Room with a view!
Plymouth station
Chris Bellett
Plymouth station
Chris Bellett
I think that all railway photographers have looked up at that tower overlooking the station and thought 'What a view' - a very private place - here is the very privileged view which Chris Bellett had from his office. Chris writes -
Going through my archives thought you might like to add the attached photograph to the website. Taken from my office on the 5th floor of Intercity House at Plymouth in 2006, looking out over the East end of Plymouth station. Managed to capture the Moorswater Cement train and the Parkandillack China Clay train both waiting for the road East.
Kind Regards, Chris Bellett, Retired S & T Manager.
Going through my archives thought you might like to add the attached photograph to the website. Taken from my office on the 5th floor of Intercity House at Plymouth in 2006, looking out over the East end of Plymouth station. Managed to capture the Moorswater Cement train and the Parkandillack China Clay train both waiting for the road East.
Kind Regards, Chris Bellett, Retired S & T Manager.
A 2006 view of Plymouth Station East End. From Chris Bellett's Office on the 5th Floor of Intercity House. Copyright Chris Bellett.
Many thanks indeed Chris.
Plymouth 23 years earlier - Clive Smith
50050 Fearless from On High at Plymouth September 1983. Clive writes - This was before drone cameras and some fifteen years before I was employed at Inter City House. On this occasion I blagged my way in and took the lift. Copyright Clive Smith
Congratulations Clive on battling your way through security to get the above picture - it makes a very interesting comparison with an 'official view' taken by Chris some 23 years later. Spot the differences.
Double Headed 50's
Alan Peters
Alan Peters
The delights of double headed class 50's on the Cornish mainline was a regular occurrence in 1987 with 50024 'Vanguard' and 50016 'Barham' round the curve at Chacewater towards Truro - Alan Peters
The same train with 50024 and 50016 crossing the iconic 'Royal Albert Bridge' - Alan Peters
The same train with 50024 and 50016 crossing the iconic 'Royal Albert Bridge' - Alan Peters
A smashing picture with the familiar pine trees as 50024 'Vanguard' and 50016 'Barham' drop down the grade on the approach to the former Chacewater station site. It's 1987 when double heading of 50's was regular. Copyright Alan Peters
About an hour and a twenty minutes later as the same pair cross the RAB at 25 MPH. Copyright Alan Peters.
Ah memories of 34 years ago - views no longer possible that we've lost the drop down windows. Many thanks Alan.
Probus Derailment
True or False
Nick Carlyon
True or False
Nick Carlyon
I am an occasional lurker on your fascinating site. I was wondering whether your learned membership could help me confirm the truth of a story handed down in my family.
The story is essentially that a man called Pearce was in charge of a shunting engine at Truro, presumably around the turn of the century, when an ailing up express came in. He was ordered to couple his engine to the front of the express to assist the train engine on the climb out of Truro. He objected that, while assisting the train out of Truro was in order, the express would overrun his engine on the descent to Par. He was given the choice of complying or losing his job but told that, if he wished, he could fill out a complaint form recording his objections. This he did. The train set off. As forecast, as they topped the climb out of Truro, the express began to push the smaller engine beyond its maximum speed. Somewhere around Probus, the connecting rod of Pearce’s engine broke, dug into the track and toppled the engine down an embankment. Pearce was killed.
An enquiry was held as a result of which a regulation was adopted that only locomotives of similar performance should double-head trains and that smaller locomotives would only bank at the rear where they did not need to be coupled.
The GWR subsequently oversaw the education of his twin sons and gave them jobs at Swindon. One of them, William Henry Pearce, worked in the drawing office. My father knew him and I met him in later life. I recall him telling me he worked on the valve gear of the “Kings” and he told my father of being in the shelter built ahead of the smokebox for testing new designs.]
So much for the story. It came from the lips of the son of the driver involved. However I have not been able to find any more information on this incident. I would have thought that a locomotive being lost down an embankment and a driver killed would have merited some sort of attention. It would also be interesting to know whether this accident was responsible for the uniquely GW regulation that pilot engines had to be coupled inside the train engine: I understand that this practice persisted, despite the operational inconvenience, until Nationalisation.
As I said, I hope your membership can throw some light on the truth or otherwise of this story. Are there for example any details of the date and/or the locomotives involved?
Best wishes, Nick Carlyon
The story is essentially that a man called Pearce was in charge of a shunting engine at Truro, presumably around the turn of the century, when an ailing up express came in. He was ordered to couple his engine to the front of the express to assist the train engine on the climb out of Truro. He objected that, while assisting the train out of Truro was in order, the express would overrun his engine on the descent to Par. He was given the choice of complying or losing his job but told that, if he wished, he could fill out a complaint form recording his objections. This he did. The train set off. As forecast, as they topped the climb out of Truro, the express began to push the smaller engine beyond its maximum speed. Somewhere around Probus, the connecting rod of Pearce’s engine broke, dug into the track and toppled the engine down an embankment. Pearce was killed.
An enquiry was held as a result of which a regulation was adopted that only locomotives of similar performance should double-head trains and that smaller locomotives would only bank at the rear where they did not need to be coupled.
The GWR subsequently oversaw the education of his twin sons and gave them jobs at Swindon. One of them, William Henry Pearce, worked in the drawing office. My father knew him and I met him in later life. I recall him telling me he worked on the valve gear of the “Kings” and he told my father of being in the shelter built ahead of the smokebox for testing new designs.]
So much for the story. It came from the lips of the son of the driver involved. However I have not been able to find any more information on this incident. I would have thought that a locomotive being lost down an embankment and a driver killed would have merited some sort of attention. It would also be interesting to know whether this accident was responsible for the uniquely GW regulation that pilot engines had to be coupled inside the train engine: I understand that this practice persisted, despite the operational inconvenience, until Nationalisation.
As I said, I hope your membership can throw some light on the truth or otherwise of this story. Are there for example any details of the date and/or the locomotives involved?
Best wishes, Nick Carlyon
A fascinating story be it true or false. Many thanks Nick for sending it in. Perhaps your father may have relayed to you the experiences of Mr. Pearce's sons at Swindon which again would prove very interesting. Thank you very much.
10 years ago
Near Moorswater
Chris Harvey
Near Moorswater
Chris Harvey
Captured on 19th March 2011 from the footbridge at Moorswater with a long lens, here is the 0915 Penzance - Paddington HST passing milepost 266, a couple of minutes away from the next stop at Liskeard.
Best Regards, Chris Harvey Bodmin.
Best Regards, Chris Harvey Bodmin.
Many thanks Chris.
Six at
South Marston Footbridge
Ken Mumford
South Marston Footbridge
Ken Mumford
East of South Marston. Westbury to Cliffe Hill Stud Farm train headed by a class 70 loco - train was 6 minutes early! 21st March 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford
East of South Marston. Unknown heading west. Copyright Ken Mumford 21st March 2021.
East of South Marston.[3Z51] headed by 37099 followed by coaches 9702 (interesting being at this 'end'), 999606, 9810, 6262, 96608 with loco 37254 bringing up the rear.
East bound ballast headed by 66022 21st March 2021. Copyright Ken Mumford.
The well leaden East bound ballast headed by 66022 continues towards Reading. 21st March 2021. Copyright Ken Mumford.
A chance meet - two IET's South Marston. 21st March 2021. Copyright Ken Mumford.