Fawley branch to re-open
Kevin Jenkin
Kevin Jenkin
Kevin sends in the welcome news that a special train ran to Marchwood on the Fawley branch last Sunday 26th July 2020. One hopes that this is a prelude to regular services returning in the near future.
Many thanks Kevin.
Freight in Cornwall today
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
200729a 70812 Crosses The Royal Albert Bridge with the 05.46 Aberthaw Tarmac to Moorswater cement train. Copyright Roger Winnen
200729aa 70812 Crosses the border with cement for Moorswater. Copyright Roger Winnen
200729b 66118 Arrives at Lostwithiel on the afternoon Goonbarrow to Fowey Carne Point clay. Copyright Roger Winnen
200729C 55118 Departs Lostwithiel with clay for Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen
200729d The disused freight sidings behind Lostwithiel Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen
Very early this morning
Silverton
David Tozer
Silverton
David Tozer
Keith, Taken at Silverton this morning.
158749/747 with the 2U33 0633 EXeter (St David's) - Cardiff (Central)
47507/805 top and tail the 1Z52 0637 Exeter (St David's) - Carmarthen - Pembroke Coast Express.
Dave Tozer N.B. Your post received at 07.53 this morning!!
158749/747 with the 2U33 0633 EXeter (St David's) - Cardiff (Central)
47507/805 top and tail the 1Z52 0637 Exeter (St David's) - Carmarthen - Pembroke Coast Express.
Dave Tozer N.B. Your post received at 07.53 this morning!!
158749 & 158747 Silverton 06.40 29th July 2020 Copyright David Tozer.
47501 & 47805 Silverton 07.03 29th July 2020 Copyright David Tozer.
Many thanks David. The early bird catches the worm.
David lives at least 20 mins drive away.
David lives at least 20 mins drive away.
Dawlish Report
Clive Smith
Clive Smith
After an initial delay of a week, the first rebuilt section of sea wall at Dawlish alongside the railway at Marine Parade finally opened today. Fortunately I was working in the town and managed to grab a few photos. Unfortunately time was brief so I was unable to snap the pacers that would have added a bit of interest. Managed to photograph an elderly couple in the picture wearing face masks just for another historical angle when looking back at this in years to come. I was somewhat caught by surprise as I hadn't been to the town for a while and had not been following the local news on how the wall at Marine Parade was progressing. The last I saw of it was two months ago when it was far from complete. After so many years of walking along the previous walk here and photographing many trains it felt very strange indeed. It is still incomplete as the contractors need to add permanent fencing, seating and paving. I did see a stash of the intended paving by the footbridge and it looks very smart. The final photo shows a nine car IET passing Marine Parade with the 15.14 Plymouth - Paddington. The full extent of the new section of sea wall can be seen clearly from the footbridge. When the clutter of the temporary fence has gone with its red and white base and the new paving stones are laid I actually don't think it will look too bad in photographs from here. It looks cluttered by the station and a bit ugly from the beach. Best to judge it yourself by paying a visit to this lovely town and railway. - Regards, Clive Smith.
DAWLISH SEA WALL 1 28th July 2020. Copyright Clive Smith
DAWLISH SEA WALL 2 28th July 2020. Copyright Clive Smith
Signs of the times - 28th July 2020. At least the lady is wearing her mask correctly. Copyright Clive Smith.
DAWLISH SEA WALL 3 A 9 Car iET passing Marine Parade on the 28th July 2020. This was the 15.14 Plymouth to Paddington service. Copyright Clive Smith
Many thanks Clive.
Truro Stations
David Rudd
David Rudd
A short while ago David wrote in asking if we had any details of stations in Truro. The first one called Truro Road was a very temporary affair on the West Conwall Railway on route to Truro Newham. I (KJ) didn't know the location but David has, it seems, answered it himself in his subsequent letter below.
He also asked about a station out by the cattle sidings. Again he seems to have answered this in his second part. If you use the link you will find a most interesting picture, a copy of which you can purchase if you wish, try 'hovering' over the picture for more detail - very interesting.
He also asked about a station out by the cattle sidings. Again he seems to have answered this in his second part. If you use the link you will find a most interesting picture, a copy of which you can purchase if you wish, try 'hovering' over the picture for more detail - very interesting.
Hi Keith There is a footpath down beside County Hall, Truro that passes a small piece of land now called Fox corner which is maintained by Cornwall Nature Conservation (or similar) which, I suspect, is the site of the original station as it is flat and just before the junction of the Falmouth/Penzance lines into Truro.
As regards the other matter, I have come across which shows the loading bays at the rear of the market./royal-cornwall-museum/places/truro/cattle-market-truro-cornwall-1910-12329415.html?prodid=81514 At the rear of the courts and Victoria Gardens is an area of waste/non-used land. Under the brambles there are some metal gates and some rusty iron posts reminiscent of the type of post used on railways in the past. The piece of land is totally overgrown but looks wide enough to take a single line. Where it connected to the mainline, I do not know. The building partially hidden by the curved roof is still there, at the end of Castle Rise, Truro. I believe the connection to the cattle market was solely for livestock, so no platform and no ticket office. The partially hidden building served as a pub on cattle market days, so I am told. I knew somebody who used it but I never saw it myself. I hope this helps you. David
As regards the other matter, I have come across which shows the loading bays at the rear of the market./royal-cornwall-museum/places/truro/cattle-market-truro-cornwall-1910-12329415.html?prodid=81514 At the rear of the courts and Victoria Gardens is an area of waste/non-used land. Under the brambles there are some metal gates and some rusty iron posts reminiscent of the type of post used on railways in the past. The piece of land is totally overgrown but looks wide enough to take a single line. Where it connected to the mainline, I do not know. The building partially hidden by the curved roof is still there, at the end of Castle Rise, Truro. I believe the connection to the cattle market was solely for livestock, so no platform and no ticket office. The partially hidden building served as a pub on cattle market days, so I am told. I knew somebody who used it but I never saw it myself. I hope this helps you. David
Many thanks David - is there any further comment from our experts please.
An up date from Roy Hart at Rangoon received thirty minutes after placing the query.
Dear Keith, Truro Cattle Pens was the name of the siding established between the two viaducts at Truro in 1903, to serve Truro cattle market. This was the time of the completion of the rebuilding of the two viaducts in stone, for double track.There was a single siding on the down side, connected to the up main at the London end and the down main at the PZ end. All was controlled by Truro Cattle Pens signal box (the back of which is seen in the picture).Maintaining the full signalling infrastructure for a few hours use on one day a week was considered uneconomic, so the box was closed in 1925 and replaced by a 3-lever ground frame just west of the box, operating a single trailing point, but the building remained, boarded up, until about 1972, used as a mess room by PW and bridge engineers.The procedure at Cattle Pens siding after 1925 was that the train formed up in the down goods line at Truro East and the engine propelled the stock 'wrong line' up to the GF.Cattle Pens siding and ground frame was taken out of use in 1964: there was never a passenger station there. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android All the best, Roy
Many thanks to you Roy.