Early Morning run to St Ives yesterday
Mark Lynam
Mark Lynam
Below are a couple of shot from early yesterday morning of 37116's visit to the St Ives branch in the early morning rising sun.
37116 climbing Porthkidney bank working 3Q50 2302 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Penzance via St Ives. Copyright Mark Lynam
37116 at Lelant coming back down the branch with the tide coming in. Copyright Mark Lynam (Lovely reflections)
Many Thanks Mark brilliant photos on the St Ives Branch
Three 'Gems' on the
Cheddar Branch
Martin Tester
Cheddar Branch
Martin Tester
Focusing on the Clevedon branch & Yatton reminded me that I had a few photos of the Cheddar Valley line trains. Are you interested? Regardless!! I attach them.
The Cheddar Valley line was a most beautiful branch - the very epitome of a country railway. I made 2 one-way trips over it, in each case travelling on the 2.45pm departure from Yatton. I returned home to Bristol from Witham via Westbury & Bath. The trips were in May 1962, a beautiful sunny day, & May 1963 the opposite - cloudy & wet. A memorable moment on the May 1962 trip occurred at Congresbury - the first station on the branch. A friend & I were leaning out of the carriage window; an elderly (to our school-boy eyes) porter waved us over. He was still wearing his GWR cap! He had something to show us. He took us over to a wooden box attached to the station wall (I think it was meant as a mailbox) & lifted the lid. Inside was a nest with eggs! A blackbird he said. The fireman from the pannier tank came to have a look too. On my second trip 12 months later the station was deserted, it had been de-staffed, & no doubt the elderly porter made redundant. (I hope he kept his GWR cap). Whether the blackbird had been deprived of its nesting site I know not.
I hope these are useful, please excuse my presumption. Most certainly useful - we're delighted to have them.
Best wishes
Martin
The Cheddar Valley line was a most beautiful branch - the very epitome of a country railway. I made 2 one-way trips over it, in each case travelling on the 2.45pm departure from Yatton. I returned home to Bristol from Witham via Westbury & Bath. The trips were in May 1962, a beautiful sunny day, & May 1963 the opposite - cloudy & wet. A memorable moment on the May 1962 trip occurred at Congresbury - the first station on the branch. A friend & I were leaning out of the carriage window; an elderly (to our school-boy eyes) porter waved us over. He was still wearing his GWR cap! He had something to show us. He took us over to a wooden box attached to the station wall (I think it was meant as a mailbox) & lifted the lid. Inside was a nest with eggs! A blackbird he said. The fireman from the pannier tank came to have a look too. On my second trip 12 months later the station was deserted, it had been de-staffed, & no doubt the elderly porter made redundant. (I hope he kept his GWR cap). Whether the blackbird had been deprived of its nesting site I know not.
I hope these are useful, please excuse my presumption. Most certainly useful - we're delighted to have them.
Best wishes
Martin
Pannier tank 9626 waits at Yatton with the 2.45pm for Witham, May 1962. 9626 is still carrying a 82A shed code despite the fact that Bath Road shed closed to steam on 12 September 1960 & 9626 had been transferred to 82B (St Philip's Marsh). 9626 lasted until the end of steam on the Western Region & was withdrawn from Worcester on 31 December 1965. Copyright Martin Tester.
img482 Ivatt Mogul 46525 heads north through Wells Tucker Street station with a goods train, May 1962. Copyright Martin Tester.
img484 BR Std 2-6-2T 82037 waits at Cheddar with the 2.45pm train from Yatton for Witham. May 1963. Note that it carries headlights for a parcels train. Copyright Martin Tester.
Many thanks indeed Martin - we are delighted, indeed honoured to show these treasures of yours. If you have more we are more than willing to show them.
'Kerosene Castle'
Trevor Tremethick
Trevor Tremethick
18000 Kerosene Castle at Didcot Railway Centre 31st May 2023. Copyright Trevor Tremethick
Sorry this is rather late, but I have not been well, culminating in a steroid injection to the shoulder this morning. Discard it if you wish, but I thought it might be interesting as No. 18000 got down as far as Plymouth during her WR service. Barbara took me to Didcot for a 71st birthday treat, and here is 18000 by the turntable on May 31st looking very tatty indeed. Such a shame to see an iconic locomotive in this state, although she is now just a shell with all the gas turbine gubbins removed.
I wonder what she sounded like in service.
Best wishes to all, Trevor Tremethick.
I wonder what she sounded like in service.
Best wishes to all, Trevor Tremethick.
Yes, very interesting Trevor and of course Happy Birthday to you young man. Hope you continue to feel better.
New shunter at Rocks
Phil Hadley
Phil Hadley
Dear Keith,
During the course of my work rounds yesterday I was greeted by the sight of a shunter which I assume had just arrived by road at the Imerys site at Rocks near Bugle. I have no further details. If of interest to CRS please feel free to use it.
All for now, Phil Hadley
During the course of my work rounds yesterday I was greeted by the sight of a shunter which I assume had just arrived by road at the Imerys site at Rocks near Bugle. I have no further details. If of interest to CRS please feel free to use it.
All for now, Phil Hadley
New Shunter 08752 at Rocks - 6th June 2023, Copyright Phil Hadley.
The shunter looks rather lost on the enormous trailer - many thanks Phil.
Flying Scotsman pauses at Swindon
Ken Mumford
Ken Mumford
All photos [1] to [4] are of the locomotive during its brief stop on the UML [Up Main Line] at Swindon. The last picture shows that indeed the assisting diesel was assisting!
Many thanks to Ken Mumford - all pictures his copyright. Please click on a picture to obtain an enlargement.
Cowley & Dawlish
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
37510 passes Cowley bridge junction on the 5V84 1001 Derby to Laira running 57 minutes early 6 June 2023
43040 and 43153 pass Cowley bridge junction on the 1300 Cardiff to Penzance 6 June 2023
43042 and 43029 head up past rough seas at Dawlish on the 1650 Penzance to Cardiff 6 June 2023
All pictures copyright Paul Barlow - many thanks Paul.