22nd March 2020

In Solitude and Isolation
The Station Wall Penzance
Roger Winnen

Sunday afternoon at Penzance was very quiet indeed, spending over one hour overlooking the station from the wall only three persons passed me by on foot.
Looking at the passing buses most remained empty, the trains were a little better with the 12.03 from Paddington formed of a 9 car IET producing only a handfull of people.
We are into bleak times.

200322aMemories from the Station Wall at Penzance. This memorial erected in 1886 to Hannah Bennett by her children. What tales could be told over all those 134 years. from this location. Copyright Roger Winnen

Hannah Maria Shepheard was born 18th Dec 1809 in Plymouth. She married William (...)er Bennett on the 14th Jan 1828 (19 years old). They had 4 children in 1864 their youngest daughter married in Penzance to a George Waters. Hannah and her family lived at 6 Penrose Terrace just up from the former Cliff Hotel. Hannah died in 1881 aged 71 years. William died in 1894 aged 86 years. To her memory her doting children had this memorial drinking fountain placed on Chyandour Cliff in 1886 This information was taken off a local website with many thanks.
Roger Winnen

200322b The Welshman arriving at Penzance with a 2 + 3 car HST formation on the 14.30 from Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

200322c 43189 Launceston Castle departs Penzance with the 17.15 to Exeter St David's. Copyright Roger Winnen

Self Isolation at
Cogload
​Bill Elston

Hi Keith,
I decided to ‘self isolate’ over at Cogload for a while, and the following turned up in quick succession. around midday.
a)  158767   on a Cardiff – Taunton, and return.
b) 143620    allowed out on its own, ecs  Bristol – Exeter
c) 70801,     Westbury - St Blazey ballast
 
Hope these are of interest,  Bill Elston.

158767 on a Cardiff to Taunton and return - 20th March 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

143620 is allowed out on it's own, 20 March 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

70801 on a Westbury to St Blazey with ballast. 20th March 2020 Copyright Bill Elston.

Many thanks Bill for your pictures taken in 'self isolation'.  One wonders for how much longer it will be possible to even go outside, such is this effect of Corona virus. Are we all to be subjected to 'Self Imprisonment' - grim thoughts. Let's hope for a happier summer for you and us all.

70801 at Dawlish Warren
Alan Peters

​In connection with weekend engineering on the Newquay Branch 6T26 from Westbury to St Blazey is seen from a trackside view at Dawlish Warren, Colas Rail 70801 with 10 auto hoppers wait for a Plymouth bound XC service to pass, note the recently resorted camping coaches 20/03/20 - Copyright Alan Peters

Thanks Alan

Hayle Heritage
John Gabb

First of all a warm welcome to John Gabb who joined the Cornwall Railway Society at our last meeting.

John writes
Dear Keith and Roger,
​
Thank you for emailing me so promptly after we spoke at the CRS meeting on Saturday evening. 
I really appreciate and value your offer to share your photographs, information and knowledge about our local railways with me; I will happily reciprocate. As I mentioned, a colleague, Dave Birch, and I who are both volunteers at the Hayle Heritage Centre are currently tasked to prepare an 'exhibition' covering the railways of Hayle. We hope to cover not only the Hayle Railway (and its successors) as such but also the National Explosives works branch and the wharves branch (as well as the companies/activities it served).
Attached are two photographs which may be of interest. The first comprises the photograph, which we have in the Hayle Heritage Centre, which was probably given by the Peckett company to the National Explosives works when it purchased locomotive no.1448 in 1917. I think it is a stock photograph of the M5 class of locomotive and, therefore, not a photograph of the particular locomotive, no. 1448. The second is a photograph no.1448 in service in 1952 at J. C. Hill & Company in Cwmbran, to whom no. 1448 was sold in 1924. I understand that this locomotive was scrapped in 1966.
My thanks again for your help and I look forward to future contact with you and Roger.
Wishing you well and, particularly, good health during the current Corona virus crisis,

John Gabb

National Explosives works 0-4-0 Peckett locomotive, Type M5, No. 1448. Copyright the Hayle Railway Centre.

no.1448 in service in 1952 at J. C. Hill & Company in Cwmbran, to whom no. 1448 was sold in 1924. I understand that this locomotive was scrapped in 1966. Copyright .

Many thanks John, we look forward to further input from you and the Hayle Heritage Centre.

​We would further like to know over what extent of the branch from Hayle Harbour to the Explosive Works did the loco operate - has anybody any knowledge please?

Hayle Heritage Centre
'Closed over winter. Reopening in Spring 2020. Our free-entry Heritage Centre, housed within the Grade II* listed former Harvey & Co. offices, holds a large and diverse collection. Hayle dominated the global engineering market in the 1800s for its production of mining machinery and this legacy is preserved in our industrial history collection. Other local industries are also reflected, with objects relating to Hayle Power Station, the Dynamite Works and Metal Perforators J & F Pool. The wider social history collection covers local traditions, leisure and pleasure, ancient history, working life, maritime history and wartime Hayle. Our large oral history collection offers a first-hand account of life in Hayle, as told by local people.'

Hayle Heritage Centre is well worth a visit = we will check concerning visting during the Corona Virus Scare and advise.