Blog Archives

11th January 2019

11/1/2019

New Year Pictures
Craig Munday

A bit of a poor start to 2019 weather wise. The last couple of days have provided some good light, particularly yesterday, and a super working to follow in Devon too.

Back to the 8th and the morning sand train loading (in the fetching dark blue livery) was suspended at Burngullow to allow the empty CDAs up the branch. It was a tight squeeze as 66121 sat with the partly loaded box wagons on the "Straight" as 66144 ran alongside on the Wharf to gain the Parkandillack branch. Hopefully a regular sight during 2019?

Then on the 9th word spread of the Loram Railgrinder running from Derby to Okehampton. The traction was a delight with Colas 56113 up front to Exeter, then class 20s 20189 in blue, and London Underground red 20142 tucked inside. I was working in Devon as chance would have it.

The train was pictured at Tiverton Junction, and Newton St Cyres on the branch. The class 56 deposited at Exeter as the RA too high for the Barnstaple branch.

Cheers for now, Craig. Welcome to 2019 keep up the good work please.

66121 with sand train. 66144 with CDA's at Burngullow on the 8th January 2019 Copyright Craig Munday

56113 with LT red 20142 tucked inside and 20189 trailing on the 6Z01. Seen here at Tiverton Junction on the 9th January 2019 Copyright Craig Munday

The colourful cavalcade headed by 20189 leading with LT red 20 142 seen at Newton St Cyres on the 6Z01 9th January 2019 Copyright Craig Munday

Saltash Surprise
Ross Griffiths

The celebrity HST continues to grab the interest as we follow its travels up and down the main line, and why not, it won't be around much longer! Ross manages to get his photos in excellent light especially the one of the Royal Albert Bridge beautifully lit. Congratulations and Many Thanks.

Celebrity 43185 rolls into Saltash at 08.37 on the 10th January 2019 Copyright Ross Griffiths

Celebrity 43002 brings up the tail of the train crossing the superbly lit Royal Albert Bridge at 08.39 on the 10th January 2019 Copyright Ross Griffiths

10th January 2019

10/1/2019

Don't forget - Next Saturday the 12th January 2019.
Dave Letcher's
Railway Adventures
Dave takes us on another ramble through his Railway Adventures, a popular and highly recommended evening.
++ Pasty Evening ++
Meeting at 6.30PM at the Memorial Hall, Redruth Methodist Church.
For details of location please click here.

Grinder on Route
Jacob Hampson

56113 leading Loran Rail Grinder with 20142/149 and seen en route to Exeter with the Derby RTC to Okehampton 6Z01. The location is Whiteball. Copyright Jacob Hampson

Many thanks to you Jacob, also please see yesterdays entry on this train from David Tozer.

Winnen's Westerns
Baldhu
Roger Winnen

D1033 Western Trooper with the 14.40 Penzance to Paddington at Baldhu. 16th September 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

9th January 2019

9/1/2019

Variety
Today at Exeter
David Tozer

Keith Quite a contrast in Exeter today. GWR Class 802's 802010 & 802001 made the second appearance of these units on the Salisbury line at Pinhoe, but this time in daylight. Previously a pair of these units had run from Bristol via Westbury, Yeovil Junction and Honiton to Exeter(Central) during the hours of darkness. The train was the 0905 5Z66 Plymouth (Laira) - Axminster from which point they returned as the 1139 5Z67 back to Plymouth. Then Colas Class 56 56113 reached Exeter with the 0529 6Z01 Derby R.T.C- Okehampton conveying a Loram Rail Grinder and Class 20's 20189 and 20142. At Riverside Yard the Class 20's took the train on to Okehampton. The Class 56 stayed at Exeter. Regards Dave.
Many thanks for braving the chill and capturing the scene for us all.

Pinhoe 802 010 & 802 001 at 10.56 on the 9th January 2019 Copyright David Tozer

Cowley Bridge 56113 arriving at 13.35 on the 9th January 2019 Copyright David Tozer

Bringing up the rear are 20142 & 20189. Seen at 13.35 on the 9th January 2019 Copyright David Tozer

Dramatic Goonbarrow
Alex and Isaac
Phil Hadley

Happy New Year to all,
I thought you may like to consider the attached photo for the CRS website. It was taken this evening and shows Imerys's two diesel electric shunters Alex & Isaac stabled at the buffers end of the Rocks Siding. It's unusual to see them both there together.
All the best. Phil Many thanks Phil

Goonbarrow Alex and Isaac at 19.25 on the 8th January 2019 Copyright Phil Hadley

Even more miles
Almost a thousand
Clive Smith

After yet another run from Penzance to Paddington and back on Monday, the celebrity pairing of 43002 and 43185 put even more miles in on Tuesday 8th January 2018. An early start to London on the up Golden Hind, then returning to Plymouth on the 11.03. Back to London at 15.00 and finally back to Plymouth at 19.03 (last part unconfirmed as I write). A grand total of about 980 miles. If the last leg has worked as planned then let's hope the pair are not split up on Laira overnight. With the final fifteen class 802s due to arrive soon there can't be many months left to record their workings. Such is now the interest in these two power cars a Facebook update now exists which posts the information on diagrams when known, or indeed if they are not working. Most useful. The following link will take you to the page.

https://m.facebook.com/theressomethingyoudontseeeveryday/?locale2=en_GB

My picture shows 43002 leading the 11.03 Paddington - Plymouth (43185 on the rear) as it rounds the sea wall into Teignmouth station. Thankfully after a very grey morning the sun actually shone at just the right time.
Regards, Clive Smith Many thanks Clive.

Teignmouth - the Celebrity Pair. 8th January 2019. Copyright Clive Smith

Wise thoughts and Predictions
Guy Vincent

With the end now firmly in sight for full-size HST's later this year I have a list of the power cars that started 2019 with GWR and the likely fate of them as the year progresses. Again, if you want it just let me know. On 31st December 2018 GWR gave up their last two 150-1 two-car sets (125 and 126)Â leaving the two 3 car 150-0's and the more numerous 150-2's to soldier on. I believe the 150-0's are due to go to pastures new later this year along with the remaining single car class 153's which now number just five (153325 329 333 361 & 369). Some more two-car 165's have just entered service in the Bristol area with more to follow now that Newbury has 'gone live' and class 387 EMU's have been introduced. I have yet to see a '387' but am in no hurry to do so..
Hope all is well down there in Kernow and I look forward to more contributions and enjoyment from the CRS website as the year progresses. "Never a dull moment"
Best Regards, Guy
Yes please, we're always keen to keep up to date, many thanks.

8th January 2019

8/1/2019

Winnen's Westerns
Middleway
Roger Winnen

D1027 Western Lancer at Middleway Crossing on the 10.30 ex Newquay. 24th August 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

Penzance
Andrew Thompson

Three 50's await duties at Penzance, Copyright Andrew Thompson

7th January 2019

7/1/2019

A final look at a fine job
Westbury North Renewals Complete
Guy Vincent

Westbury station is now back to normal following the Christmas project that saw the complete North junction layout renewed along with signalling work in advance of the lengthening of platforms 2 and 3 later this year. The following four pictures were taken on Sunday January 6th 2019. Guy Vincent
Many thanks to you Guy for your very through coverage of this major project. Much detail has been given, not a stone left unturned, except in the ballast that is !! Note how clean and tidy the station has been left - a credit to the engineers involved.

Photo 1) Celebrity HST power car 43185 preparing to leave for London Paddington with the 0947 from Penzance (headcode 1A83). It is 13.56 on the 6th January 2019. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 2) Trailing 1A83 was 'old number one' although bizarrely British Rail gave it the number 43002. This historic power car has at last been recognised as worth saving and it was recently designated by the ''Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Board'' to become part of the National Collection when it is retired from service this coming spring. It's original partner from set 253001, 43003, is now set for several more years front-line service in Scotland. 13.59 on the 6th January 2019. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 3) Looking north from the end of platforms 2 and 3. A 158 from Cardiff to Warminster is approaching. The diagonal symbols on the green boards indicate to drivers that the previous temporary speed restriction has been terminated earlier than planned and the normal line speed now applies through the junction. It is 12.59 on the 6th January 2019. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 4) Looking south from the end of platform 3. New signals are in place and the platform will in due course be extended to about the point where the white concrete cable trough on the right ends. 13.05 6th January 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Footnote :- Noting the times on the previous two photographs gives some idea of the time it takes to get from one end of platform 3 to the other!!

A fine panoramic of the stock move
Stoke Canon
Paul Barlow

Photo of the HST stock move at Stoke Canon on 21 December 2018. An excellent view Paul, many thanks for contacting us.

004A 47815 and 47812 on the 09.35 Laira to Ely Papworth sidings stock move at Stoke Canon 21st December 2018 Copyright Paul Barlow

Celebrities return
Andrew Triggs

Celebrities captured passing Slopers Siding 43185 leads The Cornish Riveria Express on the 7th January 2019 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Celebrities passing Slopers Siding 43002 brings up the rear of The Cornish Riveria Express on the 7th January 2019 Copyright Andrew Triggs

With respects and thanks to our reporters, I think that perhaps we'd better reduce the sightings of this pair a little, interesting though it may be. KJ

Filham Bridge (Ivybridge)
Clive Smith

Good Afternoon Keith
Today Sunday 6th January 2019 saw the celebrity pairing HST down our way in daylight on the 09.47 Penzance - Paddington. This time I had the 'gen' but again not the sun. The train is seen approaching Filham Bridge to the east of Ivybridge station. The farm track here was thankfully less stressful to cross to get the rear power car shot 'going away' shot.
Regards, Clive Smith. Many thanks Clive

The intercity liveried power car leads. Celebrity pair at Ivybridge 6th January 2019 Copyright Clive Smith

- and a dash across the bridge to get the trailing power car in the original livery. 6th January 2019. Copyright Clive Smith

6th January 2019

6/1/2019

Penzance Fryer
Clive Smith

The most memorable visit of a class 40 to Cornwall was the visit of 40122 (D200) with the 'Penzance Fryer' railtour from Manchester Victoria on 9th November 1985. This was the first ever visit of a class 40 to Penzance. The original member of the class had been the sole representative since January 1985 and continued until April 1988 working many railtours and often seen on service trains on the S & C and Marches Line. It is now part of the National Railway Museum Collection at York. This website's excellent Gallery Railtours section contains some great pictures of the tour around Penzance. I am probably one of the many on the wall above the station providing another camera angle for the records. The loco is seen nicely steaming the rake of mark 1s on a dank miserable day as it awaits departure at 15.45

Regards, Clive Smith. Many thanks Clive

Penzance Fryer Railtour with 40 122 awaits departure at 15.45 on Saturday. 9th November 1985. Copyright Clive Smith.

Link to Railtours section.

St Erth
Andrew Thompson

A down HST rolls up the grade towards a stop at St Erth. Nice to see the down refuge sidings complete with buffer stops. Copyright Andrew Thompson.

5th January 2019

5/1/2019

'The Railway Magazine' 66503 hauls an engineers train to Crediton & beyond
Roger Winnen

190105a 66503 arrives at Crediton with the 619H from Hinsey Sidings, salmon wagons with concrete sleepers and side tipping wagons with ballast for Eggesford on the Barnstaple Branch. Copyright Roger Winnen

190105aa GWR Train services terminated at Crediton for Bus Replacement services to Barnstaple seen on the right. Copyright Roger Winnen

190105b 66503 The Railway Magazine named on 17th February 2004 pulls away from Crediton with its mixture.. Copyright Roger Winnen

190105c A view of the train departing Crediton. Most relaying that have taken place on the branch in recent years have been with steel sleepers and not concrete. Copyright Roger Winnen

190105d The pacer uses the crossover for its run back into Exeter and beyond.Copyright Roger Winnen

The Royal Mail at Newport
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, I hope you are well and I wish you all the best for the New year.
I send a picture taken at Newport on 1 October 1999 of 47722 ‘The Queen Mother’ making stately progress with the 14.35 Bristol to Cardiff mail.Happy days.
Thank you and all on the site and contributors for such an excellent website.Michael

Thank you Michael we wish you a Happy New Year

Winnen's Westerns
Newquay
Roger Winnen

D1052 Western Viceroy arrives Newquay. 8th September 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

D1052 Western Viceroy moves towards the buffers and prepares to run round at Newquay. 8th September 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

A note from Guy Vincent
Ref the above pictures. D1052 'Western Viceroy' at Newquay were of particular interest as they clearly show the experimental cab ventilation slots unique to this loco that were located in the small roof overhang above the windscreens. I have never seen two photos taken at the same time showing both ends so belated (by 45 years!) thanks to Roger. These were an alternative arrangement to the small black vents cut into the front of just 5 'Westerns' at both ends; D1012 D1028 D1039 D1056 and D1071.

Hayle Viaduct
Andrew Thompson

An undated but historic photograph by Andrew Thompson of a '47' on a down service. The scene to the left has changed now with a supermarket close by. Copyright Andrew Thompson. Some years ago youths were reported to have jumped off the handrails of the viaduct into the close by harbour at high tide. Having walked past this spot at ground level only yesterday (4th January) made me think just how perilous that was!! One slip and it wouldn't have been into the water but onto the granite harbour side. (KJ)

4th January 2019

4/1/2019

Celebrity HST Double-Take at Totnes
Two-For-The- Price-Of-One
Clive Smith

Thursday 3rd January 2019 saw me driving through Totnes around 10.15 and a quick chance to photograph an HST on the 07.41 Penzance - Paddington from the A381 road bridge west of the station. Thinking my luck was in as Inter City liveried power car 43185 came into view and was duly snapped, I quickly dashed across the busy road for a rushed shot of the rear power car which to my utter surprise was British Rail liveried 43002. What a pairing ! The now paired celebrities were expected to return to Cornwall later that afternoon but a set change resulted in it working to Gloucester instead. Let's hope it's back in the Duchy very soon.
Regards, Clive Smith Many thanks Clive.

Totnes Celebrity HST's Intercity liveried 43185 3rd January 2019 Copyright Clive Smith

Totnes Celebrity HST's British Rail liveried 43002. 3rd January 2019 Copyright Clive Smith

A P.S. from Clive
Glad you liked the Devon Belle 40 pics. I will send you a pic of 40122 at Penzance in 1985 in the next week hopefully. There are some excellent pics in the gallery section of that magnificent railtour taken from many angles and locations, including one from a Craig Munday who must have been quite young then ! I was on the train from Plymouth and my pic is taken from the main road above the station. 40122 has some nice steam leaking from its pipes.

My double celebrity HST pics were a complete fluke . No prior 'gen' so it was very satisfying that the one train of the day I set my stall out to photograph was that one. I tend to work in Totnes every 1-2 weeks but as the day was dull for photography I had no plans to spend my lunch hour at the station or Three Arches Bridge. Just happened to be tea time at my van at 10.15 and I was parked under the same road so thought "Might as well". Good job I did. Let's hope other contributors caught it too before they get separated ! All the best, Clive

Penzance 50
Andrew Thompson

Looking a bit weary at Penzance we see 50036 Victorious Copyright Andrew Thompson

3rd January 2019

3/1/2019

HSTs at the Terminus
Roger Winnen

190103a The 14.03 Paddington Penzance service arrives at the terminus behind 43070 The Corp of Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. Copyright Roger Winnen

190103b At the other end we see 43156 Dartington International Summer School - Copyright Roger Winnen

190103c 43156 Dartington International Summer School awaits the road to Long Rock Depot. Copyright Roger Winnen

190103d 43170 A Castle Class 4 Car HST arrives with the 17.55 service from Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

'The Early Bird Catches the Worm'
Roger Salter

'The Early Bird Catches The Worm” comes to mind before 8am I found activity at Marazion Old Station Yard when Network Rail were clearing old rail etc .into a Quatro skip lorry

190103a 07.53 Marazion Yard. Copyright Roger Salter

190103b Marazion Yard. Copyright Roger Salter

190103c The Quattro at Marazion. Copyright Roger Salter

Todays treat
'Devon Belle' railtour
Clive Smith

Looking resplendent with red buffer beams, silver buffers, headboard and the correctly displayed two white discs for a class 1 train, 40079 returns to South Wales with the 18.15 Paignton - Swansea return 'Devon Belle' railtour on the 16th September 1984. The loco worked down from Newport that morning having taken over from a 37. At the time this was one of twenty five remaining class 40s. It was withdrawn on 21st January 1985 and cut up within a month.
Regards Clive Smith . Many thanks Clive.

(1) With a 'forest' of hands and arms hanging out of the first three coaches 40079 arrives at Newton Abbot passing that magnificent array of semaphores with the return 'Devon Belle' railtour. 16th September 1984. Copyright Clive Smith

2) Devon Belle Railtour, 40 079 waits to depart Newton Abbot, 16th September 1984. Copyright Clive Smith

(3) Having changed drivers 40079 gets ready to leave Exeter St Davids. Copyright Clive Smith.

Winnen's Westerns
St Blazey Bridge
Roger Winnen

D1001 Western Pathfinder at St Blazey Bridge Crossing hauling the 10.05 from Newquay. It's 24th August 1974. Copyright Roger Winnen

Penzance
Andrew Thompson

Shunting at Penzance, an 08 prepares its train, a 50 looks on. Copyright Andrew Thompson.

2nd January 2019

2/1/2019

New Years Day at Long Rock
Roger Salter

190101a 43188 'Geraint Thomas' with The Welsh Dragon at Long Rock on New Years Day. Copyright Roger Salter

190101b The Welshman and Sir Kenneth Grange at Long Rock. Copyright Roger Salter

Bristol Temple Meads
Alan Peters

Happy New Year, on the last day of 2018 I had to collect a failed tamper from Taunton which was being loco hauled to Rugby for repair, picture attached at Bristol TM
Many thanks Alan.

Last day of 2018 saw a Colas Rail Freight class 70 used to recover a failed tamper, 70806 had been at Tavistock Junction over the Christmas period following an exam and was summoned to collect Colas Rail tamper DR73935 from Taunton which had failed with gearbox problems. Here 70806 is seen at Bristol Temple Meads hauling DR73935 running as 6Z42 to Rugby for repair - Copyright Alan Peters

Winnens's Westerns
Penzance
Roger Winnen

D1041 Western Prince waits to depart with the 18.00 hrs to Bristol. Copyright Roger Winnen

The rather Grubby nameplate on a rather grubby loco. One must admit that todays railways present a much better public image. Copyright Roger Winnen.

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