Storm Eunice
Guy Vincent
For the archive here are photos of the official travel advice as displayed at stations across the network yesterday (Friday 18th). These shots were taken on platform 1 at Westbury at 1540 hours where close by a group of Network Rail trackworkers were busily engaged with chainsaws cutting up fallen branches adjacent to the up sidings.
Regards, Guy Vincent
Craig Munday
On 9th Feb Maritime liveried 66148 made a visit down on the overnight JIAs. It returned on Thursday with the loaded wagons. Poor weather followed its progress, but the shunting was captured on arrival on Wednesday morning.
The 10th saw me covering a shift at St Erth. The ageless charm of this box never fails to please me. I dwelled on the fact I'd been covering this box for 30 years my first professional shift here in 1992. Though I'm pleased report I had been a regular visitor previous to this with my YTS days in 1985! How the box has changed with sidings and crossovers disappearing in these ensuing years.
The traction has also seen some advances, though HSTs still hold strong, even with reduced stature and coaches! A nine car 802111 nears journeys end with 1C80 and a Castle set heads for Cardiff.
A retro picture from the 1980s in included.
The daytime sleeper stock is seen swishing across Coombe St Stephen viaduct on 11th Feb. The train returning to Reading to form the Down sleeper service.
Finally for now, a study of Par box under a stark warning from nature of the forthcoming storm maybe? Storm Eunice due to arrive on our shores next day.
Kind regards, Craig
Hugh Austen & Craig Munday
I see 37267 in the Cattle pens at Lostwithiel (behind the level crossing). It arrived in the Duchy with its headcode blinds still intact. I distinctly remember it in the sidings at St Erth in 1978 parked right up by the buffers near the road with the classic four 0000 in the headcode box. I believe this was the only class 37 to work in the County with working headcode blinds?
By Hugh's picture, the loco must have had the standard dots replaced (at Laira)? I have a headcode blind system from a class 31 at home. It really is super.
I have attached a picture of 37267 at Severn Tunnel Junction, after it's brief career in Cornwall in the mid eighties, now sporting a full yellow front with markers. It later underwent conversion at Crewe to become ETH fitted 37421.
Best wishes for now, Craig
Bristol area
Mark Howells
GWR Castle Class set at Patchway station on the 15.02.2022 on a service to Cardiff Central.
New lined crest ditch just to the south of Little Bristol (Charfield).
Kind Regards,
Mark Dennis Howells BEng (Hons) MPWI MIAM
Senior Asset Engineer (Drainage & Lineside)
Severn Tunnel Jct.
Phil Shattered Smith