66048 at
Par
Neil Phillips
Par
Neil Phillips
On 3rd June Guy Vincent presented some photos of 66734 at Westbury in newly-applied Platinum Jubilee livery, and mentioned that this was the second Class 66 to carry this number due to the original having come to grief in Scotland – a derailment on 28th June 2012 left it in such a difficult position trapped in trees on the shore of Loch Treig that cutting it up on site was the only recovery option available.
Little did I know when I took these photos of 66048 at Par station on a PW working in August 1999 that a very similar fate awaited it, also in Scotland. 66048 was delivered on 4th January 1999 and exactly 11 years to the day later and newly repainted into Stobart Rail livery it was in charge of that company’s train comprised of ten twin-wagon container flats – on approach to Carrbridge a partial brake failure due to the freezing temperatures and snow build-up caused the train to pass a signal at danger and run through catch points just short of Carrbridge station platform. It too ended up in the trees but unlike 66734 it was eventually recovered in one piece (more or less) by crane. However it was assessed as being too badly damaged to be worth repairing – its power unit was swapped with 66005’s which had suffered a ‘big end’ failure. It was progressively robbed of parts and by July 2021 its shell – painted black to obliterate the Stobart colours – was perched on trestles at EMD Longport.
Interestingly I found a photo online showing 66048’s carcase on the right and the cabs recovered from 66734 sitting on the ground to the left!
Jut as I turned the camera around to catch this still nearly-new locomotive passing one of Par station’s semaphore signals a convoy of three Rail Express Systems Class 47s appeared from St Blazey – a regular sight at the time I believe. I wasn’t logging numbers by then (which is why I don’t have the actual date) – the second and third locos were 47721 and 47771 but all I can recall about the leader was that it was 475-something!
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
Little did I know when I took these photos of 66048 at Par station on a PW working in August 1999 that a very similar fate awaited it, also in Scotland. 66048 was delivered on 4th January 1999 and exactly 11 years to the day later and newly repainted into Stobart Rail livery it was in charge of that company’s train comprised of ten twin-wagon container flats – on approach to Carrbridge a partial brake failure due to the freezing temperatures and snow build-up caused the train to pass a signal at danger and run through catch points just short of Carrbridge station platform. It too ended up in the trees but unlike 66734 it was eventually recovered in one piece (more or less) by crane. However it was assessed as being too badly damaged to be worth repairing – its power unit was swapped with 66005’s which had suffered a ‘big end’ failure. It was progressively robbed of parts and by July 2021 its shell – painted black to obliterate the Stobart colours – was perched on trestles at EMD Longport.
Interestingly I found a photo online showing 66048’s carcase on the right and the cabs recovered from 66734 sitting on the ground to the left!
Jut as I turned the camera around to catch this still nearly-new locomotive passing one of Par station’s semaphore signals a convoy of three Rail Express Systems Class 47s appeared from St Blazey – a regular sight at the time I believe. I wasn’t logging numbers by then (which is why I don’t have the actual date) – the second and third locos were 47721 and 47771 but all I can recall about the leader was that it was 475-something!
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
66048 at Par August 1999. Copyright Neil Phillips
47771 and 47721 at Par August 1999 Copyright Neil Phillips
47772 Par August 1999 Copyright Neil Phillips
Many thanks Neil.
St Blazey Turntable
Dennis Clarke
Dennis Clarke
I went to Par today for 6V99 but as my train arrived there 25 mins late, I didn’t manage to see it, I did have a walk up to St Blazey where a couple of volunteers were progressing the restoration of the turntable. They said that as it is Grade 2 listed, they are waiting to get permission from English Heritage to use an oxy acetylene torch to heat up all the bolts that have completely rusted together, hence why progress may not be as fast as they would like. It will be great to see it completed and back in action, Regards, Regards, Dennis Clarke.
St Blazey Turntable work 1 28th June 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
St Blazey Turntable work 2 28th June 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
St Blazey Turntable work 3 28th June 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
St Blazey Roundhouse. 28th June 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke. Good to see this treasure is in good health.
Many thanks Dennis, please keep exploring, what you send in is of great interest.
Cogload
Graham Mann remembers
Graham Mann remembers
I was quite interested in the Cogload article as after the tracks became doubled I claimed several hundred concrete sleepers from the up Bristol transported them to the Meldon line, which I was maintaining at the time, and installed them between Fatherford and Sampford Courtnay, ironically these sleepers have now been lifted again following the recent relaying.
PL3 Regards, Graham Mann. Mob. 07920155651
PL3 Regards, Graham Mann. Mob. 07920155651
Cogload Junction, Just prior to relaying and recovery of the down Bristol line between were and Taunton. 17th November 1985. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Thanks for writing in Paul.