15th April 2021

Last Nights Class 66748 with the HSTs etc at Eastdon
Roger Salter

The second move within 24hrs of redundant HST Power Cars being transferred from Long Marsdon to Laira Depot. Copyright Roger Salter

Thanks Roger

Midgham
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, Glad to see you had a trip up to Newton Abbot to see the power car moves.A good collection on the site. Here is a picture taken of 50032 ‘Courageous’ passing through Midgham station 0n 27 July 1985 with the 08.50 service from Paignton to Paddington. Copyright Michael Forward

Thanks Michael

An information enquiry

Dear Sir or Madam,
Reaching the age I am, I have now decided to start modelling Penzance in 1982 for my N-gauge layout. I started in the eighties and have now come back to it….just a slight delay!
Anyhow, your website has proved to be very useful – thank you. However, what is the best way to ask members questions about this period? Do you have a forum/do I need to join etc?
To start with, to give you an idea of the sort of questions I would like answers to:
Did Penzance have any DMU services in 1982? I can’t find any in the timetable apart from a late night arrival of a St Erth service…which I presume was to stable the unit at Penzance from the St Ives line?
With thanks
Christopher Manlow

Hello Christopher
I have been looking at a Working Timetable dated 17th May to 3rd October 1982 which confirmes your information on DMUs only working the branch lines and a service back into {Penzance for the last train off the St Ives Branch.
I don't have the winter working timetable its possible that some services were worked with DMUs if you can give me sometime I will look through my photographic records to find any records.
As a society we try to help people with their enquires if at all possible, living in Penzance all my life close to the Railway Station has been a great benefit to me over the past 76 years.
If we can help you in anyway please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind Regards
Roger Winnen & Keith Jenkin

Restormel
Julian Stephens

Restormel 5Z91 Penzance to Laira 13th April 2021. Copyright Julian Stephens.

Despite the patchy cloud today, here we see 43004 and 43010 heading away from Restormel towards Brown Queen tunnel with 5Z91 10:30 Penzance to Laira.  Regards Julian

Many thanks Julian
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Day Two
Power Car Transfer.
Keith Turley

GBRF class 66/7 No.66748 'Burton 50' hauls Ex. GWR class 43 power cars Nos.43069-43078-43086 and 43196 passing Stoke Canon on 14th April 2021, working the 5C20 14:43 Long Marston to Plymouth Laira T&RSMD stock transfer. Keith Turley.

Stock transfer at Stoke Canon on the 14th April 2921. Copyright Keith Turley.

Very interesting these stock moves - is it for component recovery and eventual scrapping or for the formation of more 'Castle Class' units.
Thank you Keith
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Spring Clean at
Kingswear
Clive Smith

I was in Kingswear in Fore Street that runs above the line and heard a diesel toot and thought there might be a shunter as no tourist trains were scheduled. A look over the wall and a scan up river and no sign of anything. Maybe it was a river boat but I'd heard enough shunters in my life to be fairly certain. A bit later I was right outside the station and heard the toot again . The station was all closed off but the road into the adjacent car park offers a view inside and there was the gronk 03371 pootling around. The wagon behind had a tank on it containing some solution to spray on the rail head as there were two workers in all over biohazard suits spraying all the lines in the station and presumably the branch. The Dartmouth Steam Railway was back in action on the 13th April running on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays as are the boat trips so I'm guessing there were a few adhesion problems the day before. There's usually a visitor centre carriage on the track behind but that has been removed allowing the light through the windows making a nice clear shot of the station with a loco and not a soul about . I heard it was busy here yesterday as much as it can be on the covid adapted trains. 03371 was built at Swindon Works in 1958 and was withdrawn in 1987. It's first depot allocation was Lowestoft followed by spells at Bradford, Healey Mills and York.

Regards, Clive Smith

03371 on spraying duties at Kingswear station. 14th April 2021. Copyright Clive Smith.

Many thanks Clive - nice to see life returning.
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Swindon Spotting
Ken Mumford

Ken spent a few hours at Swindon station on Monday 12th April 2021.
Here is a selection of his 'spots'.

Tamper 'Roger Nicholas' pauses at Swindon en route to its overnight duties. 12th April 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford

The other end of the tamper also forms a nice bright and colourful image 12th April 2021. Copyright Ken Mumford

Yet another scrap train! Swindon station Scrap train for Newport headed by a rather grubby 66713 12th April 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford

Swindon station. The tail end of the scrap train. 'Arlington Fleet Scrap' barrier coach heading for Newport. 12th April 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford.

Swindon Station 66020 with westbound freight 12th April 2021, Copyright Ken Mumford.

Swndon station The west bound freight continues through platform 4. 12th April 2021. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Swindon station is a busy place - more on scrap soon.  Many thanks Ken.
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St Ives Branch News
The branch will be closed 7th to the 14th June.

More than 5,500 police will on duty for the G7 summit in Cornwall and the popular St Ives railway branch line will be closed, it has been confirmed.
Great Western Railway (GWR) said replacement buses would operate between main line station St Erth and St Ives from 7-14 June while the line is shut.
Roads in the area will also be closed, but police say they hope it will not be for longer than four days.
The summit is to take place from 11-13 June in Carbis Bay, near St Ives.
Media coverage of the event will be based in Falmouth.
The UK, US, Germany, France, Canada, Italy and Japan make up the G7 and leaders from Australia, India, South Korea and the EU will also attend as guests.