14th March 2019

Newton Abbot Carriage Shed Update 13th March 2019
Clive Smith

The site has been cleared and the new Aldi is rapidly taking shape. This was the view on the 13th March 2019. Copyright Clive Smith

Many Thanks Clive

Vanished Signal Box's 
​West Cornwall
Roger Winnen

760911a Drump Lane Signal Box frontage on 11th September 1976.. Copyright Roger Winnen -

760911b Redruth Drump Lane Goods Depot with the signal box far right on 11th September 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen

760911c Track Diagram Redruth Drump Lane. Copyright Roger Winnen

761120b Chacewater Signal Box Sign on 20th November 1976.. Copyright Roger Winnen

761120a Chacewater Signal Box on 20th November 1976.. Copyright Roger Winnen

Forthcoming Special Trains in Cornwall by Karl Hewlett

I have been very busy of late so I haven't been able to put much information forward, or answer any questions put onto the CRS website.  However today I have managed to find some time to do a bit more sleuthing around and can give you this information:

Saturday 23rd March 'The Terminator Phoenixed' 50007 and 50049
London Paddington to Penzance
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54942/2019/03/23/advanced

Penzance to Penzance via Slopers Sidings
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54948/2019/03/23/advanced

Penzance to London Waterloo
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54943/2019/03/23/advanced

Saturday 13th April 'The Springtime Cornishman' DRS Class 68 and 88 in multiple
Tame Bridge Parkway to Penzance
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54983/2019/04/13/advanced

Penzance to Tame Bridge Parkway
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54984/2019/04/13/advanced

Sunday 23rd June 'The Summer Cornishman' 60163
Provisional Times
Bristol Temple Meads 08:00/21:30
Taunton 09:30/20:30
Exeter St Davids 10:10/19:30
Liskeard 12:25/17:35
Par 13:15/17:00

Saturday 29th June 'The Mazey Day Cornishman' 55009
Provisional Times
Bristol Temple Meads 08:15/21:00
Truro 12:25/16:45
St Erth 12:50/16:20
Penzance 13:00/16:10

Loco's currently pencilled in for the following: 'The Great Briton XII' Saturday 21st April London Paddington to Plymouth via Bristol Temple Meads, Sunday 28th Plymouth Taunton 46229.

'The Dartmouth Express' Sunday 8th June Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return either 46229/60009.

'The English Rivera Express' Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return (all SUN), 16th, 30th June and 07th July either 34046/46100/70000.

'The Royal Duchy' Bristol Temple Meads to Par and return (all SUN), 21st July, 4th August, 01st and 15th September either 45305/60009.

All these subject to change.

Regards

Karl (Friends Of Penmere Station).

Many Thanks Karl for your help in supplying this information for our Cornwall Railway Society Website which is much appreciated.      Roger Winnen
​

Public Notices and Posters Collection, has been updated.
Day Tickets on the S&D, Evening Train Service from Paddington and Day Excursion to London Paddington.

Many Moons Ago
Railway Enthusiasts
Andrew Triggs

Evening Roger
4 certainly different shots from many years back for the Cornwall Railway Society Website...Yours truly at various locations you'll recognise (Rediscovered when visiting my Mother's house today). It may well amuse our website's viewers!
All the Best
Andrew

1. Me at the Age of Steam, Crowlas in 1977 (Silver Jubilee Day) Copyright Andrew Triggs

​2. Ouside the GWR Museum, Swindon in August 1977 (with my Sister) Copyright Andrew Triggs

​3. Dart Valley Railway at Buckfastleigh, with my friend Simon (still good friends today by the way) in August 1979. Copyright Andrew Triggs

4. Me at Newquay station, aged 15, on 19th August 1983. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Many Thanks Andrew

Cardiff
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, Great pictures on the site ,as always.I was interested to see a picture of Grange 6806 at Cardiff,was this loco. shedded at Penzance in the 1950s,I seem to remember it?
Adrian King’s positive comments about my pictures of Newport have spurred me on to dig out some photos from Cardiff and here are two taken on 17 February 1988 and I have noted that class 155 dmus were to take over the Cardiff to Portsmouth services from the new timetable on 16 May 1988.
Hello Michael 6806 Blackwell Grange was a Penzance engine when I started loco spotting in 1953 where it remained until the late 1950s
​All the best Roger

Here we see 33029 waiting to depart with the 13.05 service to Portsmouth,in the background is 47598 on the 13.00 to Holyhead.
Copyright Michael Forward

One hour earlier we see 33029 on the 12.06 from Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour,happy days(over 30 years ago!) Copyright Michael Forward
Thanks and Best wishes, Michael.

Many Thanks Michael

Yesterday around Totnes
Clive Smith

​Monday 11th March 2019 saw some good periods of sunshine in Totnes with the occasional annoying cluster of clouds causing camera light levels to drop and rapid adjustments to be  made .

​(1)  43162 leads the 09.03 Paddington - Plymouth out of Totnes station. The rear power car was celebrity Inter City 43185. For once I have not included it as its white livery reflected the sun back at me. Most annoying. Copyright Clive Smith

​(2) Either the sun is too bright or an odd cloud obscures it. Can't win. Further west at Three Arches Bridge 66059 coasts down the gradient with the 10.58 Burngullow - Exeter Riverside sand . There was a very strong smell coming from the brakes. Copyright Clive Smith

​(3) 43092 leads the 11.03 Paddington - Plymouth at Three Arches. Copyright Clive Smith

Thanks Clive

Yesterday Around Bodmin Parkway
Roger Winnen

190311a The 09.00 Penzance Paddington departs Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

190311b The 09.35 Penzance to Manchester slso at Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

190311c Promoting a safer railway across the country. Copyright Roger Winnen

190311d 43198 Oxfordshire 700 heads the 10.00 Penzance Paddington through Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

190311e 66059 Heads the first part of the Burngullow Stone to Exeter Riverside. Copyright Roger Winnen

Important Announcement
Keith Jenkin has lost his broadband connection which will take up to possibly 10 days to be restored. Please forward photographs and correspondence either to [email protected] or [email protected]
​Many Thanks Roger Winnen

46026 The Lynn Liner Railtour
Plymouth November 1984
Clive Smith

​46026 The Leicestershire And Derbyshire Yeomanry awaits departure from platform 5 at Plymouth on the 3rd November 1984 with the F&W 04.00 Plymouth - Kings Lynn railtour. This was not billed as the class 46 farewell as it was advertised for 'unspecified traction' but it was heavily rumoured to be one. There were just six left by November 1984 and they were not in the best of health. However 46026 duly arrived the previous evening on a relief train from York and all was set. Just a small matter of getting up at an ungodly hour. This was easily resolved by simply not going to bed. I met fellow enthusiasts off the relief and bags were dumped in the luggage lockers and we headed for the pubs and clubs of Plymouth. The night was young and were mainly in our mid-20s. When the clubs kicked out at 02.00 it was kebab and burger time in Union Street and then back to the station for probably the last 46 departure from Plymouth. How I managed to compose this night exposure I will never know. Seem to remember waking up at Cheltenham so managed a good solid three hour sleep. Nowadays its a cup of horlicks and an early night if I want an early start.

Regards 
Clive Smith

Thanks Clive

Clay Workings  at Par Lostwithiel and Plymouth
26th and 27th August 1993
Roger Winnen

930826a 37672 Arrives at Par from the Parkandillack Branch. Copyright Roger Winnen

930826b The shunter in attendance at Par awaiting the engine to run around its train prior to going to St Blazey. Copyright Roger Winnen

930826c A Class 37 passes Lostwithiel Signal Box wit a clay working to Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen

930826d 37413 Loch Eli Outward Bound arrives in the up loop at Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen

930826e 37413 Loch Eli now in the down loop at Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen

930827a A Class 37 with empty CDAs passing Plymouth Station on route to Marsh Mills. Copyright Roger Winnen

930827b The CDAs are seen going away towards Mutley Tunnel and Marsh Mills. Copyright Roger Winnen

Signal Boxs Etc on the Newquay Branch in 1976
Roger Winnen

760918a Quintrel Downs Siding East Ground Frame. Copyright Roger Winnen

760918b Quintrel Downs Station Sign. Copyright Roger Winnen

760918c An Oil Lamp at Quintrel Downs Copyright Roger Winnen

760918d This goods sign still remained at St Columb Road however the station closed to goods traffic many years earlier. Copyright Roger Winnen

760918f St Dennis Junction Signal Box Sign taken from the other side where the tracks went down to the Retew and Meledore Mills Branch.. Copyright Roger Winnen

760918e St Dennis Juntion Signal Box with the lines to Retew and Meledore Mills in the foreground and the branch to Par going behind the signal box.. Copyright Roger Winnen

The Class 50 Terminator Phoenixed
Clive Smith

A quarter of a century ago, Class 50s Nos. 50050 and 50007 left London Waterloo for Penzance, returning east to Paddington for their final British Rail journey. On 23rd March 2019 Pathfinder Tours are repeating the itinerary, this time from Paddington and returning to Waterloo with two Class 50s .The expected 50s are 50007 and 50049 both appearing in GBRF livery. Time at Penzance is believed to be 13.30 to 15.30. The return will run up the Southern to Waterloo. The Class 50 Alliance’s 50s will be available to operate selected GBRf trains on a ‘spot-hire’ basis, on work that includes moving locomotives to heritage railway events and rail tours. Here are a few pictures of these locomotives in three former liveries. I was unfortunate not to photograph 50049 as 50149 in its railfreight livery but thankfully Ron Kosys captured that elusive loco with some of his diligent pursuing and his excellent images and tribulations were shown in these pages over the past year.

​1) 50007 Hercules stands at Plymouth with the 19.27 Penzance - Paddington postal on the 8th September 1982. Livery is BR blue with small BR arrows on the cab. Copyright Clive Smith

​(2) 50007 Hercules arrives at Newton Abbot with the 06.35 Bristol TM - Plymouth on the 27th May 1983. The livery is now BR large logo. Copyright Clive Smith

​(3) Sporting another controversial livery and new name 50007 Sir Edward Elgar waits to leave Bristol Temple Meads with the Sunday 11.21 Liverpool - Penzance on the 25th March 1984. This was the Great Western Railway 150th Anniversary green  livery. Copyright Clive Smith

(4) My only picture of 50049 Defiance . Here it double heads 47500 on the 07.40 Penzance - Liverpool at Plymouth on the 4th December 1982. The livery is BR blue with small BR cab-side arrows. Coincidentally 47500 also later sported the GWR 150 Anniversary livery and was renamed Great Western. Copyright Clive Smith

Thanks Very Much Clive

The west end of
Bristol Temple Meads today
Martin Scane

Hi all
A couple of rushed shots at the Western end of Bristol Temple Meads whilst I  waited for mt train to Cornwall at 17.45 today.
I always rather like the multi coloured houses.
Regards
Martin Scane

Many Thanks Martin

45144 at Weston Super Mare 1982
Clive Smith

Not a location that features often, 45144 Royal Signals was one of the few peaks to carry head-code panels into the 1980s. Here it stands at Weston SM with the 09.45 Weston Super Mare - Glasgow on the 23rd October 1982. The last three months of 1982 were quite fallow months for peaks west of Bristol due to a lack of diagrams. This was thankfully rectified in January 1983 with a daily morning diagram to Penzance from Bristol returning in the afternoon.

Regards
Clive Smith

Thanks Clive

Hail and Sunshine
Craig Munday

After a mammoth few days of downpours, the occasional sunny spell on 7th was most welcome. I ventured over to Nick's at Merthen Farm for a shot of 1A85 and the sand from his lovely (private) field on the upside near Carlyon Bay. On arrival the prospects weren't good as huge clouds runbled across the sky at break neck speed. (Driven by the over active Jet Stream I hear)? 
The HST passed in good light and I held my breath as the sand ran close behind from Burngullow. The result was rather nice with two locos 66126/186 in the original livery - thoughtfully back to back to show off the yellow zig-zags! Gosh we're a fickle lot behind the camera. 
All the best
Craig 

7th March 2019 The 1A85 Penzance to Paddington service passes Merthen Farm. Copyright Craig Munday

7th March 2019 66186 66126 6C12 Merthen Farm. Copyright Craig Munday

Many Thanks Craig

70802 on the Moorswater
Al Peters

Colas Rail 70802 finally made it to Moorswater on 6th March with the Aberthaw Tarmac cement train running some 247 minutes late following flooding in Axminster, the train then had to run round the 24 loaded PCA wagons in Exeter Riverside Yard and then wait for the single line working between Totnes and Aish having a knock on effect with timings. The train is pictured under Moorswater viaduct with one of the old piers of Brunel's viaduct still evident that was replaced in 1881 behind the loco - Alan Peters

Thanks very much Al

Inside of Marley Tunnel
Al Peters

A rather haunting picture working inside Marley Up single bore tunnel during possession work, here is Colas Rail 70816 top and tailed with 15 auto hoppers is ready to drop ballast inside the tunnel on 4th March 2019, single line working was in place between Totnes and Aish to keep trains running throughout the possession through the Down tunnel - Driver Alan Peters

Thanks Very Much Al a very haunting picture

Important Announcement
Keith Jenkin has lost his broadband connection which will take up to five days to be restored. Please forward photographs and correspondence either to [email protected] or [email protected]
​Many Thanks Roger Winnen

Penryn and Perranwell
Roger Winnen

761120a Penryn Station building 20th November 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen

761120b A Morris Minor Registration LJY 220 is seen parked at Penryn Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

761120c Perranwell Station sign. Copyright Roger Winnen

761120d Perranwell Station photographed on 20th November 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen

Class 52 Commemorative Railtour
Roger Winnen

This tour was organised by the then British Rail on Saturday 27th November 1976 this being three months prior to the final withdrawal of the Western fleet at the end of February 1977.
D1010 Western Campaigner hauled this special from Plymouth to Newton Abbot, Exeter St David's, Bristol Temple Meads, Birmingham New Street, Oxford (break) Reading West, Mortimer (photo stop) Salisbury, Yeovil Junction, Exeter Central, Exeter St David's and Plymouth.
A part of this route is outside of our normal website but the few additional pictures I think are worth including.

761127c D1010 Western Campaigner awaits departure from Plymouth at 07.45. Copyright Roger Winnen

761127d D1010 Western Campaigner at Newton Abbot. Copyright Roger Winnen

761127e D1010 Western Campaigner running through Bristol Temple Meads with the 52 railtour. Copyright Roger Winnen

761127k A photo shot at Oxford. What would the BT Police say today I wonder! Copyright Roger Winnen

761127m D1010 Western Campaigner at Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

761127q Photographic Stop at Mortimer Station on the Reading to Basingstoke line. Copyright Roger Winnen

761127g D1010 Western Campaigner on the return run at Yeovil Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen

761127h D1010 Western Campaigner with the railtour at Exeter St David's. Copyright Roger Winnen

Winnens Westerns
Penzance
Roger Winnen

D1001 Western Pathfinder stands in Platform 2 at Penzance. Plenty of coaches can be seen in the sidings. 24th May 1975 Copyright Roger Winnen

"Fruit D's"
Mike Roach

The recent query concerning night times trains at Reading produced a considerable amount of information for which we are most grateful to Mike Roach and Tony Hill.  Further to this Mike Roach adds more below. 

Thanks Keith​, It was good to see a "Fruit D" wagon listed at the head of the 3.45pm Penzance to Paddington Perishable train in 1956-57 as those 4-wheel wagons had a lot of character and the design dated back many decades to ordinary covered wagons and the "Fruit A" via the Fruit B and C. The bodywork consisted of horizontal wooden planks fixed to external steel framing. The Fruit D was still being built by Swindon Works in BR days right up to 1955 or 1958 (sources differ), and some lasted long enough to be painted in BR corporate blue in the mid 1960s. The last time I saw a Fruit D in use was at the front of the very last down Cambrian Coast Express on 5 March 1967 between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. On this trip they probably carried parcels rather than fruit. Although the wagons only had 4 wheels they did have a long wheelbase and were rated XP by British Railways meaning they could be used in express passenger trains. The GWR painted the Fruit Ds brown while BR painted them maroon at first. They had 3 double doors each side, were ventilated for the carriage of soft fruit, and were fitted with gas lighting (not sure why). It seems quite strange to me that Swindon should have been building wooden bodied vehicles in the mid-1950s, when they had been building all-steel wagons to carry coal as far back as 1905. Perhaps the answer is that Swindon had the skills to repair timber bodied vehicles and used those skills to build batches of new ones occasionally, and perhaps they were cheaper, or there were shortages of steel after WW2.
                             Regards,  Mike    
​Many thanks Mike for this considerably detailed extra information.

​N.B. For images of Fruit D's please click here.