18th February 2021

A surprise view over the hedge
R & C re-creation
Keith Jenkin

Out for a walk yesterday morning walking along South Trefusis Road Redruth and looking over the hedge towards distant Carn Brea I was most pleasantly surprised to see about twenty yards of brand new railway. Below  is what I saw, but firstly a couple of maps to give some idea of the location

A Redruth map of the 1950's based on the 1906 edition. Courtesy of the National Museum of Scotland - non commercial use.The GW main line crosses from the left and after passing through Redruth station continues on towards Truro. Clearly seen in this view are the junctions off the main line towards Tresavean leaving the view bottom centre left. The other sort branch off the main line leads to Redruth, Hayle railway station. Of greatest interest in the case is the 4' gauge Redruth and Chacewater Railway coming in from Devoran bottom right and proceeding to the R & C Redruth terminus.

An enlargement taken from the Redruth map above showing the R & C railway track running alongside the hedge of SouthTrefusis Rad. The section which has been re-created is shown faintly marked in red. The area once covered with mine waste and occupied by a quarry has been landscaped to form a pleasant recreational area.

The view over the hedge from Trefusis Road. One can almost image a prevailing fresh wind taking the smoke and steam from the locomotive over the hedge. 17th February 2021. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

Entering the park by a gateway at the 'Devoran ' end one sees this view. 17th February 2021. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

Walking through to the far end this is the view. 17th February 2021. Copyright Keith Jenkin. N.B. A pity the granite edging wasn't continued on the left hand edge.

A view of Trefusis Terrace from the park - the recreated line is just visible i the foreground. 17th February 2021. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

Now a view again over the hedge showing the track and a seat with a fine vista over towards Carn Brea. 17th February 2021.

On return I asked my good friend Alan Harris, an expert on the R & C  what he knew. Alan replied - 'I knew that Eric Rabjohns had some involvement in it, so I've had a telephone conversation with him.
Eric acted as "advisor" to Cornwall Council who had this piece of track laid as part of their overall project to restore the mine waste site to a play area, which took place between June/July and around Christmas time of last year'.

Eric tells me that the components used are all new i.e. new granite setts and chairs and rails cast by Iron Brothers of Wadebridge. The gauge is 4 foot as per the original. The rail is from a profile taken of the section of track from his "demonstration" piece in Carharrack and the chairs are cast from moulds that he had made by Terrill Brothers, Hayle. The site of this work is in the exact location as his drawing contained in his book, a copy of which he offered to form part of an information board, but his offer was not taken up.

Many thanks to Alan Harris for contacting Eric Rabjohns  and to both of these gentlemen for the information supplied. Perhaps in due course an information board will be supplied with due credits to all involved.
​

Roy Hart adds the following comment - ​The R and C passed through a landscape of mine tips and polluted dereliction on its approach to Redruth. This land was used by speculative builders in the 1890-1910 period to construct Clinton Road, Albany Road etc, parts of which still regularly collapse into the mine workings below!

Roy

The Masks at Penzance
Andrew Triggs

Hi Roger/Keith
2 shots of celebrity IET 800321 yesterday morning passing Slopers, Eastern Green working 1C69 06.37 London Paddington-Penzance, later departing with 1A88 12.15 Penzance-London Paddington return 
All the Best
Andrew

Photographs are the Copyright of Andrew Triggs
Thanks Andrew

Refreshing red - vintage
Virgin Trains
Paul Barlow

47711 (was withdrawn on the 27th May 2000 and cutup at Toton 2004}. Is seen here working the 09.13 Liverpool to Plymouth approaching Aller Junction. Copyright Paul Barlow

Many thanks Paul. We have just received a bunch of seven red Virgin Trains from Paul and will continues with these over the next week.
​

The CRS Magazine
a word from the editors.

I hope all is well with you.  Nick and I are currently working on the next issue of the CRS magazine which we hope to get to the printers in the next week or so.  Unfortunately life has been very busy of late and it’s difficult to find time when we can get together to work on the magazine.  It’s partly done, so we’re on the way….
All good wishes, Father John Gibert.

During these troubled times John and Nick, who have their own busy lives, have been working on, what will I believe be a 'Bumper edition' of the CRS  magazine. We all look forward to it shortly. Thank you to John and Nick.

Calling descendants of
John Peach

Dear Sir,

We have just purchased  a property on the outskirts of Madron. In the
1891 Census, the head of the household was a John Peach (aged 62 yrs)
who states he is a 'Railway Superintendent'. I have searched in the GWR
archive and have no luck! Do you have any information in your group? I
suspect he worked with GWR in ?Penzance????? My eldest (Edward aged
15yrs) is a railway enthusiast and while he's constructing his GWR
models I thought it would be fun to try to find out any info' possibly
on someone who once owned our house!

Many thanks. Dr Ian Willetts FRCS for Edward Willetts

Does anybody know of this gentleman or can suggest any route by which information can be found - thank you.