19th April 2020

Atlas at Bristol
Michael Forward

As well as the current pictures on the site, I have been looking at the archive section,one month per day and today’s gem,for me ,was from June 2016 of 1008 County of Cardigan at Gwinear Road.
I attach a picture of 47082 ‘Atlas’ powering away from Bristol Temple Meads with the 11.10 to Paddington on 31 January 1981.(The coaches were the loco. hauled HST set with a generator van at the back and the front coach ‘not for public use’)

Many Thanks Michael

Cotswold Rail
Alan Peters

During my short time at Cotswold Rail I worked the Heartlands Rail tour 'The Penzance Flyer' as 1Z59 Gloucester to Penzance on 25th August 2007 possibly the hottest day of the year, I worked the train from Exeter to Penzance and return. Heartland Rail was the charter arm of Cotswold Rail and the tour was originally planned to be hauled by 45112 on 21st July 2007 which caused a lot of interest of a Peak to Penzance, unfortunately the class 45 was deemed unfit for service and the tour was rescheduled for the 25th August with top and tailed class 47's, there are also unconfirmed reports that the rear class 47 provided assistance over the Devon banks but I can strongly deny this as I was the Driver both ways, both Cotswold Rail and Heartland Rail tours ceased trading in 2010.
Report By Alan Peters. 

Shortly after arrival at Penzance, Cotswold Rail's 47813 "John Peel" is seen at the blocks of platform one with 'The Penzance Flyer' from Gloucester with the Blue Pullman coaches and top and tailed with 47810 "Captain Sensible" on 25th August 2007. Copyright Alan Peters.

Cotswold Rail 47813 "John Peel" shares the overall roof at Penzance with Wessex 150238 on 25th August 2007. Copyright Alan Peters.

'All aboard' - the old TV style station departure monitors advertise 1Z60 Penzance to Gloucester as ZZ service 25/08/07. Copyright Alan Peters.

St Michaels Mount from the cab of 47810 at Penzance on 25/08/07. Copyright Alan Peters.

Cotswold Rail 47810 'Captain Sensible' makes a fine sight at Penzance with the Blue Pullman coaches top and tailed with 47813 'John Peel' working the "Penzance Flyer" from Gloucester and return on 25th August 2007, I always thought the Blue Pullman livery suited the coaches quite well and found it a disappointment when the set was dismantled and sold off after the demise of Cotswold Rail. Copyright Alan Peters.

Many Thanks Alan

Coldrennick Viaduct
Chris Harvey

Please find attached a shot of taken in spring 2005, back when there was no talk of lock-downs! A Wessex Trains three-car 158 crosses Coldrennick viaduct during the sunny afternoon of 9th April 2005. This is the 0900 Cardiff Central - Penzance, ex-Carmarthen.
​Regards Chris Harvey.

158 crosses Coldrennick viaduct. Copyright Chris Harvey.

Many Thanks Chris

Dawlish Memories
Guy Vincent & David Bartlett

​Some summer memories of 'proper' trains passing through the popular holiday destination station at Dawlish Warren.
Photos taken by David Bartlett who with his family enjoyed many holidays (and the railway) here for over 50 years.

Regards, Guy Vincent.

'Cromptons' D6523 (33015) and D6544 (33026) heading through Dawlish Warren at 1242pm on Saturday 25th September 1971 with the 'Dart Valley Flyer' railtour that ran from London Victoria via Basingstoke, Honiton & Exeter to Buckfastleigh. The train returned to London via Taunton, Castle Cary and Newbury. Copyright the late David Bartlett

'Western' class 52 no. D1028 'Western Hussar' on a down express passing through towards the end of the hot summer of 1976, probably around the time of the August bank holiday. Of interest is the wooden platform surface, the fire bucket and ancient lamp column that has been adapted to take a modern electric light complete with 1950s-era green enamelled shade. D1028 was withdrawn on October 5th 1976 and recorded as scrapped at Swindon on 13th June 1979. This loco was instantly recognisable in the scrapyard as someone painted 'THE END' in large white letters on its bodyside. Copyright the late David Bartlett of Bradford on Avon.

Another 'Western', D1058 'Western Nobleman' with just two coaches heading up on the through line towards Exeter. This was the penultimate 'Western' to receive a classified overhaul at Swindon Works, emerging in late July 1973. The loco was withdrawn on 21st January 1977 and finally recorded as scrapped at Swindon by 28th June 1979. Copyright the late David Bartlett of Bradford on Avon.

LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman passing through Dawlish Warren on Saturday September 14th 2002 with a special working chartered by the Newmarket Group, 1Z82 0643 London Victoria - Plymouth. Behind the steam loco is diesel 66076 which appears to have been added at Exeter St Davids to assist with the heavy load of 13 carriages over the steep Devon banks. Copyright the late David Bartlett of Bradford on Avon.

Many thanks Guy for sending in the above compilation of photographs from the late David Bartlett, also many thanks for the detailed captions.

Then and now
Falmouth Docks
Phil Boak

Ship based Lt. Phil Boak writes;- As I’m not as badly affected by the lockdown, I have been taking the chance to walk around the dockyard (with the necessary constraints on safety and security). I am trying to get a few ‘before and after’ photos, recreating the dockyard Railway scenes some 40years later. The ‘before’ photos were from your website under the Falmouth docks section. Below is one such pair, but I will try and get some more. With the appropriate permissions and information, I could put together a short piece on the dockyard railway, in particular focusing on what can be seen today?

A lovely picture - gleaming steam. A smashing photograph by Trevor Tremethick.

An image taken on the 18th April 2020. Copyright Phil Boak.

With many thanks to you Phil - we look forward to more 'Then and Now' pictures.

Views of the Docks from Castle Drive
Falmouth Docks
Roger Salter

We are greatly indebted to Roger Salter for sending in the following crystal clear photographs from his own collection. These will no doubt assist when in positioning the views we get from Phil Boak.

Falmouth Docks. Cap Lizard 21st May 1978 Copyright Roger Salter

Busirius & Northumberland (Federal,P&O) Copyright Roger Salter

Scillonian 11 having new bottom plates. 31st November 2012 Copyright Roger Salter.

Many thanks indeed Roger

Further Facts concerning
Falmouth Docks
Courtesy Nigel Tregoning

​From Roger Winnen who contacted Nigel the local expert :- 
Speaking to Nigel Tregoning steam carried on after August 1986 when the final train ran for enthusiasts. Some shunting of internal traffic was carried out by a 0-4-0 Sentinal Diesel which was later sold to Henry Orchard dealers at St Austell in 1995. Nigel tells me that steam carried on to possibly 1989, however all rail traffic had ceased in the docks by April 1995

Thanks very much Nigel and Roger.