Clifton Downs Tunnel
Mark Howells
Mark Howells
Evening Keith,
Several months ago you and your members kindly responded to my request for any information about the drainage system in Clifton Down tunnel.
Following several further enquiries with the Didcot Railway Centre and John Mann we were able to gather enough detail to excavate trial holes with confidence.
Please find attached several images taken during a visit to our current worksite yesterday.
Thank you for all the help and pictures provided – I shall be visiting the site later this week again to see the works as they progress and will send through further pictures.
Kind Regards,
Mark Dennis Howells BEng (Hons) MPWI MIAM
Senior Asset Engineer (Drainage & Lineside)
Several months ago you and your members kindly responded to my request for any information about the drainage system in Clifton Down tunnel.
Following several further enquiries with the Didcot Railway Centre and John Mann we were able to gather enough detail to excavate trial holes with confidence.
Please find attached several images taken during a visit to our current worksite yesterday.
Thank you for all the help and pictures provided – I shall be visiting the site later this week again to see the works as they progress and will send through further pictures.
Kind Regards,
Mark Dennis Howells BEng (Hons) MPWI MIAM
Senior Asset Engineer (Drainage & Lineside)
Clifton Downs tunnel drainage 1 22nd Feb 22. Copyright Mark Howells - Network Rail. 375mm Vitrified Clay pipe in the former 6ft
Clifton Downs tunnel drainage 2 22nd Feb 22. Copyright Mark Howells - Network Rail. West cutting of Clifton Down tunnel
Clifton Downs tunnel drainage 3 22nd Feb 22 Copyright Mark Howells - Network Rail.. Drainage Clearance Road Rail Vehicle
Many thanks Mark for the tunnel pictures and particularly of the road/rail vehicle.
23rd February 2022
Creech observations
Bill Elston
Creech observations
Bill Elston
Some observations at Creech today,
1. Bristol East Jct to Westbury via Norton Fitzwarren, top/tailed with 70801 and 70811 ( still displaying the old 'helmet' logo.
2, Pnz - Cdf, 2U16, tailed by 43171.
3, Pnz - Edb, (1S49 ) led by 43301 with 43321.
4, Westbury to Fairwater yd, 6C73, ballast, with 66547.
Hope these are of interest
Cheers,
Bill
1. Bristol East Jct to Westbury via Norton Fitzwarren, top/tailed with 70801 and 70811 ( still displaying the old 'helmet' logo.
2, Pnz - Cdf, 2U16, tailed by 43171.
3, Pnz - Edb, (1S49 ) led by 43301 with 43321.
4, Westbury to Fairwater yd, 6C73, ballast, with 66547.
Hope these are of interest
Cheers,
Bill
Picture 1A 70801, Creech . 23rd February 2022. Copyright Bill Elston
Picture 1B 70811 on the tail of the same train at ,Creech. 23rd February 2022. Copyright Bill Elston
Picture 2. 43171, Creech 23rd February 2022. Copyright Bill Elston
Picture 3. 43301, Creech 23rd February 2022. Copyright Bill Elston
Picture 4. 66547, Creech 23rd February 2022. Copyright Bill Elston
Busy time at Creech, Paul - many thanks.
The power of the Internet
Craig Munday.
Craig Munday.
There are many Facebook Railway groups. I am a member of many of the ones covering the South West, and South West traction. I happily see wonderful posts from Roger Geach, Bernard Mills, Dave Letcher and many others who have generously uploaded their precious work there. Most groups are supportive, helpful and down to earth. Those that aren't - I avoid!
The joy of pictures being enjoyed from yesteryear can often spark a debate, or frantic fact searching. Where Warship pictures are concerned, Martin Street and Mark Alden have encyclopedic information on the class and their workings. They're able to recognise a locomotive from the minutest of details. Martin has breathed life into my dad's Warship footage, helping identify locomotives, workings and dates. Of course, headcodes were a big help in this era.
A recent excellent picture of D812, prior to being fitted, with its headcode boxes was aired with the task of identifying the location and working. The picture is included, but the photographer is unknown, so please accept the apologies to the gentleman concerned.
The picture shows D812 in green with maroon coaches cruising under a bridge, with a cottage in the background and a semaphore distant signal as a clue. This was fascinating, as it cried out Cornwall, but it wasn't immediately obvious where it was. I got my thinking cap on and thought of all the stone graceful arched bridges we have in the Duchy featuring such a curve and a steep road above (note the incline in the bridge).
Somerton, Crofton, Kingskerswell and many others were in the "hat", but I believed it was in Cornwall. The detective kit was on! Firstly this was a populated area, judging by the house & chimney in the background. The distant semaphore signal meant it was in the vicinity of a signalbox, though there were scores of them on the mainline in 1962. Looking at the curve in the tracks, and the steepness of the road above - the only location that fitted was Trewoon near Burngullow. Could this be the down distant for Burngullow? The curve looked right, but I couldn't vouch for the cottage.
Others suggested Dobwalls, but I knew that Duloe Road bridge didnt fit the criteria of the image. Grampound Road was another potential, but the distant signal wouldn't have been this close to the box. Bridges between St Germans and Saltash were strong candidates as there are few steep curves here. Coombe St Stephen also has such structures, though no signals would have been sited here.
I visited the area and discovered to my delight that it was indeed Trevannion Road at Trewoon. The house in the background is now screened by other houses and trees, but the unmistakable graceful roof profile and even the chimneys are still there. Although viewed from the Trewoon side, the bridge is obviously this one, with its tell-tale steep road above.
Problem solved after all these years! Kind regards, Craig
The joy of pictures being enjoyed from yesteryear can often spark a debate, or frantic fact searching. Where Warship pictures are concerned, Martin Street and Mark Alden have encyclopedic information on the class and their workings. They're able to recognise a locomotive from the minutest of details. Martin has breathed life into my dad's Warship footage, helping identify locomotives, workings and dates. Of course, headcodes were a big help in this era.
A recent excellent picture of D812, prior to being fitted, with its headcode boxes was aired with the task of identifying the location and working. The picture is included, but the photographer is unknown, so please accept the apologies to the gentleman concerned.
The picture shows D812 in green with maroon coaches cruising under a bridge, with a cottage in the background and a semaphore distant signal as a clue. This was fascinating, as it cried out Cornwall, but it wasn't immediately obvious where it was. I got my thinking cap on and thought of all the stone graceful arched bridges we have in the Duchy featuring such a curve and a steep road above (note the incline in the bridge).
Somerton, Crofton, Kingskerswell and many others were in the "hat", but I believed it was in Cornwall. The detective kit was on! Firstly this was a populated area, judging by the house & chimney in the background. The distant semaphore signal meant it was in the vicinity of a signalbox, though there were scores of them on the mainline in 1962. Looking at the curve in the tracks, and the steepness of the road above - the only location that fitted was Trewoon near Burngullow. Could this be the down distant for Burngullow? The curve looked right, but I couldn't vouch for the cottage.
Others suggested Dobwalls, but I knew that Duloe Road bridge didnt fit the criteria of the image. Grampound Road was another potential, but the distant signal wouldn't have been this close to the box. Bridges between St Germans and Saltash were strong candidates as there are few steep curves here. Coombe St Stephen also has such structures, though no signals would have been sited here.
I visited the area and discovered to my delight that it was indeed Trevannion Road at Trewoon. The house in the background is now screened by other houses and trees, but the unmistakable graceful roof profile and even the chimneys are still there. Although viewed from the Trewoon side, the bridge is obviously this one, with its tell-tale steep road above.
Problem solved after all these years! Kind regards, Craig
D812 'The Royal Naval Reserve 1859 - 1959' at Trewoon the photographer is unknown, so please accept the apologies to the gentleman concerned. Craig Munday.
Many thanks Craig.
Three car luxury
Craig Munday
Craig Munday
A blustery day across the south west on the unique date of 22/2/22. In between the heavy showers there was superb sunshine - albeit brief. GWR's three car 158, 158959 was employed on the St Ives branch on 21st / 22nd Feb, and was captured on the golf course, the track joints melodic clickety clack adding to the spectacle. The golf course one of the final sections of 60ft jointed track in the area. Godrevy & Gwithian were still shrouded in cloud as the unit passed St Ives bound.
43171 leading 43093 was later seen passing Scorrier as the sun crossed the line at Apex bridge - a sure sign the evenings are pulling out. The sun high at just after 16.00.
Cheers for now, Craig.
43171 leading 43093 was later seen passing Scorrier as the sun crossed the line at Apex bridge - a sure sign the evenings are pulling out. The sun high at just after 16.00.
Cheers for now, Craig.
158959 passes Porthkidney Sands 2A25 2A26 22nd February 2022 Copyright Craig Munday.
158959 passes Porthkidney Sands 2A25 2A26 22nd February 2022 Copyright Craig Munday.
2C73 43171 43093 Apex, Scorrier. 22nd February 2022 Copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks to you Craig.
Plea for information on -
Cornish Signal Boxes
James Taylor
Cornish Signal Boxes
James Taylor
I am currently recreating signal boxes currently in use as computer simulations and I was wondering if you had any photos especially of the diagram but also images of the box in general are invaluable! I have managed to finish one of Truro box with the images available online but would love to get some extra images of in particular Par Station, Truro (specifically the current barrier controls) and St Erth (particularly an up to date image of the diagram) but of course any images you have of any box are a joy to look at. I have seen that you have previously been in contact with Craig Munday and his images of especially Truro have been invaluable and if you could pass on my thanks that would be greatly appreciated!
Kind Regards
James Taylor Contact - [email protected]
Kind Regards
James Taylor Contact - [email protected]
Your letter has been placed in our News Column. This is done in order that you may get extra contacts. Any images which are on our site are of course the property of the owners and will need permission to use.
Another source of information is the 'Signalling Record Society', however there is a membership fee to join that much respected source and their material is copyright. Try 'Google' for the SRS;
Another source of information is the 'Signalling Record Society', however there is a membership fee to join that much respected source and their material is copyright. Try 'Google' for the SRS;