25th May 2022

Part 2
Accident at Ponsandane with The Runner
Ted Hand

The accident at Ponsandane was by the Shunters Cabin which was demolished only a couple of months ago in preparation for the redevelopment of Ponsandane Yard for 9 Cat IETs. D4013 Was a St Blazey Shunter which was most probably transferred to Penzance during the period of the resident shunter being sent to works Copyright Ted Hand collection

The end for the smashed up runner at Ponsandane. Copyright Ted Hand Collection

In the good old railway days, shunters had a wagon to ride on. These wagons were known as runners in some parts of the railway, chariots, or gigs in other parts of the railway. In my shunting days in the 1960s/70s, there were two runners, one at Penzance Station, the other at Ponsandane Yard. There may have been one at Marazion, but I don't remember that one. Both were built by the GWR at Swindon Works in 1915. As shunters we loved those runners. We were told that if they ever required any major repairs, they would be scrapped. Therefore, we got people like wagon repairers, track welders etc. to do any repairs on a fiddle, unknown to management to prevent them going to the breakers. Sadly, both runners met the same kind of fate and went to the great railway in the sky. Unfortunately, I was involved in both accidents. The first I was directly involved in was on 13th July 1966, at Penzance Station. This involved a collision with the Royal Mail (Postal) The only time in my railway career I was ever charged with an offence under disciplinary action. Fortunately, I was found not guilty of any offence, and nothing went on my service record. It is too long a story to tell on here as the accident would even have implications in the London area in the early hours of the following morning which could have resulted in a high-speed derailment of the postal. As a result of which there was a Ministry of Transport major inquiry. The second accident was in 1968 at Ponsandane Yard involving the Ponsandane runner. I was only indirectly involved in the second accident when the poor runners demise happened. The accident again involved the Postal. Les Richards was the yard foreman that day and I was head shunter at Ponsandane Yard. The enginemen, the late John Williams, who was under shunter, and I went down to the cabin for tea at 1630, before the busy evening ahead. The circuit phone rang, and Les answered, it was the Ponsandane signalman asking if he could let the Penzance shunter into the yard to propel the postal into Penzance Station The Penzance pilot entered the yard and went up through Number 4 road to be attach to the front of the postal in Number 3 road. We heard the circuit phone ring by the Penzance shunter to Ponsandane signalman, asking for the road to Penzance Station. Les remarked that was quick Walter must be in a hurry and ran the length of the postal to ask for the road. We later learned Walter coupled the pilot to the postal, saw the two ‘dummies’ come off to go out of the yard to the down main line. Walter hand signalled the driver to go ahead and climbed onto walked down through the train. I was making the tea and looked up and to my horror saw the postal coming down towards the cabin instead of heading in the direction of the main line. As the driver had the signal for the main line the train was proceeding at full speed, what Walter had failed to notice, the hand points in the yard were set towards the cabin and not to take the train towards the main line. Had the door of the cabin been open I would have got to a set of hand points and diverted the speeding train into Kings Bank siding which was empty. Unfortunately, the wheels of the leading vehicle were on the toe of the point which prevented me from changing the direction of the points. I had to dive for cover from the impending smash (in shunters terminology- a pitch in) in case the vehicles turned over. There was an almighty crash, and the poor old runner was no more, as can be seen in the pictures. The loco 4013 (which I believe today is preserved on the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster) was undamaged as our beloved runner took all the impact. I think the man in the picture was Derek Stewart a Penzance Carriage and Wagon Examiner?

Gents
 
Further to the article, I can add/confirm the following details. 

On completion, each Runner was allocated to a specific "Depot" and almost invariably stayed there for the rest of its life. There were indeed three Runners in the Penzance area as follows;

 

41761    Penzance Passenger       M2 1905-1912
94998    Penzance Goods              M3 1912-1914
41778    Marazion                           M1 1895-1904
 
Following the allocations, M1 etc, denotes the Swindon Diagram number then the build date. As you can see there was one allocated to Marazion which in fact was the oldest of the three. The M1s had oval buffers and lever brake handles with a shield in front of each wheel for protection.
 
The Runner in the photographs was 94998 and it is just possible to make out "Penzance Goods" stencilled on the tool box. In the tool box would be found, spare Lamps, Brake sticks, Shunting poles, a 3-link coupling and the more important piece of equipment, a pair of re-railing ramps. Whilst heavier than other railway contemporaries, the Western variety was double tongued whereas the others were left or right handed. It took some while to determine which was which. 
 
In traffic, a headlamp would be placed on both ends of the Runner.
Many Thanks to Stewart Davies

Hi Stuart:
 
Many thanks for this information. The Marazion runner I never saw in my railway career, so it must have been disposed of prior to 1960? Although I do have a recollection of it as a kid.
 
Kind regards
Ted

Many Thanks for your most interesting item Ted

Sampford Courtenay
Driver Alan Peters

Early morning at Sampford Courtenay on 22/05/22 with Colas Rail Freight 70809 working 6C22 spoil from recent works at Fatherford to Westbury, from a fine looking restored platform that see's no trains!
Alan Peters

Sampford Courtney - a fine platform but no passengers. 22nd May 2022 Copyright Driver Alan Peters.

Many thanks Alan - one wonders if there is any potential for future development at this site?
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Quote from Wikipedia :- Sampford Courtenay is a village and civil parish   in West Devon, most famous for being the place where the Western Rebellion, otherwise known as the Prayerbook rebellion, first started, and where the rebels made their final stand. It has a population of around 600.
The Church of St Andrew is mainly built of granite and has an elegant tower.
It was served by the nearby Sampford Courtnay  railway station at Belstone Corner. (If only this was true - alas not so) 

Looking back to the 4th September 1988.
The CRS 'Devon Rambler'.

Sampford Courtenay was one of the intermediate stations between Coleford Junction and Okehampton. This closed 5th June 1972 although the goods facilities had been withdrawn on the 3rd April 1961. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

A current View of Sampford Courtenay Forecourt. Courtesy Google Earth Street View.

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Rewe 2003
Paul Barlow

43103 and 43157 on the 09.25 Newquay to Edinburgh passes Rewe 6th Sept 2003. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul. The delightful property in the background looks like a 'spotters paradise'

​Early morning patrol at
Rewe 2022 (Before 07.00) David Tozer

David was up with the larks this morning - his pictures received within an hour.

​Gents,
Early morning at Rewe
Two engineering trains and the Weedkiller all before 0715 in poor lighting conditions.
Dave 

66790/752 with the 3Q98 0657 Exeter (Riverside N.Y.) to Kings Norton OT Plant Depot. Copyright David Tozer.

Rewe 70808 with the 22.55 Westbury (Down T C) to 2255 Westbury (Down T C) via Exeter. 25th May 2022. Copyright David Tozer

66618 with the 0527 7C27 Westbury to Exeter Riverside (Hansons). 25th May 2022. Copyright David Tozer.

Many thanks David - an early bird catching the worm.
​Note in the 19 years since Paul Barlows picture the property in the centre of the first two pictures has been considerably extended - a spotters paradise!
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Exeter
Phil Smith

60100 'Midland Railway - Butterley' at Exeter in 2000. Copyright Phil Smith.

Many thanks Phil.
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