2nd Deember 2019

Home Again
'St Piran at Penzance'
Roger Winnen

191202g 08645 is seen under the roof at Penzance Station after uncoupling from the Night Riviera stock.. Copyright Roger Winnen

Many Problems in Devon
Roger Winnen

Today saw many problems, a fatality incident with the 09.25 Penzance to Dundee striking a person in the Dawlish area held up trains on both lines for over an hour causing long tailbacks and cancellations.
For most of December trains on the Southern, are being staffed by the management who are running a service of one every two hours between Exeter Central and Salisbury, as the continued dispute over the guards remained unsolved.

191202a 75014 Braveheart being preparred for The Christmas Train of Lights which will be running on 17 days during December 2019. Trains depart at 16.45 18.45 and 20.45 Adults £19.25 Con £18.75. Copyright Roger Winnen

191202b 66151 Heads the RHtt through Exeter St David's. Copyright Roger Winnen

191202c 66199 Brings up the rear guard action of the RHTT. Copyright Roger Winnen

191202d A fatality in the Dawlish area by the 09.25 Penzance to Dundee caused long delays as both lines were blocked and trains were terminated short of their destinations. Here we see a Cross Country Voyager in Platform 2 at Exeter St David's. Copyright Roger Winnen

191202e With strike action on the Southern a two hourly service ran from the bay platform at Exeter Central to Salisbury. Arriving is the 15.03 service. Copyright Roger Winnen

191202f The return service to Salisbury being the 15.09 service composed of 2 three car 159 sets. Copyright Roger Winnen

Bath Shoppers
Steam delights

Excellent weather and steam brought great interest to Bristol, Bath and Swindon as John Simons, Guy Vincent and Ken Mumford prove. 
​          Many thanks to you all - superb pictures.

Firstly at Bristol Temple Meads - John Simons

7029 Clun Castle arriving at BTM 13.02 1st December 2019. Copyright John Simons

7029 Clun Castle stands at BTM at 13.09 on the 1st December 2019. Copyright John Simons

7029 Clun Castle at BTM 13.23 1st December 2019. Copyright John Simons

Later in the day 7029 Clun Castle at BTM at 16.16 on 1st December 2019. Copyright John Simons

Ready to go! 7029 Clun Castle at BTM at 16.26 on the 1st December 2019. Copyright John Simons

Secondly at Bath Spa - Guy Vincent

Today (1st Dec) two steam-hauled charter trains brought a combined total of approximately 750 people into Bath at lunchtime for an afternoon visit to the annual Christmas Market.   First to arrive was superbly restored 'Castle' 7029 'Clun Castle' on 1Z88 0855 Solihull-Bristol Temple Meads. This had 47773 at the back for assistance as required.   Second was Thompson 'B1' 61306 'Mayflower' with 1Z22 0920 London Paddington-Bath Spa which had come via Andover and Salisbury. Diesel 47237 was hidden away on the rear.    It was especially nice to see a superbly resplendent ex GWR design loco back where it belongs on the Western Region as sadly such appearances are few and very far between.  

               Regards,  Guy Vincent.  Many thanks Guy.

Bath Spa 7029 1Z88 Clun Castle rolls in with the 08.55 Solihull to BTM at 13.56 on the 1st December 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Bath Spa 61306 with the 1Z22 the 09.20 Paddington to Bath at 15.02 on the 1st December 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

And at the end of the day at Swindon.  Ken Mumford.

Ken writes :- Friends,  7029 'Clun Castle' came very slowly on the through line as there was a red signal at the east end of the station caused by an IET having just departed. However as 7029 was halfway between the platforms [photo 2], that red signal turned to a single yellow and the driver of 7029 really opened up the regulator and we saw an determined effort for that locomotive heading for the Didcot area to make up time lost by that signal check.
More to come, hopefully, later. Ken   Thanks Ken

Clun Castle at Swindon. 18.18 1st December 2019. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Clun Castle heads east amidst poor light, steam and overhead wires. Power of two kinds!! Copyright Ken Mumford.