Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Winter Steam Up
29th December 2022
Winter Steam Up
29th December 2022
An intensive Timetable featuring L92 Loco 2766 and Bagnall Saddle Tank Judy
291222a L92 departs Bodmin Parkway with the 10.30 service to Bodmin General. Copright Roger Winnen
221229b Strong sunlight at Bodmin General with the former Great Western Pannier Tank now in LT Livery :L92. Copyright Roger Winnen
221229c Taken from the Signal Box, Little and Large Judy built 1937 and The Sapper 47306 in the road alongside the repair shops. Copyright Roger Winnen
2221229d A Judy photo shoot as she couples to the rolling stock of the incoming 10.50 arrival from Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen
221229e Austerity 2766 ( 75178 ) arrives with the clay at Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen
221229f Top and Tailing the clay on shunt at Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen
221229g Austerity 2766 heads for Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen
221229h The last train of the day being the 15.45 is seen departing from Bodmin Parkway with Austerity 2766 and L92
The end of 1962
Michael L. Roach
Michael L. Roach
THE END of 1962 – PART 15
Yelverton on the Last Day of Passenger Services (1)
On the 28 December1962 there had been a dusting of snow in many places after a week of intensely cold weather. The following day, Saturday 29 December 1962, was the last day of passenger services on the former Great Western branch from Plymouth to Tavistock South and Launceston and we woke to some 3 inches (75mm) of snow in Plymouth. It was a sad day for someone who had come to love this line in the preceeding three years and who would miss the atmosphere of a line that was in many ways still as it was pre-nationalisation in 1947 or even pre-war in 1938. It was still worked by the same classes of engines (the 4500s and the 6400s) that had worked the line in the nineteen thirties. I had taken hundreds of photos of the Launceston Branch trains and made many trips along the line and knew that with the crowds expected for a “last day” that I had little chance of getting my favourite position on the train which was the first window in the first coach. So instead I opted to travel out to one of my favourite stations, Yelverton, and spend several daylight hours there watching the last trains calling at the station. Later I planned to make an evening return trip to Launceston and back. I travelled out to Yelverton on the 10.40am off Plymouth which was a very popular choice for enthusiasts. The train was strengthened from the normal two coaches to four coaches hauled by 5564. At the start of the day the snow was just a bonus and few of us could have realised the severity of the weather that was approaching, even if we had listened to the forecast.
MLR / 15 December 2022
Yelverton on the Last Day of Passenger Services (1)
On the 28 December1962 there had been a dusting of snow in many places after a week of intensely cold weather. The following day, Saturday 29 December 1962, was the last day of passenger services on the former Great Western branch from Plymouth to Tavistock South and Launceston and we woke to some 3 inches (75mm) of snow in Plymouth. It was a sad day for someone who had come to love this line in the preceeding three years and who would miss the atmosphere of a line that was in many ways still as it was pre-nationalisation in 1947 or even pre-war in 1938. It was still worked by the same classes of engines (the 4500s and the 6400s) that had worked the line in the nineteen thirties. I had taken hundreds of photos of the Launceston Branch trains and made many trips along the line and knew that with the crowds expected for a “last day” that I had little chance of getting my favourite position on the train which was the first window in the first coach. So instead I opted to travel out to one of my favourite stations, Yelverton, and spend several daylight hours there watching the last trains calling at the station. Later I planned to make an evening return trip to Launceston and back. I travelled out to Yelverton on the 10.40am off Plymouth which was a very popular choice for enthusiasts. The train was strengthened from the normal two coaches to four coaches hauled by 5564. At the start of the day the snow was just a bonus and few of us could have realised the severity of the weather that was approaching, even if we had listened to the forecast.
MLR / 15 December 2022
2741 5564 stands at Yelverton Station having just brought in the 10.40am Plymouth to Launceston. The overnight snow on the platform was 75 – 100 mm deep. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
2745 5569 stands at Yelverton with the 10.15am Launceston to Plymouth. The signal box had not funcntioned as such since May 1959. Copyright Michael L. Roach,
2746 6430 passes through Yelverton non-stop with the 10.53am SO Millbay to Tavistock ECS train of four autocoaches.. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
 2748 6430 returns from Tavistock with the 12.40pm to Plymouth. The photographer is standing on the embankment of the Princetown branch line. Copyright Michael L. Roach. | 221229a L92 Departs Bodmin Parkway on the 10.30 to Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen |
Many thanks Michael - what a sad day.
Views from the signalbox from the Duty Signalman,
B & W.
Chris Bellett
B & W.
Chris Bellett
Hi Keith, Hope all is well, and you had a good xmas and boxing day?
Yesterday, Tuesday 27 December 2022, I was once again signalman at Bodmin General. We had a major operation shunting engines, coaches and wagons around the station area and tripping to Bodmin Parkway in preparation for Thursdays End of Season steam up. It was a very (very) wet and windy day. I have attached a number of photographs taken from the signalbox for your use. I noted a gentleman standing on Bridge 13A taking photographs and see from todays webpage that it was Jon Hird. My photographs therefore show the opposite view to his!
Out of interest I was keeping a rough record of the lever movements I made, and this was well over 400, so a very busy day indeed that started at 10am and ended at 6pm in the dark!
Wishing you and all CRS members a Happy New Year.
Kind Regards, Chris Bellett,Retired S&T Engineer, B&WR Chief S&T Engineer and Signalman. CRS member
Yesterday, Tuesday 27 December 2022, I was once again signalman at Bodmin General. We had a major operation shunting engines, coaches and wagons around the station area and tripping to Bodmin Parkway in preparation for Thursdays End of Season steam up. It was a very (very) wet and windy day. I have attached a number of photographs taken from the signalbox for your use. I noted a gentleman standing on Bridge 13A taking photographs and see from todays webpage that it was Jon Hird. My photographs therefore show the opposite view to his!
Out of interest I was keeping a rough record of the lever movements I made, and this was well over 400, so a very busy day indeed that started at 10am and ended at 6pm in the dark!
Wishing you and all CRS members a Happy New Year.
Kind Regards, Chris Bellett,Retired S&T Engineer, B&WR Chief S&T Engineer and Signalman. CRS member
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 1. 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 2 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright.
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 3. 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 4. 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 5. 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 6. 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 7. 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright
Bodmin General - views from the Box by duty signalman 8. 27th December 2022. Chris Bellett. Copyright
Many thanks Chris - a busy day!!!
St Michaels Mount
Colin Burges
Colin Burges
Alan Keef Ltd. has been called in by the National Trust to inspect this hidden funicular. I can't link directly but you can find the little gallery from here: https://www.alankeef.co.uk/gallery/materials-handling
Screenshot sent by Colin.
Many thanks Colin - hope the services continue to run on time with no bus replacement!!
Hythe Pier Tramway
Andrew and Diane Jones
Andrew and Diane Jones
Dear Keith and Valerie,
Very Sad News in your daily update, today of the loss of the Hythe Pier Railway, the oldest continuously operated public pier train in the world.
I have attached a few snapshots from Google Earth.
There were hopes that the current owners would be able to turn around the finances, but alas to no avail.
One good piece of news is that the structure was listed in August 2021.
Very best wishes for the new year Andrew and Diane
Very Sad News in your daily update, today of the loss of the Hythe Pier Railway, the oldest continuously operated public pier train in the world.
I have attached a few snapshots from Google Earth.
There were hopes that the current owners would be able to turn around the finances, but alas to no avail.
One good piece of news is that the structure was listed in August 2021.
Very best wishes for the new year Andrew and Diane
Hythe Pier 1 Copyright Google Earth. Picture sent in by Andrew and Diane Jones
Hythe Pier 2 Copyright Google Earth. Picture sent in by Andrew and Diane Jones.
Hythe Pier 3 Copyright Google Earth. Picture sent in by Andrew and Diane Jones.
Thanks Andrew. A sad day on Saturday, we are hoping to have a representative there to witness and ride on the last trains - one wonders what will happen to the locomotive and unique rolling stock. Surely somebody will provide a home, if not a pier, for this to run on?