14th July 2020

UTU2 at Swindon
Alan Peters

Hi, After seeing Ken Mumford's pictures of 37610 propelling 3Q64 from Swindon to Gloucester I thought I would send a picture of the test train arriving at Swindon before I worked the train back to Cardiff Canton, testing at a leisurely 30mph over the Golden Valley - Driver Alan Peters.

37610 on train 3Q64. Arriving at Swindon on the 9th July 2020. Copyright Driver Alan Peters

As usual, your 'on the spot' information and pictures are very much appreciated Alan.

Highworth branch
Ken Mumford

Ken catches a rare moment as 66137 takes its train on the short spur, the remains of the Highworth branch to the EMR scrapyard.

66137 about to enter what remains of the Highworth branch, This is now the EMR scrapyeard at Swindon. The GW main line east of Swindon can be seen on the left.

Using Google Earth and zooming into the 'street view' off the nearby road bridge will show you the extent of this still exising short line which closed to passengers on the 2nd March 1953 and to goods on the 6th August 1962.

Return of the Weedkiller
Karl Hewlett

We are most grateful to Karl for providing details of the links concerning the working of these trains;

After its visit a couple of months ago the Weedkiller is booked to make another visit of the South West this week, 66107 in DB Cargo Red and 66015 in EWS livery with MPV DR98906 and DB98956 sandwiched in-between.
The times are:

*Monday 13th July Exeter Riverside New Yard to St Blazey LIP* https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U02525/2020-07-13/detailed

*Tuesday 14th July St Blazey LIP to St Blazey LIP via Parkandilack and Newquay* https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U06748/2020-07-14/detailed

*Wednesday 15th July St Blazey LIP to St Blazey LIP via Penzance and St Ives* https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U06749/2020-07-15/detailed

*Thursday 16th July St Blazey LIP to St Blazey LIP via Plymouth, Looe and Fowey* https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U06750/2020-07-16/detailed

*Friday 17th July St Blazey LIP to St Blazey LIP via Falmouth Docks and Lostwithiel Goods Loop* https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U06751/2020-07-17/detailed

*Monday 21st July St Blazey LIP to Exeter Riverside New Yard* https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U02543/2020-07-21/detailed

Regards Karl (Friends Of Penmere Station).

Many thanks Karl for the above details which must have taken you some considerable time to compile.

A sequel to the
Falmouth Docks Railway
Karl Hewlett

Karl has very kindly written in with much more information concerning the history and disposal of the Falmouth Docks Railway. This will be added to the colouful presentation already provided on this site by Phil Boak (RN)  and Trevor Tremethick. Yet more interesting facts. To get to the original article by Phil  and Trevor please click here this will take you to 'Features July to December 2020'. You will need to scroll.

​The first engines that ran on the docks system were two c1860 7ft 01/4inch gauge 0-4-0 vertical boiled tank loco's made by 'Sara & Burgess LTD' (a very little known builder from Falmouth 1857 to 1918), they are No 1 "Blackbird" and No 2 "Torbay", these two were joined by a third Sara & Burgess built loco second hand No 3 "Billy". These loco's were later converted to 4ft 81/2inch in line with the GWR's re-gauging of the west and were noted in the 'Iron Journal' as being converted to narrow on 15th January 1892. A fourth similar loco also constructed by Sara & Burgess was started in 1914, but not delivered until c1920 due to World War One and was unnamed. The loco's are believed to have carried on working at the docks complex until 1926 and 1930 for No 4, interestingly the boiler off No 4 was purchased by 'Falmouth Technical School' when scrapped but what has happened to it since I don't know. In need of some new loco's Falmouth Docks approached a fine maker of industrial locomotives (not in any way biased!), of 'Hawthorn Leslie' at their St. Peters works on the Northumberland banks of the River Tyne who built four loco's No 1 works number 3648, No 2 works number 3598, No 3 works number 3597 and No 4 works number 3670. No's 1 to 3 were completed between the first and the eighth months of 1926 and No 4 on the eleventh month of 1927. In March 1955 for reasons why this happened I don't know a bit of what the preservation world calls skulduggery happened between the identity of two loco's, No 3 became No 1 and No 1 became No 3! In October 1961 two more loco's were obtained second hand from 'Wholesale Society LTD's' margarine works at Higher Irlam in Lancashire, No 5 works number 1632 built by 'Hudswell Clarke' of Leeds in February 1929 and No 6 works number 1530 was built by 'Peckett' of Bristol in December 1919. All loco's were registered to work on BR metals at the transfer sidings next to Falmouth Docks station. The steam locos were gradually withdrawn over a period of time with No 1 and No 2 in August 1961, No 3 in August 1987, No 4 in May 1967, No 5 around 1978 and No 6 in December 1978. This was not the end however of loco's being based at the docks as in 1978 they acquired their first diesel loco built by 'Sentinel' of Shrewsbury, again of an 0-4-0 wheel arrangement works number 10129 and new in 1963 to 'British Steel' at their Skinningrove Works then in Cleveland now classed as North Yorkshire. The yellow livery and large black 129 numbers are from its days at Skinningrove and this loco soldiered on until 1995 when it too was withdrawn, although under a grey cloud as its 'Rolls Royce' power unit had only been rebuilt around six months before withdrawal. This loco was also registered to work on BR metals. Fortunately Nos 3, 5 and 6 have been preserved, No 129 was sold for scrap going to 'West Country Metals' in Redruth who later sold it to 'Henry Orchard' a scrap dealer at Methrose Works, Carne Cross, Par. Another twist of fate has happened again because Mr. Orchard liked No 129 so much he was quoted as saying he would not scrap it. I have tried to Google Earth and Street View the scrapyard, but I cannot get a good enough view to make out if it is still there? The loco was still in one piece in 1998 but after that it remains a mystery.
With regards to Falmouth Docks station its Brunel timber trainshed roof was at one point the largest single span roof of any building in Europe and as pointed out in the article was taken down in 1957.              
                 Regards Karl (Friends Of Penmere Station).

Thank you, Karl, for the very valuable additional information you have provided.