9th October 2020

All to change at
Terras Crossing
Peter Murnaghan

Approaching Terras Bridge from Looe with the canal on the right hand side. 8th October 2020. Copyright Peter Murnaghan. (Taken with train crews permission).

​Network Rail have advised locals that the road across Terras Crossing, near Looe is to be closed later this month.  This is to allow the historic bridge over the Liskeard & Looe Union Canal (1828-1860) to be replaced by a new precast concrete bridge deck.  The existing bridge gave access for boats to enter the canal at high tides, to sail up to Moorswater, with Lock no. 1 immediately north of the bridge.  Over the years, the bridge has been strengthened, using old rails, because of heavier motor traffic.  Its replacement is expected to change the shape and character of this historic structure.  My photo of the bridge from the south was taken from a train, with the kind permission of the train crew.
Coincidentally, the hardy band of volunteers will be doing some fettling work this weekend at Canal Lock no. 21, further up the line between Lodge Farm Crossing and Coombe Junction.  This will clear vegetation from the lock chamber, following the tree felling and major clearance work that was carried out on the structure last October.
All the best,
Peter

Many thanks Peter.
​

Farewell - off to Norwich - this morning.
Exminster
David Tozer

37425 left Laira for Norwich today. I caught it in the early morning sun at Exminster.   Regards, Dave 

37425 Norwich bound - seen at Exminster. 9th October 2020 Copyright David Tozer.

Many thanks David - take care.

Yesterday on the Exe Estuary
Roger Salter

652Z 0717 Moorswater-Aberthaw Cement empties in the loop at Dawlish Warren. Copyright Roger Salter

652Z 0717 Moorswater-Aberthaw in the loop ar Dawlish Warren. Copyright Roger Salter

309P 0850 Westbury-St Blazey RHTT Train at Dawlish Warren. Copyright Roger Salter

Thanks Roger

Upton Scudamore,
and Toton
Guy Vincent

A rare treat this afternoon as recently outshopped 'Tug'  60029 Ben Nevis made a slow but successful ascent of the 1-in-72 Upton Scudamore bank between Westbury and Warminster heading 18 loaded JNA bogie box wagons as 6Z91 1628 Westbury Down Yard - Southampton Up Yard.  The loco, now owned by DC Rail, was restored to active service by DB Cargo at Toton after around 15 years of storage.  From a standing start the loco performed admirably with little smoke evident and plenty of loud distinctive 'tug thrash'.    Such a pity that the bulk of the class lie abandoned and neglected close to DB Cargo's Toton depot.   (Picture from 2013 included, I gather that now there are two long rows of dilapidated locos and masses of vegetation present!).

Guy Vincent.

You can see it and almost hear it as 60029 Ben Nevis thrashes up the bank at Upton Scudamore. 8th October 2020, Copyright Guy Vincent.

Stored class 60s at Toton 6th May 2013. Copyright Guy Vincent

Many thanks Guy

Power cars
Castle Class Names
Guy Vincent

On 16th February 2020 CRS published a list compiled by myself detailing the then status of the GWR class 255 'Castle Class' short-form HST sets.   Eight months on I can provide the following updated list with some more names applied and further power cars added to the fleet.

The four additions to the original fleet, 43088 43156 43160 and 43162 are all now in service.

Further recent additions to the fleet:

43009  43010  43022  43027  43029  43171  43172

43009 and 43010 moved from Bristol St Philips Marsh to Doncaster for upgrading on 16th June. They took 4 coaches for conversion.

43171 and 43172 (the former 'Harry Patch') moved from Bristol St Philips Marsh to Doncaster (via a stop-over at Long Marston to collect four coaches for conversion) on 24th July and returned following modifications to Laira on 8th October 2020.  Both power cars now carry GWR green livery.

43022 43027 and 43029 moved from Laira to Doncaster for upgrading on 15th September.

According to the website Focustransport.org' GWR now have 35 power cars and 63 coaches for the Castle fleet plus 5 coaches bought for spares from Porterbrook.

43004 Caerphilly Castle
43005
43009
43010
43016
43022

43027
43029
43040
43041 St Catherine's Castle
43042 Tregenna Castle
43088
43092 Cromwell's Castle
43093 Old Oak Common HST Depot 1976-2018
43094 St Mawes Castle
43097 Castle Drogo
43098 Walton Castle
43122 Dunster Castle
43153 Chun Castle
43154 Compton Castle
43155 Rougemont Castle
43156
43158 Kingswear Castle
43160
43162
43170 Chepstow Castle
43171
43172
43186 Taunton Castle
43187
43188 Newport Castle
43189 Launceston Castle
43192 Trematon Castle
43194 Okehampton Castle
43198 Driver Brian Cooper / Driver Stan Martin

SO-FAR UNUSED NAMES FROM INITIAL LIST & DISPLAY OF PLATES AT SWINDON AUGUST 2019

St Michael's Mount  (Presentation plate noted on display in 1st class sleeper lounge at Penzance by Roger Winnen 8.10.20).
Castle-an-Dinas

Berry Pomeroy Castle
Powderham Castle

Cardiff Castle

The larger fleet now means that further names will be required.  I for one strongly suggest 'Bristol Castle' be included and possibly 'Nunney Castle' and 'Farleigh Castle'.   Whether or not Berkeley Castle will be chosen is debatable as the steam loco of that name was, on 19th December 1933, responsible for the demise of the great GWR engineer George Jackson Churchward when he failed to see or hear it approaching at speed as he unofficially crossed the line close to Swindon Works. 

Guy Vincent   08.10.2020
 

Thank you Guy for your time and trouble compiling the above very considerable details. 
​Might I make a suggestion for a Castle Class nameplate - It's local and more importantly visible from a train.  I suggest 'Carn Brea Castle' - KJ.

Swindon Scenes
Ken Mumford

Swindon - Test Train - 67027 leads - 7th October 2020. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Swindon - Test Train 67023 on the back.- 7th October 2020. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Another sad sight from Marston Footbridge we see 37800 on route to SIMS Newport with scrap coaches 315812 and 315852. 7th October 2020. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks Ken.