslip part way up Luxulyan bank, but the driver managed to get the train up to line speed again. I spoke to him at the "quay" and he told me progress was down to 15 m.p.h., with no sanders to aid traction. I asked him what power was needed on the bank and he replied that notch three or four was sufficient for the 1:37 climb. He had passed out on the Hitachis but didn't know what the future held for Newquay; he said there might be gauge infringement in Luxulyan Tunnel.

For my own web pages, I will be looking at examples of massive development not being matched by the provision of rail transport. Sherford, the new town taking shape to the east of Plymouth is close to Oreston, on the Yealmpton Branch. The massive Airbus factory in Bristol is close to North Filton. And the Duchy's "Poundbury Light," Nansledan, is not far from the Newquay Branch. So on arrival at the quay I headed for the new town (starting price for a "coach house" £250,000) to find a vantage point for a shot.

​With six hours before my train home, I rode out to Trevose Head along roads which aren't for the faint-hearted. I went down to the gates of the lighthouse and then climbed to the coastguard lookout for the fabulous view of the Cornish coastline. On the way back I hesitated at the turning for the lifeboat station but thought I really ought to take a peak. When I looked down from the top of the long flight of steps I realized it was the one on stilts and clad in copper that I had seen many times in pictures. Thinking of the brisk sou-westerly I was going to face on the way back, I hesitated again. Then along came a car and two young ladies in short skirts got out and hurried down the steps. Thinking I should learn more about the work of the R.N.L.I., I locked up my bike and followed.

A little later, after reading some of the many wall displays, I was very glad that I hadn't gone away for it became obvious that a launch was imminent. I do seem to have the good fortune of something interesting happening when I turn up at places.

​It clearly not being a "shout," I asked an officer about the launch. He told me it was for a christening at Padstow - a lifeboat tradition. "They'll be back in an hour." "There wouldn't have been the two young ladies on board in an emergency," I said rather stupidly. "Oh yes there would," he replied. "They're crew members and sisters."

Having not thought of it earlier, I asked this driver whether he could tell if the rear power car was slipping. I think the light only warns of wheelslip somewhere. Of course, in theory the rear power car has a cleaner rail.

Remembering that when the 50s bowed out there was a mass outpouring of grief, I have been looking for some interest in these old things whose era has been far longer than the hydraulics or the English Electrics; longer even than the "Kings." Then along came Anthony Christie and a handful of fanciers unknown to me. Newquay had gone back to sleep and there were barely 40 passengers for this last-but-one train.

Cheers, Colin.  Many thanks Colin

​British Rail Western Region got on board the railtour bandwagon in 1983 with a superb railtour of load 7 top and tailed by class 37186 and 37 187. The train left Bristol TM at 08.15 and headed via the  now long gone Taunton Goods Line to Carne Point, Parkandillack and Boscarne Junction. This was  advertised as the penultimate passenger  train to Boscarne Junction before  the closure of the freight line from Bodmin Parkway to Wenford Bridge. The next day would see BR run the final train with a DMU from St Austell visiting the same Cornish branches.
Regards, Clive Smith                          Many Thanks Clive.