Unusual working around Oxford
Michael Forward
Michael Forward
Hello Roger, I hope you are going along allright. Here is a picture of 31305 powering through Oxford on 28 July 1988 with a loaded ballast train. My notes show it was heading to the site of a landslip near Moreton-in-Marsh,which closed the line for three days. I hope this will be of interest. Thanls and all the best, Copyright Michael Forward
Thanks Michael
Good News!
Exeter St David's to Okehampton
Reopens in November
It was announced on the media today that the Exeter St David's to Okehampton line will be opened to passenger traffic from Saturday 20th November 2021. Departures from Exeter on Saturday 20th 06.34 08.41 10.36 12.37 14.38 16.36 18.48 21.00 Departures from Okehampton 07.39 09.45 11.39 13.39 15.39 17.46 19.51 21.56 Also a Sunday Service Tickets are now available Return £8 less discounts for railcard holders
Exeter St David's to Okehampton
Reopens in November
It was announced on the media today that the Exeter St David's to Okehampton line will be opened to passenger traffic from Saturday 20th November 2021. Departures from Exeter on Saturday 20th 06.34 08.41 10.36 12.37 14.38 16.36 18.48 21.00 Departures from Okehampton 07.39 09.45 11.39 13.39 15.39 17.46 19.51 21.56 Also a Sunday Service Tickets are now available Return £8 less discounts for railcard holders
Riding around Cornwall
Cornish Rover
Roger Winnen
Cornish Rover
Roger Winnen
211011a Gerry Taylor runs to the Liskeard Ground Frame after a trip from Bristol Kingsland Road. Copyright Roger Winnen
211011b The RHTT arrives behind 66116 at Par on Monday 11th October 2021 Copyright Roger Winnen
211011c The RHTT central tank vehicles contain the water for the high pressure water jets to blast the debris from the track... Copyright Roger Winnen
211011d Class 66 66098 bringing up the rear of the train as it heads through Par Station. Copyright Roger Winnen
211011f Saltash Station almost complete. Copyright Roger Winnen
Horse Cove and the Dawlish Sea Defences
Roger Salter
Roger Salter
I visited the site of the new rock tunnel near Horse Cove today to see the preparatory works taking place
,A long descent & a steep footpath walk enabled a few views of the great earth embankments to level this extremely difficult site,also views back to Horse Cove
,A long descent & a steep footpath walk enabled a few views of the great earth embankments to level this extremely difficult site,also views back to Horse Cove
Copyright Roger Salter
Copyright Roger Salter
Copyright Roger Salter
Copyright Roger Salter
Copyright Roger Salter
The RHTT at Langstone Rock
Roger Salter
Roger Salter
211012a The RHTT at Langstone Rock today. Copyright Roger Salter
211012b The RHTT at Langstone Rock today. Copyright Roger Salter
All these photographs are the Copyright of Roger Salter
Thanks Roger
To and from
Penzance
Dennis Clarke
Penzance
Dennis Clarke
57306 this morning having worked up from Penzance seen at Paddington 12th October 2021. Copyright Dennis Clarke
445B 802112 ready to depart at 06.37 for Pezance.. Paddington 12th October 2021. Copyright Dennis Clarke
We don't normally cover Paddington but as these were from and to Penzance okay on this occasion. We received your pictures at 06.33 - many thanks. We hope you are enjoying your journey.
Get the ploughs out!!!
Craig Munday
Craig Munday
A bit of variety from previous days. The RHTT is out on its Autumn circuit. Locos 66098 and 66116 are reasonably clean despite their exploits passing Restormel on a fine 5th Oct.
The following day, resource issues saw both the Par harbour and Treviscoe portions of JIAs loaded on the same day. With no CDAs to load, 66133 picked up the Par harbour trip and is seen just after midday passing the lovely gated crossing on the branch.
On the 9th, the B&W class 50, 50042 Triumph was in action with a Driver Experience trip seen sporting a full set of snow ploughs (do they have a long range forecast we should know about)!!
The RHTT is seen again passing Treboul farm near St Germans. With this fine settled weather we may be fortunate to have a full canopy of leaves well into November. We await the first winds and frost to cause a big drop.
Kind regards, Craig
The following day, resource issues saw both the Par harbour and Treviscoe portions of JIAs loaded on the same day. With no CDAs to load, 66133 picked up the Par harbour trip and is seen just after midday passing the lovely gated crossing on the branch.
On the 9th, the B&W class 50, 50042 Triumph was in action with a Driver Experience trip seen sporting a full set of snow ploughs (do they have a long range forecast we should know about)!!
The RHTT is seen again passing Treboul farm near St Germans. With this fine settled weather we may be fortunate to have a full canopy of leaves well into November. We await the first winds and frost to cause a big drop.
Kind regards, Craig
66133 Par harbour 6th October 2021 Copyright Craig Munday
3J13 Restormel 66098 and 66116 5th October 2021 Copyright Craig Munday
3J13 at Treboul 66116 9th October Copyright Craig Munday
50042 Bodmin 9th October Copyright Craig Munday
50042 Triumph looking very smart amis autumn tints. 9th October Copyright Craig Munday
Very many thanks Craig for your look around with the RHTT and 50042 at Bodmin.
Another Anniversary - the destruction of the
Weymouth Harbour Tramway
Ron Kosys
Weymouth Harbour Tramway
Ron Kosys
Quite dramatic at the time, a year ago today, after years of wrangling, saw the press present for the almost ceremonial cutting of the rails leading from Weymouth Yard onto the Street Tramway.
Amongst the many railway photographs, now over 300, which Ron has so kindly sent was a selection taken on the 30th December 1989 when Network Southeast organised five round trips along the tramway. The weather was not particularly kind but nevertheless Ron Kosys recorded the event from a number of unusual positions. It should be noted that 33117 pulled and pushed the train along the tramway and on one occasion was located in the middle o the two sets of TC stock.
On Saturday 30th December 1989 Network Southeast organised a commemoration, 100 years of the Weymouth Quay Tramway.
Five round trips from Weymouth station were planned to operate using a Class 33 and TC stock.
In the event 33117 and 8001/8023 were used.
https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/891230br.htm
Clearly this event was going to be popular and so it proved. The town was full of people with cameras, all dressed for the cold, misty, winter weather that hung around for most of the day.
It did brighten up for a very short period, this fortunately tying in with one of the runs.
Sadly these events always seem to happen in winter, when the days are short and the light far from the best more often than not.
The fifth and final run was timed to depart from Town station at 1600, arriving at Quay around 1630. This meant this was going to run in the dark, it being only a few days after the shortest day.
Inevitably these trains also ran a little late, so the last run was definitely going to be almost impossible to shoot. Remember this was the days of Kodachrome 64. If only digi was available in those days.
Consequently I took the decision to return home and throw the last run away.
It was only later I discovered that the final run did run a lot later than timetabled, but this was due to 33117 having issues and being replaced by 73104 for the round trip!!
In an attempt to make the trips more interesting, the loco was on one end for a couple of trips before switching to the other. One trip was even made with 33117 in the middle of both TC’s.
The first run was preceded by a Sea Scout (?) Band, which was somewhat novel, seen here as they make their way along Commercial heading for Weymouth Quay.
Five round trips from Weymouth station were planned to operate using a Class 33 and TC stock.
In the event 33117 and 8001/8023 were used.
https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/891230br.htm
Clearly this event was going to be popular and so it proved. The town was full of people with cameras, all dressed for the cold, misty, winter weather that hung around for most of the day.
It did brighten up for a very short period, this fortunately tying in with one of the runs.
Sadly these events always seem to happen in winter, when the days are short and the light far from the best more often than not.
The fifth and final run was timed to depart from Town station at 1600, arriving at Quay around 1630. This meant this was going to run in the dark, it being only a few days after the shortest day.
Inevitably these trains also ran a little late, so the last run was definitely going to be almost impossible to shoot. Remember this was the days of Kodachrome 64. If only digi was available in those days.
Consequently I took the decision to return home and throw the last run away.
It was only later I discovered that the final run did run a lot later than timetabled, but this was due to 33117 having issues and being replaced by 73104 for the round trip!!
In an attempt to make the trips more interesting, the loco was on one end for a couple of trips before switching to the other. One trip was even made with 33117 in the middle of both TC’s.
The first run was preceded by a Sea Scout (?) Band, which was somewhat novel, seen here as they make their way along Commercial heading for Weymouth Quay.
Rons pictures appear in the order sent on the various runs.
The train led by the Weymouth Sea Scout band makes its was along the tramway. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
33 117 makes steady progress at walking pace led by a human pilot along the tramway. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Amid a sea of ships and cars the tail end of the train proceeds towards the Quay. Weymouth Street Tramway Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
33117 arrives at the harbour station. Note the number of heads peering out of the train windows. Weymouth Street Tramway Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway At the Harbour station 33117 awaits to be released to make a run round. Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway The run round complete. Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway A view from the harbour Road bridge. Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway From across the water - the Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Weymouth Street Tramway In this view of the Commemorative Run. 33117 is very unusually positioned in the the middle of the train between the two TC sets. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
A final view of the train with the 33 in the middle. Weymouth Street Tramway Commemorative Run. 30th December 1989. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Many thanks for your notes and the extensive coverage Ron some from most unusual locations - however, never again.
It was said that one of the reasons for the closure of the harbour branch was condition of track. However from the various views we have of the lifting operation the track it looked to our non professional eyes in reasonable condition.
However a view taken by Guy Vincent does show some of track in Weymouth Yard leadng to the Harbour Branch in dire need of attention. See below:-
It was said that one of the reasons for the closure of the harbour branch was condition of track. However from the various views we have of the lifting operation the track it looked to our non professional eyes in reasonable condition.
However a view taken by Guy Vincent does show some of track in Weymouth Yard leadng to the Harbour Branch in dire need of attention. See below:-
Weymouth Tramway. Life Expired Track near Weymouth Junction 14th March 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent..
Some trains don't stop at Swindon on Mondays!!!
A train journey from Cornwall descended into chaos when a rail operator removed vital stops from its schedule. The emergency alarm was pulled a total of six times on a (GWR) service from Penzance to London.
According to the website Railnews "mutinous passengers” forced the rail operator to reverse to Swindon when it removed the destination from its schedule.
Normally the Penzance to Paddington train doesn't stop at Swindon, but the destination was added to help passengers affected by earlier disruption on the Bristol to London line.
According to the website Railnews "mutinous passengers” forced the rail operator to reverse to Swindon when it removed the destination from its schedule.
Normally the Penzance to Paddington train doesn't stop at Swindon, but the destination was added to help passengers affected by earlier disruption on the Bristol to London line.