22nd October 2021

Flooding at
Hele
Chris Bellett

Thursday 21st October 2021 was a bad day for the local railway weather wise. The line was shut between Cowley Bridge Junction and Taunton due to severe flooding (for the third time in 10 years) at Hele and Bradninch and the diversionary route via Axminster was also shut for a time due to flooding at Chard.  Photograph of the flooding here: https://www.radioexe.co.uk/news-and-features/local-news/trains-cancelled-between-exeter-st-davids-and-taunton/

Take Care,
Chris Bellett
Retired S&T Engineer
CRS Member

Serious Incident at
Challow
Chris Bellett

Chris writes :-  ​Outside our area I know, but just also hearing that a serious incident occurred this morning at Challow when a Pway trolley was left on the line after an engineering blockade was given up and was hit by an IET travelling at linespeed.  Extensive damage caused to the IET (first three leading carriages) and fortunately a very serious high speed derailment was avoided due to the leading obstacle deflector doing the job it was designed to.

Take care,
Chris Bellett
Retired S&T Engineer
CRS Member

Many thanks for the above reports - it is great to hear from a man with his finger on the pulse.

The 1Q18 at Penzance
Andrew Triggs & Roger Winnen

 Photographs of today's visit by 43290/299 with 1Q18 06.11 Reading Triangle sidings-Paignton on it's regular 4 weekly run

. Arriving 6 late at 11.30 43299 leading, heading into Platform 2 Copyright Andrew Triggs

The measurement train together with a 150 sprinter share Platform 2 at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen

The measurement train awaits departure at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen

43290 leading the 12.01 departure for Paignton on Platform 2 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Wide angle shot of 1Q18 on platform 2 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Departing for Paignton at 12.01 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Newton Abbott
Clive Smith

33028 thrashes out of Newton Abbot in what I believe is summer 1987. I didn't note the date or working but it's likely a Paignton - Exeter. The rationalisation has been completed but some of the lifted track can be seen in the background. A particularly brutal cutting back of what was once a lovely station to spend time on.

Regards, Clive Smith

33028 thrashes out of Newton Abbot on what was probably a working to Paignton. Copyright Clive Smith

Many thanks Clive
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Mount Pleasant Road Crossing
Bevois
Ron Kosys

47460 at Bevois 1M96 15.17 Sundays Poole to Wolverhampton 18th August 1991

Many thanks Ron.

North Perrott
Bill Elston
North Perrott is about two miles west of Crewkerne.

​My plan for today was to go out and photograph the NMT on its monthly visit to this area, but due to flooding this never happened.
However I was treated to the late running 1A74, 0713 Paignton to Paddington, running some 3 hours late finally arriving at Pad at 1350!
Fifteen minutes later 1L36  0955 Honiton to Waterloo, also very late rolled by formed of DMUs 158883 and 159107 please see photos.

Hope you weren't washed out last night!
Best wishes, Bill.

The IET forming the 1A74. passes Mile Post 129.25 North Perrott. 21st October Copyright Bill Elston

1A74, North Perrott. 21st October Copyright Bill Elston

158883, North Perrott. 21st October Copyright Bill Elston

159107. North Perrott 21st October Copyright Bill Elston

Many thanks Bill. Bills reference to being flooded out concerned a heavy rainstorm which swept NE across the SW causing mayhem to rail travel. 

Polsloe & Pinhoe
Colin Burges

It's funny that David Tozer should comment on not being able to see the overbridge at Hill Barton, for I was on the footpath bridge just before it a few weeks ago while ambling across the city in the general direction of Pinhoe.

When this was a double line and I was a boy, I can remember standing at the window looking down from a treeless embankment and hearing the exhaust note of the engine change as it bit into the short climb. Copyright Colin Burges

Polsloe Bridge and Exmouth Junction box can be seen. Copyright Colin Burges.

Escaping the cancer of Exeter eating into the East Devon countryside, I climbed Church Hill in Pinhoe to see one lucky fellow's creation, the Hux Shard, the first subject in the latest series of Grand Designs.

Kevin McCloud remarked: "This is a kitchen from another universe." For £125,000, it should have been. That's for the kitchen alone. Copyright Colin Burges.

On my way back another way, I spotted a van beside the road. I had seen it many years before but couldn't have said where.

All that can be seen is the wooden underframe and the sliding door runner. The plate has a number painted on it. Copyright Colin Burges.

With best wishes,
Colin

Many thanks Colin, as usual your ramblings and observations make most interesting reading. Best wishes to you too.
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