Cockwood Harbour
David Tozer
David Tozer
Yet another perfect picture, the tides right, the sky is right and just a trace of smoke. 34046 running as 34052 'Lord Dowding' with the 1650 Kingswear - Bristol (Temple Meads). Copyright David Tozer. This picture received about an hour ago.
'That HST Again'
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
HST power car 43002 caught head-on departing Westbury on today's 1A80 0805 Penzance-Paddington with a companion shot of 43053 also included as the train curves away towards Newbury.
Far better than watching football! 'And so say most of us' !!!
43002 built 1975 and still in front line service in 2018. 43053 was produced at Crewe in 1977 for set 253026 and has spent time on the Western, Midland and Eastern regions of British Railways before returning to the 'Western' (with FGW) in 2009. It has carried BR Blue/Grey Yellow, Original 'Executive' & Revised Inter City 'Swallow' liveries, Midland Mainline ( two variations, Green/Tangerine, Blue & Grey) and finally GNER Blue before receiving it's current finish. Plus it has had three names bestowed, County of Humberside, Leeds United and, finally, the plates it still carries, University of Worcester.
Guy V 24.06.2018
Many thanks as usual, what a mine of information Guy is.
Far better than watching football! 'And so say most of us' !!!
43002 built 1975 and still in front line service in 2018. 43053 was produced at Crewe in 1977 for set 253026 and has spent time on the Western, Midland and Eastern regions of British Railways before returning to the 'Western' (with FGW) in 2009. It has carried BR Blue/Grey Yellow, Original 'Executive' & Revised Inter City 'Swallow' liveries, Midland Mainline ( two variations, Green/Tangerine, Blue & Grey) and finally GNER Blue before receiving it's current finish. Plus it has had three names bestowed, County of Humberside, Leeds United and, finally, the plates it still carries, University of Worcester.
Guy V 24.06.2018
Many thanks as usual, what a mine of information Guy is.
Westbury 43002 & 43053 1A80 0805 Penzance to Paddington 12.33 24th June 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Westbury 43053 rear 1A80 0805 PNZ-PAD 12.33 24th June 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
The English Riviera express
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
Today (24th) new charter operator Saphos Trains ran their first charter, a Bristol TM-Kingswear 'English Riviera Express' via Westbury with pick-ups at Bath Spa, Bradford-on-Avon, Westbury, Frome and Taunton. Strangely Trowbridge was omitted for boarding/alighting and on the return Bradford was omitted from the advertised schedule despite the morning pick-up! Heading the train was ex SR West Country class 34046 'Braunton' which is still running as long-scrapped sister loco 34052 'Lord Dowding'. Carriages were in pristine showroom condition in British Railways Carmine and Cream livery with an added bonus at the back of the formation, class 47 diesel no. 47805 in original two-tone BR Green. With barely any smoke visible due to the warm, dry weather conditions today 34052 carefully eases the train away from Bradford-on-Avon and exits the 159 yard long tunnel east of the station. Saphos Trains are to be congratulated for presenting their train in such outstanding condition; a real delight to see. Hopefully the west country will see more of their trains in the future as they seem to be a well-run, professional organisation with high standards.
Guy V
Guy V
Bradford on Avon 34046 (052) 1Z27 BTM-KGW 08.56 24th June 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
485 Bradford-on-Avon 47805 (650, 257)(D1935) 1Z27 24th June 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Class 47 diesel 47805 (carrying it's original number D1935) at the back of today's Saphos Trains 'English Riviera Express' leaving Bradford-on-Avon. The loco has also carried the numbers 47257 and 47650. Surprisingly there seemed to be more smoke gently puffing out of this than there was from steam loco 34052 at the front! (Taken from public road behind fence, cropped and enlarged).
Guy V 24.06.2018 Many thanks GUY for your two superb pictures and accompanying text
Guy V 24.06.2018 Many thanks GUY for your two superb pictures and accompanying text
Yesterday the Mazey Day Cornishman
With Four Locomotives
50049 Defiance masqueraded on one side as 50011 Centurion and50007 Hercules as 50006 Neptune
With Four Locomotives
50049 Defiance masqueraded on one side as 50011 Centurion and50007 Hercules as 50006 Neptune
Photographers David Field David Tozer Trevor Tremethick Andrew Jones Julian Stephens Mick House Craig Munday Roger Salter Ollie Turrell Andrew Triggs Keith Jenkin Roger Aston and Roger Winnen
180623z 50049 and 50007 About to go under Apex Bridge, although it is the Mazey Day 'Cornishman' the headboard (Slim 1964-2014) carried by the leading engine commemorates Neil (Slim) Morgan, an active Severn Valley Railway volunteer who passed away after an illness in 2014. 50049 Defience carried this headbosrd during the Severn Valley Diesel Gala in October 2014 to pay tribute to Slim Morgan. Copyright Mick House
180623i 2785 1Z50 05.40 Tame Parkway to Penzance is seen at Laira Junction. Copyright Trevor Tremethick
180623s Propelling to slopers siding from Platform 1. Copyright Andrew Triggs
180623zh 50011 Centurian and 50006 Neptune in slopers siding. Copyright Roger Salter
I feel I must add on a positive note that I travelled from Redruth to Penzance for Mazey Day. I felt that the way in which the vastly increased numbers were handled was excellent. At Redruth, Revenue Protection Officers were present on both up and down platforms issuing tickets. Both the journey down and back were by HST's which were packed. At Penzance the crowd took about ten minutes to clear the platform - well done GWR. KJ
Click Here for further coverage of this railtour in Features 1818 April end onwards 2018
Travel problems old and new
Mike Roach
Mike Roach
LETTER SDR 24.06.1848
If you thought that complaints about trains and railway management was a recent phenomenon its clearly not, as this letter shows. It appeared in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette for 24 June 1848 just 7 weeks after the South Devon Railway opened from Totnes to Plymouth and the passenger service commenced. Here it is verbatim, and the italics are not mine but original:
THE SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY INCORRIGIBLE
To the Editor of the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette
SIR, - As you take great interest in the Western Railways, I
think it right to inform you that I left the Laira Station by the
afternoon train yesterday,(with only three light carriages
and a horse box) and on arriving at the inclined plane, near
Plympton, we were brought to a stand still; and after actually
receding three times for about a mile, it was found absolutely
necessary to leave the horse box behind, when (after a full half
hour's delay) we reached the summit, but did not arrive at Totnes
until 20 minutes after four, being half an hour after its time, and
where we met the Express down train, which (if it arrived at its
appointed time) had been detained 35 minutes ! The result of such
intolerant delay was, that instead of returning to Devonport at
half past eight, I did not get home until midnight. The Directors
who are known by the cognomen of “the Western Luminaries,”
must be be highly delighted at the progress their excellent
management ensures. I am, yours,
Devonport, 20th June 1848. A CONSTANT READER
NB For those not familiar with the area the inclined plane is Hemerdon Bank.
If you thought that complaints about trains and railway management was a recent phenomenon its clearly not, as this letter shows. It appeared in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette for 24 June 1848 just 7 weeks after the South Devon Railway opened from Totnes to Plymouth and the passenger service commenced. Here it is verbatim, and the italics are not mine but original:
THE SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY INCORRIGIBLE
To the Editor of the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette
SIR, - As you take great interest in the Western Railways, I
think it right to inform you that I left the Laira Station by the
afternoon train yesterday,(with only three light carriages
and a horse box) and on arriving at the inclined plane, near
Plympton, we were brought to a stand still; and after actually
receding three times for about a mile, it was found absolutely
necessary to leave the horse box behind, when (after a full half
hour's delay) we reached the summit, but did not arrive at Totnes
until 20 minutes after four, being half an hour after its time, and
where we met the Express down train, which (if it arrived at its
appointed time) had been detained 35 minutes ! The result of such
intolerant delay was, that instead of returning to Devonport at
half past eight, I did not get home until midnight. The Directors
who are known by the cognomen of “the Western Luminaries,”
must be be highly delighted at the progress their excellent
management ensures. I am, yours,
Devonport, 20th June 1848. A CONSTANT READER
NB For those not familiar with the area the inclined plane is Hemerdon Bank.
Blue Anchor
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius