27th May 2021

Great Rocks 
returns up north

Hi Keith,  A trip up into Devon today to see 37688 working LSL's 5Z41 0900 Laira to Crewe return of the Mark Three trailers. The carriages were taken down to Laira to bolster their fleet with the temporary withdrawal of the Hitachi train recently. 

The train is seen passing Totnes, and thanks to a looping at Dawlish Warren where my GWR service overtook it. This allowed a second shot just west of Tiverton Parkway too! 

Best wishes, Craig Munday

37688 thrashes through Newton Abbot station with the 5Z41 09.00 Laira - Crewe HS stock move returning the unused Locomotive Services Ltd coaches following the GWR IET withdrawals a few weeks ago.What a fine sight and sound on a sunny day. Copyright Clive Smith

37688 Totnes 5Z41 27th May 2021. Copyright Craig Munday.

37688 Great Rocks with the 5Z41 0900 Laira to Crewe at Silverton today. Copyright David Tozer.

37688 passes Cullompton 27th May 2021. Copyright Keith Thurley

37688 Tiverton Parkway 5Z41 27th May 2021 Copyright Craig Munday

37688 Great Rocks returns passing Creech 37688, with HST stock returned to Crewe from Laira today, and is seen passing Creech in glorious sunshine.(at last) Note the blue blossom of a jacaranda tree above and to the right of the signal. Reminds me of Spain! -27th May 2021 Copyright Bill Elston.

With many thanks to Craig, Keith, David, Clive and Bill.  Well done.
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 Devon Loco Action
Andrew Triggs

Viewed from Kennaway Tunnel footbridge, XC 1V50 06.06 Edinburgh-Plymouth (with 43378/207) heading along Dawlish sea wall. Copyright Andrew Triggs

DBC 66174 at Exeter St Davids working 14.32 Parkandillack-Exeter Riverside JIA's (arriving 70 early). Copyright Andrew Triggs

DBC 66174 returning Light Engine later as the 18.51 Exeter Riverside-St Blazey S.S (departing 105 early) Copyright Andrew Triggs

Thanks Andrew

Class 20s at
Reading
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, I hope you are keeping well and still able to go about. Thanks to all for their work on the site. I thought our friends would enjoy seeing these class 20s at Reading on 27 May 1986. Numbers 20183 and 038 appeared from the West and took over a cross country working(see next picture). Copyright Michael Forward

Now we see 20183/20038 powering past the GWsteam centre at Didcot with the 10.40 Poole to Newcastle on 27 May 1986. Copyright Michael Forward

Thanks Michael
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'TWO BANGS' AT
Swindon
Ken Mumford & Andrew Jenkins

When i arrived at the station just after 10 'clock this morning (26th May)  this unit was standing in the middle line at Swindon Station.  I understand that it was based at Reading and was on a test run.
When the driver went to start the train on its journey eastwards, there was a tremendous BANG and a cloud of smoke came from under the second coach directly in line with the pantograph.  That's when I took this photo of the engineer looking backwards out of the driving compartment window.  The driver was unable to move the train.  My friend and i noticed that the pantogrpah was lowered and raised several times in an attempt to sort the problem out.  On one of these attempts there was a second BANG but not as loud as the first.  During this time the engineer kept going from the driving compartment to the area in the second coach directly under the pantagraph a few times. On one of the ocassions when the pantagraph was lowered the unit's diesel enginse were started up - thud we thought that the unit was going to proceed eastwards on its diesel power. In the neantime a freight train which would have used that middle line to pass the station had to use the line alongside platform 3. After a little shunting about 5 yards in either direction this unit eventually carefully left the station and headed for Didcot and Reading.What happened after it went out of view we don't know..
Kind regards,
Ken (Mumford)

769930 at Swindon station 26th May 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford.

This unit was on a mileage accumulation run.  It should have run from Reading depot to Swindon, then on to Maidenhead, before heading back to Reading depot.  However after you saw it (Ken), it went straight back to Reading depot.
 Regards, Andrew Jenkins

Thank you to Ken and Andrew.
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Near Black Boy
Paul Barlow

33029 and 33025 at St James Park 13.58 Exeter to Brighton. 5th April 1980. Copyright Paul Barlow

and o the very next day - 46009 diverted 1310 Plymouth to Liverpool 1M36 Blackboy tunnel in the background Exmouth junction 6th April 1980. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Very many thanks Paul.
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Broad Gauge at Weymouth
Guy Vincent

One of my longer breaks in Weymouth today was favoured with dry weather, although a cold south westerly wind was not particularly welcome.  I walked along a stretch of the South West Coastal Path opposite the site of the recently demolished ferry terminal and came across an interesting relic dating from the late 19th century,  two parallel lengths of Brunel's Broad Gauge rail bolted to the sides of a flight of steps.  These steps lead to the Nothe Gardens which lie on a promontory overlooking both Weymouth and Portland harbours.    The rails appear to have been fixed into place with the original bolts used during their railway career and although badly corroded in places they still look good and almost resemble a steep incline, possibly workable under the 'atmospheric' system?! 

Guy Vincent

Weymouth. Steps from Harbour to Nothe Gardens 23rd May 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Weymouth. Broad Gauge Bridge Rail, steps leading to Nothe Gardens from Harbour. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Weymouth. Corroded Broad Gauge Rail on Nothe Gardens Access path 23rd May 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent

You made good use of your extended break - many thanks Guy.
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Great Rocks - from a low elevation at
Stoke Canon
Keith Turley

Hi Keith, On a lovely sunny afternoon LSL operated class 37 No.37688 'Great Rocks' passes Stoke Canon working the OZ40 09:29 Crewe HS to Plymouth Laira T&RSMD. light engine move. Best regards Keith Turley.

37688 Great Rocks at Stoke Canon on the 26th May 2021. Copyright Keith Turley

Many thanks Keith.
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Great Rocks - from above -
Exminster
David Tozer

Gents, Locomotive Services Class 37 37688 Great Rocks running light  engine to Laira - 0929 0Z40 Crewe to Laira. Regards Dave

37688 Great Rocks - Exminster 26.th May 2021 Copyright David Tozer.

Many thanks David.
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Dawlish
Andrew Triggs

LSL 37688 at Kennaway Tunnel, Dawlish working 0Z40 09.29 Crewe H.S-Laira T&RSMD. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Thanks Andrew