The end of 1962
Michael L. Roach
Michael L. Roach
THE END of 1962 – PART 10
Laira Shed – Inside the Roundhouse
I am not sure whether there were any trains running in the West Country on Boxing Day 1962 but if there were a few it was still a very good day to visit Laira Steam Shed as it would have been well stocked with mostly dead steam locos. On this occasion I concentrated on taking photos in the roundhouse while it was quiet, balancing the camera on a buffer beam to take the locos further around the edge of the turntable. I never did flash photography until acquiring a digital comera some 45 years later, so all photos were taken at f11 with times of 10, 20 and 60 seconds. The two photos shown here were taken at 20 and 10 secs respectively.
MLR / 09 December 2022
Laira Shed – Inside the Roundhouse
I am not sure whether there were any trains running in the West Country on Boxing Day 1962 but if there were a few it was still a very good day to visit Laira Steam Shed as it would have been well stocked with mostly dead steam locos. On this occasion I concentrated on taking photos in the roundhouse while it was quiet, balancing the camera on a buffer beam to take the locos further around the edge of the turntable. I never did flash photography until acquiring a digital comera some 45 years later, so all photos were taken at f11 with times of 10, 20 and 60 seconds. The two photos shown here were taken at 20 and 10 secs respectively.
MLR / 09 December 2022
5880 Here we see 5568, 4658 both based at Laira and 4701 of Old Oak Common Shed. Copyright Michael L. Roach
5882 In this view we see 4574, 4555 and 4920 Dumbleton Hall all of Laira Shed. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks Mike - Part 11 Tomorrow, Christmas Day.
Gunnislake Branch
Andrew Jones
Andrew Jones
Having been virtually housebound due to 4 weeks of dreadful weather, my oldest daughter, Amber and I decided to risk frostbite or potential drowning and chance a trip on the Tamar Valley Line from Gunnislake to Plymouth on Tuesday this week 20th December 2022.
Its been a fair while since my last visit to the Cornish border and a new experience using the relocated station at Gunnislake. First impressions were favourable and the car park was free of charge, (surely a common sense decision for any station, when did you last pay to use a supermarket car park?)
The weather turned out to be wonderful with clear blue skies, extremely mild considering we are approaching the shortest day of the year!
We decided to catch the 11.19 service to Plymouth which actually departed 1 min early formed of a 2 car set 150263, not personally my favourite class but with 4 tables available and a reasonable window alignment, it was comfortable enough.
If you have a choice, facing towards Plymouth on the left hand side of the carriage gives stunning views of the river Tamar down to Calstock as the train slowly meanders on a steep gradient.
There are two level crossing stops before we reach the first station on a sharp left hand curve overlooking the river and the magnificent Calstock viaduct.
I have often pondered how this line survived the Beeching period, especially given that the much larger town of Tavistock lost its service and it is possible that the viaduct and the direct access it gave to Plymouth may have swayed the argument, (travelling by road is lengthy) its a shame that the upper section from Gunnislake to Callington was not retained opening out a much larger catchment, but that’s history!
We reached Bere Alston at 11.37, on time for our reversal on to the ex LSWR mainline, the station still retaining many original features and a tantalising possibility of once again extending to Tavistock and possibly back to Okehampton although I suspect not in my lifetime.
As a quirk of fate there is no need to change seats, having crossed the Tamar and reversed, the river is still on our side of the carriage and you now experience the more gentle curves and speed of the original LSWR mainline towards Bere Ferries and the under the Royal Albert Bridge and our connection to the GWR Cornish mainline at St Budeaux Victoria Road arriving at 11.52.
Disruption to services up country culminated in a approx 4 min delay departing onto the junction at 11.57, eventually arriving at Plymouth North Road at 12.08 again 4 mins late.
North Road station is very much as rebuilt during the 1950’s to the design of Howard Cavanagh and Ian Campbell with its Tower Block (Intercity House) complementing its sister building the Civic Centre to the south. The station was formally opened, rather ironically by Dr Richard Beeching on the 26th March 1962. There were originally 7 through platforms but two have been converted to terminal bay platforms one of which is used by the Tamar Valley Line. The loss of Royal Mail traffic was a big blow, something which North Road has never recovered from and the station is now only a shadow of its former glory.
I wish all the team at Cornwall Railway Society, the many amazing contributors and the extraordinary efforts of the webmasters who continue to provide a daily update and informative narrative...... a very peaceful Christmas and highly productive new year.
Very best wishes from Andrew Diane and Family.
Its been a fair while since my last visit to the Cornish border and a new experience using the relocated station at Gunnislake. First impressions were favourable and the car park was free of charge, (surely a common sense decision for any station, when did you last pay to use a supermarket car park?)
The weather turned out to be wonderful with clear blue skies, extremely mild considering we are approaching the shortest day of the year!
We decided to catch the 11.19 service to Plymouth which actually departed 1 min early formed of a 2 car set 150263, not personally my favourite class but with 4 tables available and a reasonable window alignment, it was comfortable enough.
If you have a choice, facing towards Plymouth on the left hand side of the carriage gives stunning views of the river Tamar down to Calstock as the train slowly meanders on a steep gradient.
There are two level crossing stops before we reach the first station on a sharp left hand curve overlooking the river and the magnificent Calstock viaduct.
I have often pondered how this line survived the Beeching period, especially given that the much larger town of Tavistock lost its service and it is possible that the viaduct and the direct access it gave to Plymouth may have swayed the argument, (travelling by road is lengthy) its a shame that the upper section from Gunnislake to Callington was not retained opening out a much larger catchment, but that’s history!
We reached Bere Alston at 11.37, on time for our reversal on to the ex LSWR mainline, the station still retaining many original features and a tantalising possibility of once again extending to Tavistock and possibly back to Okehampton although I suspect not in my lifetime.
As a quirk of fate there is no need to change seats, having crossed the Tamar and reversed, the river is still on our side of the carriage and you now experience the more gentle curves and speed of the original LSWR mainline towards Bere Ferries and the under the Royal Albert Bridge and our connection to the GWR Cornish mainline at St Budeaux Victoria Road arriving at 11.52.
Disruption to services up country culminated in a approx 4 min delay departing onto the junction at 11.57, eventually arriving at Plymouth North Road at 12.08 again 4 mins late.
North Road station is very much as rebuilt during the 1950’s to the design of Howard Cavanagh and Ian Campbell with its Tower Block (Intercity House) complementing its sister building the Civic Centre to the south. The station was formally opened, rather ironically by Dr Richard Beeching on the 26th March 1962. There were originally 7 through platforms but two have been converted to terminal bay platforms one of which is used by the Tamar Valley Line. The loss of Royal Mail traffic was a big blow, something which North Road has never recovered from and the station is now only a shadow of its former glory.
I wish all the team at Cornwall Railway Society, the many amazing contributors and the extraordinary efforts of the webmasters who continue to provide a daily update and informative narrative...... a very peaceful Christmas and highly productive new year.
Very best wishes from Andrew Diane and Family.
Gunnislake 1 looking towards Callington beyond the buffer stop. 20th December 2022. Copyright Andrew Jones.
The 11.19 to Plymouth 20th Dec 2022. Copyright Andrew Jones.
Plymouth arrival from Gunnislake platform 3. Intercity House tower block n...c 2022. . 20th December 2022. Copyright Andrew Jones.
We are at Plymouth waiting a green for our return journey to Gunnislake. note the replica totem station name on the post to the right hand side. 20th December 2022. Copyright Andrew Jones.
Many thanks Andrew for reviving our memories and your pictures.
Temple Meads '82
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
46014 on the 01.10 Bristol to Leeds 1E10 Parcels and passenger service. 27th March 1982. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Nobody in sight at this unearthly hour in 1982 - well done and thanks Paul.
Thats all folks
Craig Munday
Craig Munday
Hi Keith
Well, as 2022 draws to a close, it's been a great year with a fantastic Summer and lots of interesting workings. How dour we will be next Christmas I really dread to think with Truro, Par & Lostwithiel boxes having closed and Castle sets a memory. But then, as my dad always says, there's always something to film!
He was given strange looks for filming Warships on his cine camera in 1971, steam having finished in the Duchy almost a decade earlier. Our beautiful county will always provide a fine backdrop for any traction, and with vegetation being cut back in the far South West, scenes are being revealed not seen since the 70s!
All the best for now, keep the photos coming, and remember, it's DIGITAL it costs nothing!!
Craig Munday
Well, as 2022 draws to a close, it's been a great year with a fantastic Summer and lots of interesting workings. How dour we will be next Christmas I really dread to think with Truro, Par & Lostwithiel boxes having closed and Castle sets a memory. But then, as my dad always says, there's always something to film!
He was given strange looks for filming Warships on his cine camera in 1971, steam having finished in the Duchy almost a decade earlier. Our beautiful county will always provide a fine backdrop for any traction, and with vegetation being cut back in the far South West, scenes are being revealed not seen since the 70s!
All the best for now, keep the photos coming, and remember, it's DIGITAL it costs nothing!!
Craig Munday
The driver salutes Craig (and rightly so) on a down service approaching Lostwithiel. 22nd December 2022. Copyright Craig Munday.
A fantastic sky at St Blazey. 66077 on the clay at St Blazey. 23rd December 2022. Copyright Craig Munday
Many thanks indeed Craig for all your pictures throughout the year - I hope we can continue to see your up to date views for the coming years though the boxes and semaphores will be sadly missed.
WSR Santa Express
Andrew Triggs
Andrew Triggs
Afternoon Keith/Roger
Back in Somerset for Christmas so took the opportunity to capture the WSR 'Santa Express' with GWR 'Manor' no.7828 'Odney Manor' with Class 33 no.6575 top and tailing the service, which due to the recent landslip on the line at Combe Florey, is only operating between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren, a quick visit to Fairwater Yard in Taunton in between the 'Santa Express' was also undertaken, not much else of note happening on the mainline
All the Best for Christmas and New Year to all CRS Members
Cheers
Andrew
1. Crompton No.6575 leading the 1030 Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren 'Santa Express' passing Longland overbridge
2. Taunton Fairwater Yard from Staplegrove Road overbridge, with Freighliner 66506 with 66507 awaiting next duties
3. Resident No.6575 passing Dene overbridge leading the 13.30 Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren service
4. GWR 'Manor' No.7828 'Odney Manor' trailing the 13.30 Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren 'Santa Express' clearing Dene overbridge
5. The return from Norton Fitzwarren (ex 13.30 Bishops Lydeard) nearing Longlands overbridge, with no.7828 'Odney Manor' leading (D6575 at the rear)
Back in Somerset for Christmas so took the opportunity to capture the WSR 'Santa Express' with GWR 'Manor' no.7828 'Odney Manor' with Class 33 no.6575 top and tailing the service, which due to the recent landslip on the line at Combe Florey, is only operating between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren, a quick visit to Fairwater Yard in Taunton in between the 'Santa Express' was also undertaken, not much else of note happening on the mainline
All the Best for Christmas and New Year to all CRS Members
Cheers
Andrew
1. Crompton No.6575 leading the 1030 Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren 'Santa Express' passing Longland overbridge
2. Taunton Fairwater Yard from Staplegrove Road overbridge, with Freighliner 66506 with 66507 awaiting next duties
3. Resident No.6575 passing Dene overbridge leading the 13.30 Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren service
4. GWR 'Manor' No.7828 'Odney Manor' trailing the 13.30 Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren 'Santa Express' clearing Dene overbridge
5. The return from Norton Fitzwarren (ex 13.30 Bishops Lydeard) nearing Longlands overbridge, with no.7828 'Odney Manor' leading (D6575 at the rear)
Photo 1 23rd December 2022. Copyright Andrew Triggs.
Photo 2 23rd December 2022. Copyright Andrew Triggs.
Photo 3 23rd Deember Copyright Andrew Triggs.
Photo 4 23rd December 2022. Copyright Andrew Triggs.
Photo 5 Copyright Andrew Triggs.
Thanks alot Andrew, another good day out.
Ken at Swindon
Ken Mumford
Ken Mumford
Ken sent quite a bundle on space for three sorry.
Train of scrap stock heading for the Dean Forest Railway for storage before heading on for further useage on a preserved line. 24th December 2022. Copyright Ken Mumford.
In praise of the ladies. An IET decorated. Copyright Ken Mumford.
Merehead to Wotten Basset train after run round. Copyright Ken Mumford.
Thanks Ken - Happy Christmas.
And finally a collection of Christmas scenes from Mick House, Alan Peters and Dennis Clarke.
From them and all of us to all of you.
From them and all of us to all of you.
Many thanks Mick - a smashing picture.
All the very best to you and Norma.
All the very best to you and Norma.
Best wishes to all from
Alan Peters
Alan Peters
Alan writes - Wishing Cornwall Railway Society and all the website readers a Merry Christmas, that just about wraps up 2022, hopefully I can submit more inside the fence pictures next year offering a different perspective on life the railways.
A quick look back to the blizzard of 2018 with 'Snow Loco' 70808 at Exeter St Davids on 1st March 2018
Driver Alan Peters
A quick look back to the blizzard of 2018 with 'Snow Loco' 70808 at Exeter St Davids on 1st March 2018
Driver Alan Peters
From our very regular contributor Driver Alan Peters.
Many thanks Alan - all the very best to you and your family from the CRS Website.
Angarrack Illuminations
Dennis Clarke
Dennis Clarke
Hi Keith and Roger, Merry Christmas to all of you who do the website and all contributors. It’s great to have a look at it every day. Picture is from Angarrack, Regards, Dennis Clarke.
Angarrack Illuminations plus the viaduct.. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
Well caught, many thanks Dennis.