Trewoon
Andrew Keast
Engineering works
Craig Munday
The week-long St Austell blockade has reached the half-way point. Up to ten engineering trains currently reside between St Austell and Truro, concentrated on the worksites of St Austell, Burngullow and Tregarne viaduct at Probus.
The project has also seen the replacement of the 50 year old metal rail over A3058 road bridge at Trewoon just west of Burngullow. The Ground Frame at St Austell has been rationalised with the up siding being removed. Turnback moves will still be able to be accommodated via the remaining crossover.
Images from the 28th Feb into 1st March see an armada of engineering trains arrive in the Duchy and take their respective places prior to the possession being taken. In recent years, good use has been made of the "wrap around" or TPAT (Taking possession around train) to give it its proper name!
Historically, all movements into an engineers possession (T3) entered at either end once the possession had been granted. Nowadays, trains can be signalled normally, and placed at fixed signals within the affected area and the T3 get taken around them. Up to four trains employed this method in Par that night, three on the down and one on the up line. This speeds up the worksites commencing considerably.
It was a remarkable sight to see three Colas class 70 hauled engineering trains pass through St Austell station within 35 minutes late evening on the 28th.
Two further DB Cargo trains entered the possession conventionally, and are seen at Par platform awaiting instructions after midnight. (6W41 with 66009 and 6W42 with 66158).
Some other daylight pictures on subsequent days were obtained when duty allowed, including the worksite at Burngullow, and trains in the cutting at Trevannion Road bridge near Gover viaduct.
On 3rd March 2021, the first train from the blockade heads back east running as 6W44 14.12 Par to Westbury and dodges the heavy showers as it passes Budge's Shop near Trerulefoot. The locos are DB Cargo 66001 leading 66077 working top and tail.
Also pictured is the gap at Trewoon where the bridge once stood.
Sorry for the long post!!
Best wishes
Craig
Paul Barlow
Falmouth (Docks)
Andrew Vines
Best wishes, Andrew Vines.
Bere Alston
Trevor Tremethick
Sent to me by a fellow photographer today.
I'm told it is an open site, so can be linked.
saltash.org/south-east-cornwal…
Best wishes, Trevor.