15th September 2019

Sixty years ago today
Hemerdon
Mike Roach

3097 - 6873 Caradoc Grange of Laira Shed reaches the top of Hemerdon Bank with apparent ease at 11.25am on Tuesday 15 September 1959. The train is the 7.55am Penzance to Swansea which was due off Plymouth at 11.08am after an eight minute stop there. More coaches would be added to the train at Newton Abbot; these would travel from Paignton to Cardiff. The Summer Timetable was due to finish two days earlier but for reasons now forgotten was extended and the Winter Timetable did not commence until 2nd November 1959. It would not affect the Penzance to Swansea train which ran all year round.
Kind regards, Mike     Many thanks Mike - as usual - not a detail missed.

3097 - 6873 Caradoc Grange of Laira Shed reaches the top of Hemerdon Bank with apparent ease at 11.25am on Tuesday 15 September 1959. Copyright Mike Roach

The Okehampton Castle
Guy Vincent

Here are a couple (three!) of shots of today's Oke Rail Forum/ Dartmoor Railway/ Great Western Railway special charter train ''The Okehampton Castle''  1Z55 0815 Okehampton-Weymouth arriving at Westbury and then awaiting departure in the station.  Interesting to note that the majority of enthusiasts viewing the special here were of a younger age profile than is usually the case whenever 'classic' diesel or steam tours pass through the area.

Formation: 43194 'Okehampton Castle' (newly named) 41160 42005 42015 42016 44005 43188.   The return trip was made not by way of Westbury but rather from Yeovil Pen Mill via Yeovil Junction and Honiton via the L&SWR route.

For the record, 43188 & 43194 worked the first 'Royal Oke' special from Okehampton on Saturday March 18th 2017. On that occasion the train was unfortunately terminated at Exeter St Davids due to having developed severe wheel flats on the descent from Bow.  Fortunately a replacement HST set was quickly sourced and this was able to continue to Paddington around an hour late.

            Regards, Guy Vincent.   Many thanks Indeed Guy.

Westbury (Penleigh) 43194 & 43188 1Z55 Okehampton-Weymouth 14th September 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury 43188 1Z55 14th September 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent Note the younger generation - a nice touch.

Another shot at Westbury 43188 with the 1Z55 Okehampton-Weymouth 14th September 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Okehampton Castle
At Crediton
Paul Barlow

Hi Keith, I diverted via Crediton before my trip to Bodmin, to see 43188 43194 on the 0815 Okehampton-Weymouth railtour. I believe 43194 was named at Okehampton Castle at Okehampton station that morning. The first of the castle class HSTs to be named.

Kind regards, Paul Barlow   A delightful diversion! Many thanks.

43188 43194 0815 Okehampton-Weymouth at Crediton crossing. 14th September 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow.

The new Castle Class nameplate - Crediton 08.15. 14th September 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43188 43194 0815 Okehampton-Weymouth pulls away from Crediton station. 14th September 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow. The gentleman with the tripod is probably David Tozer?

Rare Visitor to
Westbuty
Guy Vincent

66711 standing in Westbury Down Yard this morning (14th).  From any distance this GBRF loco is easily mistaken for a Aggregates Industries class 59/0 but the easiest way to tell the two designs apart is the high level headlamp above the windscreens on the '66'.  This loco is apparently standing-in for 59003 which has gone on medium-term hire to Freightliner for driver training purposes working from Stoke Gifford yard, next to Bristol Parkway station. 

        Cheers for now, Guy Vincent.   Many thanks again Guy.
​                      Much detail - much appreciated.

Westbury 66711 14th September 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Bodmin and Wenford Diesel Gala
14th and 15th September 2019
Wonderful weather and a most interesting weekend has produced a crop of pictures which my colleague Roger Winnen - who you will also have seen there will be putting together as a feature.  Many thanks to all for your support and pictures.

Looking back - 'The Pixielated Pixie'
Worcester Boscarne
Paul Barlow

​Hi Keith

As a follow up here are some shots of my first visit to Bodmin and Wenford railway. [To be included as a feature] This was a F and W railtours 'The Pixielated Pixie' Worcester to Boscarne junc and Bodmin General. The date was 17 August 1980, I joined the train at Weston super mare and alighted at Exeter on the return. 37084 took the train to Bodmin road where it was changed for 37142. 39 years later 37142 is still working on this line.

            Kind regards, Paul Barlow.  Many thanks Paul.

37142 Bodmin General 16th August 1980 Copyright Paul Barlow

37084 Bodmin Road 16th August 1980 Copyright Paul Barlow

37084 Plymouth 16th August 1980 Copyright Paul Barlow.

37142 Bodmin General 1Z45 16th August 1980. Copyright Paul Barlow. A picture of a glorious day out - a typical railtour of those days - participants piled out and enjoyed the scene.

Just the ticket!! Copyright Paul Barlow.