The Lambourn Branch
Michael L. Roach
Michael L. Roach
Sixty years ago today on 2 January 1960 I made my way to Berkshire for the last day of passenger services on the Lambourn Branch. Accompanying me was my good friend the late Charles Fennamore who not only worked in the same place as me in Southampton but also came from Plymouth and shared similar railway interests. We travelled north up the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway on the 6.28am Totton to Reading General train which was the first of four trains up the D.N.&S. We alighted at Newbury the junction for the Lambourn Branch on time at 8.25am. We had no clear idea of what we were going to do that day because there were so few trains to choose from and so bought a single to Lambourn for 2 shillings and 6 pence. Since the swingeing cuts to passenger train mileage of June 1958 when the line lost half of its passenger trains there had been just 3 trains a day each way on the branch. Lambourn is a major centre for training race horses, and the population then was about 2,600 and is now about 4,200.
We travelled up the branch on the 10.15am from Newbury to Lambourn, the first train of the day in that direction, hauled by pannier tank 4670 hauling two ex-GWR coaches (numbered W2214W and W2734W for those who are interested) We watched the pannier tank run around and then walked to the centre of the village, viewed the High Street, and quickly returned to watch 4670 depart at 11.15am on the second train of the day in that direction. The third and last train of the day, and the last scheduled passenger train ever, was not due to depart until 6.05pm. The staff shut up shop, including the signalman, and the station fell into a slumber. What to do now ?
We decided that the best course of action was to walk back the 12½ miles to Newbury which would allow us to view all the stations and halts, buy some last day tickets and keep us warm on a cold miserable winter day. There were no trains for hours so we just walked off the end of the platform at Lambourn and down the track, alternating regularly between the sleepers and the cess, as neither made comfortable walking. We averaged about 2 miles per hour passing through Eastbury Halt (1½ miles), East Garston (2½), Great Shefford (4¼), Welford Park (6¼), Boxford (7¾) and Stockcross & Bagnor Halt (9¾) before arriving at Speen (10¾ miles) as it was getting dark. Welford Park had 2 platforms and a crossing loop but all the others had only a single platform. The stations mostly had a pagoda hut as a waiting room and a wooden hut as a booking office. Most were manned as we passed but we were not challenged as we walked up along the platform and out the other end, after purchasing some Great Western tickets if possible.
Speen was perhaps the most interesting station for us and the one that has stuck in the mind ever since. We entered the booking office and shut the door because of the cold. The Tilley lamp was lit and the vertical stove was being fed with redundant books and printed material as well as coal. We managed to save some of the paper for posterity. However it was the smell and ambience of burnt oil and heat from the stove in a confined space that I have not experienced before or since. The wooden hut was manned by a porter/crossing keeper and measured just 6 feet by 10 feet (1.8 metres by 3.1 metres).It was here at Speen that we left the railway and walked the last 2 miles down the road through the centre of Newbury. The train home was the 7.25pm from Newbury to Eastleigh, where we had a half hour wait for our connecting train to Southampton. We did not know it at the time but the last train from Lambourn (due Newbury at 6.50pm) ran very late and did not arrive at Newbury until 8.15pm, and therefore failed to connect with the 7.25pm train to Eastleigh. A lucky escape from an uncomfortable night if we had travelled on the last train. All in all a very memorable day. The railway press reported that 2 of the people on the last train had also travelled on the first day of passenger services on 4 April 1898, which was opening day for goods as well as passengers.
During our 5 minute jaunt to the High Street in Lambourn we encountered one of those things that stop you in your tracks. There on the wall was an enamel advertising sign for Millbay Laundry. Now Millbay was a Plymouth institution in the days before most people had a washing machine with its base not far from the Great Western's Millbay Station and close to Millbay Docks. At its peak the laundry had more than 250 shops, vans and agents covering the whole of the West Country. Presumably the firm had an agent in Lambourn with the laundry travelling down to Plymouth in wicker baskets by train judging by the proximity of the sign to the station. Can anyone confirm this please ?
A final thought on that day long ago. Roughly half way through our journey down the D.N.&S. to Eastleigh between Whitchurch Town and Sutton Scotney I walked through the train and there were just 7 passengers in the 3 coaches. The D.N.& S. closed to passengers two months later on 5 March 1960
We travelled up the branch on the 10.15am from Newbury to Lambourn, the first train of the day in that direction, hauled by pannier tank 4670 hauling two ex-GWR coaches (numbered W2214W and W2734W for those who are interested) We watched the pannier tank run around and then walked to the centre of the village, viewed the High Street, and quickly returned to watch 4670 depart at 11.15am on the second train of the day in that direction. The third and last train of the day, and the last scheduled passenger train ever, was not due to depart until 6.05pm. The staff shut up shop, including the signalman, and the station fell into a slumber. What to do now ?
We decided that the best course of action was to walk back the 12½ miles to Newbury which would allow us to view all the stations and halts, buy some last day tickets and keep us warm on a cold miserable winter day. There were no trains for hours so we just walked off the end of the platform at Lambourn and down the track, alternating regularly between the sleepers and the cess, as neither made comfortable walking. We averaged about 2 miles per hour passing through Eastbury Halt (1½ miles), East Garston (2½), Great Shefford (4¼), Welford Park (6¼), Boxford (7¾) and Stockcross & Bagnor Halt (9¾) before arriving at Speen (10¾ miles) as it was getting dark. Welford Park had 2 platforms and a crossing loop but all the others had only a single platform. The stations mostly had a pagoda hut as a waiting room and a wooden hut as a booking office. Most were manned as we passed but we were not challenged as we walked up along the platform and out the other end, after purchasing some Great Western tickets if possible.
Speen was perhaps the most interesting station for us and the one that has stuck in the mind ever since. We entered the booking office and shut the door because of the cold. The Tilley lamp was lit and the vertical stove was being fed with redundant books and printed material as well as coal. We managed to save some of the paper for posterity. However it was the smell and ambience of burnt oil and heat from the stove in a confined space that I have not experienced before or since. The wooden hut was manned by a porter/crossing keeper and measured just 6 feet by 10 feet (1.8 metres by 3.1 metres).It was here at Speen that we left the railway and walked the last 2 miles down the road through the centre of Newbury. The train home was the 7.25pm from Newbury to Eastleigh, where we had a half hour wait for our connecting train to Southampton. We did not know it at the time but the last train from Lambourn (due Newbury at 6.50pm) ran very late and did not arrive at Newbury until 8.15pm, and therefore failed to connect with the 7.25pm train to Eastleigh. A lucky escape from an uncomfortable night if we had travelled on the last train. All in all a very memorable day. The railway press reported that 2 of the people on the last train had also travelled on the first day of passenger services on 4 April 1898, which was opening day for goods as well as passengers.
During our 5 minute jaunt to the High Street in Lambourn we encountered one of those things that stop you in your tracks. There on the wall was an enamel advertising sign for Millbay Laundry. Now Millbay was a Plymouth institution in the days before most people had a washing machine with its base not far from the Great Western's Millbay Station and close to Millbay Docks. At its peak the laundry had more than 250 shops, vans and agents covering the whole of the West Country. Presumably the firm had an agent in Lambourn with the laundry travelling down to Plymouth in wicker baskets by train judging by the proximity of the sign to the station. Can anyone confirm this please ?
A final thought on that day long ago. Roughly half way through our journey down the D.N.&S. to Eastleigh between Whitchurch Town and Sutton Scotney I walked through the train and there were just 7 passengers in the 3 coaches. The D.N.& S. closed to passengers two months later on 5 March 1960
New Years Day
2020
2020
On behalf of the Cornwall Railway Society may I wish our contributors and viewers of this website
A Happy New Year
A Happy New Year
The Mystery Photograph of 9351 taken by
David Tozer was photographed on the
Norton Fitzwarren Triangle
David Tozer was photographed on the
Norton Fitzwarren Triangle
Congratulations to Roy Hart from Rangoon, Betty & Brian, Tony Hill and Roger Aston for giving us the correct answer.
New Years Day
Penmere Platform & Penryn
Roger Winnen
Penmere Platform & Penryn
Roger Winnen
200101a Congratulation to the friends of Penmere Platform with its displays on the platform and information posted for all to see. Roger Winnen
200101b Over the years this station has won many awards. Copyright Roger Winnen
200101c The 13.45 service from Truro arrives at Penmere Platform. Copyright Roger Winnen
200101d The returning 14.15 service from Falmouth Docks arrives at Penmere. Copyright Roger Winnen
200101e Arriving at Penryn is the 14.15 service from Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen
200101f A passing photograph at Penryn with the 14.15 from Truro passing the 14.15 from Falmouth Docks. Copyright Roger Winnen
The start to the new decade early morning at Penzance
Roger Salter
Roger Salter
200101a TP05 The 07.52 Penzance to Plymouth service behind 43092 Cromwells Castle running 6 mins late. Copyright Roger Salter
200101b New Years morning at 08.01 Penzance Station. Copyright Roger Salter
200101c Looking over the wall at 08.00hrs. Copyright Roger Salter
A New Year has dawned
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
These were photographs taken on the 1st January 2000 with a beautiful sunrise over Mounts Bay, Penzance.
000101h Sunrise on New Years Day 2000. Copyright Roger Winnen
000101k Sunrise on New Years Day 2000 with St Michaels Mount visible on the far left Copyright Roger Winnen
000101a The first train on New Years day was the 08.20 to Paddington with six passengers on board from Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
000101bThe first train on New Years day was the 08.20 to Paddington photographed from the shoreline of the Eastern Green beach. Copyright Roger Winnen
000101m 47805 Propels its train into the station being the first Virgin Train from Penzance on New Years day 2000. Copyright Roger Winnen
000101q Now a thing of the past Oil Tanks at Long Rock Depot awaiting collection. Copyright Roger Winnen
New Years Eve 2019
A where is it photograph of 9351
Please send in your answers
The last train of the HST slam door stock
Paul Barlow & Roger Winnen
Paul Barlow & Roger Winnen
Another era has come to its close this morning as the last train of Great Western HST slam door stock ran on the 10.50 Penzance to Bristol Parkway.
A number of enthusiats were to be seen at the station and riding the train on its farewell journey. It was later photographed by Paul Barlow at Cowley Bridge Junction
A number of enthusiats were to be seen at the station and riding the train on its farewell journey. It was later photographed by Paul Barlow at Cowley Bridge Junction
191231a 43161 the rear power car on the Bristol service. Copyright Roger Winnen
191231aa 43010 Awaits departure from Penzance with the last of the slam door stock. Copyright Roger Winnen
191231b 43161 Departing on the 10.50 to Bristol Parkway with the last train of slam door stock. Copyright Roger Winnen
43010 43161 1050 Penzance-Bristol 31.12.2019 heading past Cowley Bridge Junction, Exeter. Copyright Paul Barlow
The last trains of 1999 Plymouth and Penzance
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
991231zcThe 17.49 Glasgow Penzance service at Plymouth Station of New Years eve 1999. Copyright Roger Winnen
991231w Plymouth Station looks very quiet on New Years eve. Royal Mail traffic is seen in number 3 Bay Platform. Copyright Roger Winnen
991231x The 16.50 Virgin service from Plymouth awaits departure from Platform 8. Copyright Roger Winnen
991231x The 17.31 to Paddington stands at Plymouth platform 7. Copyright Roger Winnen
991231zb A Great Western loco hauled service from Paddington to Penzance. Held in the through road is 66031 running light engine to St Blazey Copyright Roger Winnen
991231ze The 158 unit from Portsmouth Harbour to Penzance is seen under the station roof. Copyright Roger Winnen
991231zd The last train for 1999 at Penzance being the 18.57 from Paddington. Copyright Roger Winnen
A ride on the very last
'Slam door set'
Paul Barlow
'Slam door set'
Paul Barlow
I made a bit of an effort today (30th December 2019) , with the demise of slam door trains (in our area) due tomorrow. I first went to Cockwood harbour to photograph the 1050 Penzance- Bristol on it's penultimate run with slam door stock. Also photographed one of the few remaining FGW Blue liveried 150 units. I then traveled on the 0633 Dundee-Plymouth from Exeter to Newton Abbot, the guard on this train even announced it as the last slam door cross country service. I had my final window hang on the sea wall!
All the best, Kind regards, Paul Barlow
Congratulations Paul, well done, we're envious, and of course thank you.
All the best, Kind regards, Paul Barlow
Congratulations Paul, well done, we're envious, and of course thank you.
43010 43161 at Cockwood 30th December 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow
150246 and 150219 seen at Cockwood in the now rare FGW livery. The 12.57 Exmouth to Paignton. Seen at Cockwood. Caypright Paul Barlow
Final slam door Cross country set at Exeter, 30th December 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Cross country HST Langstone rock. 30th December 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Cross country HST Dawlish 30th December 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Coryton cove. 30th December 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow
43304 0633 Dundee-Plymouth about to leave Newton Abbot 30th December 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow
Taunton
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
45144 Royal Signals 1935 Exeter to Cardiff seen at Taunton on the 13th December 1982 Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul