20th January 2019

Looking out of the Window
Soon to be a thing of the past
Roger Winnen

190119h Crossing The Royal Albert Bridge as the sun goes down aboard the 13.03 Padd-Pz HST soon to be a thing of the past, looking out of the droplight door window. 19th January 2019 Copyright Roger Winnen

When it's gone it's gone!
Liskeard
Roger Winnen

Liskeard. Demolition of a former atcost concrete store in yard. Most probably a feedstuff establishment. 19th January 2019 Copyright Roger Winnen

Loram rail grinder at Okehampton
Part 2.
 David Ellis.

After a road trip to Plymouth's Laira depot last week C2101, Control car 79237, had some repair work and is now back at Meldon, ready to be reunited with the rest of the train at Sampford Courtenay.

C2101, Control car 79237 in Meldon yard. Copyright David Ellis.

Then and now
​Mutley tunnel
Clive Smith

I make no apologies for again featuring the eastern end of Mutley Tunnel in Plymouth.  I'm sure everyone has their particular favourite photographic location and this one was mine. After my last visit to the spot in 2002 I decided to photograph the Mayflower steam railtour featuring 5029 Nunney Castle and 60019 Bittern approaching Mutley Tunnel in 2010. To my surprise the location had seen further extensive vegetation growth in the intervening eight years . So much so that I had to zoom in on the locos to eliminate the ubiquitous tree encroachment . These photos have turned out to be the last 'decent' shots I have taken here. My New Year wish is that Network Rail's chainsaw gang get around to opening up my favourite vista once more but I live in hope!

Then  -  1983

(Photo 1) 45059 Royal Engineer blasts away from Mutley Tunnel on the 2nd April 1983 with the 17.45 return day excursion (ADEX) from Plymouth to Manchester. A pristine cutting forms the backdrop and shows where the photographer stood for the next picture. For a few quid Mancunians had an 18-hour day out at the opposite end of the country and be back home for midnight. Adexes were a fantastic way for spotters without much money to visit far flung stations and depots and often provided interesting motive power and great memories. Copyright Clive Smith

(Photo 2)...and from the opposite​side 47367 powers out of Mutley Tunnel east of Plymouth station with the 15.20 St Blazey - Severn Tunnel Junction mixed goods on the 10th June 1983. The loco was withdrawn at the end of 2002 and is now preserved on the Mid Norfolk Railway at Dereham. Copyright Clive Smith

    And in 2010

(Photo 3) 5029 Nunney Castle and A4 60019 Bittern coast up from Laira to Mutley Tunnel with The Railway Touring Company's "Mayflower" 06.48 Euston - Plymouth on the 11th September 2010 Copyright Clive Smith.

(Photo 4) The 'going away' shot shows just how much the trees dominate both sides of the cutting to the tunnel. Even this view is now impossible. Copyright Clive Smith