13th August 2021

41312 Running on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Roger Winnen

On Thursday 12th August 2021 41312 together with 08444 was top and tailing trains on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, owing to the steep gradients of both branches the 1952 Ivatt Tank had problems with adhesion, coming to a stand on a number of occasions

210812a 41312 arrives tailed at Bodmin Parkway with the 10.30 from Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812b 41312 departs Bodmin Parkway with the 11.00 to Bodmin Gerneral. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812c Top and Tailing the train all day was 08444. 41312 was prone to slipping on the steep Bodmin banks. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812d Dismal weather at Boscarne Junction for the 12.16 to Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812e 41312 Departs Boscarne Junction, A number of these engines were based on the Southern Region Sheds in the Westcountry. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812f At the buffer stops. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812g 41312 Tails the 13.15 train from Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812h The 13.48 Bodmin Parkway to General approaches the station. Copyright Roger Winnen

210812i Rounding the curve to run into Bodmin General from Boscarne Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen

Many thanks Roger for your intensive coverage of rare, to the B & W, motive power.
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China Clay Firsts
Neil Phillips

​The 14th September 1987 was my first visit to St Blazey in just over 10 years and I timed it perfectly as I was able to photograph 37670 in what turned out to be its very short-lived Railfreight Red Stripe livery, a Class 142 Skipper just weeks before they departed, and this – the very first production CDA wagon 375000 newly delivered to St Blazey yard. Unfortunately I have mislaid these negatives so this is a phone photo of a photo – rescued by modern technology! I hope to find them one day for proper scanning (but would they come out any better? – perhaps I should just photo the rest!), however there is a reason for not waiting. 375000 was amongst those stored in St Blazey yard from at least March 2020 until last spring when it was moved and was visible for a while from the depot’s (not the yard’s) main gate but it then disappeared from view. I’m wondering what the future holds for this wagon and the others in storage – continued ‘strategic reserve’ or scrapping? For 33 years’ (and counting) faithful clay-moving service it would be good to see the first CDA preserved – in the same way as its predecessor, ‘clay hood’ B743000, is preserved at the Wheal Martin China Clay Museum, or at least it was back in August 1995, I assume it’s still there.....
 
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
 

1. Brand new first-built CDA 375000 St Blazey Yard 14th September 1987. Copyright Neil Phillips.

2. 375000 behind spring vegetation St Blazey 15th April 2020. Copyright Neil Phillips.

3 The first OOV Clay Hood at Wheal Martin, 24th August 1995. Copyright Neil Phillips

Many thanks Neil.
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Westbury Down Yard
Test Train
Guy Vincent

Westbury Down Yard at 1310 today (12th August 2021) with a Colas Test Train visible.  This had worked in on an overnight 3Q60 test train from Reading Triangle sidings via Cardiff.   37254 with stock 6263 999602 9803 977974 96605 and loco 37175.     Both of these were common visitors here pre 1998 (before the 'sheds' took over) with engineers trains and were both painted in civil engineers 'Dutch' livery.

Regards, Guy Vincent 

Westbury 37254 & 37175 3Q60 12th August 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks Guy
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Taunton 1979
Paul Barlow

Peak 46023 on the 1E21 the 10.23 Penzance to Leeds calls at Taunton on the 30th August 1979. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul.