20th September 2018

18 Years ago The Royal Mail at Par
Michael Forward

000918a This photograph was taken 18 years ago on 19th September 2000 of 67016 about to take the Royal Mail Stock from Penzance around to St Blazey for cleaning and servicing. The Great Western seats, signals and the box stand out to make this a very interesting photograph. Copyright Michael Forward

The Westerns in the West
Roger Winnen

760729a The demolition of Long Rock Shed with a Western, 47s and a Class 50 on shed. Copyright Roger Winnen

760606a D1001 Western Pathfinder stabled in the station yard. Copyright Roger Winnen

760721a D1054 Western Govenor departs Penzance on the 18.00 service to Bristol and the North of England. Copyright Roger Winnen

760722z Western Venturer is seen at Chyandour possibly on the Liverpool Penzance train. Copyright Roger Winnen

760606d D1001 Western Pathfinder heads a train past The Royal Mail at Ponsandane. Copyright Roger Winnen

760717x A Class 52 passes Long Rock Level Crossing. Copyright Roger Winnen

I am very grateful to Guy Vincent who has identified this locomotive to be D1021 Western Cavalier. This engine was involved in a collision at Laira Depot on 9th August, 1976 with 08954 severly damaging her buffer beam and therefore it was withdrawn the next day. Many Thanks indeed Guy

760722b D1058 Western Nobleman heads the 17.45 Stopper from Plymouth to Penzance seen at Marazion. Copyright Roger Winnen

Rattlebrook Peat Railway
Andrew Jones

 Andrew writes:-   I recently stayed at Lydford, and cycled the splendid Granite Trail to Okehampton.
Passing Bridestowe Station, the trail has been diverted slightly to the east of the  exLSWR mainline, for a short distance, to give the present owners some privacy.
It appeared that an existing track had been used for this purpose and on further investigation, consulting an old ordnance survey map, I found the existence of a tramway leading from Bridestowe Station to a point some 7 miles distant at Kitty Tor and Amicombe Hill.
Please see attached map.
It transpires from some research, that the tramway was built for the Duchy of Cornwall in 1879 for the extraction of Naptha Oil from peat.
It was built to the standard gauge, although horse drawn for almost it entire life it served some kilns at Rattlebrook and involved a reversal near Corn Ridge.
During the 1920’s a petrol lorry was converted for use on railway and was used to dismantle the railway in 1932.
The railway is still traceable and makes an enjoyable and accessible walk to the heart of Dartmoor with relative safety and gentle gradients.
I have not been able to find any historic photographs of the line and wonder if society members know of the existence of any?
 
                     Best wishes Andrew        Many thanks Andrew

For further reading and pictures of the route you might like to try this link.    http://www.brucehunt.co.uk/Rattlebrook.html

Redruth
Mike Hitchens

180404zd A named peak enters Redruth Station Copyright Mike Hitchens