16th September 2018

Demolition of Westbury Staff Association Club
Guy Vincent

Demolition has started of the the former British Rail Staff Association club opposite Westbury station.  The club closed about 4 years ago and the site quickly became derelict.  Now it is to be cleared, levelled and surfaced in order to provide an extra 145 badly-needed car parking spaces.  The club buildings were originally put up in about 1947 when the GWR / BR established a hostel and canteen here for arriving traincrew requiring accommodation. In the late 1960s the hostel, aka 'the White House' (a large C shaped concrete building that surrounded the club on 3 sides) was closed.  BR continued using part of this building for traincrew mess facilities and booking-on and for office and managerial staff.   A BR staff training centre was also established here in the early 1980s.  Privatisation saw the 'White House' become redundant as each business found smaller and cheaper space on the station and in the freight yard and the main building was demolished in 2007.  The club struggled on for some years but dwindling membership and the smoking ban from 2007 sealed it's fate.  Once works are complete however the front of the station will at least look tidy and parking will be much easier.

Note: These railway clubs were once very common but in recent years have started to disappear. Taunton and Bristol (outside Temple Meads) spring to mind. However one club that is still going is the GWRSA, close to Yeovil Pen Mill station

Many Thanks Guy

The IETs at Penzance during this weekend
Roger Salter and Andrew Triggs

180914a 802006 Failed on crew training and was stabled in Platform 4 overnight at Penzance. Copyright Roger Salter

180914b 802003 attached 802009 arrives at Penzance on the 07.30 from London Paddington Copyright Roger Salter

Today Sunday 16th September we had our first official Class 800/3 9 car working to and from Penzance, 800309 working 1C79 10.57 from London Paddington and then returning with 1A98 17.35 to London Paddington, the return working being captured passing Marazion Copyright Andrew Triggs

11th Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day
Sat 15th September 2018
Roger Winnen

There was a very large attendance at this years Transport Event. A number of members from the CRS gathered for a memorable day out. Departing Penzance at 06.30 for Totnes with had an extra service to Kingsbridge utilising the Devon General Signal Decker of 1946. Hoping to depart on the tour to Burgh Island at 10.10 we found it full, however there was another bus running at 10.30 this being a double decker gave us scenic views of the Devon Countryside. After returning to Kingswear we embarked on a tour to Slapton Sands and Torcross and finally travelling on the School Bus Kingsbridge to Brent following most of the former Branch Line.
Well done to the organisers of this event! Three Cheers

180915a On arrival at Totnes Railway Station our connecting bus to Kingsbridge HTT 487 being a 1946 AEC Regal formally with Devon General was waiting. - Copyright Roger Winnen

180915a The Troon Bus at the Kingsbridge 2018 Rally new to Western National in 1994 being the first Dennis Dart purchased. Now owned by the Cornwall Bus Preservatiion Society. Copyright Roger Winnen

180915b A flavour of things in the past. KUO 972 built in 1950 These Bristols worked many of the routes in West Cornwall. Copyright Roger Winnen

180915c A tour to Bigbury on Sea was well worth it as extensive views of Burgh Island could be seen from the Double Decker. Copyright Roger Winnen

180915d Arrival at Bigbury on Sea with the third generation Sea Tractor crossing to Burgh Island. Copyright Roger Winnen

180915e Travelling on the School Bus the 14.50 from Kingsbridge to Brent we passed closed Railway Stations on the Brent to Kingsbridge Branch. Here the bus is seen at Gara Bridge which also had a station. In order for the bus not to ground on this bridge, passengers were asked to alight to cross the bridge on foot to avoid any damaged to the underside of the bus then rejoin the bus for our next station. Copyright Roger Winnen

180915f The conductor edging the bus forward over the bridge. - Copyright Roger Winnen

180915f Viewed throuth the windscreen of our coach we pass Avonwick Station the first station out of Brent on the branch to Kingsbridge. Copyright Roger Winnen

180915g The oldest bus in the rally today was Colin Billington Bristol H of 1933 new to Western National and rebuilt after a major restoration in 2009. Copyright Roger Winnen

Glorious Devon
Andrew Triggs

This is Glorious Devon (although the sun wasn't always 'playing ball' all of the time alas) covering 67006 working The Torbay Flyer and King Edward 11 on the P&DR

180915a Recently repainted 'Royal' 67006 heading the 06.42 Letchworth Paignton Torbay Flyer at Teignmouth, viewed from the famous skew bridge at 11.40. Copyright Andrew Triggs

180915b The ECS stock at Goodrington sidings. Copyright Andrew Triggs

180915c The 14.25 Paignton & Dartmouth Railway service to Kingswear with 6023 King Edward 11 passing Goodrington Sands beach huts. Copyright Andrew Triggs

180915d 6023 Heading away up Goodrington Bank for Kingswear.Copyright Andrew Triggs

Restormel
Chris Harvey 

Chris was out and about fairly early on a bright morning to catch two trains in that lovely valley.  Many thanks Chris

Restormel - 08.28 Penzance to Glasgow (This is the back end) 15th September 2018 Copyrght Chris Harvey

Restormel again. This time the 09.00 Penzance to Paddington. Copyright Chris Harvey. 15th September 2018.

To come next week - The Plymouth Miniature Railway - a selection of pictures captured by Clive Smith. Note Clive says - he has been enjoying the beautiful Italian Amalfi Coast and the lovely island of Corsica, I will still be reading the site daily, sitting by the Pool! Now there's devotion!!