14th November 2019

Stop Press
Westbury
Guy Vincent

Morning Keith,
                           Late yesterday afternoon news reached me that a pair of class 20 locos had been dispatched from Derby to West Ealing to move three High Output Ballast Cleaner (HOBC) vehicles to Westbury. The locos in question, 20118 and 20132 are owned by Harry Needle Railroad Company and were crewed by Devon and Cornwall Railways staff, DCR being the train operator.   20118 is no stranger to the West Country as it was based at the South Devon Railway for several years in preservation before sale to HNRC in 2010.  

On 2nd May 1994  20118 and 20131 worked Hertfordshire Railtours' 'Big E' tour from Paddington to Exeter St Davids for the Exeter Rail Fair.        I remember waiting at Fairwood Junction to photograph this train but, following the failure of 37407 at Castle Cary on  the 0900 Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth (rescued by 37227 that was sent light from Westbury to assist)  the tour was re-routed from Heywood Road Junction via Bradford-on-Avon, Bristol and Bridgwater.     Of course, in 1994 there were no mobile phones so after waiting for over 2 hours defeat was admitted and I went from Westbury to Exeter for the Rail Fair on an HST as planned.   20118 and 20131 were later noted  but did not return to Paddington, instead they headed north on Pathfinder Tours return 'Torbay Exe-Cursioner'  from Paignton to York which they worked as far as Derby.   

       Best regards, Guy Vincent.   Many thanks to you Guy.

Westbury 20118 20132 6Z20 13th November 2019. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Westbury 20118 20132 6Z20 13th November 2019. Copyright Guy Vincent

Excellent night shots, thank you Guy.
​

Focus on St Erth
Roger Winnen

191113a A replacement bus operates between the Car Park on the south side of the line to the bus stop adjacent to the main station entrance to avoid passengers climbing the 44 steps. Copyright Roger Winnen

191113b 43092 Cromwells Castle departing under the 44 steps of the footbridge on the 10.51 Penzance to Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

191113c 43196 Still with slam door stock on the 10.17 Penzance to Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

191113d A tamping machine rest in the shorten siding originally platform 4 at St Erth. Copyright Roger Winnen

191113e Say it with flowers! These flower beds look very nice indeed. Copyright Roger Winnen

ENGINEERING PLANT DIARY

​Has just been updated with:
Part 2 of Network Rail Measurement Train
Rolling Stock. By Mick House.
We see a number of Network Rail Measurement Trains visit our area over the years and predominantly the photos that have been taken are of the Locomotives that bring the trains down, but what of the rolling stock that is within the train! 
Follow the this Link: ENGINEERING PLANT DIARY

Network Rail Measurement Train at Redruth with Carn Brea in the distance above the third coach. 05/07/2019. Copyright Mick House.

The journey home
Westbury & Castle Cary
Martin Scane

My journey from Westbury to Redruth was a long one today made problematic by the works at Cogload Junction. Hence I travelled Westbury to Castle Cary, CC to Plymouth and Plymouth to Redruth. The first part was interesting as My first train was 1C76 from Paddington to Castle Cary. Here, in the first photo, is the train having arrived at Platform 2 at Castle Cary where the train terminated. After standing at the platform for some 15 minutes it departed 400 yards or so towards Westbury where it changed from down to up lines before reversing back into platform 2 from where it would, I believe, have stood for over an hour before returning with a London bound train.   Regards Martin.
​                            Many thanks to you Martin.

Westbury 66598 busy on shunting duties at 11.04 on 12th November 2019, Martin Scane

Westbury 66139 at 11.10 on the 12th November 2019, Copyright Martin Scane

Westbury 158076 with the late running 1F12 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff which left at 11.24. This picture taken at 11.22 on the 12th November 2019. Copyright Martin Scane

Moving on now to Castle Cary where we see 1C76 at platform 2. After 15 mins it reversed 400 yards to the crossover and then returned to plat 1 where it was booked to wait about an hour before returning to Paddington. This picture at 11.54 on the 12th Nov 2019. Copyright Martin Scane.

Having reversed out to the cross over the train returned to Platform 1 where it waited for 1 hour. This picture taken at 12.24 on the 12th November 2019. Copyright Martin Scane.

Last Peak to Penzance - 21st July 2001
Penzance
Paul Barlow

As a follow up to recent photographs, here are some pictures of the last Peak to Penzance on a railtour. This was the from 0430 Lancaster, returning at 1556 for Crewe. 31459 was attached on the rear in case of failure. 45112 ran very well to Penzance and back as far as Bristol. On departure from Bristol it only made it to Ashley bank where it expired, the 31 pushed the train to Bristol Parkway where it ran round and took the train forward. The 31 did very well to push the complete train to Parkway with around 12 coaches and a dead Peak. The date was 21 July 2001

          Kind regards, Paul Barlow.     Many thanks Paul

45112 has arrived at platform one at Penzance with the 04,30 from Lancaster. it's the 21st July 2001. Copyright Paul Barlow

31459 brings the return train into platform 4. 21st July 2001. Copyright Paul Barlow. The '31' later pushed the complete train up Ashley Bank.

45112 ready to go. 21st July 2001 Copyright Paul Barlow

Penzance with 45112 ready to depart at 15.56 on the 21st July 2001. Copyright Paul Barlow

We've now reached Exeter on the return leg. Copyright Paul Barlow. 21st July 2001

Many thanks Paul for your record of an interesting day.

A surprise at Penzance in 2001
Penzance
Paul Barlow

Also seen at Penzance on the same day as the last Peak Railtour. A FGW class 47 with the short lived motorail vans behind the engine, Seen on the 21st July 2001. Believed to be a franchaise agreement. Copyright Paul Barlow