7th January 2021

The Mystery Photograph D825 Intrepid

Many Thanks to Trevor Tremethick, Roy Hart, Matthew Bradey Rob Lomas and Neil Philips for giving us the location of this photograph which is Truro Yard in the late spring or summer of 1972, the reflections from the Black Footbridge at the west of of the station is the clue.
Many thanks for your interest during this lockdown period

Truro Yard with D6334
Neil Philips

Dear Roger, Yes, the subject line pretty much sums it up! The photo was taken from the Black Bridge and the fact that 825 has no nameplate identifies the year – looking at the trees in the background probably late spring/summer 1972. 814 Dragon and 829 Magpie were also reinstated without nameplates that year due to a motive power shortage. I attach my Instamatic photo of D6334 taken from a similar viewpoint (note the small hut) on 14th October 1971 – curious because it had been officially withdrawn on the 3rd! D6330 was another Class 22 which defied orders at the time, because the “new” Class 25s foisted on the WR were rubbish!! Best regards,

Many Thanks Neil

Hymek in Cornwall
Garth Tilt

Dear Sir, I attach my photo taken at Liskeard on 10th September 1967 of the Up 'Cornish Riviera' 0950 Sundays from Penzance. I'm sorry I don't have the loco's number, it was the only D7XXX I ever saw in Cornwall. Regards, Garth Tilt.

Many Thanks Garth

Recd 7th January 2021 - Neil Phillips writes - I have just seen Garth Tilt’s photo of a Hymek approaching Liskeard station on 10th September 1967 (this was two days after my pre-ordered Tri-ang-Hornby Hymek model finally turned up at Langdon’s hardware shop in Truro, behind the cathedral - I still have it!)  Between August and November that year D7029 and D7088 were allocated to Plymouth Laira – I believe as stand-ins for D601/2/4 away in South Wales, and also to maintain local traction knowledge on the type. Both were regularly used on the Cornish Riviera Express through Cornwall during these months. They can be differentiated – D7088 had headboard brackets at the top of the yellow warning panel, D7029 did not. I can’t see any brackets on this one so I’m reasonably certain it’s D7029. Unfortunately I can’t be absolutely certain because I also saw D7017 at Truro station during this period and of course there’s always the possibility that another interloper appeared which went unrecorded. But the balance of probability is that it’s D7029. Interestingly D7017 and D7029 went on to become two of the four preserved examples – D7017 on the West Somerset Railway and D7029 on the Severn Valley Railway.
 
By the way, when I saw Clive Smith’s photo of 47307 leaving Plymouth in the snow in January 1985 on Christmas Day I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! My spotting days netted 509 out of 512 Class 47s and the three I missed were D1671 & D1734 (withdrawn before I started in 1966) and D1788, which became 47307! And to think 47306 is at Bodmin……so close, and yet so far! Also on Christmas Day, I knew the date of Paul Barlow’s Taunton views rang a bell – 26th March 1986. Oh yes, the day Swindon Works officially closed. Sigh.
 
Happy New Year, and best regards,   Neil Phillips

Hi Neil - Your extra info to Garth's excellent picture is the icing on the cake - thank you very much.

Culham
​Colin Taylor

This picture copyright Colin Taylor.

There is an excellent site on Culham Station please use this link Culham Station - highly recommenced. Masses of information, history, tour around the station etc etc.

Many thanks Colin