Cornwall Signal Upgrades with Castles and Clays
Part One
Roger Winnen
Part One
Roger Winnen
240219a The Welshman heaadinf the 08.50 Penzance to Plymouth at Truro. Copyroght Roger Winnen
240219b In a weeks time these signals will be memories of the past at Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219bb The 09.10 Penzance to Paddington IET arrives at Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219c Truro Signal Box will no longer control the barriers at the station. It is believed that trains will operate the system with a crossing keeper in attendance. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219d The former Truro East Box until the rationalisation in 1971 when this box wsd renamed Truro Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219e The 06.00 Paddington to Penzance arrives Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219f HSTs 43098 and 43187 Approaching Par on the 10.15 Plymouth to Penzance service. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219g Par Signal Box is a Grade 11 listed being built in 1879. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219h 43189 and 43004 works the 10.42 Plymouth to Penzance at Par. Copyright Roger Winnen
240219i Looking west from Par Station showing the signals for the Newquay Branch and for running from the branch platform to the main line. Copyright Roger Winnen
End of Part One
Freshford Track Renewal Job - 17 & 18 February 2024
Day 1
Guy Vincent
Day 1 Saturday 17th February 2024
A two day project renewing the 'Down Trowbridge' line between 05m 01ch and 04m 65ch. This section was last replaced over 3 weekends in January-February 1984 so has lasted well. The ballast was due for renewal and at the same time the asset engineer decided to renew the track with latest specification heavy duty concrete sleepers and welded rails. Four engineering trains were needed for this possession plus a tamper/liner. Trains were operated by Freightliner and arrived from Westbury via Castle Cary, a reversal at Taunton and Bristol / Bath.
6Y41 2056 (Fri 16th) Westbury - Bathampton Junction (possession limit) 66556 & 66563 top and tail with flat wagons for the old track sections. This train was stabled on the down line south of the worksite and was unable to leave until the new track was ready for use.
6Y42 0016 Westbury - Bathampton Junction 66952 on up line with spoil wagons for old ballast.
6Y43 0246 Westbury - Bathampton Junction 66506 on up line with further spoil wagons and new ballast.
6Y44 0842 Westbury - Bathampton Junction 66589 & 66551 top and tail on up line with new concrete sleepers and ballast.
Various road-rail vehicles and equipment was used and most of this came along the line from a temporary compound in the main car park next to Bradford on Avon station, 2 miles away where workforce welfare facilities were also located, personnel being ferried to and from Freshford by minibus.
A two day project renewing the 'Down Trowbridge' line between 05m 01ch and 04m 65ch. This section was last replaced over 3 weekends in January-February 1984 so has lasted well. The ballast was due for renewal and at the same time the asset engineer decided to renew the track with latest specification heavy duty concrete sleepers and welded rails. Four engineering trains were needed for this possession plus a tamper/liner. Trains were operated by Freightliner and arrived from Westbury via Castle Cary, a reversal at Taunton and Bristol / Bath.
6Y41 2056 (Fri 16th) Westbury - Bathampton Junction (possession limit) 66556 & 66563 top and tail with flat wagons for the old track sections. This train was stabled on the down line south of the worksite and was unable to leave until the new track was ready for use.
6Y42 0016 Westbury - Bathampton Junction 66952 on up line with spoil wagons for old ballast.
6Y43 0246 Westbury - Bathampton Junction 66506 on up line with further spoil wagons and new ballast.
6Y44 0842 Westbury - Bathampton Junction 66589 & 66551 top and tail on up line with new concrete sleepers and ballast.
Various road-rail vehicles and equipment was used and most of this came along the line from a temporary compound in the main car park next to Bradford on Avon station, 2 miles away where workforce welfare facilities were also located, personnel being ferried to and from Freshford by minibus.
Advance notice of works on Freshford station. Copyright Guy Vincent.
With the old track removed, ballast is dug out and placed into the waiting wagons. Copyright Guy Vincent.
View north towards Bathampton with spoil train 6Y42 (headed by 66952 at the south end) on up line behind which stands 66506 on train 6Y43. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Looking south towards Avoncliff with 66952 on 6Y42 and, beyond that, 66556 and 66563 top and tail on 6Y44 with the old track sections that were removed overnight. Copyright Guy Vincent.
New ballast being consolidated at the north end of Freshford station plus a selection of equipment. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Looking north again with 66589 heading 6Y44 (66551 out of sight at the other end) with new sleepers waiting to draw forward for unloading once the initial ballasting has been completed. Copyright Guy Vincent.
View south with ballast being unloaded and spread on trackbed. Note the new rails temporarily placed in the '4 foot' of the up line. Weather conditions deteriorating. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy, an excellent record of the work - Day 2 (18.02) will be posted tomorrow.
Lostwithiel Groundworks
Tim Hughes
Looking East, the site of the former sidings and Fowey platform at Lostwithiel being renovated. Copyright Tim Hughes.
Looking west from near the signal box, the groundworks are looking neat. Copyright Tim Hughes.
Thank you for sending these in, Tim - although I'm sure we'd all rather see rails here, it does certainly look much better than the 'jungle' it had become in recent years.
Up High, Down Low - Dowgas
Jon Hird
I took a quick trip over to Dowgas this afternoon for the GWR sleeper training run headed by Class 57/6 57603. I personally much prefer the angle achieved by standing higher up the field here, but with a young crop in the ground, it wouldn't do to go trampling over it. So, I hugged the fenceline and the tractor tracks with my camera, and the drone set off and managed to net me a more side-on shot from higher up!
Through my camera lens, 57603 passes Dowgas (near Coombe St. Stephens) with 5Z71, the empty stock GWR sleeper staff training run. Copyright Jon Hird.
Through the 'eyes' of my drone, a more side-on perspective of the train. Consumer grade, lightweight drones have a way to go before they beat the quality of a photo taken by a mechanical lens, but they do have their uses. Copyright Jon Hird.
'Castle Class' nameplates for sale
Trevor Tremethick
Hello Keith and Roger
Well, it had to happen.
The first tranche of Castle nameplates removed from withdrawn power cars will be auctioned by Great Western Railwayana at their sale commencing Saturday March 16th. Here is a link to the auction site: https://www.gwra.co.uk/nextauction.html
The nameplates involved in this sale (lots 480 to 484) are as follows:
The last-named was only recently photographed by me in Laira Yard on January 10th this year.
I have no forecast of expected prices, but I imagine that these will be popular lots so, if anyone wants to try their luck, I wish them good fortune!
Kind regards
Trevor T
Well, it had to happen.
The first tranche of Castle nameplates removed from withdrawn power cars will be auctioned by Great Western Railwayana at their sale commencing Saturday March 16th. Here is a link to the auction site: https://www.gwra.co.uk/nextauction.html
The nameplates involved in this sale (lots 480 to 484) are as follows:
- Nunney Castle ex 43009
- Chepstow Castle ex 43170
- Raglan Castle ex 43171
- Acton Castle ex 43027
- Dunster Castle ex 43122
The last-named was only recently photographed by me in Laira Yard on January 10th this year.
I have no forecast of expected prices, but I imagine that these will be popular lots so, if anyone wants to try their luck, I wish them good fortune!
Kind regards
Trevor T
Many thanks to you Trevor, for bringing this auction to our attention. As you say, I imagine they will be extremely popular - let's hope they find good homes.