28th July 2022

The END of
Friary & Cattewater 
Paul Burkhalter

Hi,
To add to Roy’s excellent summary (See  News of the 27th July 2022) , this is the latest on the Friary and Cattewater lines: wef 26 June 2021, the line beyond MP245m 18ch has been permanently closed.  This location is beyond the Laira Depot servicing platform, and means the whole Friary and Cattewater lines are OOU.  As EMR no longer ship by rail there's no use for the line.Plymouth City Council want to remove the low bridge over Embankment Road, and this will facilitate this.  I didn't realise but this bridge is too low for any tall HGV hence the big Royal Mail vehicles for the Sorting Office (for example) all have to go round through Manadon/Mutley/City Centre.
Cheers, Paul  Burkhalter

Many thanks for the above sad news Paul.
​Room for yet more houses one assumes.

New Years Resolution Broken
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, Interesting but sad pictures of Friary station ,I never made it there. Here is a picture of 56050 with 50018 ‘Resolution’ dead in train, entering Reading station on 3 January 1983 with the (only 30 mins late) 08.35 Birmingham to Paddington service. Copyright Michael Forward

50018 Resolution leaving Oxford

Roger, Just a few days later we see the revived 50018 leaving Oxford with the 10.34 Manchester to Paddington, 14.05 dep. Oxford,on 20 January 1983.. Copyright Michael Forward

Thanks Michael

Another Castle naming
Bill Elston

Another Castle Class name to report, namely  43156  Maen Castle, within the last couple of weeks.
This is an Iron Age fort near Sennen     Please see photos taken today at Taunton.

I also saw pc 43010 pass Dawlish on Monday last with a nameplate attached, name unknown, yet.

Best wishes, Bill Elston. 

Taunton 43156 Maen Castle 27th July 22 Copyright Bill Elston

43156 Maen Castle nameplate - seen at Taunton. 27th July 22 Copyright Bill Elston

Well spotted Bill - many thanks.
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On a lighter note
Roy Hart

Dear Keith,
I think that this is one of the greatest transformations in Cornwall (though Carn Brea station, nearby might also qualify.)
I'm afraid the Crofty headgear which sfands today is at Cook's shaft and dates from the1960s. The one just visible in the 1952 picture is at Robinson's shaft (where the engine is preserved today).
All the best to everyone,
Roy
P.S. I fancy a pasty. Nway  is busy terrifying our supermarket manager to import swedes!  (Swede? What's a swede?)

Many thanks for an update on the recent photograph.  For our readers benefit Roy, a Cornishman native to Redruth lives out in Rangoon, Burma. His good lady Mway is trying to purchase Swedes (Turnips to us Cornish) to make Roy a pasty. We hope the search is a success Roy.
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