27th November 2023

Hinksey Yard
Driver Alan Peters

DB 66056 one of five class 66 fitted with pneumatically controlled cut bars for the autocupling designated for banking, seen acting as yard pilot at Hinksey yard near Oxford on 23/11/23 - Driver Alan Peters

DB 66056 in use as yard pilot at Hinksey. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.

Many thanks for your detailed info Alan
- it is very much appreciated.

​

Passing traffic
Swindon
Colin Pidgeon

Something completely different, 47746 & 44871 on 5Z29 Bristol Kingsland Road to Southall WCR empty stock.
They were running wrong road through Platform 4 on reversible working.  
 
Regards Colin Pidgeon      

47746 and 44871 pass through Swindon on the 26th November 2023. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.

Many thanks to you Colin and to Ken for passing it on.

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Chippenham
John?

The ECS bound for Slough
Passed Swindon 12 EARLY at 1331 according to Real Train Times.
Kind regards, Ken           

47746 and 44871 pass through Chippenham with the ECS for Slough on the 26th November 2023. Copyright John

The ECS continues on the up line heading for Slough. 26th November 2023. Copyright John.

Thanks for passing these on Ken. If I can be advised on who John is I would appreciate that.

​

The very interesting and quite complex history and development of Chippenham Staion is very well covered by Wikipedia - ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chippenham_railway_station
​

Taunton
Paul Barlow

Earlier in the day Paul had been at Dawlish, he's now moved up the line to Taunton.

43097 43153 wait to leave Taunton with the 19.14 to Cardiff. 24th November 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43153 43097 Taunton with the 17.00 from Cardiff 2C85. 24th November 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43153 43097 just arrived at Taunton with the 1700 from Cardiff 2C85 24th November 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul - keep up the good work.

​

Fowey Docks
and the haul road.
Andrew and Diane Jones

Dear Keith and Valerie, Please find attached additional photographs of the loading facility at Fowey and the Haul Road tunnel, hope they are of use and I can fill in the detail if required.
I guess things are hectic at your end, but hopefully the sheep on the line at Okehampton was of interest. N.B. This refers to an item yesterday concerning November 24th.
Very best wishes Andrew and Diane.
(I believe Andrew was on night watchman duties at Fowey Docks in 2005)

Having moved sideways right to left a CDA waits on the 'exit line' to rejoin its train for the journey back to Lostwithiel. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones,

Looking in over the traverser from beyond the buffer beam which brought the by now empty CDA to an abrupt stop. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

A dayloght view of CDA's standing in the unloading shed, Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

The haul road in the 1,173 yard Pinnock tunnel. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

The haul road in the tunnel. Copyright Andrew and Dian Jones.

This is the Fowey end of the tunnel - one can see the sharp change of gradient as the line commences to fall towards the harbour. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

Having climbed from almost sea level at Par beach the climb ontinues right through the tunnel. At one tine there were reseviors and engine watering facilities here. In the days when this was converted for use as a lorry operated haul road this end of the tunnel was extended as a rectangular tube at the end of which doors were fitted. When the doors are closed powerful fans situated in the extension roof were turned on to purge the tunnel of smoke. Copyright Andew and Diane Jones.

Many thanks for your pictures - Andrew and Diane.

​

Portishead AGM
Peter Maliphant

​Dear Member,
We are writing to update you about the latest news on progress with the project and also to give you the details for our AGM.
 
The current news on the reopening is that: 

1. The Detailed Design phase is beginning to draw to a close, with just three months to go
2. The final Full Business Case exists in draft form and is expected to be submitted to DfT in late February or early March
3. Cost information, developed from the Detailed Design, is being used to refine the Full Business Case

There will be a further update at the AGM on the plan through to the completion of the Portishead and Pill line reopening.

Secondly, we have moved the AGM back for this and future years so that it is not in the run-up to Christmas. We hope this will make it simpler to arrange and easier for more members to attend. The date will be Tuesday 30th January 2024, at the Folk Hall in Portishead as usual, with doors open at 7:00pm and a 7.30pm start. There will be the regular AGM business plus an update from the project manager James Willcock on what will happen next during 2024. The agenda will be:
 
1.      Welcome and Introductions
2.      Apologies for Absence received
3.     Minutes of the 2022 AGM - approved by the committee during 2023.   
4.      Approval of Accounts for the year ended 31/10/2023
5.      Appointment of Independent Examiner
6.      Chairman’s Report.
7.      Communications Report, including Facebook, Twitter and Website.   
8.      Membership Secretary’s report.
9.      Appointment of committee.  
10.     Any other business.
11.     Break
12.     James Willcock, MetroWest Phase one Project Manager – Update on progress
Regards,
Peter Maliphant, Membership Secretary, Portishead Railway Group