13th January 2022

Blue Peter at
Bittaford
Clive Smith

LNER class A2 pacific 60532 Blue Peter makes a very rare appearance in the westcountry as it passes over Bittaford Viaduct with the 1Z40 Wolverhampton -  Plymouth  'Eastern Mayflower' tour. This loco has not run on the main line since 2001 having only gained its main line certificate in 1992. It has been under overhaul since 2014. This is my local village and sadly this scene is impossible to capture now. The field I was stood in is now the site of a massive property with large private grounds. Just above the rear of the train is another stretch of land which is at the end of my road. That was built on shortly after this picture was taken and there are now large box houses where the horizon was. The Horse & Groom pub by the viaduct can be seen immediately behind the loco. The trees are also now considerably higher.

Regards, Clive Smith

LNER class A2 pacific 60532 Blue Peter makes a very rare appearance in the westcountry as it passes over Bittaford Via Copyright Clive Smith 2nd July 2000

Beautifully caught, well done, many thanks Clive.
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47847 at Oxford
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, Hope you are well, great pictures of Westerns on the site recently. Here is a picture of 47847 arriving at Oxford at 15.00 with a service from Manchester to Paddington on 5 March 2002. This was one of ?4 class 47s repainted to mark the end of the class on Virgin passenger trains. Copyright Michael Forward Best wishes and thanks, Michael.

Thanks Michael

Sunny Starcross & Dawlish
Five From Clive

​Finally a decent day of sunshine that coincided with an outing for me to exercise my recovering foot on the flat Exe Cycle Trail between Starcross and Powderham. A very busy day of camera work and these are just the best. At 13.00 I was done and sat in the sun in  the garden of the Marine Tavern at Dawlish and had a well earned pint.
Regards, Clive Smith

(1) Sunrise was at 08.08 and this was taken at 08.38. 150202 & 150216 catch the low winter rising sun as they pass Horse Cove between Teignmouth and Dawlish with the 08.15 Paignton - Exmouth. The tunnel that can be seen is Parson's Tunnel and a rockfall shelter is being constructed along the base of the cliff. The construction site can be seen in the field above and materials are already being lined up by the track. 12th January 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) I was looking forward to getting a great shot of the up HST but it was six minutes late and right on cue was a Voyager heading south. The air was blue as well as the sky but on looking back at the multiple eclipsed shots I was surprised to have caught this so I'll gladly take it. The train is the 06.40 Penzance - Cardiff Central with 43042 on the rear and 43192 on the front.The Voyager is the 06.10 Derby - Plymouth formed of 220020 and 220011. 12th January 2022. Copyright Clive Smith

(3) 43040 heads the 09.56 Bristol TM - Penzance through Starcross with 43004 on the rear. This was at 11.32 and thankfully my foot managed to get me back here on time bringing my planned two hour exertion to a close but no time for a coffee from the Teign Bean shack seen in the car park behind as my train to Dawlish was due and there were umpteen cyclists in the queue for a brew. 12th January 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.

(4) 43005 'St Michael's Mount' & 43155 'Rougemont Castle' pass Coryton Cove Dawlish with 0E24 11.30 Laira - Doncaster Wabtec power car move passing at 12.14 . 43005 'St Michaels Mount was only named this week at Laira and was a bit of a bonus in a busy day's photography. 12th January 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.

(5) Now for a second massive bonus. 43207 brings up the rear of the 11.53 Plymouth - Birmingham New Street Cross Country service with 43366 on the front in superb light at Dawlish. XC HSTs have been sidelined since late November as part of the ongoing dispute between XC and their drivers over working rest days. Because XC don't own the HSTs but lease them on an 'as used' basis they have effectively been grounded. A few workings have taken place to move sets for maintenance reasons usually on Sundays which are not classed as rest days. Other issues are that Birmingham and Leeds drivers haven't regularly been driving HSTs and so are losing traction knowledge. Add to this rumours that XC will no longer be operating HSTs after May and it all doesn't bode very well. However this train and the 16.42 Birmingham - Plymouth are reported to be HSTs for the rest of this week.

What more can one say for your 'Five Clive' they are super pictures and so many details - a special thanks.
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Bulwark under repair
Bill Elston

Following on from yesterdays piece on 50041 BULWARK,  I enclose two photos of it undergoing repairs at Doncaster Works,
after it had slid into Paddington Station.  The occasion was the Works Open Day on 28th July, 1984.
I was staying with friends in Lincoln at the time,  so, not too far away.
 Hope of interest
 Best wishes, Bill Elston.

50041 Bulwark under repair at Doncaster on the 28th July 1984 - Copyright Bill Elston

Many thanks Bill.
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Press cutting
More on Bulwark derailment.
Paul Barlow

Daily Mirror 24th November 1983. A picture of the accident sent in sent by Paul Barlow

An enlargement of the above report, Daily Mirror 24th November 1983. Sent by Paul Barlow

Many thanks Paul.
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Bodmin & Wenford Report
Chris Bellett.

Hi Keith,
Further to my email below.  I visited the B&WR again today (12 January) and took some photographs of Bridges 13 and 13A that are being replaced.  As you can see the structures date from 1858 and the girders were cast at the Bedford Foundry in Tavistock (Devon) http://www.tvia.org.uk/pages/ironfoundries.shtml  The bridge girders are being removed at the end of this week (road closures already in place) and I understand that the railings may be replaced onto the new bridge decks to keep the existing ‘look’ of the bridges.
 
I also understand that they were originally used elsewhere before being moved to Bodmin General when the railway opened.

Bridge 12A Bodmin General 12th January 2022. Copyright Chris Bellett

Bridge 13A 12th January 2022. Copyright Chris Bellett.

Ironwork details. !2th January 2022. Copyright Chris Bellett.

I’ll try to provide some progress photographs as the work proceeds.
 
You also asked about the fate of loco 4247.  Its moving to the East Somerset Railway at the end of this week and is scheduled for a major overhaul there later this year.  It will not be returning to Bodmin.  Here is another photograph of it after being shunted ready for transportation.:
 

4247 stands awaiting transport to the East Somerset Railway. 12th January 2022. Copyright Chris Bellett

Many thanks Chris for your up to date information - we very much look forward to your further reports.
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B & W
Walker lines Access
Chris Bellett & Roger Winnen

It was reported on the 10th January by Chris that a point providing access to Walker lines was being replaced by 'plain line'; It seemed as if the Walker lines site was being 'side lined' so to speak. This is not the case - in fact there were two points serving Walker lines - the original one providing too tight an access was replaced by a new point  yet to be connected. In due course the Walker lines site will be developed with covered coaching stock sheds etc,  Roger Winnen provides us with pictures of both sets of points.

The turnout into Walker Lines siding from the main running line between Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General is being relaid

Looking back at the old and new point works which awaits its connection. Copyright Roger Winnen

Many thanks Roger & Chris
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