18th July 2020

The English Riviera Statesman
Peterborough to Paignton and return
Paul Barlow, David Tozer, Andrew Triggs, Bill Elston 
Roger Winnen

Hi Keith, Over at Wick today, ( 2 miles west of Langport ) for the 1Z37 Peterborough to Paignton charter, with 47805 ( D1935 ) at the head. The train should have had 47501 on the back but it was declaired a failure at Peterborough and removed. About 14 hours seems a long time spent sat in a train for less than 4 hours at Paignton. Best regards Copyright Bill Elston

200718z D1935 Is seen passing Stoke Canon on route to Paignton. Copyright David Tozer

200718a D1935 Roger Hoskens MA 1925-2013 Heads the 05.37 Peterborough to Paignton through Exeter St David's Copyright Roger Winnen

D 1935 0537 Peterborough to Paignton 1Z37 passes over the Exwick flood relief channel, Exeter 18 July 2020 Copyright Paul Barlow

Rounding the curve at Langstone Rock, Dawlish Warren running as 1Z36 05.37 Peterborough-Paignton, on time at 12.06 Copyright Andrew Triggs

200718b Running neck and neck with 5239 hauling the 12.50 from Kingswear seen passing Goodrington Sidings. Copyright Roger Winnen

200718c D1035 formally 47805 runs around its stock at Goodrington. Copyright Roger Winnen

200718d The return special to Peterborough speeds through Newton Abbot at 16.54. Copyright Roger Winnen

The return at Cockwood Harbour, running as 1Z38 16.28 Paignton-Peterborough, again on time at 17.06 Copyright Andrew Triggs

D1935 1629 Paignton to Peterborough 1Z38 passes Cockwood harbour 'The English Riviera statesman'. Copyright Paul Barlow

D1935 on The English Riviera Statesman seen at Stoke canon. the 18th July 2020 Copyright David Tozer

200718e The Pullman Coaches of Statesman Rail shows its elegance of luxury travel. Copyright Roger Winnen

Many thanks to all.

Didcot Re-opening
Dave Ward

Social Distancing at Didcot. From David Ward.

Re-opening UpdateWe are resuming activities safely, gradually and in accordance with government guidelines. All tickets must be booked in advance.
Numbers will be limited to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.
Steam trains run on weekends and Wednesdays - book your Summer Steam Day tickets now.  
16/7/20

Thanks for the reminder David.

Llantilio  Castle
David Ward

Hello Keith, Hope this finds you well and safe down yonder. I found this interesting website trying to do some research on something else. It's well worth looking at as this castle was well known in Devon and Cornwall during its life. Just google as below:- www.llantiliocastle.co.uk › Recollections<http://www.llantiliocastle.co.uk/Recollections.html> 5028 <https://www.google.com/search?q=laira+enginemen+uk&oq=Laira+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j35i39l2j46j0j46l2j0.5251j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#> 1. <http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:TkvRuxPTfbsJ:www.llantiliocastle.co.uk/Recollections.html+&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk> The following is also interesting from Didcot GWS in preparation for reopening. [cid:7ffec137-75c9-4922-858b-31127b442feb] Social Distancing. Regards. David.

Thanks David for the links - well worth trying.

Michael Manning's Query
Replies

Ever since you sent me that link from CRS ‘News’ I have been logging in most mornings to view mostly the photos. The article regarding the 03 Shunter No.D2177 was particularly informative. When Wards lifted the tracks on the NCR they had to hire a diesel loco for their demolition train as there’s had broken down and needed to be replaced. They hired an 03 from Laira and it was pictured by F.W.Crudass at Tressmere and Tower Hill but not identified. Neil Philips says it was ‘’seen at Padstow on track lifting duties on the North Cornwall line in March 1968’’. This ties in with the info I have up to a point. Which ever company lifted the Padstow to Wadebridge line probably wasn’t Wards as he usually liftted the complete rail sections using a crawler crane. This section was definitely not lifted this way. If he saw D2177 (possibly at Wadebridge) can he give me a little more info. Was it withdrawn in 1968 ? Another fly in the ointment is if you put D2177 into search you come up with www.miac.org.uk<http://www.miac.org.uk> that shows it to be allocated to Worcester in May 1960 and cut up at Birds Long Marston in April 1970. Was it moved from Laira to Worcester? Can you help. Regards, Mike

We have received two replies - many thanks to Shaun Brown and Neil Phillips.

From Shaun Brown - With reference to Michael Manning's request for information on Class 03 D2177 in Maurice Dart's excellent book Images of Cornish Railways there is a picture at the bottom of page 153 showing D2177 on a track lifting train near Padstow on 1st March 1968 and states that it was allocated to Laira at that time.
    I also found a photograph by Mr Gordon Edgar on Twitter of D2177 in the scrap line at Bird's Commercial Motors Ltd scrapyard, Long Marston near Stratford-upon-Avon on 30th March 1970 which can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/12a_kingmoor_klickr/6288905185/in/photostream/ . Hopefully this will be of some use to Mr Manning.

Kind regards, Shaun Brown. 

From Neil Phillips - Regarding Michael Manning’s request for further information on the use of Class 03 D2177 on NCR demolition trains in March 1968, I found this reference in a modelling website discussion on diesels used on the NCR. A correspondent claimed to have access to a photo of D2177 near Padstow (not at Padstow, my correction) on 1/3/68. The Ian Allan Shed Book 1968 edition (the oldest one I have), WR correct to 28/7/67, lists D2176-8 allocated to Laira 84A. D2177 was withdrawn 9/68 from Worcester 85A, according to ‘Modern Locomotives Illustrated’ Issue No 217, but the reallocation date is unknown. D2177 was not the only Class 03 used on NCR demolition trains – The Transport Treasury, Alec Swain collection ref. W26/2-4 shows D2127 on such a train at Tresmeer on 27/7/67 (another photo ref. V66/5 shows the same loco heading a freight past St Blazey roundhouse with D840 in attendance on 4/4/67). Curiously the MLI has D2127 withdrawn 5/68 also from 85A, which if correct may indicate both shunters did no meaningful work at Worcester and were possibly only sent there for spares recovery to keep local 03s running, prior to going for scrap. Whilst it’s possible that D2127 and D2177 have become confused, both locomotives were in the South West at the time. As always, the above assumes that supplied information is correct - for example, the caption to the photo of D2127 at Dunmere in Bradford Barton’s album ‘Bodmin and Wadebridge 1834-1978’ may have correctly identified the train crew’s names but the loco is D2183! Best regards, Neil Phillips

Many thanks for your rime and trouble Shaun and Neil.

Angarrack Query
Steve Hall

Good evening, hopefully you may be able help. I live in what was a counting house, for the mines or railway I believe next to the present angarrack viaduct, the building dates from 1819 originally re brick construction with many windows to the first floor presumably office space. It was converted into 2 then one house over the years and I am trying to find photos of my home as an office building from as early as possible. So far all enquiries are a dead end and photos seem to be just to the left or right... Typical. I was hoping that you may have some construction photos or other records showing the viaduct from around the time it was built and possible with my home in the background. Any help would be appreciated Many thanks Steve Hall 5 Riverside Angarrack

Angarrack House Query 1. Screen shot by Steve Hall.

Angarrack Count House 2 Screenshot_20200714_195128 Copyright Steve Hall

Any ideas for lines of inquiry. Wishing you the best of luck Steve.