3rd January 2020

Midsomer Norton
Chris Osment

Trains were running again today (1st January 2020) at the Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust at Midsomer North (South) station, The weather was cold. damp and overcast, but it did not keep all the visitors away and at least the signalbox had a working fire!!.  Sadly 'Joyce'. the Sentinel was out of service today, but I've included a view taken on a previous visit showing the end of the line as seen from Joyce's cab.

​Best regards,  Chris Osment     Many thanks to you Chris.

Looking neat and tidy here we see Midsomer Norton on the 1st January 2019 Copyright Chris Osment

One can almost feel the heat of the fire in the cosy signalbox and Midsomer Norton. 1st January 2020. Copyright Chris Osment.

Looking ahead, last years view of the formation. Copyright Chris Osment.

47152 Plymouth 1982
Clive Smith

47152 stands at platform 7 at Plymouth with the 15.28 Penzance - Paddington relief on Sunday 21st November 1982. Copyright Clive Smith

Thanks Clive

Long Distance Heritage Working
Guy Vincent​

On the second day of 2020 class 150-0 150002 calls at Romsey station, Hants, while working the 1O98 1041 Great Malvern-Brighton through service, a total distance of 213.25  miles with just one retention toilet available and no on-board catering or air conditioning .   This unit, in company with its twin 150001 is reportedly due to transfer to Northern Rail at the end of March.  Both of these three-car sets were built in 1984 and are the oldest second-generation DMUs still in service.    Also note the banner repeater signal showing 'Off' or 'Clear' for the route towards Southampton.  The banner is needed due to the junction signal being obscured by the platform awning.

Wishing a Happy Year to all readers and contributors

                 Guy V                    Many thanks Guy

Romsey with 150002 on the 10.41 GMV-BTN 2nd January 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent

Happy New Year
Colin Burges

To go with David Prout's piece on Great Western cartage at Hayle, here are images of the cover and title page of what I guess is the last B.R. equivalent, when the railway was still a general purpose, multi-function system.

And further to Andrew Jones's feature on bridge rail, here is a page from the 1915 Hudson light railway catalogue, illustrating cross sections of bridge rail, two weights of the many that must have been rolled.

The wagon turntable at Christow has bridge rails and there are specimens on show in the exhibition, either lacquered or nickel-plated.

The lighter section is about 11 lb. per yard; the one beneath about 32 lb. Clockwise from left: Scatter Rock Macadams (Christow); East Cornwall Mineral (as far as I know); and Exeter Corporation Tramways.

Bridge rail had many other uses such as travelling cranes or machinery which ensured it being rolled in light sections long after the end of its most extensive use in "baulk road." It can sometimes be seen as sliding door or gate runners and could be found in the likes of car washes. Although bridge must have been used on narrow gauge, it would not have been favoured over flat bottom rail.

And I know you won't have forgotten Richard Holladay's bits on the Exe Valley and South Devon Phoenix.

Cheers, Colin.   

Many thanks to you Colin I will draw  David Prout and  and Andrew Jone's  attention to you much appreciated notes.

​P.S. I do have some of Richard Haladay's photographs and hope to slot them in to their relevant sections soon.