Today is the day of the CRS visit to the South Devon Railway - it looks fine, have a great day - we look forward to the report tomorrow. Many thanks to Roger and Tony for organising it.
Chasing Britian's Newest Loco the
Class 93
David Field
Class 93
David Field
Tri mode 93001 approaches along the M5. heading for an undisclosed destination in Leicestershire. 30th June 2023 Just south of M5 junction 11. Copyright David Field
Tri mode 93001, a fine lookin locomotive, passes aong the M5. 30th June 2023 Just south of M5 junction 11. Copyright David Field
Tri mode 93001 heads north along the M5. 30th June 2023 Just south of M5 junction 11. Copyright David Field
Good Evening Keith, Roger.
Rail Operations Group have ordered 30 Tri-Mode Class 93 locomotives, the first of which, 93001, arrived in Portbury Docks a couple of days ago. After unloading, onto the Portbury Docks internal railway system, it was suggested (by a Tweet from Bristol Docks) that the loco would leave the docks at 0800 this morning (Friday) via the rail connection through Pill and the former Clifton Down stations, and onto an undisclosed location in Leicestershire. Having got up early, and travelled to Pill to catch the movement, as 0800 came and went, it became apparent the loco wasn't going to appear anytime soon. As I prepared to leave, a local man came and said he'd phoned the docks, and had been told a lorry was scheduled to arrive and pick up the Class 93 at about 1030. On receiving this news I headed off to work.
At 1400 social media suggested the Class 93 was loaded and awaiting an escort to begin it's transit up to Leicestershire. I was able to finish work at 1430, and headed up the M5 to Michaelwood Services (just north of Bristol) to see if I could catch the lorry on its way North. I received notification that the lorry had left Portbury Docks at 1430, and so I thought I should be in time to see it. At about 1515 I'd convinced myself that I'd probably missed it, but on the off chance I hadn't, decided to head North to see if I could see it anywhere such as Gloucester Services. As I got closer to Gloucester it became apparent that the one or two people on the M5 bridges were probably waiting for the same thing I was, so I decided to come off the M5 and park near an overbridge just south of M5 Junction 11A. This took me away from the M5 for about 15 minutes, in which time I could easily have missed the lorry. Regardless, I waited for 45 minutes on the overbridge, and was rewarded with catching it a little under 2 hours after it had left Portbury Docks.
I have attached a couple of photos, which although taken in Gloucester, I believe still falls into the CRS catchment area, it's just a shame it wasn't on the rails. I hope these are of interest to your readers and members.
Kind Regards, Dave Field.
Rail Operations Group have ordered 30 Tri-Mode Class 93 locomotives, the first of which, 93001, arrived in Portbury Docks a couple of days ago. After unloading, onto the Portbury Docks internal railway system, it was suggested (by a Tweet from Bristol Docks) that the loco would leave the docks at 0800 this morning (Friday) via the rail connection through Pill and the former Clifton Down stations, and onto an undisclosed location in Leicestershire. Having got up early, and travelled to Pill to catch the movement, as 0800 came and went, it became apparent the loco wasn't going to appear anytime soon. As I prepared to leave, a local man came and said he'd phoned the docks, and had been told a lorry was scheduled to arrive and pick up the Class 93 at about 1030. On receiving this news I headed off to work.
At 1400 social media suggested the Class 93 was loaded and awaiting an escort to begin it's transit up to Leicestershire. I was able to finish work at 1430, and headed up the M5 to Michaelwood Services (just north of Bristol) to see if I could catch the lorry on its way North. I received notification that the lorry had left Portbury Docks at 1430, and so I thought I should be in time to see it. At about 1515 I'd convinced myself that I'd probably missed it, but on the off chance I hadn't, decided to head North to see if I could see it anywhere such as Gloucester Services. As I got closer to Gloucester it became apparent that the one or two people on the M5 bridges were probably waiting for the same thing I was, so I decided to come off the M5 and park near an overbridge just south of M5 Junction 11A. This took me away from the M5 for about 15 minutes, in which time I could easily have missed the lorry. Regardless, I waited for 45 minutes on the overbridge, and was rewarded with catching it a little under 2 hours after it had left Portbury Docks.
I have attached a couple of photos, which although taken in Gloucester, I believe still falls into the CRS catchment area, it's just a shame it wasn't on the rails. I hope these are of interest to your readers and members.
Kind Regards, Dave Field.
Good to hear from you Dave - many thanks indeed for your excellent report on your persistent endeavours to bring us early views of this fine looking locomotive.
Opening very soon!
Marsh Barton
David Tozer
Marsh Barton
David Tozer
Marsh Barton Station opens on Tuesday 4th July 2023.
I had a look on Saturday afternoon. No access at present to the station, although you can hear the public address system warning the ghost passengers to keep clear of the platform edge when a train not stopping is approaching. 802105 was working the 1015 Penzance to Paddington.
Dave Tozer
I had a look on Saturday afternoon. No access at present to the station, although you can hear the public address system warning the ghost passengers to keep clear of the platform edge when a train not stopping is approaching. 802105 was working the 1015 Penzance to Paddington.
Dave Tozer
802105 Marsh Barton - passes through on 1st July 2023. Due to open on 4th July 2023 Copyright David Dozer.
Many thanks David - will you be there for the first one???
Trial working of J1A wagons
Goonbarrow
Emma Shard
Goonbarrow
Emma Shard
30th June 2023 saw the trial run of the first train of a loaded clay to Fowey using JIA bogie wagons. 8 JIAs were taken to Goonbarrow Junction for loading at Rocks clay works before heading to Fowey for discharging.
Many Thanks, Emma.
Many Thanks, Emma.
JIA wagons arrive at Rocks ready to be shunted into the clay works for loading. Copyright Emma Shard.
View from the loading wharf with 08752 used to shunt the wagons during loading. Copyright Emma Shard.
66104 ready to depart from Goonbarrow Junction with the loaded train to Fowey. Copyright Emma Shard.
Thank you very much Emma for having 'your finger on the pulse' so to speak and being there to catch these unique pictures.
Visits to
Wellow and Midford
Chris Lunn
Wellow and Midford
Chris Lunn
Looking very smart and put to an alternative use Wellow Box signalbox. - S & D June 2023. Copyright Chris Lunn
A side view of Wellow station building now in private hands. June 2023. Copyright Chris Lunn.
Remains of the Camerton to Limpley Stoke line at Midford. June 2023. taken from the S & D Viaduct. Copyright Chris Lunn.
Remains of the Camerton Limpley Stoke line passing under the S & D viaduct at Midford. June 2023. Copyright Chris Lunn.
1. That is the 'Frome Road Viaduct' is on the former GWR Limpley Stoke - Camerton line NOT the S&DJR 2. The view is looking south-east, NOT north west See
Further to advice from Chris Osment (Rail West). With regard to the fifth (last) of Chris Lunn's photos of Wellow and Midford, the fifth picture is advised as being -
1. That is the 'Frome Road Viaduct' is on the former GWR Limpley Stoke - Camerton line.
2. The view is looking south-east.
See here https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3448267,-2.3438572,3a,75y,96.15h,98.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0RwJ3zVXZVtc8N2Goegv2A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu for a similar view from the same spot.
Regards
Chris Osment
1. That is the 'Frome Road Viaduct' is on the former GWR Limpley Stoke - Camerton line.
2. The view is looking south-east.
See here https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3448267,-2.3438572,3a,75y,96.15h,98.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0RwJ3zVXZVtc8N2Goegv2A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu for a similar view from the same spot.
Regards
Chris Osment
Thank you very much Chris Lunn for bringing us pictures of the remains of the S & D at Midford and reminders about the 'Titfield Thunderbolt line. Lovely cycling around there - keep it up. Thanks also to Chris Osment for his correction to KJ's mistake,