19th January 2022

37175 On tonights test train to Exeter Riverside
Roger Winnen

220119a 37175 Heads tonights test train due to depart at 22.43 from Penzance to Exeter Riverside. Copyright Roger Winnen

220119f The rear driving trailer of the train. Copyright Roger Winnen

Todays new Timber Flow
David Tozer & Dennis Clark

70803 at Silverton with the 0855 6Z50 Newton Abbot (Hackney Yard) to Abergavenny Up Sidings. This was the first day of operation. Copyright David Tozer

Hi Keith, I was at Severn Tunnel Junction today for the Timber train hauled by 70803. Most of my shots are still on the camera but I took this going away shot on my phone. I’m sure you will have dozens better but it was great to see it and hopefully it will become a regular working, Regards and Copyright Dennis Clarke,

Many Thanks to David & Dennis for these photographs

The Return of the
Devon Timber Trains +
Al Peters

Timber trains returned to Devon in the form of a trial from Hackney Yard to Abergavenny, Colas Rail timber trains known as 'The Logs' previously ran from Teigngrace where the wagons were loaded for Kronospan at Chirk. Colas Rail 70803 is seen at Hackney Yard with 8 wagons being loaded for Pontrilas Timber on 17th January 2022. The train will work 6Z61 from Hackney Yard to Abergavenny the following day for unloading, if successful timber trains will once more become a common sight along the Dawlish Sea Wall.

Driver Alan Peters   

Loading the train at Newton Abbot Hackney Yard. Copyright Alan Peters

Hackney Yard makes an ideal place for the stack of logs, hopefully this will become a regular sight 17/01/22 Copyright Driver Alan Peters

The wagons are strapped ready for the first trial timber train to Abergavenny 17/01/22 Copyright Driver Alan Peters

Red Cow Crossing Exeter
(Apologies! Delayed in our postal system)

Red Cow Crossing, Exeter St Davids with First Great Western Thames Turbo 166 209 still in blue livery seen arriving ECS from Exeter New Yard to work the Exmouth service on 09th January 2022 Copyright Alan Peters

Colas Rail 70809 seen arriving at Exeter St Davids with the late running 6C21 from Westbury with an impressive 20 loaded Auto hoppers for the Paignton weekend engineering works, the train was top and tailed with 70817 at the rear and had to run via Bristol Temple Meads due to a points failure in the Frome area on the 9th January 2022 Copyright Alan Peters

Colas Rail 66850 'David Maidment OBE' visited the Paignton line with a series of afternoon trips over 3 days route refreshing for forthcoming engineering works.

Colas Rail 66850 'David Maidment OBE' visited the Paignton line with a series of afternoon trips over 3 days route refreshing for forthcoming engineering works. The loco was stabled overnight at Newton Abbot and pictured on 4th January 2022, note the BR totem on the old lamp post. Copyright Alan Peters

Colas Rail 66850 'David Maidment OBE' visited the Paignton line with a series of afternoon trips over 3 days route refreshing for forthcoming engineering works. Colas class 66 working 0Z11 Newton Abbot to Goodrington Sidings awaits signal PN1 at Hollicombe Beach on 4th January 2022 Copyright Alan Peters

Colas Rail 66850 'David Maidment OBE' visited the Paignton line with a series of afternoon trips over 3 days route refreshing for forthcoming engineering works. The sight of a class 66 at Paignton in daylight is quite rare, 66850 waits for the barriers to be lowered at Paignton to continue to Goodrington Sidings on 4th January 2022 Copyright Alan Peters

Colas Rail 66850 'David Maidment OBE' visited the Paignton line with a series of afternoon trips over 3 days route refreshing for forthcoming engineering works. The view from Paignton South Level Crossing with 2 x GWR 150 units waiting to depart with the 15:24 to Exmouth, Colas 66850 departing for Goodrington Sidings and BR class 08 D3014 stabled on the P&DSR on 5th January 2022 Copyright Alan Peters

The 'Ark' at
Bodmin Parkway
Stephen Widdowson

50035 Ark Royal rolls in at Bodmin Parkway 20th June 1987 Copyright Stephen Widdowson

50035 Ark Royal worked its last train in July 1990 and was withdrawn in August 1990 due to main generator damage, thereby becoming the 18th Class 50 - it was later the first of the 50's to enter preservation.

Many thanks Steve
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Going up
Dainton Bank
Paul Barlow

A nice blend of summer colours as Fragonet Liveried 47709 heads the 0644 Redhill to Penzance 1Z84 on Dainton bank 21st August 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul
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Bank Holiday rain at
Penzance
Clive Smith

45116 is set to depart with the 1B59 13.45 Penzance - Bristol TM on the 30th May 1983. It's raining so it must be a Bank Holiday. The train is definitely 'short form' with only four coaches. Copyright Clive Smith.

Many thanks Clive  - a most interesting picture with plenty of parcels in evidence on the trolleys in the background.
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Jubilees in Devon
by David Hunt
David provides a paper with a record of Jubilee appearances in Devon. This record  is complimented with photographs kindly supplied by  Geoff London of Jubilee 45960 at Starcross and also a rare view at Cockwood showing a third access point to the harbour which was subsequently been filled in. 
 
Once again outside the area of Cornwall BUT the question was asked when a Jubilee went to Plymouth in 2021 as to whether one had even been to Devon before. My research is as follows.
 
Jubilee 45660 ROOKE is the first that I can locate which worked the Bristol Pylle Hill to Plymouth parcels as far as Exeter St Davids on 15 September 1962, where it was turned and sent light engine back to Bristol Barrow Road (LMS) depot.
 
The second recorded visit happened exactly 1 year later on 15 September 1963 when 45690 LEANDER worked a freight to Newton Abbot Hackney Yard and then proceeded light engine to Goodrington Sidings to turn and, one again, returned light engine to Bristol Barrow Road.
 
This was during the period when the GWR passenger shed at Bristol Bath Road had gone over to Diesel and the GWR shed at Bristol St Phillips Marsh was being prepared for Diesel Multiple Unit servicing and all of the remaining steam locomotives still at those 2 depots were transferred to Bristol Barton Road depot which was to see out the remainder of its days as a Steam Shed.
 
The congregation of all the steam locomotives at Bristol Barrow Road depot, together with the transfer of the Somerset and Dorset line to the Western Region, meant that the train crews had to learn other routes and the locomotives became used as a pool and were sent into areas in which that type of locomotive had previously never visited.
 
By king permission of Geoff Lendon I enclose 5 images taken from slides of 45690 on the Cockwood and Starcross area.

(1) 45690 crossing the causeway at Cockwood Harbour. Note the fact that the locomotive is crossing third access bridge later replaced by extending the embankment. 15th September 1963. Copyright Geoff Lendon

(2) 45690 at Starcross stopped on the up line awaiting instructions. Sun 15th September 1963 Copyright Geoff Lendon

(3) 45690 at Starcross stopped on the up line awaiting instructions. Sun 15th September 1963 Copyright Geoff Lendon

45690 at Starcross waiting to proceed wrong line to at least Exminster where there will be first opportunity for it to cross over. Sun 15th September 1963 Copyright Geoff Lendon

45690 at Starcross waiting to proceed wrong line to at least Exminster where there will be the first opportunity for it to cross over. Sun 15th September 1963 Copyright Geoff Lendon

A special thanks to David Hunt for the information and to Geoff Lendon for the use of his unique photographs.
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