30th December 2018

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Roger Winnen

Owing to operational reasons the Winter Steam Up this year was cancelled  instead the lilac timetable was in force with the Austerity 75178 operating all services adorned with a wreath in Memory of Trevor Knight a former Southern Region and Bodmin & Wenford driver 1941-2018.

181230a 75178 Hauled today's services on The Bodmin & Wenford Railway, she returned into traffic in November 2017. Copyright Roger Winnen

181230c 75178 Carries a wreath in memory of Trevor Knight. 1941-2018 a former driver of the Southern and the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Copyright Roger Winnen

181230d Bodmin General Station at noon after the arrival of the 11.25 from Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

181230e The arrival of the 12.36 from Boscarne is seen as the crew hands over the token. Copyright Roger Winnen

181230f 75178 is seen running around its train at Bodmin Parkway, in the distance is one of the new signals installed for the upgrade of the Cornish Mainline. Copyright Roger Winnen

181230g The 14.05 is seen departing from Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

Bodmin Road '68
Andrew Jones

Dear Keith and Roger, this picture was taken towards the end of 1968, just over 50 years ago. Bodmin Road station, (I never will get used to Parkway!) was locked in a time warp, no electricity or mains water, yet just 4 miles from Bodmin. Services to Wadebridge and Padstow had ended the previous year, but all the original chocolate and brown signs were still in place advertising the connection.
Almost a living museum, the staff were always friendly, the station having a magical atmosphere with its coal fires and oil lamps.
The photograph shows a member of staff preparing to hoist one of the many oil lamps as the sun goes down.
If only we could turn the clock back!
​Wishing all at CRS a happy 2019
 
Best wishes Andrew   Best wishes also to you Andrew and many thanks.

Bodmin Rd 1968 Oil lighting, locked in a time warp, no electricity or mains water, yet just 4 miles from Bodmin. Copyright Andrew Jones

Bodmin Rd 1968 Up the Oil light goes. Copyright Andrew Jones

Kingswear
​Arrive & Depart
Clive Smith

Saturday 29th December saw class 37 6975 arrive at Kingswear with BR Standard 75014 attached at the rear of the 13.45 from Paignton. 75014 then left at 14.25 producing quite a display as the near 105 ton 37 was very much idling . 
                Regards,  Clive Smith            Many thanks Clive.

37 6975 arrives at 13.45 from Paignton. 29th December 2018 Copyright Clive Smith

A dramatic picture as 75014 hauls the train plus idling 37 6975 away at 14.25 29th December 2018 Copyright Clive Smith

David looks back
Exmouth Junction
David Tozer

Hard to believe that 3509 was shunting the C & W Works at Exmouth Junction. This is now a road and the site of Morrison's Supermarket.

08 3509 at Exmouth Junction 5th April 1974 Copyright David Tozer

Westbury North Junction Renewals
Day 7  29th December 2018
​Guy Vincent

With all the new track now in place the next phase of work is well underway with tons of new ballast being dropped, spread and finally 'tamped' into position.  There is still plenty of S&T work to be undertaken and the project concludes with several days of adjustments and testing before 'normal' train services recommence at 0400hrs on Friday January 4th 2019.    Let us hope also that a thorough tidy-up of the site takes place as it would be a pity to leave behind a bad impression of what has been a well-managed and well executed undertaking.

                 Guy V  29th December 2018
Many thanks to Guy for his detailed coverage of this major work at Westbury.  In case you have missed anything so far a complete set of pictures can be found in our Features Section.

Photo 0) West country services calling at Frome during the Westbury blockade. 800314 ready to leave on 1C74 0800 Paddington-Exeter St Davids. 29th December 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent

Photo 1) Ballast being unloaded while S&T staff carry on with their work. Working beneath the bridge are two very noisy ballast regulator / tamper units. 29th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent

Photo 2) Similar view to 1) with ballast being unloaded and then spread where required by the excavators. 29th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 3) Looking towards the signal box with the previously exposed concrete sleepers now hidden by a layer of fresh ballast. 29th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent

Photo 4) Close-up of the Colas Tamper & ballast regulator lifting and packing the new line. The operator sits inside the machine and follows the co-ordinates provided by the machine's laser measuring equipment to accurately lift and align the track. 29th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Newton Abbot
Ron Kosys

Peak No. 63 Royal Innskilling Fusilier seen at Newton Abbot on the 21st July 1971 Copyright Ron Kosys