28th January 2019

This afternoon's News
Derailment at Penryn
Mark Lynam

From Mark Lynam, 
This afternoon the 2T76 1220 Falmouth Docks to Truro derailed on the points at Penryn station The train involved was 150234. Trains are expected to be cancelled for the rest of the day.
                Thanks,  Mark. - and thank you too.

150234 derailment Penryn (1) 28th July 2019 Copyright Mark Lynam

150234 derailment Penryn (2) 28th July 2019 Copyright Mark Lynam

150234 derailment Penryn (3) 28th July 2019 Copyright Mark Lynam A very dramatic view from the road overbridge at the Falmouth end of the station.

Eggesford and Umberleigh
Roger Winnen

190126g The 12.43 Barnstaple to Exmouth runs into Eggesford on the new track laid earlier in the month. 26th January 2019 Copyright Roger Winnen

190126g The 143 Pacer arrives at Umberleigh on the 11.53 service from Exmouth. 26th January 2019. Copyright Roger Winnen

190126h The otherside of the former station buildings at Umberleigh. 26th January 2019 Copyright Roger Winnen

190126h Umberleigh Station. 26th January 2019 Copyright Roger Winnen

190126i Looking from the station entrance at the station buildings. 26th January 2019 Copyright Roger Winnen

190126j The 13.43 service from Barnstaple is seen arriving at Umberleigh as a number of passengers wait to board the train. 26th January 2018 Copyright Roger Winnen

End to End
Craig Munday

Another busy week across the Duchy. A shift in Penzance on 22nd and some glimpses of sunshine including capturing a ten car IET arrival. A great boost to the economy to have 10 car trains into the Duchy again. 

Next day visiting the St Germans / Saltash area on 23rd. 70817 passes the delightful creek at Antony Passage, Forder bound for Moorswater with 14 PCAs, which fitted rather snugly on the viaduct.  

Cheers,  Craig.  Many thanks Craig for bringing to us views that we are otherwise unlikely to see- your views are about 70 miles apart as the crow flies!

Penzance 10 Car IET Arrival 22nd January 2019 Copyright Craig Munday

Forder Viaduct sees 6C35 powered by 80817 heads the down cement. 23rd January 2019 Copyright Craig Munday

Sunday PW Possession
South Brent
Clive Smith

​Line possessions are taking place on some Sundays between Newton Abbot and Plymouth prior to closure of one of the twin bores of Marley Tunnel from Monday 18th February to Friday March 8th. With track replacement taking place around South Brent I set off on Sunday 27th January 2019 with camera in hope of finding some infrastructure trains in the old station. Unbeknown to me it was the track at the old station that was being replaced and the trains were beyond either end of each road bridge and annoyingly the locos were just out of sight. Thus began an unplanned exploration of the parish of South Brent's nature trails and cul-de-sacs to get that desperate photograph. An hour and some muddy feet later here are my efforts.

Regards,  Clive Smith.

Many thanks indeed for your efforts Clive which must include 'bramble torn hands' as well as muddy feet, and a muddy foot well in the car. I can assure you that your efforts are much appreciated by one and all.

(1) 66181 is just visible on a train of track looking west towards Aish from the bridge at the west end of the old station. A traipse across Brent Island brought me to the River Avon where the infrastructure train was stationary on the single arch bridge over the river, unfortunately obscured by trees for photography. 27th January 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) Not to be defeated and a couple of cul-de-sacs later , my searching brought me to beyond the eastern end of the old station and some woods by recreation playing fields that butted on to a fence adjacent to the railway. These woods turned out to be the track bed and infill of the start of the Kingsbridge branch. Looking west to the old station 70817 sits with a ballast train. 27th January 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(3) Now looking east towards Rattery 70812 sits at the end of a further rake of ballast wagons. 27th January 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(4) With the sun emerging after rain and hail I returned to the old station to find a track section being brought from 66181's train to be laid. 27th January 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(5) The track section is now manoeuvred into place . It is hard to believe that immediately behind the lifted track section is where the Kingsbridge line diverged from the main line. I took a number of photos of the branch track bed while I was searching for the 70s. A few of these will appear in the near future but they may be more of interest to botanists than railway enthusiasts. 27th January 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.