Totnes Footbridge
Clive Smith
Clive Smith
Rumours abound about what the future is of the soon to be defunct Totnes station footbridge seen in the first picture. With the new footbridge seen in the second picture not long away from commission it is rumoured that the bridge could be transferred to Lostwithiel subject to measurement constraints. The transfer of the old footbridge at St Austell has been rejected by Network Rail. Lostwithiel station featured recently on a BBC South West news item about a 'town divided' by the level crossing and the impending 30 minute service each way. The HST shown is the 11.03 Paddington - Plymouth.
Regards Clive Smith Many thanks Clive for the info and pictures.
Regards Clive Smith Many thanks Clive for the info and pictures.
Totnes footbridge 1 - the current bridge. 3rd November 2018 Copyright Clive Smith
Totnes footbridge 2 - view of the new from the current bridge. 3rd November 2018 Copyright Clive Smith
Totnes footbridge 3 The current footbridge with the 11.03 Paddington to Plymouth passing beneath. 3rd November 2018 Copyright Clive Smith
West Somerset Mineral Rly.
Robert Lindley
Robert Lindley
One of the cable guides from the Comberow Incline nicely preserved. Here is a photo of one of the cable guide wheels from the incline on the WSMR. It was found by a friend of mine’s father a number of years ago, on the Comberow incline. Copyright Robert Lindley
There is an excellent and dramatic picture of the incline in a book entitled 'The Old Mineral Line: An illustrated survey of the West Somerset Mineral Railway from Watchet to the Brendon Hills as it was and is today
by R.J. Sellick' Priced at £3.40 a good buy - try googling it.
by R.J. Sellick' Priced at £3.40 a good buy - try googling it.
Newport
Roger Geach
Roger Geach
37146 1550 Gloucester to Radyr service , one tank at Newport station 15th May 1992 Copyright Roger Geach
Winnen's Westerns
Laira Scrap line
Roger Winnen
Laira Scrap line
Roger Winnen
The Laira Dump with Westerns and a Hymek. 17th January 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
Good morning Roger,
An interesting photo today showing the comparatively rare sight of a Hymek at Laira. Referring to my trusty old books on diesel disposals the loco is D7089. Withdrawn in May 1973 D7089 was stored at Marsh Jctn until Dec 73 when it went to Swindon Works. On 31 Oct 74 it was sent down to Laira for departmental use and renumbered TDB968008. You were lucky to see it as the following month, Feb 76, it was removed to T J Thomson of Stockton-on-Tees and scrapped. I remember seeing a picture of it at Thomson's in a copy of Railway World magazine at the time.
The Westerns are not quite so easy to identify but the scrapline at Laira in January 1976 should have contained D1012 (wdn 02.11.1975, arrived Swindon 28.4.76). D1016 (wdn 29.12.1975 arr Swindon 12.5.76), D1025 (wdn 6.10.75 arr Swindon 28.4.76), D1034 (wdn 6.10.75 arrived Swindon 23.9.76), D1046 (wdn 11.12.75 arr Swindon 1.5.76), D1064 (wdn 11.12.75, arr Swindon 28.4.76). Discount D1012 as it had a square cab vent. I suspect the pair to the left are D1046 and D1064 as they were involved in a depot collision at Laira and withdrawn together, D1046 had no headboard clips due to earlier accident repairs. D1034 also spent time here as it was retained for carriage heating duties as the Hymek had initially been used for. Later photos of D1034 show headcodes set at 1O34 so I'd eliminate that too.
What a scandal and waste British Rail committed by ditching the Westerns after only a dozen or so years service. Disgraceful.
Regards Guy Vincent
An interesting photo today showing the comparatively rare sight of a Hymek at Laira. Referring to my trusty old books on diesel disposals the loco is D7089. Withdrawn in May 1973 D7089 was stored at Marsh Jctn until Dec 73 when it went to Swindon Works. On 31 Oct 74 it was sent down to Laira for departmental use and renumbered TDB968008. You were lucky to see it as the following month, Feb 76, it was removed to T J Thomson of Stockton-on-Tees and scrapped. I remember seeing a picture of it at Thomson's in a copy of Railway World magazine at the time.
The Westerns are not quite so easy to identify but the scrapline at Laira in January 1976 should have contained D1012 (wdn 02.11.1975, arrived Swindon 28.4.76). D1016 (wdn 29.12.1975 arr Swindon 12.5.76), D1025 (wdn 6.10.75 arr Swindon 28.4.76), D1034 (wdn 6.10.75 arrived Swindon 23.9.76), D1046 (wdn 11.12.75 arr Swindon 1.5.76), D1064 (wdn 11.12.75, arr Swindon 28.4.76). Discount D1012 as it had a square cab vent. I suspect the pair to the left are D1046 and D1064 as they were involved in a depot collision at Laira and withdrawn together, D1046 had no headboard clips due to earlier accident repairs. D1034 also spent time here as it was retained for carriage heating duties as the Hymek had initially been used for. Later photos of D1034 show headcodes set at 1O34 so I'd eliminate that too.
What a scandal and waste British Rail committed by ditching the Westerns after only a dozen or so years service. Disgraceful.
Regards Guy Vincent