6th December 2021

Engineering at
Polsloe Bridge
David Tozer 

David Tozer resorts - It would appear that some kind of work is going to take place at Polsloe Bridge.

Scaffolding has been erected alongside the platform that is in use. For several years part of the platform is inaccessible to the public being protected by a gate. I appears some sort of work will take place along the section that is in use.

Dave  Tozer 

Polsloe Bridge 1 Enineering 5th Decemeber .2021 Copyright David Tozer .

Many thanks David.
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Western Diesels around  Bristol & Bath
Hugh Austen

760606a D1015 Western Champion departs Bristol Temple Meads with a Paddington- Penzance train on the 6th June 1976. Copyright Hugh Austen

760613c D1071 Western Renown at Twerton Tunnel with a Paddington -Penzance working on 13th June 1976. Copyright Hugh Austen

760613a D1041 Western Prince awaits to depart Bath for Paddington on 13th June 1976. Copyright Hugh Austen

760613b D1013 Western Ranger departing Bath with a Penzance train on 13th June 1976 Copyright Hugh Austen

760613d D1058 Western Nobleman runs through Bath with a ballast working on 13th June 1976. Copyright Hugh Austen

760606b D1010 Western Campaigner near Bathampton with a Paddington-Penzance train on 6th June 1976. Copyright Hugh Austen

Many Thanks Hugh

Liskeard
Clive Smith

​45046 'Royal Fusilier' stands at Liskeard with the  10.20 Plymouth - Penzance on the Bank Holiday 2nd May 1983. At the time  this was a solid ETH 45/1 turn. I was on board the train and this was  a desperate photograph obtained while the train was in the station for 2 minutes and 17 seconds. Regards Clive Smith

45046 stands at Liskeard 10.20 Plymouth to Penzance. It's the 2nd May 1983. Copyright Clive Smith.

 N.B. With his usual precision Clive has even noted the 'dwell time' at the station!. An excellent literally 'snapped shot'  at Liskeard.  Many thanks Clive.
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Departure from an unusual angle
Exeter Central
Paul Barlow

33006 on the 09..00 Waterloo to Exeter leaves Central and heads down the 1 in 37 bank towards Exeter St Davids..Note the red Bristol VR bus advertising Pollards ice cream. 19th December 1979. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks for this one Paul, certainly taken from an usual location - the sidings area became a car park once the metals had been removed in February 1970.

Operations at Exeter Central i 1962 - much valued information supplied by David Hunt.

34106 LYDFORD & 34058 SIR FREDERICK PILE running light at Exeter Central 4th July 1962 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

I refer to your article entitled Exeter St Davids to Exmouth Junction Incl. and particularly draw your attention to the photograph captioned 34106 LYDFORD & 34058 SIR FREDERICK PILE running light at Exeter Central 4th July 1962 CR Geoffrey Matthews.  I was there on that day and can add the missing information. This was a regular occurrence with always a light pacific on the front and they were heading for the sidings beyond the Queens Street Road Bridge and were waiting the arrival of the 9.00 am from London Waterloo.. This was not the only regular occurrence, for shortly before the 9.00 am from London Waterloo was due to arrive the Station Pilot,30024 on that day, would be positioned in one of the carriage sidings between the arrival line and the Carriage Shed. When the 9.00am was arriving, 35029 on that day with 9 coaches, as soon as the rear of the train had passed the point which would let 30024 out of the siding the signalman would throw the point and the Station Pilot would race to couple on to the end of the train and it would normally be so slick an operation that the main train and the Station Pilot would be running down the platform at the same time.
 
The engine from the main train would cut off and run down to nearly the entrance to St Davids Tunnel where there was a set of points to run back to Exmouth Junction through the up platform No 3. Light engine movements such as this was always used as a taxi for crews going to work.
 
Whilst this was happening the Station Pilot would have cut off the f1rst 3 coaches, Southern Set 780 on that day, and 34058 would have coupled on and was ready to work the 1.14 pm Exeter Central to Plymouth.
 
The next job for the Station Pilot was to cut off the next 3 coaches, 2 from Southern Set 774 and1from Set 956, and once the Plymouth Portion had left 34106 could couple on to these 3 coaches and leave with the 1.23pm to Barnstaple. This turn was always a light pacific as the rebuilt members of the class were too heavy for the Barnstaple Line. This left the 3 car catering set with the Station Pilot and he would move these to the up side to attach to the next service to London Waterloo.
 
The train to Barnstaple must have had a diagram which brought it back to Exmouth Junction each day, as it was used each Monday to Friday until 23 July 1962 when 31841 worked the train to be replaced the next day by 34002 which then started a long stint on the train. 

David Hunt
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Many thanks David - a valuable insight into operations many years ago.

Spring Farm
Ron Kosys

Spring Farm is a little way north of Goring & Streatley station, in the Thames Valley.
 
47513 passes Spring Farm 28th April 1990 with 1B95 1602 Paddington Swansea letter mail.
 
(The Reading to Didcot section used to be extremely busy with loco hauled trains, especially on weekdays.)

47513 at Spring Farm. Copyright Ron Kosys.

Many thanks Ron - a new location for us.
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Martin Scane
goes to 
Bristol

The Cross Country the slighty late Cross Country 12.31 to Glasgow, seen at Bristol TM. Copyright Martin Scane.

Almost like a painting - the Royal Albert Bridge seen through the glass of the down service at Saltash - train passes back into Cornwall 5th December 2021. Copyright Martin Scane.

Well done Martin, and thank you. I guess football was the motivation?
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