27/2/2024

'The End'
Truro 'East' Signal Box
1899 - 2024.

With his last shift in this box complete, the signaller locks up Truro Signal Box for the final time in the early hours of 27.02.2024. Copyright Sid Warren.

In the early hours of this morning (27.02.2024), Truro signal box (formerly Truro East) signalled its last trains.  The semaphores are due to be felled and control of the section due to be handed over to a workstation in Exeter power box.

It seemed fitting to share the below text from the late Cyril Hitchens, remembering his time working the box.

Truro East Signal Box
Memories from the late Cyril Hitchens
​
Truro East was built in 1899 and IS of typical GWR appearance. It is one of the few signalboxes in my area that is still in use. It had (has?) all the usual interior fittings and, in my day, the kettle was always boiling to cater for visiting shunters, enginemen, guards and station staff as we were all part of a team who looked after one another. Unusually the frame was at the back. Changes took place in 1971 following the closure of West box and further track rationalisation and remodelling. A new 51 lever frame was installed and a level crossing leading to the remaining sidings and car park was opened.

       In my description of West box I said that it was always busier than East. West had the loco shed, the Falmouth and Newquay branches and the intensive westbound goods traffic plus the main lines while East dealt with the up and down main lines, the quieter eastbound goods and the small down goods yard. The main traffic in the down sidings was biscuits and Lyons cakes. Latterly, loads were delivered for Farm Industries who took over the site near the end of my railway career in the mid 1970s. When up goods were sorted and formed up the shunter would phone East to say they were "ready for the off" and when a path became available the train was let out.

       One afternoon I pulled the points and remember watching the up VENLO (empties) for Tavistock Junction pass the box and waving to the guard in his van as it crossed the viaduct. Later that week the same guard came into the box for a chat. He told me that when his train from a few days previously reached Plymouth North Road it was already dark. Signals meant they passed through the station at walking pace using one of the platform roads. When they reached Tavy Junction to berth the wagons the guard found a drunk, fast asleep, "draped" over one of the couplings between two vans in the middle of the train. He was woken up and sent on his way. Whether he enjoyed his journey or not no one knows-but he was a very lucky man!

       The down sidings fell out of use in the 1980s and there has been further track removal. However, Truro station and the Falmouth line have become increasingly busy and East box is still very much in use and the kettle is probably still boiling!

Sadly, it now appears that the kettle has boiled for the final time.
​

Truro East Signal Box in the 1950s, Copyright the Mike Morant Collection

Truro 'as was'. Copyright the late Cyril Hitchins.

​Some further words on the box including details of the last trains to pass through Cornwall under its control are below, courtsey of NR's Martin Duff.

Hello admins,

I’m at work tonight for the start of the re-signalling blockade.  As I write this, the witching hour has arrived and the dying moments of Truro signal box are upon us.  Born and raised in Truro, this signal box was the first for a visit 40 years ago, so this moment is poignant for me – I never imagined I’d be so close to all aspects of its closure!   When I did my signalling training school with Railtrack, I was allocated Truro for my practical training - what a super time that was, the mail trains were still running as were the Ponsandane fuel tanks, and a real bonus during that time, signalling 47798/47799 on the Royal Train!  I paid my final visit last Tuesday and made a last journey under control of the semaphores yesterday – Monday 26/02/2024.

For the record, the last loco-hauled passenger train signalled was the 21.45 Penzance – Paddington sleeper which left 6 minutes late 22.39 behind 57605.  The Falmouth branch on the final day was in the hands of Sprinters 150247 and 150261.  The last branch arrival was the 23.22 from Falmouth, which arrived 23.53 (150247).  The empty stock left at 23.56 for Penzance depot.The final up train was 6G74, the 19.17 Westbury – Truro engineers which ran via Penzance.

4 castle class units worked services through Truro on the last day.  The last down passenger train was 2C89, the 18.59 Cardiff – Penzance worked by a Class 802 unit, which departed 00.14 (Tuesday morning).

Remarkable to consider that the next passenger trains through Truro now will be under the control of the new Exeter workstation.

The memories of this place will stay with me forever. Farewell to Truro SB, 1899-2024.

Cheers,
Martin D

Many thanks Martin, a very sad day for you no doubt, but at the very least you have those precious memories to hang onto.

The prelude to the blockade of the Cornish Main Line
Roger Winnen

240226a Truro this morning with the 08.50 Penzance to Plymouth service departing. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226b Cranes in Truro Yard awaiting the start of the blockade. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226c Rails piled high in the yard. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226d One of the three large cranes for the blockade work. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226e Tools to do the job. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226f Through the misted up glass of the footbridge we see Truro Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226g Signals in Truro Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226h The 09.12 Penzance to Paddington arrives at Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226i 43189 Arrives at Par on a Plymouth Penzance local. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226j The old and the new signals at Par awaiting commissoning. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226k The end is in sight for these semaphore signals with less than a week to go. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226l Most probably the last clay for a couple of weeks arrive at Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen

240226m The clay after running around departs Lostwithiel for Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen

Cornwall Resignalling 27th Feb - 10th Mar 2024
John Roberts

I haven't seen a project plan for Cornwall Resignalling, but have made some assumptions from public information.
 
NRES shows engineering work between St Austell and St Erth Tuesday 27th February to Sunday 10th March inclusive. Buses are running St Austell to Penzance, which at least avoids passengers making a second change back into a train at Redruth, although that is negated by making them change again at Plymouth - there seem to be only two London trains and a couple of Cardiffs running through to St Austell.
Engineering works: Plymouth | National Rail
 
However, NRES is misleading (as it was for the November block), as GWR says the block extends to Liskeard and Newquay from 4th to 8th March, and further extends to Plymouth and Looe on 9th & 10th March.
Planned engineering in the South West in 2024 | Great Western Railway (gwr.com)
 
I assume that Truro signalbox area will be transferred to Exeter next week, plus Par and Lostwithiel the following week, although why it needs another two-week block - after a two-week block last November - I'd be most interested to hear. When I was project manager for a previous version of this, we were going to do the whole of Cornwall with mostly our own staff and minimal interruption to customers.
 
Presumably Monday 26th February 2024 will be the last full day of semaphore operation in Cornwall, and Truro Box will be signed out at 24.19 when Roskear gives Out Of Section for the 23.59 ECS Truro to Penzance Depot, although there are engineers' trains to come down after that.
 
The first passenger train to be signalled by Exeter Panel will be 05.03 PNZ to PAD on Monday 11th March 2024, although I expect there will be test trains over the previous days.
 
There is then five days' respite after which there are no trains between Exeter & Plymouth from 16th to 21st March.
 
I recommend you download and print the Sectional Appendix now, as it will become obsolete from 00.19 on Tuesday. It's 1065 pages so may take time to load, but we're interested only in the Cornwall Mainline pages 107-123 and Cornish Branches pages 271-284. The new pages showing control by Exeter should be uploaded by 11th March.
National Electronic Sectional Appendix - Network Rail
 
As I said, these are my assumptions, and I expect local members will be sending reports to you over the next two weeks. If anyone has access to the Signalling Notice - what we used to call the Yellow Peril - perhaps they could liberate one for the CRS archives.
 
Happy photography! John Roberts.

Many thanks for your comprehensive report, John. I'm sure it will be of great interest to our readers.

47 years ago today!
Keith Gale

Dear team,

It was 47 years ago that a lucky number of us enthusiasts had a very early start from Exeter St. Davids to Paddington to travel from Paddington to Swansea and then Plymouth (via Exeter St. Davids!) back to Paddington on the Western Tribute final farewell to the Western Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives. At the end of the tour we then of course had to travel from Paddington to Exeter St. Davids! (explain this to non-enthusiasts!). Anyway, there are lots of pictures of the final train on the internet (plus a few of the final light engine movements afterwards) - but attached is a photo of my souvenir ticket that I have kept all of these years. By the way, I was in Coach A and Seat 31F - but I recall not much sitting and a whole lot of window hanging!

cheers Keith   

Keiths ticket to travel on the 'Western Tribute' service, 47 years ago. Copyright Keith Gale.

Many thanks Keith, great memories from a bygone era.

The Maiden Newton to Bridport branch
James Bown

I took this picture today (26.02) of the section of line passing through the sparsely populated area between Toller Porcorum station and Nettlecombe station.   Long closed but it’s now a footpath where only the ghost of a GWR prairie tank interrupts the sounds of nature.

Best wishes
James Bown

A view from an overbridge of the long dismantled Maiden Newton - Bridport branch. Copyright James Bown.

Many thanks James, an interesting view of a line we don't see much of. To view more historical images of this branch, please click here

RE: Michael's interesting diesels
Neil Phillips

Hello Roger and Keith,

Michael L. Roach's early 1970s diesel colour photos were indeed very interesting! 

Pairs of Class 25s on the up 'Cornishman' seemed to be a feature of Summer Saturdays in 1972 and the pair shown entering Truro, 7575 and 7573, were Laira's longest-serving Class 25s - many came and went during the 1970s but these two arrived in early 1972 (still in green livery) and after withdrawal in October 1980, as 25225 and 25223 respectively, went straight to Swindon Works for scrapping - their failure to collect train air brake equipment during 1976 overhauls sealed their fate.

Congratulations to Michael for capturing what may well have been the first Class 31 across the Tamar, 5823's visit predating that of 5827 on 1V76 Leeds - Penzance by just over six months. It would be good to know its purpose that day and how far west it managed to get.

Class 25 D7657 arrived in the West Country in early September 1971, the first of its type transferred from the LMR and the only one the WR received in original two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels. D7657 first served as the Exeter area crew trainer, but so far I have seen no evidence it worked into Cornwall while still in green livery (at that time 5179 and 5180 were crew-trainers at Laira and St Blazey respectively). D7657 was one of a small batch,  D7624-59, built by Beyer-Peacock at their Gorton Works in Manchester, who also constructed the 'Hymek' Class 35 diesel-hydraulics. It has been claimed that these were better built than those from Derby....... (By coincidence I renumbered a Bachmann model I'd had for well over a decade to D7657 just two days ago!)

Hopefully Michael has more such gems to dazzle us with!

Best regards,
Neil Phillips

Thank you for the additional information Neil, I'm glad you enjoyed the images - sure there are more to come!

Sunny Lostwithiel
Andrew Triggs

Hi Keith/Roger/Jon

A few shots from todays action at Lostwithiel for CRS, good to see Roger and many other Cornish Rail fans out and about today
​
All the Best
Andrew

DBC 66143 working 6G09 12.36 Goonbarrow Junction-Fowey Dock Carne Point JIA's passing the iconic LL57 Semaphore running 9 early as it approaches the station. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Now running 19 early, having run round the JIA's 66143 heads off towards Fowey Dock Carne Point from Lostwithiel Loop. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

43092 (with 43097) working 2C23 12.19 Plymouth-Penzance passes 802014 working 1A88 12.15 Penzance-London Paddington at Lostwithiel. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Running with the Nose cone open 802002 approaching Lostwithiel working 2C69 08.59 Cardiff Central-Penzance. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Earlier at Par, 43189 leading 2C11 10.15 Plymouth-Penzance with the soon to close Signal Box and PR 5 semaphore in the background. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Thank you very much for taking the time to send in your excellent photographs, Andrew.  As sad as it is that the boxes are closing and the semaphores will soon be downed, it is nice to see so many people out enjoying them in their final few days.

Cornwall-bound 66s at Westbury
26.02.24
Guy Vincent

Two class 66 locos on the down reception line at Westbury today, each at the tail end of an engineers train bound for Cornwall.

Guessing these workings are connected to the impending trackworks associated with the resignalling project.

Guy V

66709 on 1622 Westbury-Truro, train headed by 66719 and departed on time. A long train of ballast & spoil wagons. Copyright Guy Vincent.

66709 on 1622 Westbury-Truro, train headed by 66719 and departed on time. A long train of ballast & spoil wagons. Copyright Guy Vincent.

66846 at the rear of a ballast train headed by 70803, due to depart as 6C21 1917 Westbury-Burngullow Jcn. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks, Guy; a nice preview of what we down here in Cornwall have headed our way.  I'm sure someone will track them down for some photos!

A rare event a Class 158 deputising for a 150 unit on the St Ives Branch
21st February 2022
Roger Winnen

220221a The 10.03 service from St Ives arrives at St Erth. Copyright Roger Winnen

220221b 158959 heads the 3 car 158 unit on the 10.48 hourly service to St Ives. Copyright Roger Winnen

220221c The trains passengers had left the train by this time, a three minute turnaround for this unit. Copyright Roger Winnen

220221d 158959 at at Carbis Bay. Copyright Roger Winnen

220221e The 11.48 service from St Erth approaches Carbis Bay Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

220221f 158959 is seen departing Carbis Bay for St Ives. Copyright Roger Winnen