8th November 2022

8/11/2022

Glorious at Salisbury
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, I hope you are well and coping with the downpours.Nice pictures of the Westerns at Penzance. Here is a shot of 50033 ‘Glorious’ arriving at Salisbury on 13 may1971 with the 13.15 Waterloo to Exeter service. Copyright Michael Forward

Many Thanks Michael

Triumph at Basingstoke
Michael Adams

Roger, Here is a picture from Michael Adams of 50042 ‘Triumph’ at Basingstoke with the 13.10 Waterloo to Exeter service on 11 January 1984, Who would have thought then that it would be still be running and at Bodmin. all the best, Michael Copyright Michael Adams

Many Thanks Michael

Todays mystery picture
Redruth???
John Roberts

Keith, Roger, are you members of the Signalling Record Society and if so did you see this photo in the recent newsletter? I thought it was Truro, but the suggestion is Redruth Junction up starter with Drump up distant, and now they've sent a clearer photo it could be so; the 1908 OS 25" shows SP just west of Church Lane Underbridge. Redruth Station Box closed 1955, so before that I'd expect to see a signal on the Down, but if it's after that it may be taken from a diesel. Redruth Junction closed 1966 so it's probably before that. The speed through Redruth is now 40 so similar to the 35 in the photo. There seems to be a chimney just right of the signal which must be in the market area, and a chapel to the right, possibly Treruffe Hill? Perhaps you could look over Coach Lane Bridge if the vegetation isn't too thick, but feel free to consult anyone else or publish on the website. The photographer is unknown so we can't acknowledge copyright but someone might own up! Or it could be somewhere else entirely! Many thanks, John.

Redruth UA25 GW Centre Balance arms FS x342 Query raised by John Roberts

Good morning John - I'll take a look once the current storm dies down.

What more could one ask? An immediate response from Roy Hart out in Yangoon, Burma. Many many thanks Roy.

Dear Keith,

This is Redruth Junction up starting signal. It was erected in 1914 (wooden posts were usually stamped with their erection date.). The distant arm, from 1914 till 1955 was Redruth Station box up inner distant (there was an 'outer' distant below Junction box up home). There were signal alterations at this spot in 1914. The 1908 O.S. map shows the old signalling, dating from 1894.
When Redruth station box closed, in December 1955, the lower arm became Drump Lane up distant.
Contrary to what the caption says, these are not centre-balanced arms. This type of arm, with the spectacle plate to the left of the post, was often employed in confined locations, where sighting was difficult (in this case, the Coach Lane overbridge, which is immediarely behind the photographer.).
The signal lasted until 1966, when Redruth Junction box closed.

All the best,

Roy

Without even going to Coach Lane bridge one can see the more or less current view from it by going to Google Earth.

Monday in Showery Dawlish
Roger Salter

The railway line was completely shut between Newton Abbot-Exeter today
Thus many small engineering works took place at Dawlish Warren Station where new platform tiles etc were installed,then near The footbridge by the emergency crossing the oldfootway sleepers were being renewed,also more track work in operation near Langstone.
At Dawlish the station was shut for the public so resorted to taking my new bridge photos from Kennaway tunnel bridge where a BAM employee explained they were starting absailing the cliffs to look for potential weaknesses from here to Parsons Tunnel.The shelter at Holcombe seems to be making little progress
The concrete footway over Daw;ish Water and linking up the whole sea wall is reaching its final mammoth end with massive blocks being slotted in like a giant jigsaw
The latest Dawlish Beach Cam tour is excellent to watch

Many Thanks Roger

Sundays RHTT at Teignmouth
Roger Salter

66069 with Sundays RHTT going back to Westbury due to no trains running on Saturday. Copyright Roger Salter

66129 tails the train. Copyright Roger Salter

Thanks Roger

Chasing the grids
Westbury
Guy Vincent

Day three chasing after 'Grids' on the Swindon-based RHTT sets. 56049 'Robin of Templecombe' and 56094 arrive at Westbury with an early 3S59 0700 Swindon Transfer - Swindon Transfer via Oldfield Park, Westbury, Bristol Parkway, Hullavington, Swindon, Melksham, Westbury and Chippenham. Thankfully no rain, some weak sunshine and no class 66s! The train was due here 1206-1255 but actually came in at 1049 and, after a short pause, departed at 1054 some two hours ahead of schedule. 56049 is named in honour of late Westbury driver Robin Gould (1938-2013) who started his railway career at Templecombe in 1954. He finally retired in 2010 after spending his last few years working for Colas Rail, conducting track machines around the south west and midlands and driving heritage traction such as class 47s, 56s and the preserved class 52 'Western' D1015. See my earlier posting on this subject dated 11th February 2021 when 56049 was in a far more presentable state than it is today!

Best regards, Guy Vincent.

Westbury 56049 led by 56094 away for Swindon on 3S59. 7th November 2022. Copyright Guy Vincent

Many thanks Guy.

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8th November 2022

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