Something to during the day, and perhaps come to the CRS Meeting this evening. CRS Meeting - Eric Rabjohns on the Redruth & Chasewater Railway - 18.30 Memorial Hall Redruth Methodist Church - see indoor events for more info.
Very early morning visitor to
Penzance
Andrew Triggs
Penzance
Andrew Triggs
Penzance was visited in the early hours today by the Weedkiller train, top and tailed by GBRf 66752 with 66790, running as 3Q98 22.45 Exeter Riverside N.Y-St Blazey LIP, arriving at 03.08 and departing again at 03.20, 3 shots enclosed for CRS
All the Best, Andrew.
All the Best, Andrew.
While in the distance the Scillonian rests overnight at its berth the weedkiller takes a 12 minute rest in platform 4. Copyright Andrew Triggs
Penzance in the early hours. 14th May 2022. Copyright Andrew Triggs
Penzance, platform 4 in the early hours. 14th May 2022. Copyright Andrew Triggs
While most of the world is asleep Andrew is out and about in the very clear night air as the weedkiller visits. These incredible pictures received at 04.33. Many thanks Andrew - now have the day off!!
End of the line for the 455's
Streatham Common
John Roberts
Streatham Common
John Roberts
Keith, today is the last day of Cl 455 in squadron service on Southern which have been the mainstay of suburban services for 40 years. I recall when I worked at Strawberry Hill in the early-80s how exciting it was to have the first ones come in for acceptance testing and driver training. There may be a few out tomorrow, and there's a track-bash doing all the lines from Victoria for anyone who'd like to spend 10-hours on a Cl 455.
From 2014 Govia Thameslink Railway had a long hybrid franchise to cover introduction of Cl 700, but like most others it was converted to a Covid Emergency Measures Agreement which expired on 31st March 2022. From 1st April, it's had an interim National Rail Contract for 3 years with an optional 3-year extension to 2028, but should be converted to a Shapps-Williams Passenger Services Contract when Great British Railways starts.
As passengers have not returned so quickly as expected, DfT is trying to save costs everywhere. I don't know whether operators volunteered or were bullied into cutting services, but GTR's Cl 455s will go off-lease tomorrow without replacement as the new timetable from 15th May will see some services halved from 4 trains per hour to 2, or 2 to 1, or even to 1 train every 2 hours, while some remaining services will be cut from 12-cars to 8, or 10 to 5, or 8 to 4.
To add a small Cornish connection to the attached photo, this morning I moseyed up to Streatham Common which at our 2020 AGM was the subject of a talk by a former CRS Chairman to illustrate where he learnt the art of train-spotting!
Best wishes, John.
From 2014 Govia Thameslink Railway had a long hybrid franchise to cover introduction of Cl 700, but like most others it was converted to a Covid Emergency Measures Agreement which expired on 31st March 2022. From 1st April, it's had an interim National Rail Contract for 3 years with an optional 3-year extension to 2028, but should be converted to a Shapps-Williams Passenger Services Contract when Great British Railways starts.
As passengers have not returned so quickly as expected, DfT is trying to save costs everywhere. I don't know whether operators volunteered or were bullied into cutting services, but GTR's Cl 455s will go off-lease tomorrow without replacement as the new timetable from 15th May will see some services halved from 4 trains per hour to 2, or 2 to 1, or even to 1 train every 2 hours, while some remaining services will be cut from 12-cars to 8, or 10 to 5, or 8 to 4.
To add a small Cornish connection to the attached photo, this morning I moseyed up to Streatham Common which at our 2020 AGM was the subject of a talk by a former CRS Chairman to illustrate where he learnt the art of train-spotting!
Best wishes, John.
Class 455 number 842 at Streatham Common. It's 11.07 on the 13th May 2022. Copyight John Roberts.
Many thanks John for capturing one of the last workings on the last day - Friday the 13th was unlucky for this unit but fortunate for us and you. Another connection is that these units worked services to Weymouth which is within our reporting region.
33's at Exeter '78
Clive Nye
Clive Nye
A nice view with the long gone semaphores of a Class 33 working an empty ballast train on Meldon Quarry on 26th August 1978. Copyright Clive Nye
33 028+33065 Exeter St. Davids with 13.58 Exeter to Brighton on 26th August 1978. Copyright Clive Nye
33014 at Exeter St Davids with the 17.55 Exeter to Waterloo. Alongside is 25 223 having arrived with the 15.52 Barnstaple to Exeter. 19th August 1978. Copyright Clive Nye.
Many thanks Clive.