5th December 2018

Goodbye Old Friends
Nick Dyke

Here we see 43181 & 43015 waiting to leave Laira, these are the last 2 power cars for Scotrail, I felt quite emotional taking these ol girls up to Bristol on there final jaunt on the WR. It’s amazing to even think what mileage they have done in the last 41 or so years between Paddington and the West Country! This move happened yesterday (04/12/18) thanks.     Nick Dyke           Many Thanks to you Nick

43181 ready to leave Laira on the 4th December 2018 Copyright Nick Dyke

Laira 43015 4th December 2018 Copyright Nick Dyke

Train of lights
Paignton to Kingswear

You may like to click on the link below to obtain a 'jazzy kaleidoscope' of the Christmas celebration train on the branch. Certainly a novelty. The link takes a while to open.
https://www.dsrrbchristmas.co.uk/train-of-lights

Postscript to
Launceston to Redruth
Mike Roach

With regard to Roy Hart's story you might like to reproduce the picture of 5569 entering Bickleigh Station with the 10.15am Lanson to Redruth with 5 coaches in tow. For a couple of years towards the end the loco was not changed at Plymouth Station and nor were the 3 extra coaches added there either. The 3 extra coaches were hauled up to Lanson on the 7.10am from Plymouth in order to return from Lanson on the 10.15 It is thought that locomotives were changed from the prairie tank to a 4-6-0 tender engine outside Laira Junction signal  box. The clue is in the note at the bottom of Table 95 where the train is allowed an extra 4 minutes to travel from Marsh Mills to Plymouth Station on Saturdays Only.
              Regards, Mike Roach               Many thanks indeed Mike

A most unusual train - 5569 heads the 10.15am from Launceston into Bickleigh. On Saturdays in the summers of 1961 and 1962 only the train became an (unadvertised) through train to Redruth, and an extra three coaches were added. The only clue in the timetable was that the train was allowed extra time from Marsh Mills to Plymouth to change locomotives en route. Normally a 4-6-0 tender loco would take over for the second leg. However on at least one occasion no larger loco was available, and the 55xx continued all the way to Redruth - an epic 4-hour journey for a small Prairie tank. In the summer of 1962 the train was looped after Saltash (presumably at Wearde) to allow the 7.30am Paddington to Penzance to pass. What happened to the train when it finally reached Redruth at 2.45pm ? Captured by Mike Roach, Copyright.

Newport
Roger Geach

37895 Grange to Llanwern mgr seen at Newport at 18.25 on the 15th May 1992 Copyright Roger Geach

November Ballast Workings
Clinnick Viaduct Part Two
Alan Peters

Colas Railfreight 70807 is seen at Onslow on 6C23 with redundant track panels from Clinnick viaduct which are being strapped down before stabling the train at Bodmin Parkway on 1st December 2018 - Copyright Alan Peters

The train has now been drawn down to the marker boards at Bodmin Parkway and 70807 will form the 'tail' of 6C23 from site back to Westbury, note the unusual angle of the picture which was only possible with line under possession - Copyright Alan Peters

A final look at the weekend work to relay both the 'up' and down' line at Clinnick viaduct between Largin and Bodmin Parkway, this was the site access for staff up to the viaduct, note the train of Falcon wagons being unloaded by road-railer which gained access at Onslow - Alan Peters

Access is an important feature of any engineering work and many thanks to Alan for, in his last picture drawing our attention to this detail.