Par Crossing Today
Mike Bojko
Mike Bojko
Today i was fortunate to be passing when Par Docks at lunchtime when a class 66 came into view. I attach a couple of pictures.
Kind Regards
Mike Bojko
Kind Regards
Mike Bojko
Copyright Mike Bojko
Copyright Mike Bojko
Many Thanks Mike
60 years ago today
Take Two
Michael L Roach
Take Two
Michael L Roach
Please find attached the first of a new occasional series taken exactly 60 years ago - designed for Thursday this week if poss please. They were taken 10 mins apart on the morning of 22 September 1962 and are both looking eastwards.
Regards, Mike
Regards, Mike
TAKETWO-22.09.1962 Michael L. Roach
Laira Steam Shed on the morning of 22 September 1962
MLR / 4 September 2022
Laira Steam Shed on the morning of 22 September 1962
MLR / 4 September 2022
5723 Small Prairie 4570 of Laira Shed seen under repair. It had arrived from Penzance three months earlier and would be withdrawn in January 1963, Laira had a fleet of this class and the slightly larger 4575 class for working freight and passenger trains on the branch line to Tavistock and Launceston. 22nd September 1962. Copyright Michael L Roach.
5724 Line up of stored locos, from front to back: 1363 – stored two years earlier and not actually withdrawn until November 1962 4658 – went to Neyland March 1963 and withdrawn from Swansea East Dock May 1964 & cut up 5532 – withdrawn July 1962 4588 – withdrawn July 1962 1363, 4588 and 5532 are all preserved. 22nd September 1962. Copyright Michael L Roach.
Many thanks Mike - we look forward as always to your next anniversary contribution.
Mid Cornwall Metro
A summary from Railnews by
John Roberts
A summary from Railnews by
John Roberts
Keith, if you can scrounge a copy of the staff paper Railnews from your local station, the September issue contains a feature on Connecting Cornwall. In addition to Devizes new station, Mid Cornwall Metro will proceed to the next stage in the bidding process for £56m from the Restoring Your Railway Fund. This sees an accessible footbridge at Par, some redoubling at Tregoss, a second platform at Newquay, and general platform extensions, station improvements and smartcard validators. The bid includes a panel at Goonbarrow to control Tregoss and Newquay, but this may be superceded by control from Exeter. The aim is for work to be completed in early 2025 for an hourly service between Newquay and Falmouth with a journey time of 1h45.
A prequal project sees a new park & ride station at Nansledan (Close to Quintrell Downs) , and a new roadbridge to replace Chapel and Trencreek Crossings. Cornwall Council’s website says this will all be completed in 2021, but as it hasn’t been it’s likely that the crossings will need to be replaced anyway, and Treloggan Crossing may need a footbridge, to cater for the doubling in service frequency and increased linespeed.
Members of my generation will remember that from around June 1968 Par and Camborne were downgraded to speed up the InterCity service, and Newquay trains extended to Bodmin Road, which coincidentally gave Lostwithiel an improved service. When did Par revert to being the advertised junction?
There are still occasional through trains between Newquay and Plymouth, plus of course the summer Long distance services. I’m not aware there has ever been a through train from Newquay to Falmouth via Par, but in the 1950s there was an occasional through train via Perranporth, although I suspect this was more to balance Truro’s stock and crew mileage rather than for passenger benefit.
Further comment from John. The 1968 Transport Act brought in the concept of the Social Railway, and to cover its costs BR was encouraged to sell the family silver (railway land) which is why so many supermarkets are built in former goods yards. The 70s and 80s saw a declining railway, so when Newquay Box closed in 1987, the former platform 2 used less infrastructure and platform 3 was sold to a supermarket who don't want to sell it back, so Network Rail may have to foot the additional cost of rebuilding platform 1. Now we have a railway resurgence I wouldn't advise buying a property near railway land in case they ever want it back!
A prequal project sees a new park & ride station at Nansledan (Close to Quintrell Downs) , and a new roadbridge to replace Chapel and Trencreek Crossings. Cornwall Council’s website says this will all be completed in 2021, but as it hasn’t been it’s likely that the crossings will need to be replaced anyway, and Treloggan Crossing may need a footbridge, to cater for the doubling in service frequency and increased linespeed.
Members of my generation will remember that from around June 1968 Par and Camborne were downgraded to speed up the InterCity service, and Newquay trains extended to Bodmin Road, which coincidentally gave Lostwithiel an improved service. When did Par revert to being the advertised junction?
There are still occasional through trains between Newquay and Plymouth, plus of course the summer Long distance services. I’m not aware there has ever been a through train from Newquay to Falmouth via Par, but in the 1950s there was an occasional through train via Perranporth, although I suspect this was more to balance Truro’s stock and crew mileage rather than for passenger benefit.
Further comment from John. The 1968 Transport Act brought in the concept of the Social Railway, and to cover its costs BR was encouraged to sell the family silver (railway land) which is why so many supermarkets are built in former goods yards. The 70s and 80s saw a declining railway, so when Newquay Box closed in 1987, the former platform 2 used less infrastructure and platform 3 was sold to a supermarket who don't want to sell it back, so Network Rail may have to foot the additional cost of rebuilding platform 1. Now we have a railway resurgence I wouldn't advise buying a property near railway land in case they ever want it back!
Many thanks to you John for your most interesting summary, we look forward to hearing more from you as and when.
N.B. If you would like to receive your own personal e-mailed copy of Railnews google 'Railnews Publication' and from there you can register for a copy.
Through train
Newquay / Falmouth
Martin Duff
Newquay / Falmouth
Martin Duff
Summer 1989 there was a weekday 18.38 Falmouth - Newquay. It left Truro at 19.04, arriving Newquay 20.25 I’m not aware of a back working. Sent from my iPhone
Many thanks Martin.
Penzance Departure
Bob Dingle
Bob Dingle
Seen near Long Rock the 2P20 the 15.15 Penzance to Plymouth on the 19th September 2022 Copyright Bob Dingle
Many thanks Bob.
A shortened Class 37
Mike Bojko
Mike Bojko
Hello Keith and Roger. I enclose the photo I took last week when I was passing a pub car park in Derby. Only 3 minutes walk from the station.
Kind regards, Mike Bojko
Kind regards, Mike Bojko
37411 In a pub car park at Derby - see link. 14th September 2022. Copyright Mike Bojko
Many thanks Mike.
N.B. This is at Alandera Hotel Derby - if you want to see the cab delivered and unloaded try this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMR_tDapfqc