14th June 2018

Cornishman to Par
Sunday 17th June
Timings from Craig Munday 

News of a DBC operated Charter expected to headed by Clan Line locomotive.
 
Running from Bristol Temple Meads to Par. Empty coaches onto St Blazey where the loco will be turned and replenished.
 
Plymouth
08.03 Bristol TM to Par 1Z50
 
Plymouth             11.31     Water     11.51
Liskeard                       12.19 / 12.22
Bodmin                       12.36 / 12.39
Par                                     12.55 (plat 3)
 
Loco & stock around to St Blazey for servicing
 
5Z52 17.01 St Blazey to Par (empty train)
Par                        17.15
 
1Z52   17.31 Par to Bristol TM
Par                                 17.31
Bodmin            17.46 / 17.49
Liskeard          18.06 / 18.09
Plymouth       18.36 water 19.06
 
DBC class 66 also runs St Blazey to Plymouth in the morning and return evening as a back up for Devon Banks.        Many thanks Craig

Cornish Video
Martin Baker

Martin Baker has very kindly drawn our attention to a superb three hour video on the railways in Cornwall  (See the clay branches before the 66's and also TPO workings) - this has just appeared on YouTube - please click below.
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj2UxPqQvF8&t=1s

Hastings DMU Railtour
1985
Clive Smith
​Part 1

With the imminent arrival of a thumper unit again in Devon this Saturday here is a very nostalgic look at the 'Gunnislake Goliath' railtour on 21st December 1985. Run by Hertfordshire Railtours, the tour visited Friary then Plymstock before moving on to Saltash and finally crossing the Tamar a second time, this time to Gunnislake. An unusual feature of this tour was the use of police to stop passengers alighting at Plymouth Friary or Plymstock. Two police officers travelled on the train between Exeter and Plymouth and were backed up by patrol cars on the ground. These units were not unknown in Devon having worked the Saturdays only Brighton to Exeter St Davids in the 1970s being replaced by 33s after April 1977. Quite a sight thumping away up the bank  to Exeter Central on the return !. 

Part 1 features DEMU 1032 on the leg to Plymstock over the now closed freight line crossing Laira Bridge. This is now an excellent cycle path and is featured on other pages on this website. 

Part 2 will show the railtour in Saltash and at Plymouth station.

Regards
Clive Smith        Many thanks indeed Clive  - we look forward to Part 2.

851221a (1) The 07.25 from London Waterloo railtour approaches Plymouth Friary passing Tot Hill playing fields. The picture is taken from the old platform at Lucas Terrace Halt formerly a station when the line went through to Yealmpton. (Hastings Goliath Railtour) Copyright Clive Smith

851221b (2) Seems hard to believe but even 33 years ago this was an astonishing site. The railtour crosses the River Plym on Laira Bridge. In fact some passengers in the back carriages never reached Plymstock as the railtour had to stop at a point 78 chains from Cattewater Junction leaving the rear on the bridge. (Hastings Goliath) Railtour Copyright Clive Smith

851221c (3) The railtour has reached its end point by the Blue Circle cement works, where freight traffic still emanated. (Hastings Goliath Railtour) Copyright Clive Smith

851221d (4) The railtour returns at 13.18 to Friary before reversing and continuing on to Gunnislake. In the background can be seen the old gasworks at Pomphlett. ( Hastings Goliath Railtour) Copyright Clive Smith

851221e (5) A scene now utterly transformed . The railtour skirts the Plym embankment after coming off Laira Bridge. Prince Rock power station looms in the background. This was demolished in 1990 with the towers brought down by a controlled explosion. ( Hastings Goliath Railtour) Copyright Clive Smith

Bristol Temple Meads
John Cornelius

Copyright John Cornelius