23rd June 2019

Lostwithiel Delights
​Mike Bojko

I attach a couple of pictures I took today at Lostwithiel station. The first is the painted shelter on the down platform and the second is of The Cornishman railtour hauled by Tornado.
        Kind Regards,  Mike Bojko.                   Many thanks Mike.

Lostwithiel Down Platform - official graffiti - 23rd June 2019. Copyright Mike Bojko . It looks smart - a good idea.

Tornado with 'The Cornishman' runs from Bristol to Par and return

No.60163 'Tornado' clearing Whiteball Tunnel (Devon end) working 1Z74 08.03 Bristol T.M-Par 'Summer Cornishman' 23.6.2019. Copyright Andrew Triggs

60163 Tornado at 10.10 near Exminster on the 23rd June 2019 Copyright David Tozer

​Just before the rain started to fall, 60163 Tornado makes light work of load 9 as it passes Daveys Cross bridge east of Ivybridge with the 08.03 Bristol TM - Par 'The Summer Cornishman'. Copyright Clive Smith

Tornado at Lostwithiel on the 23rd June 2019. Copyright Mike Bokyo. Just to think Mike went all that way to see the new shelter painting and this turned up - very lucky!!

190623e Tornado at the rear passing Bodmin Parkway on route to turn on the Laira triangle. Copyright Roger Winnen

190623 Tornado appearing to run 'wrong line', but actually on the rear of 1315 Par - Friary heading over Liskeard viaduct. Copyright Peter Murnaghan

The 17.30 Par to Bristol Temple Meads Pathfinders Summer Cornishman stop at Bristol Parkway. Not much sign of summer on this mid summer Sunday. Copyright Roger Salter

For a full coverage of 60163 Tornado with the Cornishman go to Features Click here on 1917 Features Mid June to December 2019

Gloomy Devon Today
David Tozer

Exminster in the gloom today. 158763 0828 Bristol (Temple Meads)   - Penzance. Possibly the last Class 158 that GWR have in blue livery now. 

158763 - possibly the last blue GWR 158. 23rd June 2019 Copyright David Tozer

Four from the
Far West
Mark Lynam

​Four photos taken on Friday 21st June with some beautiful early morning sunshine. The pictures are all crystal clear. 
Thanks,  Mark Lynam.  Many thanks to you too Mark. 
The early morning sunshine certainly provided excellent illumination for your superb shots. Your second picture has taken full advantage of the high tide and you've got the whole four coach train all reflected.  Very well done.

St Ives first train of the day. 150233 & 150261 21st June 2019 Copyright Mark Lynam

Lelant 150233 & 150261 passing by the time is 07.59 on the 21st June 2019. Copyright Mark Lynam

150233 & 150261 passing Lelant station. The train is the 2A06 08.15 St Ives to Penzance. 21st June 2019. Copyright Mark Lynam.

A wide angle shot of the Friday only XC HST departing Penzance on 1S49 0925 to Dundee with 43304 leading. 21st June 2019. Copyright Mark Lynam. N.B. This train takes 12 hours 18 mins reaching Dundee at 21.43. The fare a mere £123.85

Long Shot of 
Marazion
Chris Harvey

Chris is to be congratulated on his picture and you for finding the train. However this view from high above Marazion thirteen summers ago has much of interest. At first the railway takes second place - the A394 crossing the railway just before the station is very prominent.  However taking a further look at the scene it shows how the railroute hugs the coast line - also note Long Rock sheds, now much bigger.  Many thanks Chris. The date is the 3rd June 2006 and the train is the 10.53 Penzance to Paddington.  Many thanks Chris.

The 10.53 heads for the long closed Marazion station on the 3rd June 2006. Copyright Chris Harvey.

Links to the 
Tornado Timings
Karl Hewlett

Activated only today, Saturday, here are the full revised times the 'Summer Cornishman' tour with A1 60163:

Sunday 23rd June Par to Plymouth Friary S.S
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O16115/2019/06/23/advanced

Sunday 23rd June Plymouth Friary S.S. to Par
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O16116/2019/06/23/advanced

Regards,  Karl (The Friends Of Penmere Station). Many thanks Karl.

Good News
​Portishead Branch
​Peter Maliphant

Our next Members’ meeting will be on Tuesday week, 2nd July at the Folk Hall, Portishead with the meeting starting at 7.30pm. 
 
We will update you on the DCO submission, all the recent good news and the likely timescales before we see trains running to Portishead.
 
Regards, Peter Maliphant. Membership Secretary. Many thanks Peter.

​

Bring back the full length HST's - Please.
'Fare' Comment
Diana and Andrew Jones

 Would Isambard Kingdom Brunel turn in his grave?  Today Diane and I had a chance to sample the old and the new whilst travelling  by GWR to Paddington.  My Daughter lives in Yarcombe which is where our dog 'Flinty' , a deer hound goes on her holidays when we are away. Sienna dropped us off at Taunton, a station much changed since my days at the Hydrographic Dept in the early 1970's. We were waiting on Platform 3, which was out of use when I last visited. Our connection to Bristol at 12.07 was booked a DMU but to our delight turned out to be a castle class HST.  With over 4000hp it made short work of the stopping train to Bristol, which was heavily loaded beyond Bridgewater. Although only second class accommodation it was impressive both in comfort and ride.
We arrived easily on time and transferred to platform 15 at Temple leads for our Hitachi new generation HST departing at 13.30.
I have been looking forward to my first journey in these replacements.
Now I have to say the following is my opinion and must not be taken as definitive review of these new trains, but I observed the following.
We decided to travel 1st class, which can be confusing, because 1st class is spread around the formation. We were booked in coach k which did not tie up with the station announcements.  Our train was made up of 11 coaches, but are effectively two formations with no continuous  through passage, so it's important to enter the correct section.
The station turn around time is much reduced by the use of automatic  doors so there is not a lot of time, if you get it wrong.
We managed this but anyone with no railway  interest might get caught out, so beware!
Coach K is 50% 2nd class and 50% 1st Class, with an opaque sliding door dividing the classes.
Reservations are electronically displayed above the seats and is an improvement over the old system.
Now comes the seating, there have been a lot of complaints about the firm nature and Diane and I were grateful that our journey from Bristol was only 90 mins.
The ride quality was lively to say the least and even in 1st class the engine noise was intrusive, although this improved under the wires from Swindon.
Diane and I both felt that the quality of service has been much reduced although staff were very pleasant.
Would Brunel turn in his grave, we both felt he would, which is such a shame, GWR must receive credit for investment, but did anyone test those seats or question using no through passage formations, no buffet and a trolley service which is a logistical nightmare. I am really sorry because I soo wanted to give this new train a good review.

            Best wishes Andrew and Diane. 
​Many thanks for your comments Andrew.  Andrew and Diane are seasoned rail travellers world wide.  The fare would seem to be about £61 each.