15th October 2021

Royal Albert Bridge
St Budeaux side
Clive Smith

 There has been a substantial vegetation clearance between the old signal box and the bridge in recent weeks. On my visit mist had covered the river and was just burning off at 10.15. Two 2+4 Castle HST sets were due within fifteen minutes of each other so this was ideal. There's still a few too many trees and I get the impression the clearance has taken place to provide a storage area for materials for rail bridge work. Contractors have been working on the road bridge for aeons and they have metal storage units parked in the bottom section of the car park which detracts from another potential photo location further to the right of this position.

Regards, Clive Smith

43194 and 43041 form the 08.50 Penzance to Cardiff on the 14th October 2021. Copyright Clive Smith Copyright Clive Smith

43 005 brings up the rear of the 06.55 Gloucester to Penzance with 43 016 on the front. 14th October 2021. Copyright Clive Smith

​Clive also reports that after a long period of closure the footway over the RAB is now open.  Stunning views on a super day - many thanks Clive.
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A view of the West Somerset Railway last Saturday
Paul Barlow

To supplement Derek Buttivants photograph of Dunster, Paul Barlow has kindly sent the following photos. Many Thanks

An unusual view of Minehead Station from an open topper bus. Copyright Paul Barlow

A preserved Double Decker stands outside of Minehead Station. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Unusual view of Minehead station from open top bus 9 October 2021. Copyright Paul Barlow

Dunster station Bristol VR bus. Copyright Paul Barlow.

9351 stands at Dunster ready to depart to Bishops Lydeard 9 October 2021 Copyright Paul Barlow

Many Thanks Paul

Bere Alston
Clive Smith

Clive writes :-  150233 at the station with the 11.16 Gunnislake - Plymouth. My job takes me far and wide in Devon  and I happened to be in this back-of-beyond corner of west Devon for an hour and took the opportunity to visit the station for photos of the none-too-frequent service. A fairly busy train and a much better option for travel than the awful narrow winding roads that criss cross the area.This former Southern Railway mainline station, now a reversal station on the Plymouth - Gunnislake branch line. Hopefully in my lifetime I will be able to travel on a train from here to Tavistock if the proposed line is ever sanctioned.

Check out the link for the latest on this subject - New Devon railway with hourly trains to popular destinations

Regards
Clive Smith

150 233 on the 11.16 Gunnnislake to Plymouth. 6th October 2021. Copyright Clive Smith. Having arrived from Gunnislake to train prepares to reverse to the onward journey to Plymouth;

150 233 on the 11.16 Gunnnislake to Plymouth. 6th October 2021. Copyright Clive Smith. This is now the leading cab.

Many thanks Clive - what an ideal job you have.
N.B. The link suggested by Clive is well worth exploring - a brighter future for rail travel.
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Pullmans passing
Swindon
Clive Pidgeon

These are photos from my good friend, Colin Pidgeon [forwarded with his kind permission], of the Cardiff bound Pullman passing platform 4 and the return workng at platform 3 yesterday.
Please credit them to Colin - many thanks,
Ken

London Victoria to Cardiff 67021 on 1Z14 Belmond British Pullman 13th October 2021. Copyright Colin Pidgeon

Cardiff to London Victoria 67021 on The return working 1Z15 Belmond British Pullman 13th October 2021. Copyright Colin Pidgeon

Many thanks to you Colin and to Ken for passing them on.
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Horse Cove
Dawlish
Ron Kosys

47530 passes Horse Cove on the 23rd June 1999. It is hauling the 13.36 Fridays only Paddington to Penzance. Copyright Ron Kosys.

Any idea why this is called Horse Cove???
Many thanks Ron 
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