24th January 2021

'The eagle has landed'

  Roger Winnen has been moved from  Bodmin Hospital to a Convalescent Home near St Agnes where treatment on his infected leg will continue. We hope he will make a complete recovery and be able to return home in due course.

Weekend Engineering
Alan Peters

Weekend engineering at Swindon relaying the Down Main opposite the HOOB (High Output Operations Base) a night shot on 23/01/21 of Colas 70809 with 6C23 the work lights illuminating the Salmon wagons loaded with new sleepers which are being off loaded by a 360 digger with sleeper layer attached. The train originated at Hinksey Yard but will go forward to Wesbury via Melksham

Alan Peters

Weekend engineering at Swindon with Colas 70809 with 6C23. 23rd January 2021. Copyright Alan Peters

Many thanks to Driver Alan Peters for this dramatic photograph.
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Eggesford Box
Chris Bellett​

Hi Keith,

As previously advised I undertook some further research into the dates of level crossing conversions.  These are taken from the K2 Weekly Engineering Notices. So far I have 'dug out' those for Eggesford.

New Eggesford Signalbox commissioned Sunday 28/09/1969
Existing level crossing gates recovered Sunday 23/11/1969
New four half barriers commissioned Sunday 30/11/1969.

Unfortunately there is no mention of the new signalbox working the existing gates between 28/09/1969 and 23/11/1969, so its possible they were not connected to the new signalbox and were worked by hand 'on the ground' during that time.

I will continue to search out more accurate dates for the other level crossings.

Kind Regards,
Chris Bellett
Retired S&T Engineer

Many thanks Chris, many thanks for your time well spent in research.
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Okehampton & Meldon Quarry
Brian Pibworth

​Good Evening, Keith.

A few more for whenever appropriate.  Nice to see Alan Peters' working shots at Okehampton.  I wonder if these sleepers are replacing the new wooden ones piled in the Quarry Yard in my earlier 2007 pics. (See news of 23rd January 2021) If you reckon a treated fence post might last 15-20 years, that would be about right.

All the best. Brian 

Picture 1 Operating arrangements at Okehampton, at this time, were heavily biased in favour of the mainline services. This meant that the Dartmoor Pony was locked into platform 2 siding before the EWS 66223 loco entered section (Crediton?, Cowley Br. Jnc.?) and remained there until the latter had entered the Meldon Quarry complex. 22nd May 2007. Copyright Brian Pibworth.

Picture 2. On The Granite Way between Okehampton Station and Meldon Quarry. The Pull/Push Dartmoor Pony heads for Meldon with ex BR shunter D4167 "Bluebell Mel" providing traction at the rear. This loco, with TOPS number 08937, had actually operated at Meldon Quarry for a few years around privatisation. 22nd May 2007. Copyright Brian Pibworth

Picture 3.. EWS 66223 leaves the Meldon Quarry branch with a fully loaded train of 64t JNA ballast wagons. Copyright Brian Pibworth.

Picture 4, The Dartmoor Pony prepares to depart with a train much delayed by Freightliner Heavy Haul traffic. "Darfield No. 1" was completed by the Hunslet Engine Co. Ltd. of Leeds in October 1953 for the North Eastern Division of the National Coal Board and has passed through over a dozen operators since then. 30th May 2007. Copyright Brian Pibworth.

Picture 5 Freightliner 66604 brings the 6A81 Meldon Quarry - Fairwater Yd loaded HQAG autoballaster train down the gradient towards Okehampton. 30th May 2007.

Picture 6. Freightliner 66604 brings the 6A81 Meldon Quarry - Fairwater Yd loaded ballast train down, under the sharply inclined Tors Road Bridge, towards Okehampton, 70 min early. 30th May 2007. Copyright Brian Pibworth.

Picture 7 FL 66604 brings the 6A81 Meldon Quarry - Fairwater Yd loaded HQAG autoballasters past Dartmoor Railway ST "Darfield No 1" which had been waiting, locked into the siding, with the next train to Meldon. I had a much more optimistic view of my physical fitness, at that time, to have even contemplated descending from my perch on the bank near Tors Road and pedalling down to overtake the freight and record it again passing through Okie Station - and in the rain too!. Sic transit gloria.......... 30th May 2007. Copyright Brian Pibworth.

Many thanks Brian for your record of visits to the area. Will the line beyond Okehampton ever see regular passenger trains again! Only time will tell.
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A fleeting glimpse of
​Laira 1970
Andrew Jones

Laira in September 1970. Copyright Andrew Jones.

Dear Keith and Valerie, 2021 isn’t really starting out that well! I hope Roger is on the mend and the vaccination fairy has visited down your way.
I have attached one of those photographs which I pondered sending, but it has some historical relevance.
In the days of film and exposure meters and relatively slow ASA, it was a miracle that I managed this shot, even in Sept 1970. [if only digital photography had been invented]
It was always a thrill descending Hemerden Bank, which is the forth steepest mainline bank in the UK, with a ruling gradient of 1 in 42. On some days depending on the driver it felt like dropping in a lift!
The brakes were firmly applied adjacent Laira which certainly made for a lively ride in the mk 1 carriages of the day.
The Warship in crimson livery only had months before withdrawal and we didn’t know it at the time but much of the Victorian infrastructure by 1980 had also disappeared.
 
Very best wishes Andrew and Diane.

One can almost smell the brakes, thank you
Andrew & Diane.
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Steamy 46 at
Exeter
Clive Smith

Not the best direction to be pointing the camera after midday on a sunny midwinter day but with the 46s rapidly reducing in numbers it was a case of needs must. The class would have less than a year left in service. 46045's boiler is steaming well at the front of the 1Z25 10.05 Penzance - Edinburgh relief on the 30th December 1983.  This day had started with the 06.35 Bristol TM - Plymouth working in to Plymouth with 46052 double headed with 45130 much to my annoyance but this source of warmth with an inviting steam heated compartment was waiting to take me to Exeter.
46045 was the third from the last 46 to be withdrawn its last run being on 24-11-84 on the 07.50 Bristol -Penzance when it failed at Taunton. Happily now in preservation with the Peak Locomotive Company.  
Kind regards, Clive Smith,

46052 at Exeter on the 10.05 Penzance to Edinburgh. 30th December 1983,

One can almost feel the heat of the steam as it drifts towards the waiting public on the platform 
​Many thanks Clive.

End of the year an un-named Railtour
Bristol to Heathfield
Paul Barlow

37416 09.20 Bristol to Newton Abbot passes Dawlish Bristol to Heathfield Railtour 31st December 1996 Copyright Paul Barlow

37416 37668 on rear 1130 Newton Abbot to Heathfield approaches Teigngrace crossing 31st December 1996. Copyright Paul Barlow

37416 on 1425 Newton Abbot to Heathfield approaches Teigngrace halt 31st December 1996. Copyright Paul Barlow

37416 37668 on rear 1130 Newton Abbot to Heathfield leaves Teigngrace crossing 31st December 1996.Copyright Paul Barlow

37416 on 1425 Newton Abbot to Heathfield near Teigngrace halt 31st December 1996. Copyright Paul Barlow

37668 on 1425 Newton Abbot to Heathfield arrives at Heathfield 31st December 1996. Copyright Paul Barlow.

37668 on 1425 Newton Abbot to Heathfield passes Teigngrace halt 31st December 1996. Copyright Paul Barlow.

37668 on rear 1130 Newton Abbot to Heathfield passes over Teigngrace crossing 31st December 1996 Copyright Paul Barlow

A busy time chasing this one Paul - many thanks.