27th December 2018

27/12/2018

Westbury North Junction Renewals Day 1
23rd December 2018
Guy Vincent

As briefly mentioned recently, Westbury station is closed from December 23rd to January 3rd inclusive to enable Network Rail contractors and engineers to renew the complete track layout Westbury North Junction. The current layout is now life-expired and dates from April 1984 when the GWR semaphore signalling was removed, Westbury North Signal Box demolished and the area put onto the new Westbury Panel Box. At the same time as the renewal works are taking place signalling alterations will be made at the south end of the station prior to the platforms being extended in March/April 2019 to enable 10 car IEP's to be fully accommodated. In picture 3 the right hand gantry carrying signals W502 and W602 is to be removed with two new signals on straight posts replacing them. The left hand gantry and signal for P1 (W102) will remain but the right hand signal (W402) will be removed and relocated further south. I shall provide occasional pictures of the work as it progresses over the period. Westbury station will be closed and 'out of bounds' for the duration of the works but good views can be obtained from the public road bridge to the north. Train services will generally terminate & start back from Trowbridge, Frome and Warminster with West Country services using the avoiding line and calling instead at Frome. Buses will link Westbury to these stations and also Melksham as the Swindon-Westbury 'Trans Wilts' service is completely suspended for the period. Certain Weymouth-Bristol trains and vice versa will run through by using the Westbury avoider, reversing at Heywood Road Junction and continuing over the Hawkeridge loop to the east of Westbury. All part of 'Building a Greater West'.

Engineers well into the first stage of excavating the trackbed beneath the Down Reception, Patney Siding and Platform 1 lines at Westbury North at 1220pm on Sunday 23rd December. Just 13 hours beforehand this junction was in full use. 66416 is at the head of the spoil train. As the coming week progresses each line will be similarly dealt with

20181223_121908 Westbury Relaying on Day 1 Copyright Guy Vincent

20181223_122302 Westbury Relaying on Day 1 Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury North Junction Renewals Day 2
24th December 2018
Guy Vincent

Engineers cutting up the old track into small sections prior to removal into the waiting wagons as scrap. The machine at top centre of the picture has a 'claw' for picking up the redundant materials which are then dropped into the wagons. The adjacent formation has already been excavated, lined-out and received the initial drop of ballast.
Night views of the site with work continuing 24-7.

20181224_182340 Westbury North Day 2. Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury North Junction Renewals Day 3
Christmas Day
Guy Vincent

Looking towards the station with the Down Reception and number one platform line back in place with number two line dug out and sand already laid. Line two reconstruction with the sand bed in place and the liner being rolled out ready to receive ballast from the train standing to the left on the 'Up Trowbridge' line.

20181225_131719 Westbury North Day 3. Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury North Junction Renewals Day 4
Boxing Day
Guy Vincent

Day 4. Wednesday 26 December 2018. Picture 1) With track into the down reception and platform one replaced, the bed of the route into platform two has been excavated, levelled and bottom-ballasted ready for the new track to be laid. Beneath the ballast is a waterproof liner which sits on a bed of sand that has been compacted down and levelled in order to prevent 'wet beds' from forming. This junction carries some of the longest and heaviest trains to run in the UK so good support and drainage is absolutely crucial. The light-coloured line in the left foreground (to the left of the excavator) is believed to be the edge of the foundation of Westbury North Signal Box.
Picture 2) A Colas crane bringing in a new set of points that will chiefly allow trains from / to the Trowbridge (left) route to enter and exit platform one. The new crossover already installed behind the crane takes freight trains onto and away from the down reception line via number one line

20181226_110315 Westbury North Day 4.Copyright Guy Vincent

20181226_121503 Westbury North Day 4. Copyright Guy Vincent

Following the completion of the work at Westbury on 4th January 2019 a full account of the work that has taken place during that period will be found in the Features Section of this website.
We are very grateful for the very detailed photographs of this work being undertaken by Guy Vincent. Many Thanks Guy

Claverton
Ron Kosys

33027 at Claverton on 11th May 1988. Copyright Ron Kosys

Plymouth & Newton Abbot
Roger Winnen

181227b On route into Plymouth we pass the former Southern Viaduct crossing the valley at Ford in the process of demolition, its 3rd January 1987 . Copyright Roger Winnen

181227a 50025 Invincible heads the 10.30 from Penzance to London Paddington seen at Cornwall Junction Plymouth on 3rd January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181227c A Cornish Skipper heads a service to Paignton on 31st January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181227d One of the Welsh named 47s departs from Newton Abbot on 31st January 1987, these namings too place during the 150th Anniversary of the Great Western Railway in 1985. Copyright Roger Winnen

181227e Photographed on the 31st January 1987 Newton Abbot West Box survived another three months until it was demolished on 2nd May 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

Have a Happy Boxing Day

Christmas in
West Cornwall
Roger Salter & Mark Lynham

181225a 08410 at Long Rock on Christmas Morning. Copyright Roger Salter

181225b Long Rock Yard on Christmas morning a scene which will not be repeated next Christmas. Copyright Roger Salter

181226c 43171, 43093, 43153 Longrock TMD, Boxing Day 2018 Copyright Mark Lynham

181226c 43022, 43087, 43153 Longrock TMD, Boxing Day 2018 Copyright Mark Lynham

181226c An overall view of the Long Rock stabling sidings, Boxing Day 2018 Copyright Mark Lynham

181225d Pushing ballast under the track at Marazion Station on Christmas morning. Copyright Roger Salter

181225e With a load of metal and wood sleepers together with old sleepers at Marazion Station. Copyright Roger Salter

181226a Class 150 units 150221 and 150265 stabled in Penzance Station on Boxing Day. Copyright Roger Salter

181226b 43002 Longrock TMD, Boxing Day 2018 Copyright Mark Lynham

Sherrington
Ron Kosys

33008 at Sherrington on 10th April 1988 hauling the Brighton-Westbury. Copyright Ron Kosys

West Cornwall in the Snow
January 1987
Roger Winnen

181226a Penzance Station on the 17th January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181226b 50005 Collingwood aproaches Rospeath near Crowlas on the 09.33 Penzance Paddington service. Copyright Roger Winnen

181226c A pair of 50s approaches Arch Lane bridge on 17th January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181226d 50004 St Vincent climbs out of St Erth with the 07.00 Swindon Penzance on 17th January 1987 Copyright Roger Winnen

181226e Memories of the Age of Steam at Crowlas which closed around 1984. Copyright Roger Winnen

Christmas Day 2018

The Cornwall Railway Society would like to wish all its members, readers and contributors a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year

A Winterly Scene in West Cornwall
Its January 1987
Roger Winnen

181225a Penzance Station during the snowfall of the 12th January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181225b A Cornish Skipper 142025 in Platform 4 at Penzance on 14th January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181225c A Class 50 arrives under the station roof with the Plymouth stopper on 12th January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181225d 50039 Implacable stabled in the station yard on 14th January 1987. Copyright Roger Winnen

181225e The front of a Skipper together which looks like a Top and Tailed parcels. Copyright Roger Winnen

Roger Winnen would like to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas on this special day!

Thanks at Christmas

Dear Keith, once again I am reminded at this time of year to thank you for all the Cornwall related news and pictures. I enjoy every one perhaps for sentimental reasons, so encourage our Cornish photographers to keep them coming!

Merry Christmas
Brian Wills

Kingsteignton
Ron Kosys

31460+31454 at Kingsteignton on 24.06.89 Hauling the 0933 Saturday Stockport-Paignton. Copyright Ron Kosys

The Turkey Trot Railtour
8th January 1983
Clive Smith

With Christmas and the turkey we look back to the 8th January 1983. Pathfinders' precursor F & W Tours ran the unusually named Turkey Trot railtour via a circuitous route from Bristol at 05.58 to Birmingham then to Exeter via Bristol. A run up the 'Southern' followed via Romsey to Eastleigh, then on to Southampton West Docks crossing the city to the Eastern Docks. Next up was Reading and back to Bristol and on to Plymouth arriving around 22.30

Regards
Clive Smith

45062 is seen here starting the tour at Bristol TM running as far as Birmingham New St. Copyright Clive Smith

Split head code panel 45128 is the replacement loco seen here at Weston-Super-Mare at 10.45. Copyright Clive Smith

It's 13.15 and the tour empties for a photo stop at Gillingham in Dorset. The legendary Peter Watts can be seen in the orange jacket at the far left of the picture. Copyright Clive Smith

4) Following a loco change outside Eastleigh, 73126 and 73122 now head the tour ready to leave Southampton Eastern Docks (Ocean Liner Terminal) at 15.20 for the Western Docks. Copyright Clive Smith

It's around 17.30 at Eastleigh and 45128 is back on the front of the tour. Copyright Clive Smith

Many Thanks Clive for photographs of this interesting Railtour

Patchway Old and New Tunnels 24th December 2018
David Field

The shutdown of the railways in the Bristol area over the 2018 Christmas period (and beyond) should finally herald the arrival of electrification wires from Bristol Parkway through Patchway station and up to the Patchway Old and New Tunnels. At the other end of the tunnels, wires will be strung from Pilning, which is already partially wired, up to the Patchway New and Patchway Short Tunnel portals, and also completed down to the Severn Tunnel.

The photos I have sent were taken today at the Patchway end of the Old and New Tunnels. I thought I would try and get some last minute photos without the wires. The HST photo isn't the best, but they are now so few and far between these days on services into South Wales that I thought I would include it. For information, Patchway New Tunnel is the lower and closer of the two in the photos,.

A Merry Christmas to you and all the CRS members, contributors and readers of this wonderful website.

Kind Regards,

Dave Field

GWR's 43005 brings up the rear of 1B40 the 1408 Reading to Swansea, seen entering Patchway Old Tunnel at 1511 on 24 Dec 2018. 43069 was leading. - Copyright David Field

GWR's 158955 in FGW Dynamic Lines livery heads towards Patchway Old Tunnel on the 1F18 1410 Trowbridge to Cardiff Central at 1505 on 24 Dec 2018 - Copyright David Field

GWR's 800318 emerges from Patchway New Tunnel on 1L66 1329 Swansea to Reading at 1459 on 24 Dec 2018. - Copyright David Field

Many Thanks David

Christmas Eve
24th December 2018

A Merry Christmas from Clive Smith
A snowy scene on the 19th January 1985 as an HST leaves Plymouth for Paddington. Wishing Roger, Keith and all the contributors and readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Westbury North Junction Track Renewals
23rd December 2018 to 4th Jan 2019
Guy Vincent
Engineers well into the first stage of excavating the trackbed beneath the Down Reception, Patney Siding and Platform 1 lines at Westbury North at 1220pm on Sunday 23rd December. Just 13 hours beforehand this junction was in full use. 66416 is at the head of the spoil train. As the coming week progresses each line will be similarly dealt with.

20181223_121908 Westbury Relaying Copyright Guy Vincent

20181223_122302 Westbury Relaying Copyright Guy Vincent

Many Thanks Guy

5572 at Taunton
Ron Kosys

5572 Taunton Way back on the evening of 25th August 1971 Prairie 5572 was stored alongside Taunton Station. Rescued from Barry Scrapyard this loco now resides at Didcot. Copyright Ron Kosys

The Clay Hoods etc in and around St Austell
Roger Winnen
Photos taken 31st December 1986

181224a Class 37 William Cookworthy heads Tiger Rail wagons through St Austell on 31st December 1986. Copyright Roger Winnen

181224b Clay Hoods passing throuth St Austell on 31st December 1986. Copyright Roger Winnen

181224c 47064 Coming off the Parkandillack Branch at Burngullow with clay hoods. Copyright Roger Winnen

181224d A Class 37 pulls out of Crugwallins Dries with a clay shipment on 31st December 1986. Copyright Roger Winnen

181224e The old order at Burngullow Dries as the Crugwallins shipment heads east on 31st December 1986 - Copyright Roger Winnen

181224f 50040 Leviathen heads the Swindon Penzance onto the single line from Burngullow to Probus. 31st December 1986 - Copyright Roger Winnen

Roger Salter
Wishing all CRS. members and friends a Happy Christmas & Healthy New Year

181223a With daylight not yet here at 07.50 Long Rock Yard is fully illuminated on a December Sunday morning. Copyright Roger Salter

181223b The stored set with 43165, the Night Sleeper Stock & 43022 on a damp Sunday Morning. Copyright Roger Salter

A tight fit to photograph a HST on Moorswater Viaduct
Peter Murnaghan

181219a The !000 Penzance-Paddington crossing Moorswater Viaduct on 19th December 2018 A tight fit to get the full length of the train onto the viaduct. Copyright Peter Murnaghan

Freight Trains through Newport
Michael Forward

Hello Roger,
Great pictures on the site,topical and archive.
I send the first of two pictures taken at Newport on 22 July 1999.
The first is of 37884 in very smart Loadhaul livery,working unknown.It is good to see this loco. still in use,with Rail Operations Group, and with the equally distinctive Eueophoenix livery .
Thanks ,Michael

Here is the other one from Newport and what a combination!
This was an Alexandra Dock Junction to Mossend with 56037 leading 37131.
Thanks for dealing with these.
Best wishes for a happy Christmas and a healthy New year.Michael

Major works at
Westbury
Guy Vincent

Westbury Renewals 01 Westbury North Junction looking into the station on the 22nd December 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury Renewals 02 Westbury North Junction 22nd December 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury Renewals 03 Westbury Station South End 22nd December 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent

Winnen's Westerns
Penzance
Roger Winnen

D1013 Western Ranger at Penzance on the 16th October 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen

St Denys
Ron Kosys

VEP 1705 in Connex livery passes St Denys 12th May 2001 working a Portsmouth to Southampton service. Copyright Ron Kosys (Taken from a footbridge which no longer exists)

As we'd like to remember it.
Newquay
The late John Cornelius

It's over three months since John passed away, a great loss to the website and to the Yeovil Railway Centre. Let's remember him with these three pictures of Newquay. John titled his pictures - a very nice feature.

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27th December 2018

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