Winter Sun
We were treated to some sunshine yesterday (06.01.24) here in Cornwall. Roger Winnen, Mark Lynam, Jon Hird and Chris Douglas all set out to make the most of it and captured some photos of the railways.
In the woods
Chris Douglas
A classic scene at St. Pinnock as a HST heads west. The evergreen trees in the background add a little colour to an otherwise very wintery landscape. 06.01.24, copyright Chris Douglas.
An absolute cracker of a shot as a GWR Hitachi unit crosses Largin viaduct, the valley creating a spotlight of sunshine on the viaduct and the train. 06.01.24, copyright Chris Douglas.
A GWR Castle Class HST crosses Largin Viaduct bound for Plymouth. 06.01.24, copright Chris Douglas.
GWR 43004 arrives at Par with a service for Penzance. 06.01.24, copyright Chris Douglas.
A wonderful set of photos, Chris. Many thanks for allowing us to display them.
Down at Dowgas
Mark Lynam
Good evening Keith/Roger,
Just one shot today. Taken at Dowgas between St Austell and Truro working.
43093 leads 2C20 1243 Plymouth to Penzance at Dowgas. 6th January.
Thanks,
Mark Lynam
Just one shot today. Taken at Dowgas between St Austell and Truro working.
43093 leads 2C20 1243 Plymouth to Penzance at Dowgas. 6th January.
Thanks,
Mark Lynam
43093 leading a service to Penzance, passing Dowgas in some wonderful winter sunshine. Copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Mark - a lovely shot.
Saltash from above
Jon Hird
With the sun out and minimal wind forecast, I decided to take a trip up to Saltash with my drone. I managed to find a spot on the riverside which allowed me to maintain a line of sight with the device across 3 different locations - both ends of the Tamar Bridge, and Coombe Viaduct. I spent about an hour there and saw the empty clay wagons returning to Cornwall, a GWR 'Castle' HST and several GWR Hitachi units. A lovely way to spend a morning.
GWR Castle Class HST running onto the bridge, bound for Plymouth. 06.01.24, copyright Jon Hird.
43097 now in Devon, coming out of the opposite end of the bridge. 06.01.24, copyright Jon Hird.
A GWR Hitachi unit running as empty stock from Penzance to Plymouth, crossing Coombe Viaduct. 06.01.24, copyright Jon Hird.
The same Hitachi unit coming onto the Tamar Bridge. 06.01.24, copyright Jon Hird.
66165 slows for the Cornish border control with 6V74 - empty JIA wagons coming back from Cliff Vale via Exeter Riverside. Hopefully no Devon cream was being smuggled into the county within the wagons! 06.01.24, copyright Jon Hird.
66165 continues into Cornwall bound for St. Blazey. 06.01.24, copyright Jon Hird.
Whilst I was busy photographing, my son made friends with this fellow, he wasn't very talkative though! Copyright Jon Hird.
Out and about with
Roger Winnen
Roger visited some favourite haunts in the pleasant weather, too. His photos are below.
Seen approaching Bodmin Parkway is this Castle Class 43097 & 43186 running ecs to Plymouth also with an IET to Penzance & a bus service to Bodmin etc. Copyright Roger Winnen.
The 09.48 Exeter Riverside to St Blazey China Clay empties is seen at Liskeard. Copyright Roger Winnen
The 09.48 Exeter Riverside to St Blazey China Clay empties is seen at Liskeard. Copyright Roger Winnen
The 09.48 Exeter Riverside to St Blazey China Clay empties is seen at Liskeard. Copyright Roger Winnen
Liskeard Station Buffet, managed by the Cornish Rail Coffee Co. Copyright Roger Winnen
Liskeard Station Buffet, managed by the Cornish Rail Coffee Co. Copyright Roger Winnen
In Plymouth Station forming the 12.43 to Penzance is the History Makers. Copyright Roger Winnen
43156 & 43004 forms the 11.13 Penzance to Plymouth service seen at Saltash. Copyright Roger Winnen
The 11.50 service from Penzance is also seen at Saltash with an IET set. Copyright Roger Winnen
43004 is seen returning with the 13.43 Plymouth to Penzance service at Saltash
Today at Pinhoe
David Tozer
David Tozer
Happy New Year. With no torrents of wet weather a chance to use my camera.
With both units still wearing the South West Trains livery the rare combination of a Class 158 and 159 working together. 158882 and 159102 with the 1109 Basingstoke to Exeter at Exhibition Way near Pinhoe.
Good to report that the service was back to the near normal timetable except all services (except one which went to Reading ) operated between Basingstoke and Exeter only.
Dave
With both units still wearing the South West Trains livery the rare combination of a Class 158 and 159 working together. 158882 and 159102 with the 1109 Basingstoke to Exeter at Exhibition Way near Pinhoe.
Good to report that the service was back to the near normal timetable except all services (except one which went to Reading ) operated between Basingstoke and Exeter only.
Dave
Many Thanks David
Wishing you a Happy New Year
Wishing you a Happy New Year
Mike's Mystery Image
Your Responses
Mike Forward emailed us a mystery image yesterday and asked if we could identify it. Roger Winnen identified it as Penryn, but several of you have emailed to add more information - thank you.
Mike Forwards mystery image, which has now been identified as Penryn station with a 3521 class 4-4-0 locomotive approaching.
It is definitely Penryn station before its rebuilding in the early 1920's. The rebuilding included, at the Truro end, the realingment of the track on a much straighter route, replacement of the short wooden viaduct by an embankment and the granite over bridge still in use today.
The platforms were lengthened and straightened, with the new track laid to standard gauge separation. This also accounts for the fact that the booking office was nowhere near the down platform edge. The goods yards at both the Truro and Falmouth ends were widened and had additional sidings added. Some of these were on the alignment of the old up and down running lines.
Hope this is of interest.
Christopher Perkins. (Born in Penryn in January 1946 and spent a lot of time at Penryn station watching the trains between the ages of 7 and 10.)
Thanks Christopher
Hi all,
Definitely Penryn. My copy is a poorer quality print taken from a
postcard and it says 'The Station, Penryn' bottom-left (cropped out of
the version on the website).
I think I might have got my print from the photographers on Arwenack
Street, Falmouth back in the early 1970s.
Best regards,
Howard Sprenger
Great stuff, thanks Howard, interesting you have the same print.
Dear Roger /Keith,
Yes, of course it"s Penryn. This is a well known and much reproduced picture. It dates fròm c1895.
A 3521 class 4-4-0 is approaching. These engines were common on the branch until about 1915.
Just behind the train is the old wooden Penryn viaduct. In 1923 the viaduct was replaced by an embankment on the left side of the picture; this meant new track and platforms 40 yards to the left of those in the picture. The main station building (on the right) remained in position, 40 yards from the platform until demolished in the 1970s.
Roy Hart
Thanks Roy, some interesting historical notes to boot along with an ID on the train itself, super stuff.
The platforms were lengthened and straightened, with the new track laid to standard gauge separation. This also accounts for the fact that the booking office was nowhere near the down platform edge. The goods yards at both the Truro and Falmouth ends were widened and had additional sidings added. Some of these were on the alignment of the old up and down running lines.
Hope this is of interest.
Christopher Perkins. (Born in Penryn in January 1946 and spent a lot of time at Penryn station watching the trains between the ages of 7 and 10.)
Thanks Christopher
Hi all,
Definitely Penryn. My copy is a poorer quality print taken from a
postcard and it says 'The Station, Penryn' bottom-left (cropped out of
the version on the website).
I think I might have got my print from the photographers on Arwenack
Street, Falmouth back in the early 1970s.
Best regards,
Howard Sprenger
Great stuff, thanks Howard, interesting you have the same print.
Dear Roger /Keith,
Yes, of course it"s Penryn. This is a well known and much reproduced picture. It dates fròm c1895.
A 3521 class 4-4-0 is approaching. These engines were common on the branch until about 1915.
Just behind the train is the old wooden Penryn viaduct. In 1923 the viaduct was replaced by an embankment on the left side of the picture; this meant new track and platforms 40 yards to the left of those in the picture. The main station building (on the right) remained in position, 40 yards from the platform until demolished in the 1970s.
Roy Hart
Thanks Roy, some interesting historical notes to boot along with an ID on the train itself, super stuff.