19th September 2020

Exeter and the Southern
Roger Winnen

200917a 143603 coupled to a 158 unit heads the 12.11 St James's Park and 12.19 Exeter St David's to Barnstaple. Copyright Roger Winnen

200917b Axminster Station dates from 1859 as shown on the facade of the station. Copyright Roger Winnen

200917c The Station Cafe at Axminster offers a good service of food, well recommended. Copyright Roger Winnen

200917d Viewed through the train window. Track being laid on the former Exmouth Junction Engine Shed site in connection with the rebuilding of the line from St James' Park to Polsloe Bridge on the Exmouth Branch including Exmouth Junction. The work takes place from Sunday 25th October through to Friday 30th October and Sunday 8th November 2020 Copyright Roger Winnen

200917e The site viewed through the 159 from Axminster. Copyright Roger Winnen

More then and now - focus on 
Dawlish
Paul Barlow

More Dawlish pictures as promised. Hope they are useful
Kind regards- Paul Barlow

150234 143611 form 10.44 Topsham to Paignton Strted at Tpsham due to late incoming service. A concrete footbridge will be built parallel with the viaduct. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43321 with 43378 on the rear passes over Colonnade viaduct with the 06.11 Leeds to Plymouth on the 1st September 2020. Copyright Paul Barlow.. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43158 with 43042 on the rear crosses the viaduct with the 08.00 Cardiff to Penzance on the 16th September 2020. Copyright Paul Barlow

One for the Peak fans - of which there certainly were some on board this train as can be seen with the arms out of the windows of the first coach. 46044 arrives at Dawlish with the 09.00 Paignton to Sheffield the 1E29 on the 18th September 1982. Copyright Paul barlow.

Many thanks indeed Paul.

That extraordinary train
Craig Munday

​The most extraordinary working out of Devon saw 5E23 consisting of 43029 / 43027 / / 43022 / 42580 / 42087 / 6348 with 47815 tagged on the rear running as 5E23 1047 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Doncaster. The train is seen passing South Brent in a dry spell after heavy rain. The train is also seen at Laira just prior to departure.

Seen at Laira just prior to departure is the special to Doncaster on the 15th September 2020. Copyright Craig Munday.

The extraordinary working is also seen passing through Brent en route to Doncaster. 15th September 2020. Copyright Craig Munday.

An extraordinary train is caught for us at an extraordinary location within the confines of Laira depot.  Many thanks Craig for your valued shots

Terry Baker in Devon
Bill Elston

Hi Keith, Please find attached 3 photos of Colas 66847 Terry Baker, taken firstly at Chard Jct whilst waiting for the 0820 W’loo – Exd to pass. and thirdly on its return from Castle Cary to Exd taken 1/2 mile west of Crewkerne Sta. This was shuttling between Exeter and Castle Cary via Honiton and Yeovil throughout the day. ( route learning? ) Does anyone out there know who Terry Baker is?. Best regards Bill.
Colas Rail 66847 has been named Terry Baker at Eastleigh Works on 22 April 2019. Terry was one of Colas Rail's drivers who passed away in 2018 and is now remembered by 66847 carrying his name. In reply to your question Bill - the above courtesy Mainline Diesels.NET. 

66847 at Chard Junction 17th September 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

66847, Chard Junction 17th September 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

66847, Near Crewkerne 17th September 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

Many thanks to you Bill.

Cornish Hymeks
Neil Phillips

I saw Simon Howard’s item regarding the exceptionally rare working of Lickey Banker Hymek D7022 into Cornwall in April 1969. This occurred while I was on a school trip to Germany – my first time out of the country! - Simon told me about it after I got back and I had trouble believing it! However the link provided by David Critchlow apparently showing the same loco preparing to depart Plymouth North Road with milk empties in the early hours of 15 December 1974, just three months before the class became extinct, is a total surprise – up to now it was believed that the last Hymek into Cornwall was D7093 which only made it as far as Saltash on a ballast working, on 7 March 1974. Before that on 11 August 1973 D7011 reached Truro under very similar circumstances to D7022. If ’22 did head west from Plymouth I would be very interested to know how far it got. I am also very surprised that this Bernard Mills photo has gone unnoticed until now! Regarding Phil Wilton’s assertion that the Kensington Olympia – St Austell Motorail was worked by double-headed Hymeks in 1970, I have never seen this claimed before. They certainly did work the train during summer 1970 & 1971 but only singly, and the identities are known for most if not all dates. However on 3 July 1971 D7070 collected D7085 as a pilot from Plymouth on the up working (dep. St Austell 22.50). I know better than to claim it never happened, as on the railways it seems anything is possible, but double-headed Hymeks were rare, even around their usual haunts, and photos even rarer, so confirmation of such events in Cornwall would be stupendous! One well-known Hymek double-heading of course was the use of D7001 + D7028 on the Hymek Swansong tour of 22 September 1973, for which I was fortunate enough to obtain a ticket – but this got nowhere near the South West. Best regards, Neil Phillips  Dated 17th September 2020.

Many thanks Neil for all the details supplied.

Those Hymeks!
David Critchlow

Apologies if this is getting boring but it seems the history of Hymeks in Cornwall is creating some interest. Quite by accident I came across a photo of a double-headed Hymek, albeit with a Western, on Flickr. Unfortunately it's undated. https://www.flickr.com/photos/45603744@N06/8615968633/ Whether the two in the following pic were the same, we'll possibly never know. https://www.flickr.com/photos/curly42/5395831806/ All the best to everyone Dave Critchlow

Many thanks David.