31st May 2022

The secret is out on the hinge pins at
Okehampton
David Hunt

Hinge Pins at Okehampton.

Reply from the Resident Property Administrator Okehampton
 
The gate pins date back to the early days of Dartmoor Railway and an enthusiastic 'Risk Assessor' who decreed that gates be positioned between the canopy stanchions when quarry trains were operating. Apparently they thought diners at the buffet would throw themselves 'lemming like' in front of the quarry train.

So there was a 'great faff' in erecting and then removing the gates each week as the Sunday Rover train was allowed to operate 'ungated'. All quite bonkers of course and the railway quietly forgot about it after a change of management. Quarry trains then operated normally ungated and surprisingly no lemmings appeared!

Quite what will happen in the future if and when freight comes from the quarry will be interesting. But we now have a yellow line and regular announcements to stand behind it so it will probably be OK. Just have to hope the lemmings aren't colour blind or deaf?

Many many thanks David for your research and reply from the property administrator  concerning the hinges at Okehampton. True reports like this make for very interesting reading - it's history and well worth recording.
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Pacer to Plymouth
Ben Warren

 Hi Keith
You've possibly heard rumours about the Plym Valley Railway acquiring another pacer. Well, I can now confirm one has arrived today.  GWR 143 618 left Bristol St Phillips Marsh depot today and arrive at the PVR just after midday. A quick dash down after work just in time to watch the last car being unloaded. 
The 143 is fully operational and will be able to rescue the 142 if it was ever to fail as well as being able to run a four-car train. We are very grateful to GWR for considering us to the 143618. 
I've attached a couple of pictures for the CRS website. 
Regards, Ben Warren.

143618 meets the Allerys truck that brought them down from Bristol.

143618 awaiting to be joined up at the Plym Valley Railway shortly after touching down on PVR metals. 30th May 2022 Copyright Ben Warren

Many thanks for your on the spot, as it was happening report Ben.
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Pauls Day Out
Paul Barlow

A few shots of a day out on Saturday just gone, fantastic weather!
All the best, Paul. 

From the young man running on the platform it is an action shot. 43194, 43041 leave Penzance on the late running 1250 to Cardiff 28 May 2022 Copyright Paul Barlow

43194 43041 head out of Penzance on the late running 1250 to Cardiff 28 May 2022. Copyright Paul Barlow

43171 and 43005 on rear 2U14 1043 Exeter St Davids to Cardiff Central at Exeter. 28th May 2022. Copyright Paul Barlow

Many thanks Paul - yes Saturday was a smashing day.
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Cowley, Exminster & Aller
Keith Turley, David Tozer & Clive Smith

Hi Keith and Roger. A rare visitor to Devon on a very dull very wet 30th May 2022, GBRF class 56 No,56081 with barrier coach No.6393 passes Cowley Bridge Junc. working the 5V56 10:04 Leicester LIP to Plymouth Laira T&RSMD. Regards Keith Turley.

Cowley Bridge Jct. 56081 with barrier coach 6393 5V56 10.04 Leicester LIP to Laira. 30th May 2022 Copyright Keith Turley

A rare visitor today:- 5V56 1004 Leicester L.I.P. to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. Said to be collecting redundant Class 43 power cars. A few minutes earlier we had a torrential down pour and when the 56 appeared the light was improving a little. Copyright Dave Tozer

56081 on route to collect scrap HST power cars. 30th May 2022. Copyright Clive Smith

Many thanks to Keith,  David, and Clive  for 'turning out' on a miserable day.
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4566 Photo
Roy Hart

Dear Keith,
I am inclined to agree with Roger Geach. It's not Laira. I go for Launceston, looking north.
Roy Hart. 

4566 in an unknown location. David Cook Collection

Thanks Roy, I too agree that it is probably Launceston.
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