16th April 2023

16/3/2023

East Portal of Coryton Tunnel
Roger Salter

This is the improved view of the East Portal of Coryton Tunnel,Dawlish 1V 44 0611 LEEDS-PLYMOUTH NO.43321 Copyright Roger Salter

1A80 0815 PENZANCE-PADDINGTON NO.802101 3/3/23 Copyright Roger Salter

Thanks Roger

47155 at Eastleigh
Michael Adams

Hello Roger, Following on from the Weymouth train seen in Michael Adam’s recent picture ,here is a shot of 47155 at Eastleigh on 4 July 1981with the 09.09 Sat.only Weymouth to Manchester. Thanks for dealing with these, Michael. Copyright Michael Adams

Early morning freight at
Grogley
Andrew & Diane Jones

Dear Keith and Valerie,
Well its been an amazing couple of months! The articles by Michael L Roach are just incredible, accompanied by such detail and variety, we are very privileged and I for one look forward to many more.
I have attached a then and now set of photographs, separated by 50 years taken just east of Grogley Halt.
In 1973 the track was looking in pristine condition, even after passenger closure some 6 years previous. An early morning daily freight working to Wadebridge kept the rails rust free!
From my extensive records the rail chairs were dated 1957 on wooden sleepers at this point and the mileage marker and gradient post were still in position whilst beyond is the occupation crossing serving the South West Water monitoring station.
The latest photograph taken this week in exactly the same spot, 50 years apart illustrates the changes with the Camel Trail now hard surfaced and very well kept. The Water monitoring station was removed in 2021.
I note from our bedroom window that the early morning freight has been replaced with cyclists who now use the trail for work, lights blazing at 05.30!
Very best wishes Andrew and Diane

Then.

East of Grogley Halt taken in 1973 showing original trackwork and lineside... signs. Andrew and Diane. Copyright.

And now -

East of Grogley Halt taken in 14th March 2023 note the tree line has chang... years Andrew and Diane at Grogley Copyright.

Many thanks Andrew & Diane for your early morning observations. I presume that their 'tail lights' are working too.

All in a days 'takings' at
Burngullow & vicinity.
Jon Hird

Hi Keith & Roger,

I have been going through some of my old photos over the last few days. It's amazing how even with basic editing software, you can now 'save' a photograph you would have binned 20 years ago.

Attached are a series of photos I took on 18th February 2005.

We thought at the time that freight by rail was dead and we were all a bit down in the dumps about there not being much to see, but these pictures prove just how good we had it back then compared to todays offerings!

4 class 66's working trains in the space of a few hours in the Burngullow area!

Freightliner were loading stone from the old Methrose siding whilst the EWS examples were busy working clay trains from Burngullow and up and down the branch to Parkandillick.

I have labelled the images alphabetically which is the order they were taken in. Hopefully if you view them in this order, you can get the idea of where I was and what was going on.

Feel free to use as many or as few as you like, I know there are quite a few.

I hope you find them interesting!

All the best, Jon

All pictures taken on 18th February 2005 - all copyright Jon Hird.
Click on individual pictures to get an enlargement.