7th April 2019

Failure of the 13.03 Paddington Penzance service
Leslie Curnow

Good Morning Roger
Last Evening travelling from Plymouth on an HST at the same path as the 17:26   14:03 from Paddington  was the 13:03 ex Paddington which started at Reading at 14:08  STP covering the 13:03 from Paddington to Penzance reported as cancelled from Paddington due to brake problems.
The Train Manager announced that the train would take longer to get to Penzance as it was only running on one engine.  All went reasonably well until an attempt to leave Truro stalling on the entrance to the tunnel where it stayed for a considerable time awaiting rail staff to resolve the issue.  
The 14:03 from Paddington was close behind and already on the Truro viaduct awaiting its path and stayed for around 45 minutes .  A further announcement was made stating that the train would roll back beyond the station for another run at the incline.  With the 14:03 on the viaduct this was impossible so the train rolled back into the station with all passengers asked to get off and await the 14:03 to lighten the load to get up the incline.
Eventually the under powered  HST left Truro station very slowly and ran ECS to Penzance with 43171 on the rear with engine ticking over but no power.  
A passenger who travelled from Paddington told me that all passengers for the 13:03 were asked to travel on a Paddington to Swansea train and change at Reading. 
After a wait the 14:03 came in and all passengers transferred.
The 14:03 finally arrived at Penzance at 20:28 some 67 minitues late.
Its sad to see this sort of happening especially at the finally of HST services to and from Paddington.
Les

Many Thanks Leslie

All change at
Newton Abbot
Clive Smith

This is Newton Abbot on the morning of Saturday 6th April 2019. I was taking a picture of the emerging Aldi when the 09.18 Paignton - Paddington came into platform 1 with an HST. Out of shot was the 06.50 Penzance - Paddington HST delayed on platform 3 for an hour with a brake problem later terminating at Reading. With a lovely blue sky and the sun behind me it was the perfect opportunity for a photo of the Brunel Road signal gantry and Aldi's rather haphazard 'Opening Soon' banner. It was less than six months ago that the Victorian Carriage and Wagon shed stood on the site.

                      Regards, Clive Smith.     Many thanks Clive

It's the 6th April 2019 as the 09.18 Paignton to Paddington heading into the platform at Newton Abbot. The mew Aldi Super Store is rapidily growing on the site once occupied a very short time ago by the Carriage and Wagon Works. Copyright Clive Smith.

The semaphore gantry and signals which once controlled traffic at Newton Abbot station. Quite what will happen to these in the future is not known - they will need maintenance. Copyright Clive Smith. -- Looking rather like a drone centred behind the gantry is a light/security camera combination.

Part One
​April Showers
Craig Munday

​Hi Keith,
This is part one, four out of eight of a range of pictures taken over the last week or so. Widespread showers have dominated the weather, along with a few bright spells which have illuminated the lovely blossom in the hedgerows.

That's it for a while. I tread the boards next week with St Austell AOS in the Addams Family. But I hope to see a few Long Rock bound workings during the days off!  Craig  
Many thanks Craig, the best of luck with your theatrical performance next week.  More of Craig's pictures tomorrow.

43002 made a rare appearance in the County, and potentially worked one of its last daylight London bound services. It is seen at Merthen Farm under dark clouds. 2nd April 2019. Copyright Craig Munday

A shot across the valley at Gover, St Austell from a friends property shows a 4 car slam door HST working a local service from Bristol Parkway. The area bout to receive a deluge of hail from the clouds in the distance. 2nd April 2019 Copyright Craig Munday

Then on the 3rd April, DRS Class 57 duo, 57301 & 57003 visited Penzance on a route refresher with Iain Munroe in the hot seat. The locos are seen in a burst of sunshine at Truro. Iain will work the class 68/88 railtour down next week to Penzance on 13th. Seen here at Truro on the downward journey. Copyright Craig Munday

The above pair returning from Penzance on the 2nd April 2019. Copyright Craig Munday.

Trevingey Crossing
Roy Hart

Re Yesterdays pictures:- 
I have been studying the Trevingey pictures. Yes, there was mail apparatus for both up and down. I think it ceased operation just before ww2. The shot of the 'Star' class engine is interesting: in about 1918 Penzance shed got its first ever 4-6-0 locomotive  -a 'Star' to work the up mail. This was the only 4-6-0 shedded in Cornwall until the first  'Halls' arrived in 1928. 4061 Glastonbury Abbey (not the one in the picture) indeed came brand new to PZ in 1922.
I think the mail apparatus was only used for the late collection of mail (mail was collected up to six times a day as recently as the 1930s). I remember when I worked at Redruth post office as a student, during the Christmas rush - sometimes there would be as many as 20+ bags of mail to go across for the up postal - you couldn't use mail apparatus for that.
The hut at Trevingey was to shelter the postman who had to wait there, guarding His Majesty's mail!
     All the best, Roy (Burma) Many thanks for your further information.

Trevingey Level Crossing. Setting up the mail bags and nets for the 'Up mail 6th April 1923 Apparatus still working in 1933. From the Paddy Bradley Collection.

Trevingey Crossing including the hut referred to by Roy Hart. From the Paddy Bradley Collection.

The current Trevingey Crossing - from the south, the down side approach. 8th October 2018 Copyright Keith Jenkin. A housing estate occupies the fields.

Trevingey Crossing, taken from the north, up side at 07.29 on the 3rd July 2018 Copyright Peter Jenkin. The new crossing was not in use at the time. The old board crossing on the original alignment is very slightly west of the new crossing.