Blog Archives

The rare event at Truro - repercussions Craig Munday

31/5/2014

Hi Keith
The sun was out, and so was I! Following on from my shift at St Erth, I went out to photograph 57602.
The failure of a FGW HST on the Down Main at Truro resulted in the train being cancelled there, and shunted across to the yard. The set was retrieved during the afternoon by snatching the class 57 from 2E75 11.25 Par to Exeter St Davids whilst the train was at Plymouth.
The class 57 number 57602 was dispatched light to Truro to the HST forward as 5C72 to Long Rock. The train is seen at Rosevidney West of St Erth on 31st May 2014 in glorious sunshine.
I had popped up to Angarrack viaduct to take a picture of the class 57 there, but the sun was creeping away from the broadside shot of the viaduct. I headed to Rosevidney instead (I'm glad I did). I did take 2 x HST photos whilst there, one FGW Eastbound service, and a Cross-Country Penzance bound one.
Cheers Craig. Many thanks Craig

The failed HST is towed west passing Rosevidney. 31st May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

The up loco hauled service passes St Erth 31st May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

Angarrack viaduct FGW service east bound. 31st May 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

Angarrack viaduct Cross Country HST heading for Penzance 31st May 2014. Copyright Craig Munday

Rare event at Truro today Martin Duff

31/5/2014

Hello Keith, Interesting event at Truro today. This morning, 1C72 06.44 Bristol TM - Penzance was terminated at Truro and the set (power cars 43025/43035) was shunted to Truro Yard. At 14.45, 57602 arrived at Truro to attach to the failed HST to haul it to Penzance. This meant that the 11.25 Par - Exeter Saturday loco-hauled train was cancelled at Plymouth to release the assisting engine. Attached are some photographs of the failed train in Truro yard, 57602 arriving at Truro, then the curious site of THREE HST's at Truro at once (when did this last happen, if at all) - the 15.00 Penzance - Plymouth passes the 11.06 Paddington - Penzance shortly before the 15.50 Truro - Penzance ECS leaves.
Regards, Martin
Many thanks for your observations and smashing photographs Martin.

The failed 06.44 Bristol TM to Penzance parked in the sidings at Truro. 31st May 2014 Copyright Martin Duff

57602 arrives at Truro to attach to the failed HST to take it to Penzance. 31st May 2014 Copyright Martin Duff

Quite an amazing sight - three HST's at Truro at once. 31st May 2014 Copyright Martin Duff

The failed HST departs for Penzance 31st May 2014 Copyright Martin Duff.

The trail of the HST about to cross from the up main to the down main and head for Penzance. 31st May 2014 Copyright Martin Duff.

Up Loco Hauled today Mike Roach

31/5/2014

Sorry a bit late putting them on the site - I've been digging a soakaway all day.

Camborne Gardens!! 31st May 2014 Copyright Mike Roach

The loco hauled train passes Camborne 31st May 2014 Copyright Mike Roach

Th train disturbs a profusion of flowers outside the old Holmans works at Camborne. 31st May 2014 Copyright Mike Roach

Some 159's from David Tozer

31/5/2014

159017 with the 0710 London (Waterloo) – Exeter At Exhibition Way 30th May 2014 Copyright David Tozer

159101 with the 1025 Exeter (St David’s) – London (Waterloo) 30th May 2014 Copyright David Tozer

158883 & 159018 Nr Pinhoe The Class 158 reaches Exeter on the front of the 1020 Waterloo – Exeter. Later after working the 17.46 to Axminster it returns ECS. Then works the 1925 Exeter (St David’s) – London (Waterloo) Exhibition Way 30th May 2014 Copyright David Tozer 30th May 2014 Copyright David Tozer

Down sleeper today Craig Munday

30/5/2014

Hi Keith A rare treat to be covering St Erth for two shifts. Here's 57605 working the down Sleepers 30th May 2014. Cheers Craig
We admire your expression of delight at having to cover two shifts - a very long day. Many thanks.

St Erth 57605 working the down Sleepers 30th May 2014. Copyright Craig Munday

Passengers on the Liskeard to Looe branch link line. At last we have the answer.

30/5/2014

This is in response to Stuart Smith who on the 23rd May queried whether passengers have even been officially carried on the link line between the main line and Looe branch at Liskeard.

A reply from Bernard Mills Re the connection at Liskeard with the Looe Branch, The Clayliner tour of 11 May 1968 and the BLS one the following week, on both of these passengers were NOT conveyed around the connection to the Looe Branch, we had to get out and walk. I was on the Clayliner. Last February the 37's to Looe also went ECS around the curve. The only train I know of to convey passengers on the connection between the Looe Branch and the main line was the Cornish Gnome of 03 May 1998. Attached is a very rare picture of that one on the actual curve coming out of the yard at Liskeard, as far as I know the only time passengers carried around here. I would suspect curvature of line and possibly having to clip points would have been factors in banning passengers around here. Bernard Many thanks Bernard

Liskeard 37 403 1Z39 1814 LOOE-CDF Cornish Gnome Tour 3rd May 1998 Copyright Bernard Mills Note the happy passengers hanging out of the front coach window.

Minutes earlier in the low evening sun the railtour goes direct onto the link line and heads for the main line. 3rd May 1998 Copyright Roger Winnen

Under very difficult light conditions the train crawls around the link line. Passengers are to be noted at various windows along the train. 3rd May 1998 Copyright Roger Winnen

50 007 not coming a report from John Ball

30/5/2014

I believe that 50007 (no longer green) was planned to go today to St Blazey to retrieve the last 60 from there, but has been cancelled due to no route conductor - wonder whether it will go ahead with a different class loco? I don't want to send anyone on a fool's errand!

Bodmin and Wenford is running today (30th June) despite the leaflet showing it to be a blank day - I shall be helping in the shop this afternoon.

Craig Munday advises that the collection of the class 60 today has been cancelled

Investment in Cornish Railways - Penzance depot and main line

30/5/2014

With many thanks to Victor Menhennet for advising us of this link, read more - http://www.cornishman.co.uk/Ministers-lobbied-pound-146-million-Cornish-rail/story-21152768-detail/story.html

Talking of rare events. Devonport Dockyard

29/5/2014

Although Devonport Dockyard possesses a platform military trains from it are now non-existent. However on 11th March 1995 a railtour, the 'South West Rambler Railtour' visited to docks penetrating beyond the platform as far as the exchange sidings - these can be seen on Google Earth.
For security reasons no photographs were to be taken by participants from the train and only one picture was permitted, the official view - this view of the railtour taken at the exchange sidings taken by Paul Burkhalter an employee at the dockyard.
Paul has written a highly recommended history of the docks railway entitled 'Devonport Dockyard Railway, it is from his book and collection this picture comes. Many thanks to Paul for releasing it to us. We have now added it to our collection featuring this railtour.

The 'South West Rambler Railtour' at the exchange sidings in Devonport Dockyard. 11th March 1995 Copyright Paul Burkhalter

Liskeard to Looe branch link line. Can anybody help Please?

28/5/2014

Hi Keith, Absolutely love looking through your website.... Oh for a time machine!!! Do you know of any Railtours/Specials that have allowed passengers to stay onboard over the connecting line at Liskeard? I have done three tours to Looe and/or Moorswater over the years (since 1994), and it's never been permitted. With your local knowledge I wondered if you were aware of any that had allowed it. Thanks, Stuart Smith

I am sure that relatively recently a loco hauled railtour was granted a concession to travel, complete with passengers over the connecting link. Does anybody know why it is standard practice to get passengers to walk from the main line to the branch platforms. A time waster really.
Can anybody furnish us with details of any charters which have done this. I believe a PRC railtour may have done this in the past. Many thanks if you can help Stuart Smith with this query - Keith

Hi,Keith I was on the 'Clayliner' organised by PRC on 11 May 1968. I have a photo taken on the main line platform at Liskeard, which suggest to me that we all had to get out. If I can find the tour notes, these may throw some light on the question.

I managed to cover this link, about 1994. I was on the last train of the day up from Looe, and there were no other passengers. The guard asked me if I'd mind being dropped off on the nmain line up platform, to save reversal into the branch line platform? Mind? Hardly! Some enthusiasts on the main line station looked at me enviously as I stepped out of the train.
Regards John (Ball) Thanks John - any more info and we'll let you know. Does anybody know why passengers on this stretch of line are so very rare - what is wrong with the line - is it dangerous - I think not. Was it a problem of possible buffer lock - the mystery deepens.

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