12th December 2019

Memories of 1st May 1997 General Election Day
Roger Winnen

Thursday 1st May 1997 was a beautiful day with glorious sunshine thoughout, quite the opposite from today.  After casting my vote I departed on the train for Par for a journey down to Golant where I spent the whole day photographing the clay from the vantage points overlooking the Fowey Estuary with the railway running alongside

970501a Class 37 arriving at Par from Parkindillack with clay for Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen

970501b The 37 with the clay is seen approaching Golant on its run to Carne Point. Copyright Roger Winnen

970501c A broadside view of 37674 St Blaise Church neading for Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen

970501d The returning empties from Carn Point seen at Golant. Copyright Roger Winnen

970501f A Class 37 heads away from Golant towards Lostwithiel with clay empties. Copyright Roger Winnen

970501h A Class 47 leaves Par with the ECS Royal Mail stock from St Blazey Yard to Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

970501i Clay from Rocks Dries at Goonbarrow is seen departing from Par. Copyright Roger Winnen

Long Rock Crossing
Michael Forward

HelloRoger Nice pictures on the site of the semaphores in Cornwall still and very impressed you went to see the Colas 70 down at the station at 11pm.
I attach a picture of a class 47 (did not record the number I am afraid) taken from Mexico Inn crossing on 17 June 1988 with the 12 noon parcels to Glasgow. An everyday sight then , thought a bit dull but I now make a big effort to see a class47. Copyright Michael Forward

Many Thanks Michael

Parkandillack
Ron Kosys

Ron catches activity at Parkandillack as 47339 carries out a shumt on the 25th April 1988 Copyright Ron Kosys

This is to my mind classic Parkandilack, ignoring the industrial clutter in the foreground) one sees the train in action. A contrast between the brillain white of china clay terminal and the lush grass of the fields towards St Dennis. *Nestling in the trees on the crown of the distant hill is St Dennis Church. Very unfortunately the cows graze no more in the nearby field the land being occupied by a waste to energy plant which has had it problems producing very little electricity.  KJ

*The church is situated on top of a hill overlooking the village and has views over Goss Moor to the sea at Newquay. It is dedicated to St Denys and stands on the site of an Iron Age fort. The tower is the oldest part of the church, and the newer church was almost destroyed by fire in 1985.[6] Although heartbreaking at the time, it has risen again from the ashes. The new roof timbers were so large that they had to be lifted in by a Royal Navy  Seaking helicopter.

Laira Triangle
Steve Widdowson

37207 on the Laira Triangle in September 1985 during an open day. Copyright Steve Widdowson

Teignmouth - Dawlish
Parsons Tunnel
Paul Barlow

43111 and 43116 on the 09.25 Newquay to Edinburgh heading for Parsons tunnel. on the 31st July 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow.