7th December 2020

West Cornwall Engineering work 
Mark Lynam Roger Winnen

The Cornish Main line is closed from Penzance to Truro on Monday 7th December 2020 through to Thursday 10th December 2020. A bus replacement service is in operation.

66192 at Slopers Siding which came down in the early hours of last night. Copyright Mark Lynam

70802 at St Erth with old track behind which is being replaced between here and Arch Lane overbridge. Copyright Mark Lynam

70802 stops by 70815 which was stabled on Platform 1. Copyright Mark Lynam

201207a 70815 Stands on the down at St Erth. The line is being relaid after the crossover going up the bank. Copyright Roger Winnen

201207b A train load of sleepers etc awaiting depature from St Erth. Copyright Roger Winnen

201207c Spoil is being loaded into this train of low wagons at St Erth. Copyright Roger Winnen

201207d The Colas 66 is awaiting its move forward into St Erth Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

At Carn Brea, the other work site - no trains, just Quattro track machines which were re-railing the track. Copyright Mark Lynam

Whimple
Paul Barlow

50018 Resolution on the 15.48 Exeter to Waterloo 12th May 1991. Note the footbridge to the former down platform long since gone. Copyright Paul Barlow. Platform is 84 yards long.

The station was opened by the LSWR on 19 July 1860, along with its Exeter Extension from Yeovil Junction to Exeter Queen Street. The station was situated to the east of the village and designed by the architect Si William Tite. The main building was situated on the up platform and was two-storeys high to provide the station master with accommodation. The good shed was nearby at the east end of the station, and a signalbox was built opposite on the other platform in 1875. In 1892 Henry Whiteway established a cider factory on the north side of the station. This generated much of the goods traffic at the station; in the 1930s it was estimated that the factory was responsible for 30,000 tons of traffic each year.
On 11 June 1967 all passenger trains were diverted to the down platform. The track through the northern platform was retained to serve Whiteway’s factory, but the signal box was closed and the train crew operated the points Public goods traffic was withdrawn on 4 December 1967 but Whiteways continued to handle rail traffic. The station became unstaffed on 5 October 1970.
The Whiteways factory closed in 1989 and this allowed a redevelopment of the site. The goods shed was demolished in 1991 and houses were then built instead. The following year the original London bound platform was extended across the disused formation of the London bound track to meet the running line and was brought back into use. The other platform and the footbridge were then demolished. I well remember the cider orchards on the up side just before the station and the sidings just beyond. The history very much courtesy of Wikipedia makes very interesting reading.

Many thanks Paul

Swindon
Ken Mumford and Colin Pidgeon

Friends,
Immaculate class 37s numbered D6817 and D6851 in their original green livery - superb! {Not sure if these are in the present day numbers of the locos) -  would be 37667 and 37521 but I'm so glad that they are in this livery!
Rolling stock:- 67061, 99993, 3100, 310, 17159, 6311.
Passed Swindon 2 minutes early and as they passed they opened up!
Kind regards and keep safe,
Ken Mumford

Swindon D6817 and D6851 in their original green livery pass through - superb! 6th December 2020. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Swindon D6817 and D6851 in their original green livery pass through - superb! 6th December 2020. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Swindon - passing through on route to Lavington. DR73905 6th December 2020. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.

Many thanks to Ken and Colin.
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Steamy day at
Didcot
Doug Nicholls

Remember the steam heat?? Steamy scene at Didcot - Copyright Doug Nicholls. Memories of the past.

Many thanks Doug.

Out and about with
Craig Munday

Hi Keith
After a raft of more nights, some sunny pictures on Sun 6th Dec. A delight to have two down engineers trains with a fine forecast. It very nearly got scuppered by an annoying cloud through. 

With three of the Colas 66s at Penzance it was a busy day for freight heading west. Relaying sites at St Erth and Carn Brea will keep these trains amply employed. 

The Colas operated class 66 trains are seen on the blocks in plat 1 & 2 at Penzance in the small hours of 6th Dec. 

Sunday 6th saw some glorious sunshine and two daytime services heading west too. A BD Cargo service with 66014 and Colas service with 66849 are seen in the Lostwithiel area around lunchtime. 

Also pictured are some recent revenue earning freight, 70810 is seen near Liskeard with one of the final cement workings bound for Moorswater on 26th November. 
Also pictured is 66018 from the high perch of Treffrey aqueduct working the clay for Carne Point on a bright 4th Dec.

Cheers for now,  Craig 

66018 4th December - from a high perch on Treffry Aqueduct Copyright Craig Munday

Penzance station - 5th December 2020, Copyright Craig Munday.

Engineers train Restormel. 6th December 2020. Copyright Craig Munday

Lostwithiel as a down engineers train passes the up loop. 6th December 2020. Copyright Craig Munday.

One of the last cement workings seen at Lantoom. 26th November 2020. Copyright Craig Munday.

Many thanks Craig - keep up the good work.
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