22nd January 2020

Wanstrow
Ron Kosys

Wanstrow station on the Strawberry Line (Yatton to Witham branch) was closed to passengers on the 9th September 1963. It was about two miles from the junction with the main line at Witham..

59002 is seen at Wanstrow with a train of empties heading for Merehead Quarry. The date in the 11th August 1988 Copyright Ron Kosys

Many thanks Ron.

Plymouth Friary
Paul Barlow

Labels from the Paul Barlow Collection - treasured memories behind these. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks to  Paul Barlow.

Yesterday at
Plymouth Friary
Paul Burkhalter

Paul Barlows images from1983 were very interesting, so much so that I have just been (21st January 2020) to the same location to capture a 'now' version of his last picture in B & W so as to mirror the older images. Still three tracks in-in situ but little used as the Cattewater line has no traffic. I didn't turn in the other direction as it is a depressing scene of 'crinkly tin' retail buildings with no rail interest at all.
Cheers Paul Burkhalter.

Friary 21st January 2020 Copyright Paul Burkhalter

Many thanks to Paul Burkhalter.

If you go to our section featuring Friary there is more to be seen and also, very soon we hope to add a report and pictures taken at Friary by Colin Burges in 1989.

​Glorious sun at

Teignmouth
Clive Smith

​What glorious weather we've had the last few days. The subject matter is not very exciting but with the stunning sea wall and excellent light conditions with red cliffs and blue sea and skies, who cares ?
Regards,  Clive Smith.

(1) One of the two prototype 3-car class 150s 150002 rounds the sea wall into Teignmouth station. This unit along with 150001 are scheduled to be moved to another TOC soon. I had pitched up to hopefully capture some class 143 pacers before they disappear but it seemed the formations coupled with 150s put them at the 'London end' . Not good on a sunny day. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) 43194 heads the 13.00 Cardiff - Penzance into Teignmouth. This nearly was a superb double HST passing shot but the 'up' was just two seconds too early and had just gone behind this Castle set. Drat. 21st January 2020. Copyright Clive Smith.

(3) This was taken at 15.42 with the low winter sun slowly dropping in the sky immediately behind me with the shadows encroaching up the track. The train is the 15.15 Paignton - Manchester Piccadilly. Today was the first day of consultations between Network Rail and local people about their proposals to rebuild the sea wall further out to sea and reduce the beach size. The section here running along Holcombe Bay to Parsons Tunnel will be massively affected. 21st January 2020. Copyright Clive Smith.