The first shipment sets sail
HST's to Mexico
Guy Vincent
HST's to Mexico
Guy Vincent
The latest position regarding the shipment of UK HST stock to Mexico is as follows.
General Cargo ship BBC Arkhangelsk reportedly set sail from the Outer Harbour, Great Yarmouth, at 2350hrs on Thursday 10th August. The ship, (next scheduled port of call Castellon, eastern Spain, on Wednesday 16th August), is carrying the following HST stock bound for Mexico where it is due to be used on the under-construction 'Tren Maya' high speed line. A Wikipedia site devoted to this controversal project is available for reference.
I have managed to find the reported identities of all the rolling stock involved, which arrived by road, here listed:
Power Cars 43022 43158 43170 (all GW green).
TF 41091 (VE) 41100 (VE)
TGS 44034 (FD) 44061 (VE) 44063 (VE) 44094 (VE)
TSO 42026 (FD) 42179 (VE) 42401 (EA) 42402 (EA) 42405 (EA)
Liveries, as per 2021 P5 Coaching Stock book. Total of 11 coaches and 3 power cars.
EA = East Midlands Trains revised HST (blue, white and red)
FD = First Group 'Dynamic Lines' Indigo Blue
VE = Virgin Trains East Coast (red & white with black window surrounds).
The Great Yarmouth Mercury newspaper website yesterday (10th) covered this story with two good quality drone photos included in the report. These show stock awaiting loading and in the cargo hold of the ship.
The photographer (Luke Martin Photography) has some more photos of proceedings on his Facebook page.
BBC Arkhangelsk entered service in 2020 and has a DWT (dead weight tonnage) of 12,325 long tons. One long ton equals 2240 lbs.
marinetraffic.com and vesselfinder.com allows you to track the progress of this and any ship. Believe me, there are thousands on the move at any one time!
Regards, Guy Vincent.
General Cargo ship BBC Arkhangelsk reportedly set sail from the Outer Harbour, Great Yarmouth, at 2350hrs on Thursday 10th August. The ship, (next scheduled port of call Castellon, eastern Spain, on Wednesday 16th August), is carrying the following HST stock bound for Mexico where it is due to be used on the under-construction 'Tren Maya' high speed line. A Wikipedia site devoted to this controversal project is available for reference.
I have managed to find the reported identities of all the rolling stock involved, which arrived by road, here listed:
Power Cars 43022 43158 43170 (all GW green).
TF 41091 (VE) 41100 (VE)
TGS 44034 (FD) 44061 (VE) 44063 (VE) 44094 (VE)
TSO 42026 (FD) 42179 (VE) 42401 (EA) 42402 (EA) 42405 (EA)
Liveries, as per 2021 P5 Coaching Stock book. Total of 11 coaches and 3 power cars.
EA = East Midlands Trains revised HST (blue, white and red)
FD = First Group 'Dynamic Lines' Indigo Blue
VE = Virgin Trains East Coast (red & white with black window surrounds).
The Great Yarmouth Mercury newspaper website yesterday (10th) covered this story with two good quality drone photos included in the report. These show stock awaiting loading and in the cargo hold of the ship.
The photographer (Luke Martin Photography) has some more photos of proceedings on his Facebook page.
BBC Arkhangelsk entered service in 2020 and has a DWT (dead weight tonnage) of 12,325 long tons. One long ton equals 2240 lbs.
marinetraffic.com and vesselfinder.com allows you to track the progress of this and any ship. Believe me, there are thousands on the move at any one time!
Regards, Guy Vincent.
Many many thanks Guy for your detailed report.
Final CDA workings
(We have CDA Saturation)
Thanks to all
(We have CDA Saturation)
Thanks to all
Many of you were out to witness the final CDA workings - the himble CDA being almost a much an attraction as the final; steam. However here arr your shots as the came to the website - in no particular order or preference.
Friday 11th August 2023 saw the last revenue use of the CDA China Clay wagons, a regular feature of clay trains since the late 80's, the final run for these four wheel wagons was from Treviscoe on the Parkandillack branch to Fowey Docks hauled by DB 66199 witnessed by a small group of enthusiasts, the train is pictured departing early as 6P24, also a departing shot of the last wagon disappearing down the branch for the last time!
(Incidentally 11th August was the last day of steam back in 1968) It is hoped some CDA wagons will be preserved on the Bodmin Railway to recreate the iconic clay trains.
Alan Peters
(Incidentally 11th August was the last day of steam back in 1968) It is hoped some CDA wagons will be preserved on the Bodmin Railway to recreate the iconic clay trains.
Alan Peters
Last CDA's at Treviscoe. 11th August 2023. Copyright Alan Peters.
Tail end of the last CDA's leaving Treviscoe. 11th August 2023. Copyright Alan Peters.
Below I have attached five shots from today's final loaded CDA train from Treviscoe to Fowey, thankfully sunnier conditions than yesterday!
1. 66199 pulls forward in the siding at Treviscoe during shunting.
2. 66199 leaving Treviscoe on an early 6P24 1525 Parkandillack to Fowey Dock Carne Point.
3. 20 minutes later it's seen coming off the branch at Burngullow Junction.
4. Having looked on RTT I saw a Penzance - Paddington IET was due in about 15 minutes so thought the clay will probably go after that allowing time for a shot on the mainline at St Austell.
5. 66199 nearing it's destination at Golant which 24 hours earlier was in fog there were quite alot of enthusiasts out for it at Golant.
Thanks, Mark Lynam.
1. 66199 pulls forward in the siding at Treviscoe during shunting.
2. 66199 leaving Treviscoe on an early 6P24 1525 Parkandillack to Fowey Dock Carne Point.
3. 20 minutes later it's seen coming off the branch at Burngullow Junction.
4. Having looked on RTT I saw a Penzance - Paddington IET was due in about 15 minutes so thought the clay will probably go after that allowing time for a shot on the mainline at St Austell.
5. 66199 nearing it's destination at Golant which 24 hours earlier was in fog there were quite alot of enthusiasts out for it at Golant.
Thanks, Mark Lynam.
Click on pictures to enlarge.
Thanks Mark
Last Loaded CDAs from
Goonbarrow to Fowey - 10th August 2023
Neil Phillips
Goonbarrow to Fowey - 10th August 2023
Neil Phillips
Whilst making my way on foot to record the passing of the final loaded train of CDA china clay wagons on 6G09 just after mid-day today (Thursday) I was surprised to discover that at some point during the previous 48 hours the stored CDAs in St Blazey Yard, which have been visible through the vegetation along St Blazey Road for at least 3½ years that I know of with very little movement, had been shunted into the sidings at the far end of the yard. My photo over the far end gate shows 18 wagons but a careful count revealed another 22 out of sight behind these so the presence of the total of 40 previously reported is confirmed. This move helpfully placed first-built 375000 in an advantageous position for photography – more on this one later.
As seems to have been the norm lately (6G09) 13.02 Goonbarrow – Fowey ran 30 minutes early, with 66199 still in full original EWS livery in charge, and the historical importance of this event – the end of 35½ years of CDA operation on this working – garnered much attention from photographers at Middleway Crossing. I thought it would be a nice touch to capture the very last loaded CDA wagon to cross St Andrews Road before hotfooting it through the park to Par Station! Here a stroke of luck saw ‘Castle’ HST 43027 + 43187 pull in on the (2P13) 11.50 Penzance – Plymouth presenting the opportunity to capture soon-to-vanish HST, CDAs and semaphore signalling all in one view – and even the livery on the locomotive is on borrowed time! Just minutes after the HST had departed at around 13.00 66199 was given the green light to follow it down the main line to Lostwithiel, still some way ahead of schedule according to which the train should have been just departing Goonbarrow!
Friday 11th August 2023 will mark the final loaded CDA run of all when the last serviceable rake departs Treviscoe for Fowey during the afternoon, unfortunately I don’t have the timings for this to hand - I will check during the morning but the question is, in common with so many freight workings, when will it ACTUALLY run?!
So from next Monday we must come to terms with a Cornish railway scene without CDAs and the dullness of just bogie JIAs on all clay workings? Not necessarily – there is a rumour that the JIAs themselves are to be replaced by another wagon type, examples of which are sitting spare up-country. Not sure if this would be just the Goonbarrow workings or all of them. Watch this space and perhaps don’t put the cameras away just yet……
Best regards, Neil Phillips
As seems to have been the norm lately (6G09) 13.02 Goonbarrow – Fowey ran 30 minutes early, with 66199 still in full original EWS livery in charge, and the historical importance of this event – the end of 35½ years of CDA operation on this working – garnered much attention from photographers at Middleway Crossing. I thought it would be a nice touch to capture the very last loaded CDA wagon to cross St Andrews Road before hotfooting it through the park to Par Station! Here a stroke of luck saw ‘Castle’ HST 43027 + 43187 pull in on the (2P13) 11.50 Penzance – Plymouth presenting the opportunity to capture soon-to-vanish HST, CDAs and semaphore signalling all in one view – and even the livery on the locomotive is on borrowed time! Just minutes after the HST had departed at around 13.00 66199 was given the green light to follow it down the main line to Lostwithiel, still some way ahead of schedule according to which the train should have been just departing Goonbarrow!
Friday 11th August 2023 will mark the final loaded CDA run of all when the last serviceable rake departs Treviscoe for Fowey during the afternoon, unfortunately I don’t have the timings for this to hand - I will check during the morning but the question is, in common with so many freight workings, when will it ACTUALLY run?!
So from next Monday we must come to terms with a Cornish railway scene without CDAs and the dullness of just bogie JIAs on all clay workings? Not necessarily – there is a rumour that the JIAs themselves are to be replaced by another wagon type, examples of which are sitting spare up-country. Not sure if this would be just the Goonbarrow workings or all of them. Watch this space and perhaps don’t put the cameras away just yet……
Best regards, Neil Phillips
1 - The last loaded CDA working of all, Treviscoe - Fowey crossing the A30 11th August 2023 Copyright Neil Phillips.
2 - The last loaded CDA working of all, Treviscoe - Fowey pass through Par.. 11th August 2023 Copyright Neil Phillips
3 - The last loaded CDA working of all, Treviscoe - Fowey pass through Par. 11th August2023 Copyright Neil Phillips
Many thanks Neil.
CDA Final
Jon Hird
Jon Hird
First at Golant
Then a quick stop at Treesmill
And finally from Middleway Crossing where the train set back into St. Blazey yard, where the wagons are to go into storage.
A rather sad day!
All the best, Jon
Then a quick stop at Treesmill
And finally from Middleway Crossing where the train set back into St. Blazey yard, where the wagons are to go into storage.
A rather sad day!
All the best, Jon
Please click on a picture to obtain an enlargement.
All pictures Copyright Jon Hird.
All pictures Copyright Jon Hird.
Many thanks Jon.
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