29th November 2018

All stations!

A young man and his good lady set about visiting many of the closed stations in South Devon by car. There are some interesting but very fleeting views of various station sites but to be honest it would have been better had Paul Whitewick spent more time at the loactions.  They do have a good word for Colin Burgess and wish that they spent more time at Christow and interviewed the good man himself.  Anyway, form your own opinion.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85U9d3QZ9w8&t=9s

Exploring
Portreath Incline
Peter Murnaghan

 I was in Portreath yesterday (26th November 2018) and decided to see if it was possible to explore the incline, as Google maps seemed to suggest that it could be done, at least, the uppermost threequarters.   Sadly, that wasn't to be the case.  At the very top. near where the winding house would have been, is a promising private road with a few bungalows, named The Incline.  My picture shows how the road drops over the edge, just as the wagons would have done.  However, you can only venture down less than a quarter of the way, before very stern Private notices prevent further access.  One can get down about as far as an old underbridge, thought to have been a farm access between both sides of the incline.
The underbridge is now blocked off and the other, western side, is an impenetrable jungle of brambles surrounded by back garden fences.
I hope that my photos might be useful to include in the Gallery for the Portreath branch, as there aren't any recent views of the top of the incline.  And the situation is greatly changed since Laurence Hansford's exploration in 1964.
      I hope this is useful.  Best wishes,  Peter Murnaghan. 
                                 Many thanks Peter

Portreath Incline. Top of the Incline. 25th November 2018 Copyright Peter Murnaghan

Looking down the Incline towards Portreath on the 25th November 2018 Copyright Peter Murnaghan

You can't go any further down; Private property. 25th November 2018 Copyright Peter Murngahan

This farmers access bridge is roughly where the Private Notices are on the incline. 25th November 2018 Copyright Peter Murngahan

A footnote.  My father, who was in the home guard in WW2 told me that for exercise they used to have to run up the incline wearing full kit and carrying rifles.  KJ

Delightful Dawlish!!!
Clive Smith

The 11.32 Paignton - Paddington stops at Dawlish today (17th November 2018) in appalling weather. The second picture just about shows the station and sea wall in the torrential downpour. A sharp contrast from Mark Lynam's pics from yesterday and not looking any better for Wednesday with gale force winds forecast.  (In fact the weather for the whole week looks pretty poor - but at least we get day light so why complain!!)

             Regards.  Clive Smith    Many thanks Clive

The 11.32 Paignton - Paddington stops at Dawlish today in appalling weather. Dawlish 27th November 2018 Copyright Clive Smith

Dawlish today in appalling weather. 27th November 2018 Copyright Clive Smith

Weekend Trains - masses of information from
Karl Hewlett

Now that I have fixed a gremlin in my email account, I can provide members with some out of the ordinary movements this weekend.  The first is the visit of A4 60009 'Union Of South Africa' to Plymouth this Saturday on what could be its last trip to the South West, owner John Cameron is retiring all his locomotives into a museum after their boiler tickets expire which No 9's is in July 2019.  I can however say without divulging much, it may not be for ever, ever, but that's all I am going to divulge!

1Z09 Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54647/2018/12/01/advanced

5Z10 Plymouth to Laira T&MRSD
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54648/2018/12/01/advanced

5Z11 Laira T&MRSD  to Plymouth
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54649/2018/12/01/advanced

1Z11 Plymouth to Bristol Temple Meads
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54650/2018/12/01/advanced

As usual when something like this makes a visit to our area something is going to just make it that slightly bit more difficult to move around using the train and in this case its buses between Par and Liskeard this weekend due to engineering works.  For anyone travelling up west of Par by train on Saturday here are the timings.

0B00 Bus Timetable Par to Liskeard
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/LSK/from/PAR/2018/12/01/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt&toc=GW

0B00 Bus Timetable Liskeard to Par
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/PAR/from/LSK/2018/12/01/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt&toc=GW

Daylight engineers movement for Saturday using Colas Rail which has been mainly class 70's with an odd class 66 hire in, no other details and headcodes are available at the moment.  The two that are likely to run in some sort of daylight.

Westbury Down TC to Tavistock Junction
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H48129/2018/12/01/advanced

Westbury Down TC to Liskeard
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/B33261/2018/12/01/advanced

However on Sunday there seems to be even less booked daylight engineering workings with just one, the first leaving Liskeard block isn't due off until 19:15pm and to speculate when they will actually leave you can realistically put several hours either side of their departure times, not helpful when the light has gone by 17:00pm.

Ivybridge to Westbury Down TC
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/B33252/2018/12/02/advanced

For anybody that wants to give Sunday a go west of Par for the engineers movements, here are the bus timetables.

0B00 Bus Timetable Par to Liskeard
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/LSK/from/PAR/2018/12/02/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt&toc=GW


0B00 Bus Timetable Liskeard to Par
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/PAR/from/LSK/2018/12/02/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt&toc=GW

Kind Regards, Karl (The Friends Of Penmere Station).
              Many thanks for your time and trouble

Winnen's Westerns
Quintrell Downs
Roger Winnen

D1005 Western Venturer heads out of Newquay passing Quintrell Downs. 18th September 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen