Exeter St Davids
Ron Kosys
Ron Kosys
1070 Western Gauntlet arrives at platform 2 at Exeter St Davids with the down Cornish Riviera Express on the 18th July 1971. Copyright Ron Kosys.
Tribute to
Charles Fennamore
Edward Hooper, Mike Roach & Trevor Tremethick
Charles Fennamore
Edward Hooper, Mike Roach & Trevor Tremethick
An additional note from Mike Roach. You might mention in the tribute that Charles lived on the outskirts of St Agnes for many years while he worked at boxes like Roskear, Penzance and others in Cornwall.
Charles enjoys a mug of tea between trains at Combe Junction Signal Box. Copyright the Charles Fennamore Estate.
Yeovil Junction. Shows Charles aged 23 in typical pose watching and observing everything that going on dressed in his normal style and complete with duffle bag. 23rd November 1963. Copyright Mike Roach
Longdown - Copyright Charles Fennamore Estate.
Charles sadly passed away a year ago on 09 Nov 2018, a day after his 78th birthday.
Above is one of his photos of Longdown on the Teign valley Line. I would be grateful if you could share it on 9th November.
Charles would have been the first to admit that it wouldn't win any prizes, but his memories of the line make for interesting reading:
"A lovely line, and easy on our pockets, because you could get a day return Ply to Exeter, and they'd let you come back via the Teign Valley. I went on the last train, which was a very sad occasion......the 55XX labouring away up to Longdown with 5 or 6 coaches. On our first trip, it was a 14XX plus 2 car auto, with the loco in the rear, and the driver in the front vestibule left his door open so that we could see the line ahead. Longdown a very spooky place between the tunnels, and crowded in by the woods.....never any passengers, but staffed by a porter signalman. When I worked on the Relief at Newton Abbot, a colleague was Dave Bright, who had worked at Longdown occasionally. He used to travel on his motor-bike from Paignton, and often did a late followed by an early, and slept in the booking office. One night he was phoned by the Exeter supervisor who told him that an escapee was believed to be in the area, and could be walking the line. Dave said that was the end of his doss....he got on his motor bike and legged it off home."
With best regards, Ed Hooper Nephew of CBF
Thank you Edward for sharing these memories of Charles with us and also including his irreplaceable photographs.
Above is one of his photos of Longdown on the Teign valley Line. I would be grateful if you could share it on 9th November.
Charles would have been the first to admit that it wouldn't win any prizes, but his memories of the line make for interesting reading:
"A lovely line, and easy on our pockets, because you could get a day return Ply to Exeter, and they'd let you come back via the Teign Valley. I went on the last train, which was a very sad occasion......the 55XX labouring away up to Longdown with 5 or 6 coaches. On our first trip, it was a 14XX plus 2 car auto, with the loco in the rear, and the driver in the front vestibule left his door open so that we could see the line ahead. Longdown a very spooky place between the tunnels, and crowded in by the woods.....never any passengers, but staffed by a porter signalman. When I worked on the Relief at Newton Abbot, a colleague was Dave Bright, who had worked at Longdown occasionally. He used to travel on his motor-bike from Paignton, and often did a late followed by an early, and slept in the booking office. One night he was phoned by the Exeter supervisor who told him that an escapee was believed to be in the area, and could be walking the line. Dave said that was the end of his doss....he got on his motor bike and legged it off home."
With best regards, Ed Hooper Nephew of CBF
Thank you Edward for sharing these memories of Charles with us and also including his irreplaceable photographs.
14.51 stands at Christow with an Exeter bound service while a Prarie brings in a train bound for Heathfield and Newton Abbot. Copyright Charles Fennamore Estate.
1451 again, this time at ide Halt near Exeter. There don't seem to many passengers as the guard awaits time to give the right away. (Or maybe he was waiting for fellow railwayman Charles to rejoin the train after taking his picture. Who knows? Copyright the Charles Fennamore Estate.
And finally one of Charles pulling the levers at Totnes. This picture courtesy of Totnes Image Bank. Copyright.
Unfortunately I never met Charles but did from time to time correspond with him, he was always most helpful and informative. I know that he was a keen cyclist and kept to his bike exploring long lost lines right up until recently. His knowledge of railways in general and signalling in particular was well known, he was and still is sadly missed. KJ
A Postscript received from Trevor Tremethick half an hour ago is well worth a mention.
Many thanks Trevor.
Good morning gentlemen
I have just read the piece on Charles Fennamore and thought I would send my own few words.
Charles visited me a couple of times for a get-together with one of my neighbours who had been a Princetown girl and knew the old line from Yelverton well. I had been in touch with a gentleman who had been a fireman on that branch and so we had plenty to talk about.
Charles' knowledge was immense and, to top it all, he would bring a delicious cake that he had baked himself. So, his talents were not just confined to railway matters!
Much missed.
Best wishes to all
Trevor Tremethick
A Postscript received from Trevor Tremethick half an hour ago is well worth a mention.
Many thanks Trevor.
Good morning gentlemen
I have just read the piece on Charles Fennamore and thought I would send my own few words.
Charles visited me a couple of times for a get-together with one of my neighbours who had been a Princetown girl and knew the old line from Yelverton well. I had been in touch with a gentleman who had been a fireman on that branch and so we had plenty to talk about.
Charles' knowledge was immense and, to top it all, he would bring a delicious cake that he had baked himself. So, his talents were not just confined to railway matters!
Much missed.
Best wishes to all
Trevor Tremethick