Kingswear
& St Ives
Jon Hird & Craig Munday
& St Ives
Jon Hird & Craig Munday
The 37's at Kingswear. 9th April 2023. Copyright Jon Hird.
And at St Ives. Copyright Craig Munday. 9th April 2023
Just two of the still growing collection of the Managers Special photographs. Please click here to get into our Railtours 2023 gallery.
A very big thank you to Roger for his time spent compiling the above report for our website - many hours were spent.
St Blazey Turntable
Neil Phillips
Neil Phillips
Since it has been nearly a year since my last report on the restoration of St Blazey’s turntable, an update is overdue – however it has been difficult to gauge progress lately due to the erection of tent covers on the deck. However earlier this year the two vacuum tanks and four support wheels were removed to enable access to the main structure to allow preparation for painting. This has now begun and the wheels have recently been reattached. However the tanks are still separate and can be seen in front of the fuel tank in my pictures below.
In my last report in May 2022 I included two photos taken in March showing a pair of long-lost rails uncovered during vegetation clearance. I was very surprised to discover that, not only has this road off the turntable now been completely cleared, but it forms a loop back onto the branch into Par Docks – the set of points visible from the level crossing gates, which I had assumed had been retained as a catch point leading into bushes, was still connected to the turntable under the vegetation!
Photos taken on Saturday 1st April 2023.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
In my last report in May 2022 I included two photos taken in March showing a pair of long-lost rails uncovered during vegetation clearance. I was very surprised to discover that, not only has this road off the turntable now been completely cleared, but it forms a loop back onto the branch into Par Docks – the set of points visible from the level crossing gates, which I had assumed had been retained as a catch point leading into bushes, was still connected to the turntable under the vegetation!
Photos taken on Saturday 1st April 2023.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
St Blazey Turntable - the apptoach. 1st April 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips
St Blazey Turntable - the approach on the 1st April 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips
St Blazey Turntable 1st April 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips
St Blazey Turntable 1st April 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips
Many thanks Neil.
A bit more on
St Blazey Turntable
Roy Hart
St Blazey Turntable
Roy Hart
Dear Keith,
One of the shots depicted today shows the newly-discovered points leading from the old Fowey line to the turntable. Here are the same points, 70 tears ago.
Roy. Hart
One of the shots depicted today shows the newly-discovered points leading from the old Fowey line to the turntable. Here are the same points, 70 tears ago.
Roy. Hart
Copyright Roy Hart.
Many thanks Roy, a real 'golden oldie' of pictures. Most interesting - the token catching horn and all the signals. The steam loco is 1015 County of Gloucester.
On looking again at the two photos: the paling fence on the left is still standing (This is the garden of the old Cornwall Mjneral Railway gatekeeper's cottage).
The two pictures are 70 years and about 2 feet apart!
The signals and points were operated by Par Bridge Crossing box.
Roy Hart
The two pictures are 70 years and about 2 feet apart!
The signals and points were operated by Par Bridge Crossing box.
Roy Hart
Bodmin & Wenford
Chris Harvey
Chris Harvey
Chris brings us this distant shot of action on the B&W.
Bodmin and Wenford - distant shot. 7th April 2023. Copyright Chris Harvey
Many thanks Chris.
Britannias in Cornwall
Neil Phillips
Neil Phillips
Hello Roger and Keith,
In his very interesting and detailed article (6th April) John Roberts enquired about photos of Britannia class locomotives in Cornwall. The Bradford Barton album ‘More Great Western Steam in Cornwall’ includes four views (steam yes, Great Western no, but rare so forgiven!), and another three in ‘Cornwall’s Railways – A Pictorial Survey’ from the same publisher. Only 70019 ‘Lightning’ and 70024 ‘Vulcan’ feature, mostly the former. I believe they only appeared between 1951 and 1953, as if BR wanted to show off their new hardware as far and wide as possible, even if only temporarily, but by all accounts they weren’t that popular with the crews. I know of one photo of a 4MT 75xxx (75025) on the Cornish main line, exiting Highertown Tunnel, Truro with a parcels train in 1954, the year after the Britannias had departed.
These old Bradford Barton albums (published in Truro) provide evidence that in the early years of Nationalisation Cornwall saw visits by ‘Stars’, 28xx 2-8-0s, the heavy 72xx 2-8-2T tanks and 111 ‘Viscount Churchill’, rebuilt as a ‘Castle’ from the GWR’s sole ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 ‘The Great Bear’ in 1924.
Best regards, Neil Phillips.
In his very interesting and detailed article (6th April) John Roberts enquired about photos of Britannia class locomotives in Cornwall. The Bradford Barton album ‘More Great Western Steam in Cornwall’ includes four views (steam yes, Great Western no, but rare so forgiven!), and another three in ‘Cornwall’s Railways – A Pictorial Survey’ from the same publisher. Only 70019 ‘Lightning’ and 70024 ‘Vulcan’ feature, mostly the former. I believe they only appeared between 1951 and 1953, as if BR wanted to show off their new hardware as far and wide as possible, even if only temporarily, but by all accounts they weren’t that popular with the crews. I know of one photo of a 4MT 75xxx (75025) on the Cornish main line, exiting Highertown Tunnel, Truro with a parcels train in 1954, the year after the Britannias had departed.
These old Bradford Barton albums (published in Truro) provide evidence that in the early years of Nationalisation Cornwall saw visits by ‘Stars’, 28xx 2-8-0s, the heavy 72xx 2-8-2T tanks and 111 ‘Viscount Churchill’, rebuilt as a ‘Castle’ from the GWR’s sole ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 ‘The Great Bear’ in 1924.
Best regards, Neil Phillips.
Many thanks Neil for delving into your books.