21st January 2021

A few days ago
Nocturnal Engineering
Craig Munday

6W50 First up was DB Cargo operated service with 66020 with 66125 on the rear, waiting to enter the St Ives possession at St Erth on 14th January. It is later pictured at Carbis Bay pausing to pick up Mr Blanford from DB Cargo and colleague to operate the electronic doors on the Autoballaster wagons. A far cry from the heavy and difficult to control manual wheels on the doors of seacows of olden days! 

6C97 On 16th a rail drop between Truro & Burngullow brought a Colas operated Rail Delivery Train to Penzance. Alan Peters was driving a hired in Freightliner class 66/6. The uniquely orange livery 66623 is seen at Penzance. The lamp picture was taken with the Driver's permission and no other traffic signalled. 

6W50 at St Erth headed by 66020 waiting to take ballast on to te St Ives branch. 14th January 2021. Copyright Craig Munday

Our first picture of operations on the St Ives branch as 66020 is seen at Carbis Bay on the 14th January 2021 Copyright Craig Munday. Note the fresh ballast on the track.

Penzance with 6C97 powered by 66623. A very well lit shot taken with the permission on the driver - and there were no oether train movements. 16th January 2021 Copyright Craig Munday

A good nights work - many thanks Craig
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Liskeard Dawn
Chris Harvey

Dawn at Liskeard. Copyright Chris Harvey 24th January 2015

Many thanks Chris
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Early one summers morning.
St Blazey
Clive Smith

I'd travelled down to Par from Plymouth at the unsociable hour of 05.00 with 45113 on the summer holiday overnight train the 21.56 Liverpool - Penzance and  visited St Blazey early in the morning where 37181 was on shed sporting the BR Cornish Lizard arrows. Also on shed that morning were 45131, 47294 and  37247.   Regards Clive

37181 at St Blazey 6th July 1985 Copyright Clive Smith

Many thanks Clive
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A Fantastic Journey
Alan Peters

​A Fantastic Journey

The launch of the Greater Western Franchise saw a special HST in Dynamic lines livery applied to 43004 and 43009 run from Paddington to Penzance, staff were sent a DVD of the launch train which contained footage of the trains journey to Penzance and interviews with Alison Forster the Managing Director and various staff en-route. Here is the scan of the cover and a couple of screen shots including the 3 coach HST crossing the Royal Albert Bridge and Alison Forster at Penzance, 
I was in the office at Truro on the 3rd April 2006 and lucky enough to have a chat to Alison and take a couple of pictures of the Dynamic Lines HST which was greeted at Truro by a band playing on the platform. Unfortunately the matching dynamic lines on power cars was dropped in favour of a more plain livery and who could foresee short HST sets being the norm in the West Country.

The premotion DVD Cover. Copyright Alan Peters/

A Screenshot from the DVD,The Royal Albert Bridge 3rd April 2006. Copy Alan Peters

The Celebration band to welcome the train at Truro station. 3rd April 2006. Copyright Akan Peters

The 'Dynamic Lines' specal at Truro. 3rd April 2006. Copyright Alan Peters

43004 the 'Dynamic Lines' Power Car at Truro. 3rd April 2006 Copyright Alan Peters

And finally the M.D. herself. A screenshot of Alison Foster taken at Penzance on the 3rd April 2006. Alan Peters.

Many thanks Alan for your record of another mile stone in the HST story.
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The 'Last Post'  !!
Paul Barlow
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​This time from 20 February 2004.  17 years ago the last mail trains ran in the South west, these were the 1915 Plymouth to Willesden and 2154 Reading to Plymouth. They were formed of set of coaches with an ex EMU driving trailer on each end. these were used to propel the train into the Princess Royal mail centre at Willesden. The loss of mail traffic was such a shocking waste of resources and infrastructure, plus a fleet of 30 nearly new class 67 locomotives were unemployed!  Scandalous!

All the best, Paul Barlow 

Royal Mail lorries wait outside Exeter St Davids on the 20th February 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow.

2004_01_20 67028 1915 Plymouth to Willesden 1M65 Exeter St Davids last up mail train. 20th February 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow.

67028 on the 19.15 Plymouth to Willesden 1M65 Exeter St Davids. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Rear of 1915 Plymouth to Willesden 1M65 Exeter St Davids last up mail train. 20th February 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Royal Mail workers waiting for the 19.15 Plymouth to Willesden 1M65 Exeter St Davids. The last up mail train 20th February 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow;

2004 Reading to Plymouth 1C84 last EWS mail trains note skull headboard. 20th February 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow.

67009 2154 Reading to Plymouth 1C84 last EWS mail trains. 20th February 2004. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Well caught - the end of an era. Well done and many thanks Paul.

This day in 2000
Par
Michael Forward

Hello Keith, Thank you for your email about Roger.I hope he is still making progress and maybe nearer to being home again.
I send a picture of 66116 at Par, taken at about 3pm ,about to head east with CDAs.  Nothing special about it, especially on a dull day but it was taken on 21st January 2000  (the only bug we were worried about then was the Millennium Bug!)

Par 66116 at 3PM 21st january 2000 Copyright Michael Forward.

Many thanks - Michael.