17th July 2019

Exmouth Jct. Shed
Richard Murrin

The twelfth in the series of pictures taken in the Exmouth Junction shed area.  Many thanks Richard.

EXJct12 An Adams 02 30200 at Exmouth Junction. 18th March 1961 Copyright Richard Murrin

 Westerns in West Cornwall 1976
Roger Winnen

760626a D1001 Western Pathfinder at the stabling point in Penzance Station yard on 26th June 1976.. Copyright Roger Winnen

760702a D1048 Western Lady departs Penzance with the 18.00 Penzance to Leeds service on 2nd July 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen

760703a D1022 Western Sentinel approaches Hayle on 3rd July 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen

760722a D1058 Western Nobleman coming onto the single line at Long Rock working the 17.45 Plymouth-Penzance on 22nd July 1976.. Copyright Roger Winnen

760722b D1005 Western Venturer approaches the terminus with St Michaels Mount in the background. Photograph taken 22nd July 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen

Swindon -Bristol Parkway
Leslie Curnow

Good Morning Roger
Monday 15th July 2019 was the intended last day of my three day Rover ticket was meant to be Eastleigh but missed the connection at Westbury due an additional stop at Caste Carey to collect a lot of youngsters from a music festival.
The train the 1A79  06:45 Penzance to Paddington arrived already almost full at Castle Carey only to find the platform packed with youngsters with their back packs. 
After a lengthy attempt to board them in the corridors and right up to the doors ( becoming a Sardine train) left  7 late and arrived into Westbury 13 late.  It left there 21 late dealing with the overcrowding.
Connection missed to Southampton Plan B was a trip to Swindon and back via Bristol Parkway.
A couple of Photos below from these locations.
One interesting site was a class 37 37884 hauling a class 313 EMU from Hornsey EMUD to Newport for scrapping at Sims Group Metal. Videoed but not photographed.
The modern theme of Swindon with no HST only IET is now very apparent also the Class 165 & 166 DMUs also taken over suburban work  .
A Class 66  66618 of the 66/6 series with modified gear ratios came through hauling concrete sleepers Also another of the same series 66623 in the new Freightliner Livery on a Willesden to Stoke Gifford empty ballast wagon train and was photographed at Stoke Gifford depot on the way back.
Plan B worked to be a good day .

A Class 66  66618 of the 66/6 series with modified gear ratios came through hauling concrete sleepers. Copyright Leslie Curnow

The modern theme of Swindon with no HST only IET is now very apparent. Copyright Leslie Curnow

The Class 165 & 166 DMUs also taken over suburban work. Copyright Leslie Curnow.

Also another Class 66 of the same series 66623 in the new Freightliner Livery on a Willesden to Stoke Gifford empty ballast wagon train and was photographed at Stoke Gifford depot on the way back.
Plan B worked to be a good day .

Thanks Leslie

43175  Edinburgh Waverley
David Critchlow  Mick House

I had an Email with photos from one of our distant members (David Critchblow) and thought it would be worth putting on the website as it does apply as one of our old friends 43175 even though it has emigrated to the far  North. The Email reads!
Less than a year after Craig captured it at Goonbarrow 43175 and its coaches are rebranded and upgraded. Sorry about the lack of sun- typical Scottish weather as we were caught on fairly infrequent rail visits to Edinburgh (my local large town-approx 90 mins by car! The largest town within 40 minutes drive has a population simular to Launceston).
All the best Dave Critchlow (member 1903)

Further pictures are taken at Truro and Edinburgh Craigentinny

43175 at Waverley station 13/06/2019. Copyright David Critchlow.

Scottish branding on coaches of the HST set at Waverley station 13/06/20 19. Copyright David Critchlow.

Scottish branding on bin. 13/06/2019. Copyright David Critchlow.

Door controls. 13/06/2019. Copyright David Critchlow.

Then at Truro 06-04-2018. Copyright Mick House.

Now at Craqigentinny out shopped in its new Scottish livery. Copyright David Critchlow.

Many Thanks David.

Exmouth Jct. Shed
Richard Murrin

The eleventh in the series of pictures taken in the Exmouth Junction shed area.  Many thanks Richard.

EXJct11 LMS Ivatt tank 41299 at Exmouth Junction Shed. Taken on the 22nd October 1961. Copyright Richard Murrin

Non stop.
Paddington to Penzance
Peter Dale

Peter brings us a nostalgic picture of D1010 at Penzance after its epic non-stop  run.  This was the first ever non-stop run from London to Penzance, and likely to be the only one ever. Records show that the train was reduced to an extremely slow crawl as it approached the Royal Albert bridge - this was due to a late running up service - an anxious moment for all on board!  D1010 lives on - it is currently based on the West Somerset Railway. Many thanks to Peter Dale for this one from his collection.

First non-stop Paddington-Penzance. The journey took 5hr 11min. The locomotive D1010 Western Campaigner. 7th May 1966 Copyright Peter Dale

The
​'Chopper Topper'
Clive Smith

(1) 20054 & 20011 stand at Plymouth on the 8th June 1986 with F & W's 'Chopper Topper' railtour 05.10 Wolverhampton - Penzance, although the tour actually went to Falmouth but not with the 20s ! They did go to Penzance albeit light engine. Confused ? Please visit the Railtours section of this site and click on 'Diesel Railtours In Cornwall And Devon 1960 to 1989'  for more pictures and to find out what happened that day.


(2) 20011 & 20054 burst out of Mutley Tunnel in Plymouth on the 8th June 1986 with the return 'Chopper Topper'  to Wolverhampton. A rerun took place on the 31st August 1986.

Regards,  Clive Smith.  Many thanks to you Clive - memories!

Picture (1) - the outward run. The Chopper Topper at Plymouth. 8th June 1986 Copyright Clive Smith

Picture (2) The Chopper Topper emerges from Mutley tunnel on the return run. 8th June 1986. Copyright Clive Smith.

Portishead branch
Peter Maliphant

​Dear All,
At our meeting last week, we reviewed all the latest news and the detailed plan looking forward to the line reopening in late 2023 or thereabouts.
 
There are three documents that you might be interested in reading:
 
My presentation summarising the news and forward plan is here:
https://www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org/The%20Next%20Four%20Years.pdf
The minutes from the meeting, covering parts of the presentation and Q&A, are here:
https://www.portisheadrailwaygroup.org/PRG%20152%20-%20members%20meeting%20minutes.pdf
 
The full briefing by North Somerset Council, with masses of information about the DCO, is here:
http://apps.n-somerset.gov.uk/cairo/docs/doc29672.pdf
 
If you have any questions or comments, please do email them to me and we’ll answer as best we can.
 
Regards, Peter.
 
Peter Maliphant, Membership Secretary, Portishead Railway Group