1/2/2024

Residents invited for a bird’s eye view of how Mid Cornwall Metro will transform transport links in Cornwall

From Cornwall Council:

'Get a bird's eye view of Cornwall's transportation future with the Mid Cornwall Metro!

Join us at Hotel Victoria in Newquay for a virtual reality balloon ride and experience the Mid Cornwall Metro's vision first-hand. This visionary project, backed by Cornwall Council and £50m of government Levelling Up Funding, promises an exciting glimpse into our future transport landscape.'

The event is running on February 9th and 10th - please click here for more information.

Nailsea & Backwell Happenings
Richard Giles

Hello again Keith
Having just got up to date with the January items on the web-site, Mark Lynam’s 'Tamar Turbos' dated 25th January caught my eye. As mentioned by him, the services started at North Somerset's, Nailsea & Backwell Station an unusual location, with two GWR trains operating from 22nd - 26th January (the Bristol West Junction blockade taking place from 20th - 28th January being also stated as the reason). A 2M05 0637 Taunton - Nailsea & Backwell (0802) and 2C64 0804 return to Plymouth (1033) and 2M90 1455 Weston-super-Mare - Nailsea & Backwell (1529) and 2C90 1545 return to Exeter St. Davids ran each day, the inward northbound trains running close to 9 miles 'wrong-line' and calling at the down platforms at both Worle and Yatton, having used Worle Junction as an 'up' cross-over point normally used by down services gaining access to the Weston loop. This section of mainline remains the last stronghold of the Bristol Panel box (located at Temple Meads) which when opened in 1970 controlled close to 120 area route miles although approximately only 35 miles now remain from just north of Nailsea to Fordgate (near Bridgwater) including the 3mile Weston loop.

Image; On 24th January, no. 165102 approaches the former GW type 7D crossing box (of 1916) at Puxton & Worle (near Weston-super-Mare being decommissioned as a full signal box in January 1972), under hand signaling on the down line with 1455 Weston - Nailsea service. Recent changes at this location, which also controls a second road crossing with CCTV at nearby Hewish has seen ground work and the installation of a new lighting tower (which is in use). Suggestions are that the 'control' function will end here this year with operations via full CCTV transferred to Bristol Panel?

Hope of interest and thanks for the ongoing site presentation and also to the contributers

Many thanks for providing the additional information Richard, it's very much appreciated.

Steam & Diesel Railtours of 1985
Roger Winnen