20th February 2023

20/2/2023

The Wedding Belle
and 5553 at Bodmin
Roger Winnen

It was a stroke of luck getting to Bodmin yesterday to photograph the Wedding Bell arriving at General Station. Originally I planned to catch the 08.49 service to Bodmin only to find that it terminated at Par, this I found out later replaced a Newquay bound service. I boarded the 09.18 London service which then had technical problems and departed late at 09.34, we arrived at Bodmin Parkway at 10.54 giving me one minute to catch the number 26 Bus to Bodmin General. Darting across the footbridge I just anaged it as the bus was about to pull away. Failing that the first train would be at 12.30.

230219a The Wedding Belle arrives at Bodmin Parkway behind the newly arrived 5553. Copyright Roger Winnen

230219b 5553 Looking immaculate on its arrival at Bodmin. Copyright Roger Winnen

230219c Here comes the bride. Copyright Roger Winnen

230219d 5553 Departs on the 12 noon departure to Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

230219e 5553 Arrives at Bodmin General on the 12.30 service from Bodmin Parkway passing the Sentinel loco and Clay Hoods parked in the sidings. Copyright Roger Winnen

230220f 08359 stabled at Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

230220g 5553 about to depart on the 13.35 to Boscarne Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen

230220h The last train of the day arrives at Bodmin Parkway Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

230220j A scene not changed much over the last 60 years. Copyright Roger Winnen

230220k Buying a return ticket from Penzance to Plymouth is the same price as a return to Bodmin so I headed for Plymouth after seeing 5553 depart. It was a good day. Soon to be a thing over the past a Castle Class set parked in the through road at Plymouth Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

Newquay Branch Activities
Andrew Triggs & Jon Hird

Evening Keith/Roger,
43092/189 with GW02 set substituted on 3 runs to Newquay today due to problems with the class 150 fleet earlier in the day, until later replacement by 150244. Myself and several other enthusiasts (and lineside photographers) took advantage of the deputising Castle set, in the twilight of their long service in the South West as the enclosed show
All the Best
Andrew

1.43189 leading 2N04 13.15 Par-Newquay prior to departure at Par
2. 43092 trailing 2N04 at Par
3. On arrival at Newquay 43092 will now lead 2N05 14.25 Newquay-Par
4. 43189 at Newquay following arrival with 2N04 from Par
5. 43189 from behind the currently disused platform 1
ATB Andrew Triggs

Par 43189 19th February 2023. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

43092 at Par. 19th February 2023. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

43092 at Newquay 19th February 2023. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

43189 at Newquay 19th February 2023. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

43189 at Newquay. 19th February 2023. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

I was planning a lazy day today, but after news broke of the HST working to Newquay I thought I’d better make an effort to get some shots of it on the branch.

I keep trying to get excited about these now that they’re on borrowed time, but with them having been around the whole time I’ve been interested in Railways, it’s difficult to get into them. They’ve been a part of the scene for so long it just feels like they can’t ever be removed. I guess I’m in for a reality check once they are abolished to history.

It was nice to visit some old spots along the Newquay line again, it feels like ages since anything interesting went down there!

All the best, Jon Hird