3rd September 2022

If only!
Wenford branch
Andrew and Diane Jones

From the Andrew and Diane Collection

Taken on a magical journey - the Two Rivers Railrour makes its way towards Wenford. Copyright Keith Jenkin

A journey up the branch towards Wenford Bridge in the late 70's. An 08, has replaced steam but as the tightness of the curve here and also the poor clearance with a rock face that prevented the introduction of CDA Copyright Andrew Jones

The two rivers railtour was the first railtour I (KJ)  ever went on - we covered as best possible the courses of the Rivers Fowey and Camel.  Many thanks to Andrew  for this view of his pass. We all had tickets.
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820116a The CRS Party at the Junction with the Wenfordbridge and the Bodmin North Line. 16th October 1982 Copyright Roger Winnen. From Left to Right Kevin Jenkin- Walter Julian- Peter Moore- David Brown -Keith Jenkin- Graham Hooper ? prior to walking the line to Wenford Bridge.

Devonport Nuclear Flasks 1
Paul Burkhalter

Perhaps I can add more detail and some corrections to David Hunt's interesting note about the Devonport nuclear waste flasks.  When Devonport and Rosyth Dockyards started refitting and refuelling nuclear powered submarines, the irradiated waste material had to be removed to Sellafield for safe long-term storage.  This was commenced in 1963 with a purpose built MOD owned wagon. One of the largest rail wagons used on British Railways was the 12-axle Head Wrightson built nuclear flask wagon, tare weight was a massive 191 tons. It came into service in 1963 and ran between Devonport and Sellafield. It’s running number was MODA95780. Stored out of use from many years it was only finally scrapped in August 2007 at CF Booths Rotherham. To allow specialist and security staff to accompany these shipments, the MOD acquired ex BR Mk 1 BSK 35153 & 35212 in the mid 1970’s, and 35478 & 35481 in the mid 1990’s, renumbered 99150 to 99153. They were sold out of use at the end of 1998, after which the MoD hired EWS inspection saloons. Later DRS took over the transportation contract and their coaches are used, with two new MoD flask transporter wagons (MODA95770 and 95770) which were built by Bombardier/Prorail of Wakefield in 1998.
Note that this traffic is entirely separate from the civil nuclear power station waste, which use different flask wagons.
This image is undated and uncredited in my collection but shows the Head Wrightson flask wagon at Rosyth Dockyard without the flask loaded.

Flask wagon at Rosyth From the Paul Burkhalter Collection.

Very many thanks to you Paul for filling in more detail on this rare traffic.
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Devonport  Nuclear
Flasks 2
Paul Burkhalter

Paul advises us -   In addition, there are two images of the old and new flask wagons on the Devon main line on page 195 of David Mitchell's book "Devon & Cornwall Railfreight".

Many thanks for the info Paul.
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Latest update on the
Castle Class Names
Guy Vincent

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Good morning Keith / Roger

Since compiling my last report on GWR 'Castle Class' namings, published on the CRS site on 5th May 2022, further names have been added.  This supplementary list is correct to 1st September 2022.


43009  Nunney Castle  (seen un-named 29.08.22, named 01.09.2022)

43010 Lydford Castle  (reported 28.07.2022)

43022 Nether Stowey Castle (seen 03.07.2022)

43029 Caldicot Castle (reported 18.05.2022)

43040 Berry Pomeroy Castle with Falklands 40th Anniversary Decals. (Named at Plymouth Station 14.06.2022)

43088 Dartmouth Castle (reported & seen 21.08.2022)

43093 Berkeley Castle (reported 21.08.2022, retains Old Oak Common 'Legends of the GWR' vinyls from 2018)

43156 Maen Castle (reported 11.07.2022)

43162 Caerhays Castle (reported 22.06.2022) 

This leaves only 43027 un-named.   Given the speed of recent namings expect to receive a report on this one in the next few days... 


Unconfirmed reports elsewhere suggest that four of the 'Castle' sets are due to be retired from service at the December timetable change with class 800s being brought in to work some of the Cardiff-Penzance diagrams.  If true then some of these nameplates will soon disappear!      Real Time Trains will show train allocations for the new timetable period in due course.

Finally, former GW PC's scrapped since the last report are 43069 43193 and 43197.
 
Best regards

Guy Vincent

Berkeley Castle (43093) Cardiff Central 23rd August 2022 Copyright Guy Vincent

Nether Stowey Castle (43022) Bristol TM 29th August 2022 Copyrght Guy Vincent

Nunney Castle (43009) Bristol TM 1st September 2022 Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks indeed Guy.
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Castle Farm Bridge
Forder
Clive Smith

The 08.50 Penzance - Cardiff Central 43194 heads away from Castle Farm Bridge near Forder, Saltash  with 43194 leading and 43005 the rear power car. The sunshine was somewhat watery with thin cloud but this may well be the last for a while as rain is forecast for the next week. Note the grape vines on the field ridge beyond the train.
Regards, Clive Smith

From Castle Farm Bridge. 2nd September 2022. Copyright Clive Smith. For further details please see above.

Many thanks Clive.
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