Class 50s Dawlish
Michael Adams
Michael Adams
Here are two pictures of class 50s at Dawlish taken by Michael Adams on 6 August 1983. The first shows 50007 ‘Hercules’ with the 09.20 Brighton to Penzance service. Thanks, Copyright Michael.Adams
Roger, here we see 50015 ‘Valiant’ heading the 14.55 Penzance to Paddington,thanks and best wishes, Copyright Michael Adams
Many Thanks Michael
Singling the Main Line Long Rock Mexico Crossing to Penzance
23rd June 1974
Roger Winnen
23rd June 1974
Roger Winnen
2216 Singling the Main Line Long Rock Mexico Crossing to Penzance 23rd June 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen
For further photographs on the singling of the main line to Penzance
The resignalling of Penzance Station and track alterations.
6th December 1981
Roger Winnen
6th December 1981
Roger Winnen
811206h 811213h Many hands makes light work as the reorganisation of trackwork takes place. Copyright Roger Winnen
811206cc Ballasting the track. Copyright Roger Winnen
For further photographs on the resignalling of Penzance Station
Go into Features April to September 2022 Item 2217
Western at Patney
Neil Phillips
Neil Phillips
I have managed to locate my only photo of a Class 52 Western diesel on the Berks & Hants line – here is D1021 Western Cavalier heading west through Patney & Chirton station site on 8th May 1976. I didn’t bother much with the B&H route as there was always far more going on at Swindon, which was also much closer to home. On this date I also went on to Crofton and in total saw six Class 50s and seven Class 47s as well as this solitary Western. When it came to working out where I wanted to watch the passing of the ‘Western Tribute’ tour on the third and final side of its basically triangular route nine months later this visit and footbridge came to mind.
Note how ‘open’ it all looked back then compared to Guy Vincent’s first photo – is it really the same place?! I’m sure it is - a black & white chevron sign just visible below the footbridge in Guy’s photo would confirm the basic orientation of the road.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
Note how ‘open’ it all looked back then compared to Guy Vincent’s first photo – is it really the same place?! I’m sure it is - a black & white chevron sign just visible below the footbridge in Guy’s photo would confirm the basic orientation of the road.
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
D1021 Western Cavalier at Patney 8th May 1976 Copyright Neil Phillips
Many thanks Neil. How the scene has changed, from what I remembered eleven years prior to your photo when, although in decline, Patney and Chirton station was still there.
Cowley Bridge
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
D1015 Western Champion seen at Cowley Bridge Junction. 24th February 2007 Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul
Operation Cornwall
John Roberts
John Roberts
Keith, I've recently obtained a copy of Operation Cornwall which is a commentary on the Summer 1957 passenger timetable. It raises several queries, the first three of which relate to passenger services run for specialist groups and therefore not advertised in the public timetables. Hence I've only just become aware of them and wonder if our readers can help. John Roberts.
1. St Austell dockyard train - 05.10 St Austell to Plymouth and 16.20 SX (12.00 SO) return (times ECS ex-Marsh Mills).
This was the first Up train of the day from mid-Cornwall, well before the 06.25 Penzance which was useless if you worked in Plymouth. Rather inefficiently it had a dedicated set of five coaches (a 5-set) which spent the day at Laira Carriage Sidings. As the light engine had to start from St Blazey and shunt at St Austell, wouldn't it have been easier to start from Truro, or were the clay-workers of St Austell seen as skilled men ripe for poaching by higher wages in the docks (ironically it called all-stations except Dockyard and Ford)?
It's also shown in the 1949 WTT so when did it start? And when did it finish - was it replaced by the Up Golden Hind which started in the 1970s? Was it the only passenger train ever booked to originate or terminate at St Austell (apart from the Motorrail)?
2. Hayle school train - 08.30 SX Penzance to Hayle (school terms only).
This dedicated coach ran a grand total of 15 miles per day. The Up Hayle Wharves engine conveyed one BC (non-corridor) coach, which it then attached to the 06.50 Plymouth to Penzance, presumably at the rear, which called at Hayle at 09b34; letter b means that this train stopped for only 2 minutes which must have meant some spirited shunting. It's also shown in the 1949 WTT, but in the 1911 WTT there's an 08.45 Penzance to Camborne Passenger Motor which could have provided a similar service, so when did it start and finish? Was it the only train ever booked to terminate at Hayle?
Which school did it serve; did the school or the council contract it or was it provided by the railway? Unless 12 children travelled First Class, one BC has seats for only 18 or 24. Why wasn't it more efficient to put the children on the 18 bus, as at over 3 miles from the school the council had to pay anyway?
3. Camborne-Redruth holiday train - 07.55 MFO Camborne to Bristol.
Two dedicated 10-sets formed the 07.20 MFO Ponsandane to Camborne ECS. The Friday set formed the next day's 09.35 SO Bristol to Penzance, but the Monday set continued empty to Swindon to form the following Saturday's 07.00 SO Swindon to Penzance, provided mainly for rail workers' holidays. The Up Camborne was a booked service, rather than an excursion which would have had a Q-path (run as required). It's not shown in the 1949 WTT; when did it start and finish? Was it the only express train ever booked to start from Camborne?
1. St Austell dockyard train - 05.10 St Austell to Plymouth and 16.20 SX (12.00 SO) return (times ECS ex-Marsh Mills).
This was the first Up train of the day from mid-Cornwall, well before the 06.25 Penzance which was useless if you worked in Plymouth. Rather inefficiently it had a dedicated set of five coaches (a 5-set) which spent the day at Laira Carriage Sidings. As the light engine had to start from St Blazey and shunt at St Austell, wouldn't it have been easier to start from Truro, or were the clay-workers of St Austell seen as skilled men ripe for poaching by higher wages in the docks (ironically it called all-stations except Dockyard and Ford)?
It's also shown in the 1949 WTT so when did it start? And when did it finish - was it replaced by the Up Golden Hind which started in the 1970s? Was it the only passenger train ever booked to originate or terminate at St Austell (apart from the Motorrail)?
2. Hayle school train - 08.30 SX Penzance to Hayle (school terms only).
This dedicated coach ran a grand total of 15 miles per day. The Up Hayle Wharves engine conveyed one BC (non-corridor) coach, which it then attached to the 06.50 Plymouth to Penzance, presumably at the rear, which called at Hayle at 09b34; letter b means that this train stopped for only 2 minutes which must have meant some spirited shunting. It's also shown in the 1949 WTT, but in the 1911 WTT there's an 08.45 Penzance to Camborne Passenger Motor which could have provided a similar service, so when did it start and finish? Was it the only train ever booked to terminate at Hayle?
Which school did it serve; did the school or the council contract it or was it provided by the railway? Unless 12 children travelled First Class, one BC has seats for only 18 or 24. Why wasn't it more efficient to put the children on the 18 bus, as at over 3 miles from the school the council had to pay anyway?
3. Camborne-Redruth holiday train - 07.55 MFO Camborne to Bristol.
Two dedicated 10-sets formed the 07.20 MFO Ponsandane to Camborne ECS. The Friday set formed the next day's 09.35 SO Bristol to Penzance, but the Monday set continued empty to Swindon to form the following Saturday's 07.00 SO Swindon to Penzance, provided mainly for rail workers' holidays. The Up Camborne was a booked service, rather than an excursion which would have had a Q-path (run as required). It's not shown in the 1949 WTT; when did it start and finish? Was it the only express train ever booked to start from Camborne?
Hello John
I remember the 08.30 Penzance to Hayle which normally left from the front of Platform 1 at Penzance. It conveyed children to Hayle Grammer School a fee paying school. This train was normally hauled by a 45xx Tank which would then go on to Gwinear Road after attaching its coach (6333) to the rear 06.50 Plymouth -Penzance at Hayle.
On one occasion 4095 Harlech Castle left Penzance with its one coach to Hayle.
Roger Winnen
I remember the 08.30 Penzance to Hayle which normally left from the front of Platform 1 at Penzance. It conveyed children to Hayle Grammer School a fee paying school. This train was normally hauled by a 45xx Tank which would then go on to Gwinear Road after attaching its coach (6333) to the rear 06.50 Plymouth -Penzance at Hayle.
On one occasion 4095 Harlech Castle left Penzance with its one coach to Hayle.
Roger Winnen
Hi Roger, I caught this train daily with four other pupils to Hayle C.S/school which was new then, I don’t recall seeing any pupils from another school, A pannier tank was the usual loco from Sept 59 to July 63 regards Many Thanks
Peter Radford
Peter Radford
Roger Salter writes
I attended Hayle Grammer School for 5 years from 1958 to 1963. This school had 110 pupils when I joined split into 5 classes. The 08.30 from Penzance to Hayle was for pupils of The Grammer school only, no doubt others may have had a free ride from time to time
I attended Hayle Grammer School for 5 years from 1958 to 1963. This school had 110 pupils when I joined split into 5 classes. The 08.30 from Penzance to Hayle was for pupils of The Grammer school only, no doubt others may have had a free ride from time to time
Many thanks John - the queries you have raised are extremely interesting.
I also like the idea of our 'News Column' becoming a 'Chat Column', no one knows what might be 'unearthed' of general interest information which can at least can be dispersed to a wider field.
I also like the idea of our 'News Column' becoming a 'Chat Column', no one knows what might be 'unearthed' of general interest information which can at least can be dispersed to a wider field.
Guy Vincent's report concerning the Royal train at Holt.
Royal Train
Martin Scane
Royal Train
Martin Scane
Hi Keith Guy’s note from today regarding the Royal Train stabling near Holt brought back memories. I was aged 11 and armed with my box brownie, I captured the same train at Trowbridge. As you see one photo is better than the other but of interest is the fact that the goods loop, long since lifted, is still in place. D1041 is clearly identifiable in the first photo heading towards Westbury so that must, I think, be the morning of 3rd June. It’s not clear if the other photo is of D1041 or more likely D1010. The actual course of events has faded in the mists of time but the photos have been, I think, taken from different locations suggesting different days. The first is I believe from the rear of Seymour Estate whilst the second appears to have been taken from our favoured spotting location of Black Bridge near Ladydown Mill. Great days Cheers Martin
The Royal Train near Trowbridge 3rd June 1966. Copyright Martin Scane
Light engine from the Royal train near Trowbridge - probably the long lifted goods loop seen in the bottom right. 3rd June 1966. Copyright Martin Scane.
P.S. From Martin - I forgot to mention that Seymour Estate is just West of Trowbridge station and Black Bridge is a further 600 yards or so towards Bradford on Avon. Black Bridge is just before the bridge carrying the Kennet & Avon canal over the railway. How I and my friends knew about the royal train I cannot remember. I do know however that there was no one else about (so presumably it wasn’t common knowledge) and If I remember rightly the train was running rather later than we expected. Cheers Martin
Many thanks Martin - ancient history but extremely interesting.