24th May 2022

Ponsandane
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, Hope you are well and enjoying all the special workings down there. With the work going on at Ponsandane I thought this picture of 47620 might be of interest now, but I have no date. We can see the loading platforms,the old tankers ,parcel vans and even a Mounts Bay coach behind their shed. Copyright Michael Forward

Many Thanks Michael

Marazion Shunt
Ted Hand

Part 1

This picture was taken in possibly May of 1965, of shunting at Marazion Station Yard with a class 63XX, North British Locomotive Company locomotive (or baby warship as they were sometimes called) in the broccoli/potato season. It is more likely to be the potato season, as he first vehicle is an Eastern wooden buckeye BG.             Broccoli (cauliflowers to most people) was seldom loaded into parcel vans, mainly only into Vanfits. In the picture is me as a very young shunter, overalls covered in oil and grease, I was always, a mucky pup as a shunter. On the locomotive is Second Man Keith Bawden and the picture was taken by my late uncle Bill Hand, who was the driver. In railway marshalling yards, all sidings had either names or numbers. I can’t remember if the name of the siding where the picture was taken, was New Bank and the siding on the other side was Old Bank or vice versa? Some of the other sidings names were- Outside Road, Straight, Fathers Siding would love to know the origin of that name. There was also a lead into Old Bank siding named New Found Out. Below the road bridge towards St Erth side was Marsh 1 & 2 on the up line and Downside 1 & 2 on the down line. In the spring of 1965, Head Shunter Jimmy Lockett, and me, detached two Royal Train coaches from the front of the London sleepers which was brought to a stand at Marazion Home Signal on the down line. We put the Royal coaches into Downside 2 siding, for the Duke of Edinburgh and entourage to enjoy their breakfast looking on to St Michaels Mount. Later a locomotive and guards passenger brake van would come out and we would form them into a small train to convey the Royal coaches on to Penzance. We had instructions we must wear clean overalls and ties and not gawp at the windows of the Royal coaches. Jimmy, being Jimmy, was always full of fun, brought into work two tie pins. When the coaches were safely in the sidings, we went back to the shunters cabin in the station yard to have our breakfast. The station yard foreman who was a lovely man. whom we all loved, came into the cabin to enquire if the job went all right? Jimmy said yes and the Duke of Edinburgh was so pleased, he even leaned out of the window and gave us both a tie pin, which we were now proudly wearing. The yard foreman ended his railway career believing that story, often saying whenever he saw either Jimmy or myself for many years afterwards, have you still got the tie pin? We never did put him right. Marazion shunt was among the happiest days of my railway career. What a workplace, what a gang.
 

A North British D63xx Class Diesel Hydraulic stands in the sidings at Marazion awaiting its next move. The buildings in the background being Long Rock. Copyright Bill Hand.

Part 2 will follow tomorrow
Thanks Ted

Lostwithiel
​David Anthony

Pictures showing the condition of the now empty former sidings, plus one showing a rather out of time "9 car" stop board
Cheers, Dave Anthony.

Lostwithiel 20th May 2022. Copyright Dave Anthony.

Lostwithiel 20th May 2022. Copyright Dave Anthony.

Lostwithiel 20th May 2022. Copyright Dave Anthony.

Thank you David.  The point which gave access to the sidings off the down main is clipped out of use. It is understood that it will be some time before the proposed footbridge can be installed due to issues concerning signal sighting.

Virgin red at
Exminster
Paul Barlow

43102 and 43100 on the 06.27 Manchester to Newquay 1V21 heads towards Exminster on 6th September 2003.

Many thanks Paul.
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Oil tanks at
Cowley Bridge Jct
Clive Nye

31 107+33 108 at Cowley Bridge powering the 6E33 Exeter Riverside to Ripple Lane on the 31st August 1979. Copyright Clive Nye.

Many thanks Clive.
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