2nd April 2020

The Retew and St Dennis Branches
Dave Anthony

​Out on my legitimate exercise allowance yesterday, did a loop of the Goss moor trail. First up on the Retew branch is the Gaverigan crossing, taken from a similar position as one already on your site but with considerably more vegetation. Copyright Dave Anthony

Facing the other way the alignment is clear and had signs of recently being cut back on the Retew Branch. Copyright Dave Anthony

A photograph of St Dennis junction from the old A30 overbridge, showing just the remaining single line under the new A30 road for Goss Moor to Bodmin. The junction commenced this side of the new road bridge for Retew and the St Dennis Branches. Copyright David Anthony.

The rail over bridge which carried the St Dennis branch, grid ref: SW 943588. Copyright Dave Anthony 

Finally, on the main road between Indian Queens and St Dennis, the Domellick over bridge. with it's mileage marker which looks like 294 miles and 44 chains. Copyright Dave Anthony

The trackbed viewed from the Domellick over bridge. Copyright Dave Anthony

Thanks David

April Fools Day

Congratulations to the three people from around the world who spotted the April Fools Day joke namely Leslie Curnow from Camborne where trains don't stop on Wednesdays! David Tozer from Exeter and Roy Hart from Rangoon, Burma.
The answer was a Castle  Class Class 2 + 3 HST and not a Castle Class 2 + 4 HST which are the regular formations.
​Many Thanks Roger Winnen

Class 140
Dawlish Warren
Peter Murnaghan

With yesterdays pictures of Pacers returning to the South West, I thought that the attached views might be of interest.
Following experiments with single car Railbuses, featuring bodies produced with Leyland National bus components, British Rail Engineering Ltd, Derby built a 2-car railbus in 1981.  This unit 140 001 featured a higher floor, high backed seats and the Leyland National bodywork, but with a rather austere front end, providing for a through corridor connection.  This unit was extensively trialled around the country and I was very fortunate to come across it, quite by chance in August 1984, waiting in the loop at Dawlish Warren.  
The experience gained with this unit went on to develop the later, production fleets of Pacer units, but without the corridor connections at the cab ends.  This prototype unit remained in BR's fleet until 1994, at Neville Hill, Leeds, latterly as a parts donor for the later Pacers in service.  I understand that this rare unit has been preserved at the Keith and Dufftown Railway in Scotland.
Very best wishes,
Peter

Dawlish Warren Prototype Pacer Railbus picture 1 140 001 Dawlish Warren. August 1984 Copyright Peter Murnaghan.

Dawlish Warren Prototype Pacer Railbus Picture 2 140 001 Dawlish Warren. August 1984 Copyright Peter Murnaghan.

Many thanks Peter.

Penzance '87
Steve Widdowson

It looks like there's been another drag as 50028 Tiger & 43130 stand at the buffer stops at Penzance on the 5th Sept 1987. Copyright Steve Widdowson.

Now preserved 50035 Ark Royal stands at platform 4 Penzance ready to take the nights sleeper. 5th Sept 1987. Copyright Steve Widdowson.

50040 Leviathan has joined 50035 Ark Royal at the head of the sleeper. One wonders what is up, is Ark Royal not too healthy or is this a move to get Leviathan back to Laira? 5th Sept 1987. Copyright Steve Widdowson.

Nice to have some Black and White images - crystal clear too. Many thanks Steve.

Thumper at
Okehampton
Martin Scane 

Not much chance to get out and about at the moment so I’ve been looking through some old photos. Here’s one from Okehampton on 11th August 2012. Martin

Thumper 1132 at Okehampton station on the 11th August 2012. Copyright Martin Scane.

Many thanks Martin, old pictures are much appreciated.