18th April 2021

Class 56 bound for Crediton
Westbury Berkley Marsh 
Guy Vincent

56302 (originally 56124 and at one time named 'Blue Circle Cement') pulling hard away from Westbury at Berkley Marsh with a load of new concrete sleepers bound for the Okehampton line upgrade works.    The working is 6F27 1436 Westbury Down Yard - Crediton. I have read that the loco is due to stay on the Okehampton line until Friday 23rd. 

Regards,  Guy Vincent

Berkley Marsh 56302 (56124) 6F27 1436 Westburyto Crediton 18th April 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks Guy.
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Preparations for the Okehampton relaying.
Stoke Canon 
David Tozer

The big kit is now starting to arrive for the Okehampton line relaying:-
56302 PECO The Railway Modeller at Stoke Canon with the 1436 6F27 Westbury to Crediton.
70808 at Stoke Canon with the 1508 6F28 Westbury to Crediton.
Regards Dave Tozer

Stoke Canon. 56302 PECO The Railway Modeller on the Okehampton relay train. 18th April 2021 Copyright David Tozer.

Stoke Canon 70808 Okehampton relay train 18th April 2021 Copyright David Tozer

Spring Sunshine
Craig Munday

Despite some fabulous sunshine, I've not been out and about with leave and some time finally visiting friends. I did pop down to Penzance to see 37025 standing in the oil sidings prior to its evening testing the lines of Cornwall. 

66150 is seen on St Blazey, the sole locomotive on a Saturday. How packed with locos it would have been 20 years ago. 

Finally, one from yesterday (16th) sees the bridge nearest my home having been cleared, and a view not seen for many a year at Mount Charles, St Austell. 2E07 runs down towards Carlyon Bay and passes the scalped lineside by the social club. Trains now exposed on the embankment which offers a good view of the eastern side of town for passengers, again, not seen in years. 

Cheers, Craig.

66150 stabled at St Blazey 11th April 2021 Copyright Ctaig Munday

37025 UTU at Penzance. 14th April 2021. Copyright Craig Munday

37025 UTU at Penzance. 14th April 2021. Copyright Craig Munday

Mount Charles 16th April 2021. Copyright Craig Munday

Many thanks to you Craig.
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Pacers on the
Barnstaple Branch 2
Paul Barlow

A misty morning at Crediton - 143617 and 153369 stand at Crediton on a Exmouth to Barnstaple service 23rd September 2014 Copyright Paul Barlow.

150121 0700 Barnstaple to St James Park exchanges tokens at Crediton on a cold misty morning. It's the 23rd September 2014. Copyright Paul Barlow

Rich colours in the morning sunlight as 143617 and 153369 leave Crediton on the 07.20 Exmouth to Barnstaple service 23rd September 2014 Copyright Paul Barlow

Many thanks Paul for your 'bright and early' sequence at Crediton.
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SCRAP
Ken Mumford

Photo (1) Here stands D600 'Active' waiting scrapping at Barry. The loco introduced on the 24th January 1958 reached the end of its life being 'Cut' at Barry in March 1970. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Photo (2) Class 22 6302 being 'Cut' at Newport. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Photo (3) Awaiting their turn, six class 22's. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Photo (4) The locomotive is in fact 20002, one of three in the class. 20001 was built in 1941, 20002 in 1945 by the Southern and 20003 by British Railways in 1948. These were wholly electric third rail locomotives. Info from David Tozer. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks Ken - despite the title I don't think we should scrap you - you're too valuable!
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Additional Information
From David Tozer, Guy Vincent, Peter Murnaghan and David Ward,

The locomotive is in fact 20002, one of three in the class. 20001 was built in 1941, 20002 in 1945 by the Southern and 20003 by British Railways in 1948. These were wholly electric third rail locomotives. Regards David Tozer

 Morning Keith
                          Some very interesting shots this morning from Ken. To clarify: the loco numbered 26002 is actually one of the Southern Railway Bullied-Raworth class 70 "Booster" Co-Co prototypes dating from the early 1940s and scrapped in 1969. 26002 was built at Ashford in 1941 and originally numbered CC2. Plenty of info can be found online regarding the history and use of these then futuristic locos. Ken did well to get a picture of this rarity just before it was scrapped. 

Regards, Guy Vincent.

Keith, I see that David Tozer has beaten me to it.  I was going to point out that 20002 was one of three Southern Electric locos,designed by Oliver Bulleid.  They worked the Victoria to Newhaven Harbour boat trains and heavy freight trains on the Central Division.  They were third rail electric locomotives, but a pantograph can be seen on the roof.    This was to allow shunting in three yards, where the third rail would have been too risky.  So, at Norwood Junction, Brighton and Balcombe, 750v DC electrification was provided from overhead wires.
It was a great pity that none of these three powerful locos survived.
PS - I should also have added that they used to pull the Royal Train to Tattenham Corner when HM the Queen visited the Derby at Epsom Downs racecourse.
Best wishes,
Peter Murnaghan.

 Morning Keith,

The images of Ken Mumford 'Scrap' I think we need to re message the last image as this is not a Class 26 Diesel, but one of the three heavy electrics built for the Southern Railway in 1940. Built at Ashford designed by Arthur Raworth, Oliver Bullied. This one was slightly modified by C.M.Cock who succeeded Arthur Raworth

When I started to look at this, I thought well it can't be a Class 26 Diesel as this one as a six wheeled bogie, where as a Class 26 as a four-wheel bogie.

Secondly look at the roof you can see where the pantograph was in the middle of roof for use in marshalling yards and short sidings in Kent, like Hither Green and some of the branches and sidings connected to the Kent Coal Field.


They finished their final days on the Newhaven Boat Trains

Regards, David Ward.

Mystery Train
Dennis Clarke

Hi Keith, I notice that there is a Penzance to Stewarts Lane working on Wednesday evening. Does anyone know what this is ? Regards, Dennis https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U91309/2021-04-21/detailed Sent from my iPhone

Thanks Dennis - can anybody help?
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