11th April 2019

11/4/2019

Long Rock Open Day
13th April 2019

Please note that although our photographers have been out and about witnessing various arrivals inside the confines of the depot we have been requested not to carry anything on Social Media prior to the event - this we will of course respect. The Open Day is a ticket only event
Photographs of items en-route are acceptable.

B & W Diesels to Long Rock
Roger Webster

Dear Keith,
You may know about the open day at Penzance on Saturday 13th for a selection of diesels including the 50 and 47 from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. The 50 is having another Network Rail inspection tomorrow to ensure she meets the N.R. safe specifications for running on the main line.
The 50 and 47 will return to Bodmin on Sunday with 73107 and 66714. The timetable is in the process of being completed and I hope to have this soon and if so I will forward to you.
I write as a member of the CRS.
With my best wishes. Roger (Roger Webster)

The end is nigh for this
Class 52 Western at Laira
Roger Winnen

A Western at Laira awaiting movement to Swindon and the cutters torch on 1st December 1973. Copyright Roger Winnen

Hello Roger,
I believe your shot of the withdrawn 'Western' at Laira today is the first class member to be withdrawn, D1032 Western Marksman. The loco was out of service from 16.01.1973 awaiting spares that never materialised and was withdrawn on 06.05.1973. The first day in traffic is recorded as 31.12.1963 so poor D1032 had just 9 years in service! What a dreadful state it was in after almost 12 months out of use here! It seems it is one of the rarest locos for photos along with D1042 Western Princess and D1066 Western Prefect. I envy you having seen all these locos back in the 70s but enjoy tracking down the identities. I managed to see approx 2/3rds of the class in service with a few more in the scrapyard at Swindon. Other Westerns that would have been in the scrapline area at Laira on 1st December 1973 were D1004 D1017 D1018 D1019 D1020 D1024 D1038 D1039 D1042 and D1060. Do keep them coming!

Regards

Guy Vincent

Many Thanks Guy

The Great Western Society Open Day Bodmin
September 1972
Roger Winnen

7209a 1363 near Walker Lines Bodmin on the GW Society Open Day September 1972. Copyright Roger Winnen

7209b 1363 heads for Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

7209c 1363 is viewed from the road overbridge on the approach to Bodmin General Station.. Copyright Roger Winnen

Double headed 47s at Ivybridge
Clive Smith

47815 and 47813 hauling two barrier vehicles pass the former Western Machinery building at Ivybridge with the 10.26 Leicester - Laira on the 10th April 2019. They will then take a rake of HST coaches from Laira to Ely on the 11th April 2019. Copyright Clive Smith

Thanks Clive

Glorious Times now history
Guy Vincent

Following yesterday's mention of the 2 plus 4 HST sets now in use between Cardiff and Taunton I found this nice shot taken at Bristol Temple Meads on 08.07.2017. It shows 43027 waiting to depart from platform 7 with the 1A15 0918 Paignton-Paddington resplendent with the '90 Glorious Years' vinyls it carried for just under 3 years. Previously this PC was named 'Glorious Devon', a name that was itself recycled from class 47 loco 47602 / 47824. I doubt we'll ever see a class 800 carrying such colourful adornments! Copyright Guy Vincent

Thanks Guy

Semaphores at Southampton
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, great pictures on the site, I liked the pair of 57s.I expect you are all looking forward to the railtour with class68/88.
I send a picture of the semaphores at the East end of Southampton,taken on a hazy 12 May 1978 and showing 47143 arriving with a Leeds to Weymouth train. Copyright Michael Forward

Many Thanks Michael

Vobster Light Railway
John Crosskey

Hi Keith,
I have just been looking at one of the pages on your website which includes details and some photographs of the VLR.

The gentleman wearing the VLR vest is Henry Frampton-Jones. He was co-owner (with his wife, Mary. Regrettably he passed away on 1st June 2018. He was 86. Mary is still around and I have been helping her dispose of her narrow gauge equipment (most formerly at VLR) from the former Derbyshire Dales NGR at Rowsley.

Regards, John Crosskey. Thank you very much for writing in John, please convey our sympathies to Mary Frampton-Jones.
For our original feature please click here to get to our Frome- Radstock - Bristol line AND SCROLL DOWN.

The late Henry Frampton-Jones who passed away on the 1st June 2018 Copyright Roger Winnen

One of the locos backing into the shed which was in fact one of the farm outbuildings. Copyright Roger Winnen

The industrial side of the railway. Copyright Roger Winnen

Things were done properly, note the guard with a green flag. Copyright Roger Winnen.

Map of the Vobster Light Railway which once connected into the Frome to Radstock Railway. This excellent map is credited, I believe, to Peter Nicholson.

The Cornwall Railway Society minibus visit to the Vobster Light Railway was operated on the 3rd July 1993. Initial contacts and planning, Keith Jenkin, on the day navigation - Roger Winnen and our driver was the late Gordon Dobbs.

Plymouth Relief Train
Clive Smith

31209 coupled in front of 31262 at Plymouth on the 31st March 1983 Copyright Clive Smith

31st March 1983 was Maundy Thursday and regarded as the busiest day of the year on the railways with a lot of relief trains running. Remember them ? The train pictured at Plymouth is the relief to the Edinburgh - Plymouth which started from Nottingham at 14.30 and was booked for 45069 but actually ran all the way with 31262 solo on load 9 with no loco replacement at Derby, Birmingham or Bristol TM. I was on this train from Derby and if there was one certainty it would be that the 31 would be off at Exeter. There was no way an under-powered type 2 was going over the Devon banks with load 9. At Exeter St Davids my eyes scanned the stabling point. There were no peaks, no 50s, no 47s. There was a 33 and three class 31s, one of which was 31209 which moved off shed and then to my astonishment and dismay coupled to the front of 31262. I was never the greatest class 31 fan but looking back nearly forty years now in wry amusement would I go through that trip again rather than take a Voyager ? Too true.

Regards, Clive Smith Many thanks for your memories and picture Clive.

Take over by
Short Form HST's
Guy Vincent

Short-form HST's have partially taken over the Taunton-Cardiff Central local stopping services from the DMU stock previously used. The set forming the 2U16 1204 Taunton-Cardiff today comprised soon to go off-lease power cars 43027 and 43010 with slam-door carriages TGS 44034, TS 42026, TS 42024, and TRFB 40902. This set has recently been hired to Hull Trains. 43027 was formerly adorned with colourful vinyls that were applied in 2016 to celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth 11's 90th birthday. These have been removed along with the FGW branding. Two more slam-door short-formation HST's were seen on the route today with power cars 43156 & 43022 and 43041 & 43189 in charge.

Guy Vincent 9th April 2019 Many thanks for keeping us very well informed of current happenings and for your pictures.

Taunton with 43027 2U16 12.04 Taunton - Cardiff on the 9th April 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Taunton with 43027 on the 2U16 12.04 Taunton to Cardiff on the 9th April 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Now at Bristol Temple Meads with 43027 on the 2U16 12.06 Taunton -Cardiff on the 9th April 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Swindon Stone
Ken Mumford

Keith - the stone train photos as requested. The train entered Swindon from the west (photo 1), went to Cockleberry Sidings for the loco to run round, then departed for Royal Wootton Bassett in photos 2 and 3.
Thanks for your interest in my photos; I'm glad that I'm able to help a fellow enthusiast.
Kind regards and continued success with your society,
Ken - Raining in Swindon. Many thanks Ken,

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11th April 2019

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