29th August 2020

70812 Westbury Down to 
​St Austell via Penzance
Andrew Triggs Roger Winnen

200829a 70812 at Penzance with the 617x 13.11 from Westbury Down TC with long welded rail bound for St Austell. Copyright Roger Winnen

200829b Viewed from the balcony at Penzance Station as the train awaits backing to Slopers Siding for its run around before heading for St Austell. Copyright Roger Winnen

200829d 70812 at Platform 2 Penzance. Copyright Andrew Triggs

200829e The station looking deserted at 21.00 hrs on Saturday evening. Copyright Andrew Triggs

200829f Looking from the buffer stops as the train fills the platform. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Dobwalls
Craig Munday

A Saturday afternoon Westbury to St Austell rail delivery train 6C97 saw Colas rail's 70812 work down. The train is seen on the sumptuous curves through Dobwalls in brief sunshine on 29th August 2020. Copyright Craig Munday

All masked up at
Exeter
Clive Smith

Clive writes :- 67023 stands at platform 5 at Exeter St Davids with the 1Z18 15.40 Paignton - Taunton Network Rail measurement train. 67027 is on the front. The new normal can be seen with various passengers wearing facemasks as I had to do so too with this station being a designated transport hub. Regards, Clive Smith

67023 stands at platform 5 at Exeter St Davids with the 1Z18 15.40 Paignton - Taunton Network Rail measurement train. 28th Aug 2020. Copyright Clive Smith

Many thanks to you Clive.
​

Parkandillack - the last train   Phillip Hawke

SAD NEWS -  ​Keith, I noticed the report about Parkandillick in your news section. I was told last weekend by an Imrys manager  (about 31st August 2020) that was the last train to be loaded there. Something about longer trains and the problem of shunting.

Parkandillack branch
Andrew Triggs

Today (28th August 2020) the Clay from Fowey Docks Carne Point actually ran to Parkandillack behind DBC 66020, traffic to the end of the line being somewhat sporadic to say the least lately, find the enclosed shots for CRS  All the Best, Andrew. 

1. Arriving at Parkandillack from Fowey Docks Carne Point DBC 66020 working 6P07 07.21 Fowey Docks Carne Point-Parkandillack. 28th August 2020. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

2. The load of CDAs was then split and shunted by 66020 for a considerable period of time at Parkandillack 28th August 2020. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

3. The 1st portion of CDAs (empties) heading for Burngullow, passing Little Treviscoe (6P23 13.20 Parkandillack-Burngullow) running 187 early. 28th August 2020. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

4. The 2nd loaded portion of CDAs returning to Burngullow (6P24 13.45 Burngullow-Fowey Docks Carne Point) 28th August 2020 Copyright Andrew Triggs.

5. Departing Burngullow for Fowey Docks Carne Point running 40 early as 6P246.. 28th August 2020. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

6. Also passing Burngullow Colas 67023/027 working 1Q18 06.11 Reading Triangle Sidings-Paignton. 28th August 2020. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Many thanks Andrew.
​

Marsh Mills
Going round the bend with
David Stannard

Dear Keith
In case they are useful to you for the Devon gallery, I enclose 7 photographs taken around Tavistock Junction Yard and the 90 degree curve round towards Marsh Mills on 30/06/00 (shunter 08798) and 2 photographs taken at Marsh Mills dries on 27/06/07 (shunter 09013).
Brings back happy memories, With best wishes.  David Stannard.

​Of interest from David Stannard.  ​
​Whilst in the loft I came across the letter I received from the Senior Supervisor at Marsh Mills Dryers in response to my enquiry as to whether clay was still being shipped from there in the summer of 2007. In a most informative letter (which included a kind invitation for an escorted tour) he states:

We normally ship 24 CDAs each Wednesday which is around 700t of material to our storage facility at Fowey. The first string of 16 CDAs usually arrives at around 08:30 hrs and is typically on site for around a couple of hours for loading before being returned to Tavistock Junction Yard. The second string of 8 CDAs are then brought up a bit later to complete the loading.
In addition to this we normally ship between 2 and 5 Nacco wagons and 1 Cargowaggon on Fridays for onward movement to our Cliffe Vale depot at Stoke-on-Trent.

Interestingly he refers to the CDAs as 'Cornwall and Devon Air braked' which I don't think that I had heard before (and do not know if it is correct as I am not aware of such a rationale behind the designations of other wagon fleets).

YARD 1 09013 6th July 2007 Copyright David Stannard

TAV JN YARD 2 08798 30th June 2000 Copyright David Stannard

TAV JN YARD 3 08798 - from the road overbridge. 30th June 2000 Copyright David Stannard

TAV JN YARD 4 08798 30th June 2000 Copyright David Stannard

TAV JN YARD 5 08798 30th June 2000 Copyright David Stannard

TAV JN YARD 6 08798 also 66 199 30th June 2000 Copyright David Stannard

TAV JN YARD 7 08798 66199 30th June 2000 Copyright David Stannard

A different year - moving on to Marsh Mills Works.

MARSH MILLS 1 09013 27th June 2007 Copyright David Stannard

MARSH MILLS 2 09013 27th June 2007 Copyright David Stannard

Readers will find it interesting to look at the branch from above using 'Google Earth' and to compare then and now views using the 'clock' along the top of the depicted view. One can go back as far as 2002 and see the branch as it was when in operational use and compare it with recent views and also take a look at the very near by Plym Valley Railway.

Many Thanks David;