25th August 2022

50050 with 47773
On the Plymouth Explorer
Andrew Triggs

Evening Keith/Roger
Following work today, I headed to Plymouth to catch the Vintage Trains 'Plymouth Explorer' with D400/50050 'Fearless' with two tone green 47773 supporting, another dull old day alas. 4 shots for CRS 
All the Best
Andrew

47773 leading 5Z72 16.41 Plymouth Friary S.S-Plymouth 'Plymouth Explorer' ECS back into North Road Copyright Andrew Triggs

Viewed from platform 5, with 47773 at the western end of the Tour. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Immaculate 50050 'Fearless' leading the return 1Z72 return for Dorridge at platform 4. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Departing on time at 16.15 50050/D400 leads the 1Z72 return away from platform 4 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Thanks Andrew

Torquay
Rail Crash
Michael L Roach

Whoops! 4932 Hatherton Hall at Torquay 25th August 2022. From the Dave Padgett Collection

Sixty years ago a serious rail crash occurred a short distance south of Torquay Station on the line to Paignton and Kingswear involving a diesel-hauled express and the following steam-hauled express. The date was Saturday 25 August 1962 and this may have been the last serious accident involving a steam locomotive in Devon and Cornwall as steam was in rapid decline at the time. In the previous 12 months there had been two more accidents involving steam locos in the two Counties, both in Cornwall, at Bodmin General and at Burngullow. The 10.05am express from Paddington to Kingswear, hauled by D833 “Panther” departed Torquay with its 14 coaches but failed to surmount the short sharp climb which starts a short distance after the station before stalling and leaving the last coach just 114 yard past Torquay's down advanced starting signal. The guard of the train carried out Rule 55 and put down two detonators to protect the train. (Do trains still carry detonators for use in emergencies ?). As the guard was walking down the line to Torquay Signal Box the following train came storming up the bank, setting off the detonators, and colliding with the rear of the stationary train. The second train was the 7.45am Paddington to Kingswear via Bristol hauled by 4932 “Hatherton Hall” of Taunton Shed. The first three coaches of the second train were badly damaged, as were the last two coaches of the stationary train. Twenty three passengers were injured but fortunately no lives were lost in the crash. Despite the fact that the last coach rode up over the buffer beam of 4932 the loco was repaired and put back into service until withdrawn two years later. This is quite surprising when one realises that in the same edition that the Railway Observer first reported the collision at Torquay, the magazine also reported that a total of 75 Western Region express passenger locos had been withdrawn.
So what went wrong that day 60 years ago. The 7.45am train should have been 15 minutes in front of the 10.05am at Torquay but had itself broken down at Taunton where the diesel locomotive was taken off and 4932 substituted. Such breakdowns were a frequent occurrence in those days when many steam drivers were having to learn new techniques of driving. In theory the Hall was overloaded for the route with 13 coaches but the driver agreed to it. At Torquay the 7.45am was given the signal to proceed out of the station as far as the down advanced starting signal which was probably unwise with the Hall overloaded and a steep gradient in front of it. The driver of 4932 made a strong start from Torquay, missed the advanced starting signal, and then set off the detonators in time to see the other train ahead of him. The driver of 4932 made an emergency brake application but could not avoid a collision which took place at about 10 mph. The formal accident report attributes the primary cause of the collision to “driver error” but also criticised the signalling layout.
There were a total of 7 timetabled trains from Paddington to Kingswear that Saturday in August 1962 with a further 4 from Paddington terminating at Paignton, making a total of 11 trains; plus many more trains from the Midlands and the North. Express trains continue to run as far as Paignton Station 7 miles short of Kingswear, with 3 timetabled from Paddington on Saturdays in the summer of 2022 when services are running normally. Saturday 20 August 2022 was the sixth day of a series of one-day strikes by some railwaymen and no trains were scheduled to run west of Exeter that day.
 
MLR / 18 August 2022
 
 

Many thanks Mike indeed for a very worthy inclusion, bang on its anniversary.
​

Cowley Bridge
Keith Turley

On 24th August 2022 class 50 No.50050 (D400) 'Fearless' with class 47 No.47773 on the rear pass Cowley Bridge Junc. working the 1Z70 06:59 Dorridge to Plymouth Vintage trains charter. Copyright Keith Turley.

50050 Fearless returns to Dorrige with the 17.15 charter from Plymouth. 24th August 2022. Copyright Keith Turley.

Very many thanks Keith - well worth the effort.
​

Bill on patrol at
Wick and Creech
Bill Elston

Today I visited Wick, on the Somerset Levels, where I photographed  6Y15 HOBC Fairwater yd to Maidenhead,  t/t by 66593 and 66518.
This was closely followed by  6C28 stone empties from  Riverside Yd to Whatley Quarry, headed by 59002.

Then over to Creech for the Plymouth to Dorridge tour t/t by 50050 and D1755 ( 47773)

Please see photos,
Best regards,
Bill

66593, at Wick 24th August 2022. Copyright Bill Elston

59002, at Wick on the stone empties to Whatley Quarry. 24th August 2022. Copyright Bill Elston

50050 leads the charter from Dorrige to Kingswear. At Creech, 24th August 2022. Copyright Bill Elston.

D1755, on the rear at At Creech 24th August 2022. Copyright Bill Elston.

Many thanks Bill for your two reports
​