17th January 2020

HST Surprise
Leslie Curnow

Good Evening Roger
I expect you are at the band now but will pick this up in the morning..
Whilst you were in the Hayle area this morning I was at Camborne station.
To my surprise the 11:15 2P12 Penzance to Plymouth came up with a very clean looking Power car which turned out to be 43198 previously named Oxfordshire 2007.
It was named Driver Brian Cooper 1947- 1999 previously on 43033.  It seemed to have been refurbished and taken the name from the former HST now withdrawn from FGW

Many Thanks Leslie

A Wet and Windy day at
Hayle & St Erth
Roger Winnen

20016a First Bus drivers under training at Foundry Square Hayle yesterday. Many hands on the bus would make light work! Copyright Roger Winnen

200117a What a contrast in the weather today as the Network Rail Measurement Train crosses the Hayle Viaduct. Copyright Roger Winnen

200117c The 11.50 Penzance to Plymouth with a Castle Class 43040 HST arrives at St Erth. Copyright Roger Winnen

200117d 43153 Chun Castle is the tailing power car on this train. Chun Castle is an Iron Age Hill Fort near Morvah in West Cornwall. Copyright Roger Winnen

200117e The returning Network Rail Measurement train passing St Erth on route to Paignton. Copyright Roger Winnen

37 at Cardiff
Michael Forward

Hello Roger,Thanks for dealing with my last picture,here is another from Cardiff on 17 February and shows 37693 at the East end with loaded coal.The emblem on the side shows(I think) the Thornaby kingfisher so maybe the loco. was a long way from home or recently re-allocated. Copyright Michael Forward

Thanks Michael

Dear Keith
In response to Michael Forward's question of class 37, 37693, it is indeed carrying a Thornaby crest on it's bodyside.  These were applied from the mid 80's onwards and came in coloured, white and a dark grey emblem and 693 seems to be carrying a rather faded version of the former.  Thornaby like Tinsley (Sheffield), bulled up their loco's quite a lot and classes 08, 20, 31, 37 and 56 were noted to have some colourful variants, note the non standard numbers and their positioning on 693.

Regarding it's allocation during the time the image was taken 693 was officially allocated to Cardiff Canton but it's previous allocations before this were to Tinsley Sheffield, 18/01/87 and to Thornaby 14/09/86 where it gained it's Kingfisher emblems.  It was transferred away to Glasgow Eastfield on 04/03/90 and was later named 'Sr William Arrol' from 1990 to 1993, by this time was in Railfreight Triple Grey livery with Coal Sector brandings.

The loco was actually new to Wales as D6910/37210 at Swansea Landore on 26/11/63 and was in Wales quite a lot during it's working life with spells at Canton and Landore from new to 30/09/79 when it hoped over the border to Bristol Bath Road.  It was transferred back to Canton on 08/03/81 and did not moving until 11/03/86, when it was sent to Crewe works for 37/5 refurbishment programme and emerging as 37693 on test 24/07/86 in Railfreight Grey as per the image.  From Eastfield (above paragraph), it headed down the road to Motherwell on 10/05/92, it then enjoyed a flurry around the north of the country being outbased at Ayr (where yours truly photed it coming off the Heads of Ayr branch).  It was then transferred to Immingham on 16/05/93, back to Motherwell on 07/11/93 before being put in the EWS System Wide Pool of loco's allocated to Toton on 27/11/98.  This loco was then sent to France of all places for the construction of new TGV lines on 02/07/99 and returned on the 19/08/00.  It was stored on 06/10/00 ending up at Tyne Yard and was sent to the big engine shed in the sky on 04/05/11 by 'EMR Metals' Attercliffe.

Kind Regards

Karl (The Friends Of Penmere Station).

Thanks Karl

Double header to
​Moorswater
Al Peters

Hi Mick/Keith,
First cement train of the year, and what looks like a 'double header' at Moorswater on the Colas cement with 70807 and 70805 on 16/01/20. In actual fact 70805 had failed at Lipson Junction with 6C35 the Aberthaw - Moorswater the previous day with a water fault, luckily enough DB 66009 was behind with 0Z50 a road learning trip from Westbury to Par and was able to assist 6C35 from the rear by pushing the cement train into the through road at Plymouth. A replacement class 70 was sent from Cardiff Canton where 70807 was coupled to the front of the failed train which was stabled overnight at Plymouth before working into Cornwall with 70805 'dead in tow' the following morning to Lostwithiel to run round then to Moorswater where the pair of class 70's are seen after some complex shunting!
Alan Peters.  Many thanks Al for your picture and the very detailed account of what went wrong.  Best regards to you.

70807 and 70805 at Moorswater on the 16th January 2020. Copyright Al Peters

Salisbury
​Ron Kosys

59004 climbs towards the tunnel at Salisbury on the 22nd September 1987 with a Merehead to Eastleigh stone working on the 22nd September 1987. Copyright Ron Kosys. Note Gas Holder.

Many thanks Ron.

Plymouth Friary
Paul Barlow

Paul brings us the first of a number of pictures taken at Plymouth Friary whilst the station area was in use as freight depot. Friary station closed to passengers 15th September1958.  Many thanks Paul. 

Friary 26th February 1983. Copyright Paul Barlow

Two locos, two nameplates.
Exeter
Bill Elston

Please find attached 2 photos of Peak no. 45143 arriving at Exeter St Davids on 11 June 1985. It worked the 1310 Waterloo – Exeter, after rededication of the loco, the regiment celebrating their third centenery, as shown by the supplimentary plate below the main one. Unusual for a Peak to work down the ‘Southern’ Best regards Bill Elston

45143 nameplate seen at Exeter on the 11th June 1985. Copyright Bill Elston.

33112 at Exeter Stabling point on the 16th May 1988. Copyright Bill Elston.

33112's nameplate taken at Exeter Stabling point on the 16th May 1988. Looking very smart. Copyright Bill Elston.

Many thanks Bill.