Christmas Eve at
Westbury
Driver Alan Peters
Westbury
Driver Alan Peters
Unlike most of us Alan had to work over Christmas - we hope you regard it as a happy one Alan.
The last train to Portsmouth on Christmas Eve waiting to leave Westbury with 166 215 working 1F91 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth, the Cardiff to Bristol portion being cancelled due to lack of train crew.
Alan Peters
Alan Peters
Westbury . The last Train to Portsmouth Xmas Eve 24th December 2021 Copyright Driver Alan Peters
Colas Rail 70815 seen on the Holding Sidings at Westbury prior to working 6C23 to Lipson for the Christmas possession at Plymouth, note the new sidings to the left.
Driver Alan Peters
Driver Alan Peters
Westbury 70815 in the holding sidings. 24th December 2021. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.
Many thanks Alan for your pictures taken while most of us were looking forward to the break.
Long Rock Shed Boxing Day 1975
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
751226a TheCoal Stage at Long Rock Depot on Boxing Day 26th December 1975. Demolition of this structure began in April 1976 together with the engine sheds. Copyright Roger Winnen
751226d Penzance coal stage on 26th December 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen
751226f A row of 4 Class 50s plus a Class 47 at Long Rock on 26th December 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen
47553 Mount Pleasant Road Bevois
Ron Kosys
Ron Kosys
47553 approaches the level crossing at Mount Pleasant Road Bevois on the 9th September 1988 Copyright Ron Kosys
Many thanks Ron.
Exeter
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
33002 leads 46040 on the 10.35 Leeds to Paignton 1V86. The Peak was a complete failure and had to be dragged to the shed by 33002. 2nd April 1980. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks to you Paul.
A Hymeck on the
Newham branch
Neil Phillips
Newham branch
Neil Phillips
I saw Simon Howard’s comment regarding the possible trial of a Hymek on the Newham branch. Both of us are relying on ageing memories now, especially when events weren’t written into our notebooks, but some things do stick....
I saw the same Brush Type 4 and Hymek combination, both in green livery with full yellow ends as Simon says, running light engine across Truro’s viaducts, but in the opposite direction, presumably after their tasks had been completed - however the date was late May 1971. From mid-April until the end of May Class 47s D1929, D1596 (following display at the St Blazey Open Day 1st May 1971) and D1917 performed fortnightly stints shunting PW wagons around Truro Yard during the early stages of the track alterations (Roger Geach surmises the reason these were used in preference to the local hydraulics was the fitting of slow-speed control). It was on an unrecorded date during D1917’s two weeks at Truro that it turned up with Hymek D7014 in tow (which by coincidence had itself been a display loco at the previous year’s St Blazey Open Day). My assumption has always been that the Hymek had been supplied for clearance testing the new track layout – whether it went to Falmouth and/or Newham is open to debate, Falmouth is possible, Newham unlikely since the Truro remodelling was known to include closure of the branch within a few months – but who knows, maybe it did just to ‘tick all the boxes’ while it was in the area (there is a signalman’s claim that a Hymek was trialled on china clay branches around that time too.....) In the event the ‘new’ Truro yard was only ever to see one known Hymek visit – D7011 arrived overnight 11th August 1973 to drop off milk empties and immediately returned light engine.
Did a Class 25 ever reach Newham? It was D5179’s turn to clearance-test Truro yard in late August 1971 (wish I’d noted the date) and D7676 turned up on 21st October, but the branch was just 17 days from official closure by then.......
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
I saw the same Brush Type 4 and Hymek combination, both in green livery with full yellow ends as Simon says, running light engine across Truro’s viaducts, but in the opposite direction, presumably after their tasks had been completed - however the date was late May 1971. From mid-April until the end of May Class 47s D1929, D1596 (following display at the St Blazey Open Day 1st May 1971) and D1917 performed fortnightly stints shunting PW wagons around Truro Yard during the early stages of the track alterations (Roger Geach surmises the reason these were used in preference to the local hydraulics was the fitting of slow-speed control). It was on an unrecorded date during D1917’s two weeks at Truro that it turned up with Hymek D7014 in tow (which by coincidence had itself been a display loco at the previous year’s St Blazey Open Day). My assumption has always been that the Hymek had been supplied for clearance testing the new track layout – whether it went to Falmouth and/or Newham is open to debate, Falmouth is possible, Newham unlikely since the Truro remodelling was known to include closure of the branch within a few months – but who knows, maybe it did just to ‘tick all the boxes’ while it was in the area (there is a signalman’s claim that a Hymek was trialled on china clay branches around that time too.....) In the event the ‘new’ Truro yard was only ever to see one known Hymek visit – D7011 arrived overnight 11th August 1973 to drop off milk empties and immediately returned light engine.
Did a Class 25 ever reach Newham? It was D5179’s turn to clearance-test Truro yard in late August 1971 (wish I’d noted the date) and D7676 turned up on 21st October, but the branch was just 17 days from official closure by then.......
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
Many thanks Neil - the discussions continue - what memories you have thanks to you both.