Engineering work in West Cornwall commencing 5th December 2022
St Erth Station
Roger Salter
Roger Salter
Quattro Track Machines at St Erth seen passing the St Erth Signal Box. Copyright Roger Salter
A Colas tamping machine seen stabled in the short siding alingside the St Ives Branch Line. Copyright Roger Salter
Possible problems with the points at the Penzance end of St Erth Station. Copyright Roger Salter
Track renewals at Pengegon Crossing Dolcoath Camborne
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
221205a Road closed at Dolcoath for track renewals. Copyright Roger Winnen
221205b 66546 Draws forward with sleepers and ballast for the short section of track renewals at Pengegon Crossing Dolcoath, alongside on the left of was the former Milk Siding, the rails still there buried under those items lying on the ground. Copyright Roger Winnen
221205c 66546 is seen passing the road crossing with the Cornish Engine House and Pengegon Institute covered in scaffolding. Copyright Roger Winnen
221205d The large wagons for the redundant spoil in this trainloid. Copyright Roger Winnen
221205dd The scene looking towards Roskear Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen
221205e 66520 Is seen tailing the train as it moves a few yards down the line. Copyright Roger Winnen
221205f 66546 has moved towards Roskear Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen
An expedition to
Steer Point
Michael L. Roach
Steer Point
Michael L. Roach
On the afternoon of 5 December 1962 I took a half day off work to do some railway photography in the company of a friend. I motored from my parents home in the Mutley area of Plymouth the seven miles to Steer Point Station on the former Yealmpton Branch which was closed to passengers by the Great Western Railway in 1930, possibly due to competition from buses. Freight trains continued to reach Yealmpton for another thirty years until 1960. During World War Two the passenger service was reintroduced to Yealmpton but this time starting at the Southern Railway's Friary Station rather than the GWR's Millbay or North Road Stations. The service ran from 1941 to 1947 when it was again withdrawn. Our visit to Steer Point on Wednesday 5 December 1962 was to witness the lifting of the railway track which had lain disused for more than two and a half years. Being a normal working day we were able to see the lifting actually taking place and the gang had no objection to our presence there. The work was being done by British Railway's own men using a small crane and rail haulage by a 204 horse power diesel shunter. I think it was probably unusual for BR to do the dismantling themselves as without exception all the other lines I saw were being dismantled by contractors like Thomas W. Ward and George Cohen. These contractors generally used a crawler crane to lift the track – the favourites were the ubiquitous 19RB and 22RB cranes made by Ruston Bucyrus of Lincoln. The small crane being used at Steer Point was made by Neal's of Grantham on road wheels of a type that was very popular with BR because they could take them to site on rail wagons; but of course it did not have the lifting capacity of a 19RB or 22RB.With the end of the track now very close to the Steer Point Station site the gang would have to load every item in the stockpiles into rail wagons and move the mess coach before lifting any more track. In fact the gang's base was moved just one and a half miles to Brixton Road Station.
MLR / 26 November 2022
MLR / 26 November 2022
5839 The end of the line at the end of the days work on Wednesday 5th December 1962. The overbridge was a short distance east of Steer Point Station. Copyright Michael L.Roach.
5842 D2178 shunts the wagons which will be hauled away half an hour late. 5th December 1962. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
5846 View east from the road bridge showing the whole station site. 5th December 1962. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks for your recollections and photographs Michael, we would be much poorer if it weren't for your camera and memory.
Newton Abbot & Teignmouth
Clive Smith
Clive Smith
A selection of my pictures during the last fortnight.
Regards Clive Smith.
Regards Clive Smith.
(1) 43188 heads the 06.50 Bristol TM - Penzance with 43093 on the rear at Aller after leaving Newton Abbot station on the 24th November 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.
(2) On a glorious chilly morning the 08.00 Cardiff Central - Penzance rounds the seawall into Teignmouth station with 43022 & 43005 on the 2nd December 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.
(3) Running 70 minutes early at Teignmouth, nominally EWS liveried 66129 leads the RHTT Rail Head Treatment Train with an equally filthy red DB liveried 66105 on the rear. The circuit diagram which has been running since early October is the 3J13 08.46 Westbury - St Blazey. One more week left ? Copyright Clive Smith.
(4) 43198 brings up the rear of the 10.50 Penzance - Cardiff Central with 43093 on the front as it departs from Newton Abbot on the 3rd December 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive - glad to see you are still out and about.
Salisbury
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
33104+TC unit 414 on the 1610 from Waterloo at Salisbury. 11th December 1982 Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul - keep up the good work, 40 years on now!