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Items added on May 31st 2017 Those added most recently come first

31/5/2017

New Depot at Bristol Parkway
Adrian King

Hi Keith
Just thought you may be able to use this shot of the new Hitachi depot at Bristol Parkway taken from a Swansea to London bound HST service yesterday morning the 30th May. The fencing around the site, as you can see, really prevents any hopes of a good view of the depot itself.
Cheers Adrian King Many thanks Adrian a difficult shot to time.

New Hitachi depot at Bristol Parkway 29th May 2017 Copyright Adrian King

Can you Spot what's wrong!
Nigel Tregoning

This new sign has recently been attached to a Railway Bridge in Trescobeas Road, Falmouth however the spelling is wrong - whoops, rather unfortunate! Perhaps we should ring the Swindon 01793 number?
It really should be Trescobeas.

Snow at Truro
Sid Sponheimer

1037 Western Empress shivers in the snow in Truro Yard on the 15th February 1973 while another Western pauses in the down main platform. Cement wagons waiting to go to Chacewater are parked in the yard. The black bridge from which this picture is taken must have been a bit slippery under foot! Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Wilton North
Kevin Regan

A real gem of a picture. A photo of early 1930's taken from the barrow way at the end of platform and looking towards Salisbury. The two boys appear in many other local photos (quite often 3 boys). The signal box is just behind the photographer and to his left and the goods shed, which in 2017 is a sales room and warehouse for a Charity, is behind the photographer and to his right. Note the extra smoke deflector on the footbridge to protect users from the occasional emission from a loco using the crossover, Copyright Kevin Regan

The above picture is yet another one sent to us by Terry Waldron to add to the almost ever growing coverage on the Westbury - Salisbury line. Many thanks to Terry and of course to Kevin Regan who holds the copyright. To see this section click here.

73's at Hewish
John Cornelius

Hewish Crossing is about two and a half miles west of Crewkerne. Copyright John Cornelius

Items added on May 30th 2017 Those added most recently come first

30/5/2017

Tornado heads for Penzance
With the Cornishman

Large crowds in Cornwall flocked to the mainline to see the first ever appearance in Cornwall of 60163 Tornado the first Mainline Steam Locomotive built since 1960 run from Paddington to Penzance.
This occasion must be unique as it is very doubtful that a steam locomotive have completed a through run of 305 miles.

170529b IMG_1639 - 60163 on The Cornishman, Laira, 29.05.17 EDITED. Copyright T Tremethick

170529zh 60163 Tornado at Menheniot. Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

170529f Tornado at Scorrier Crossing. Copyright Keith Watkins

170529dd Tornado hauling the Cornishman crosses Hayle Viaduct. Copyright Roger Salter

170529zm 60163 Tornado approaching Ponsandane footbridge with the 'Cornishman' running 35 mins late at this point. Copyright Andrew Triggs

170529k Owing to the press and media coverage, large crowds at Penzance Station made it difficult to photograph the engine. Copyright Roger Winnen

For more on the visit by 60163 Tornado look at the features pages which will give a lot more of the run down to Cornwall and its run back to Bodmin Parkway for its visit to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway Click Here

  Saturday 3rd June 2017
      A visit to the Teign Valley Railway at Christow.
You don’t have to be a member to come along – join us anywhere even at Christow.
Penzance 06.50 St Erth 07.00 Camborne 07.12 Redruth 07.19 Truro 07.32 St Austell 07.49 Par 07.56 Bodmin Parkway 08.10 Liskeard 08.23 Plymouth 08.52 Exeter St Davids arr 09.52.   Catch the Next train service to Exeter Central. dep 10.16 arr 10.19
We then board Country Bus service 360. This departs Exeter Bus Station at 11.15 picking up outside of Exeter Central Station at approx.11.20 alight at Teign House Inn at 11.56 for a Two Hour stay at the  Exeter & Teign Valley Railway
For more details of the Teign Valley Railway click here:-
http://www.teignrail.co.uk/
There are many things to see courtesy Colin Burges our host. There is a platform ticket charge of £1.
Following our visit we depart Teign House Inn on the 14.18 bus service.
Our plan is to leave the bus at Exeter Central arr 14.58 and then catch the 15.20 service to Exmouth arr at 15.50. We will Spend an hour at Exmouth for a meal stop – possibly viewing the distant air display. Depart Exmouth on the 16.53 service arr. Exeter St Davids at 17.25. The attraction is the loco hauled service home. This departs Exeter St David's 17.50 calling at Newton Abbot 18.23   Plymouth 19.07 Liskeard 19.37 Bodmin Parkway 19.50 Par 20.03 St Austell 20.10 Truro 20.29 Redruth 20.44 Camborne 20.51 St Erth 21.01 Penzance 21.11
Tickets - Purchase an Off Peak Day Return to Plymouth and a Day Devon Ranger Ticket.
As an alternative you can leave the bus at Exeter St Thomas and take the frequent train service to Paignton to see the latter stages of the Air Display.
In order to catch the loco hauled train back home you will have to be at Newton Abbot by 18.23 The last trains from Paignton to connect with this service departs at 17.36 or 17.51, arr Newton Abbot at 18.06 or 18.13. These trains could be very busy.
For the Air display programme click here :- http://torbayairshow.com/event-programme-saturday/

Truro Cattle Pens
Sid Sponheimer

1056 Western Sultan coasts in past Cattle Pen sidings on the 23rd May 1975 Copyright Sid Sponheimer The signalbox here closed in 1925 and was replaced by a ground frame.

Bristol TM
John Cornelius

Items added on May 29th 2017 Those added most recently come first

29/5/2017

Tornado visit today
We intend gathering all your many pictures to form a feature - please be patient. If you can reduce your pictures to around 1.5 MByte it would be appreciated. There are some already in the features section.

Believed to be the first visit to Penzance of 150002
Roger Winnen and Andrew Triggs Roger Salter

170529aa 150002 Crossing Marazion Marsh. Copyright Roger Salter

170529a 150002 Arrives at Penzance on the 05.24 from BristolTemple Meads. Copyright Roger Winnen

150002 arriving at Penzance with 2C42 at 10.16 29th May 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Below there is a planning application attached to a lamp post on the station wall to demolish the building in the foreground which at one time was the shunters cabin however it now contains redundant signalling equipment located on the beach it says! The tide very rarely reaches this point except on exceptional circumstances.

170529c The planning application fastened to a lamp post on the Station Wall. Copyright Roger Winnen

170529b 150002 Formes the 11.41 service to Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

150002 is seen passing Marazion after departure from Penzance at 11.41. 29th May 2017 Copyright Andrew Triggs

Wheal Busy Crossing
Sid Sponheimer

47 275 heads an up service towards Wheal Busy Crossing 23rd May 1976. Copyright Sid Sponheimer. Scorrier Woods form a backdrop.

Paignton Western
John Cornelius

The classic Western scene, Paignton as we would like to remember it. Many thanks John. Copyright John Cornelius

Items added on May 28th 2017 Those added most recently come first

28/5/2017

Pinhoe, this morning
David Tozer

159107, 159102, 159002 approaching Pinhoe 28th May 2017 Copyright David Tozer

Cockwood
David Tozer

Yesterdays train. 57603 passes Cockwood. 27th May 2017 Copyright David Tozer

Puzzler?
Sid Sponheimer

Sid knows the loco and the date. It's June 1966 and the loco is 34009 Lyme Regis. Taken at Southampton, possibly at Millbrook. Sid asks is this possibly one of the Queens? Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

The Queen Elizabeth is seen berthed at Southampton. We thank Dave Antony and Trevor Tremethick for this clarification

Quintrel or Quintrell?
Peter Murnaghan

Hi Keith, I have been scanning a few of my slides recently and came across a few that were taken in June 1980, when we were down in Cornwall on a holiday from Kent. Little did we think at the time that we would later come down to live in this beautiful part of the world.

And a word of explanation about the DMU picture. In case anybody thinks that I was standing close to the track, actually the camera was held over the gate from the road side.

Best wishes, Peter Many thanks Peter

Quintrell Downs Comparison of spelling by Great Western Railway and British Rail 10th June 1980 CR Peter Murnaghan

Quintrell Downs. A GWR notice referring to 'Trains and Rail Cars' at Quintrell Downs 10th June 1980 Copyright Peter Murnaghan

A 3-car Metro Cammell DMU set B804 arriving at Quintrell Downs 10th June 1980 Copyright Peter Murnaghan

Quintrel or Quintrell, that is the question?
Reference to Google tells us that the area is named after the nearby Downs. Now take a look at the 1892 / 1906 25” to the mile map courtesy the National Library of Scotland website you will find that the nearby downs are named Quintrel. http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=50.4038&lon=-5.0293&layers=168&b=1 Staying on the same website series of maps but moving forward in date you will find that gradually the extra ‘l’ is added. Another facility on this excellent website is the ability to ‘fade in’ a current map – try this and you’ll find the extra ‘l’ is in vogue. In our current age of austerity just think how much ink could be saved by dropping the extra ‘l’! Also, while looking at the Quintrel Downs location, you will note that the sidings are shown just to the west of the level crossing but no station. The station wasn’t opened until the 2nd October 1911.
A railway first appeared at this location in about 1849 when the Treffry Tramway opened from Newquay Harbour to Hendra Crazey – a location in the St Dennis area. KJ

Exeter departure
John Cornelius

As can be seen from the photographers in the back ground 'Westerns' attracted a lot of attention. Copyright John Cornelius

Items added on May 27th 2017 Those added most recently come first

27/5/2017

Just a week today -
Don't forget

Advance Notice - Outdoor Event - Saturday 3rd June 2017
      A visit to the Teign Valley Railway at Christow.
You don’t have to be a member to come along – join us anywhere even at Christow.
Penzance 06.50 St Erth 07.00 Camborne 07.12 Redruth 07.19 Truro 07.32 St Austell 07.49 Par 07.56 Bodmin Parkway 08.10 Liskeard 08.23 Plymouth 08.52 Exeter St Davids arr 09.52.   Catch the Next train service to Exeter Central. dep 10.16 arr 10.19
We then board Country Bus service 360. This departs Exeter Bus Station at 11.15 picking up outside of Exeter Central Station at approx.11.20 alight at Teign House Inn at 11.56 for a Two Hour stay at the  Exeter & Teign Valley Railway
For more details of the Teign Valley Railway click here:-
http://www.teignrail.co.uk/
There are many things to see courtesy Colin Burges our host. There is a platform ticket charge of £1.
Following our visit we depart Teign House Inn on the 14.18 bus service.
Our plan is to leave the bus at Exeter Central arr 14.58 and then catch the 15.20 service to Exmouth arr at 15.50. We will Spend an hour at Exmouth for a meal stop – possibly viewing the distant air display. Depart Exmouth on the 16.53 service arr. Exeter St Davids at 17.25. The attraction is the loco hauled service home. This departs Exeter St David's 17.50 calling at Newton Abbot 18.23   Plymouth 19.07 Liskeard 19.37 Bodmin Parkway 19.50 Par 20.03 St Austell 20.10 Truro 20.29 Redruth 20.44 Camborne 20.51 St Erth 21.01 Penzance 21.11
Tickets - Purchase an Off Peak Day Return to Plymouth and a Day Devon Ranger Ticket.
As an alternative you can leave the bus at Exeter St Thomas and take the frequent train service to Paignton to see the latter stages of the Air Display.
In order to catch the loco hauled train back home you will have to be at Newton Abbot by 18.23 The last trains from Paignton to connect with this service departs at 17.36 or 17.51, arr Newton Abbot at 18.06 or 18.13. These trains could be very busy.
For the Air display programme click here :- http://torbayairshow.com/event-programme-saturday/

The Return of the
Veg Express
Andrew Triggs

Known by the local railway enthusiast in Cornwall This train composed of the day carriages of the Night Riviera together with its 57 now runs again on Saturdays in the Summer Timetable, this year it runs as the 10.28 from St Erth to Plymouth then the 13.35 to Exeter before returning to Penzance as the 17.50 from Exeter St David's.

170527a Known as the Veg Express the 10.28 St Erth to Plymouth arrives from Long Rock behind 57603 passing the 08.18 Plymouth Penzance, Copyright Andrew Triggs

170527b 57603 Tintagel Castle heads through Gwinear Road on route to Plymouth. Copyright Andrew Triggs

170527c Heading away towards Camborne the engine and day coaches of the Night Riviera. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Four from Craig
Craig Munday

We've had some good days in Cornwall of late and last Thursday 25th May proved to be a good one for Craig as he got out and about. Many thanks Craig

66175 at Tywardreath with the 6g06 clay 25th May 2017 Copyright Craig Munday

70812 6c36 at Bolitho on the Moorswater cement 25th May 2017 Copyright Craig Munday

66001 on the 6B01 clay comes downgrade out of St Austell passing the lines which once led to the goods depot. 25th May 2017 Copyright Craig Munday

66175 at Lavrean with the 6g06 clay 25th May 2017 A waste dump punctuates the horizon. Copyright Craig Munday

Tresillian
Sid Sponheimer

Tresillian, An uknown Western. on a down working. In the distance can be seen Probus church. 10th April 1973 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Taunton 'Scot'
John Cornelius

A rare visitor under lower quadrant signals. Copyright John Cornelius

Items added on May 26th 2017 Those added most recently come first

26/5/2017

Truro
Sid Sponheimer

An undated picture of Truro station - taken from Coronation Terrace. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Dilton Marsh
Derek Buttivant

Copyright Derek Buttivant N.B. Derek wishes to point out that at the time this picture was taken this stretch of line was under 'Southern Region' control and that he had at the time a pass entitling him to be on the track.

Hello Keith.

I was pleased to see the new photos of the Westbury-Salisbury line and especially those of Dilton Marsh Halt. I lived at Dilton Marsh, within sight of the line, from 1968 to 1972. In about 1970 or 1971 BR workers arrived to shorten the sleeper-built platforms at the halt from their original (I think) five-car length to three-car length. (Subsequently they were shortened even further so that trains calling there now can board/alight passengers only through the crew door on dmus). The platform shortening was quickly and crudely done simply by sawing through the platforms at their outer ends (furthest from the access paths) and rebuilding the ramps. My photo shows this process part-way through, looking towards Westbury. The large station sign was left in place but the totem on the lamp post was discarded and the post sawn through. Note that the new stop sign is in place (as seen in the later pictures) but with rubble strewn along the platform in a way that would not be permitted today (the station was open and in use at the time of the photo).

You are welcome to add this picture to the CRS collection if it is of interest.

Kind regards, Derek Many thanks indeed Derek

Click here for more pictures of the Halt in our Westbury to Salisbury section.

Bristol Temple Meads
John Cornelius

Another Gem from John Cornelius. Copyright

Items added on May 25th 2017 Those added most recently come first

25/5/2017

St Austell
Sid Sponheimer

A welcoming signal at St Austell to the class 47 hauling an up service as it approaches the station. An undated but interesting view which includes, in the distance, Gover viaduct. Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

Gunnislake 72
Ron Kosys

Ron concludes with his visit to the Gunnislake branch in 1972.
Many thanks Ron.

Gunnislake on the 10th August 1972. Little has changed since last year except thet the warning sign on the post in the foreground has disappeared. Gone to a good home one hopes! Copyright Ron Kosys

Ron goes to the Plymouth end of the platform at Gunnislake. It's the 10th August 1972 Copyright Ron Kosys

Gunnislake 10th August 1972 The station entrance was via a subway although by this time access was permitted across the former trackbed. Copyright Ron Kosys

Gunnislake 10th August 1972 This view illustrates well the height to which the train has climbed. At one time the rusty metals in the foreground led on to Callington, higher still. Copyright Ron Kosys

Templecombe
John Cornelius

Templecombe, change for Bath, or Bournemouth. Copyright John Cornelius

Items added on May 24th 2017 Those added most recently come first

24/5/2017

Snow at Chacewater
Sid Sponheimer

An unknown Western approaches Chacewater on a snowy day on 16th February 1973. The tackbed of the former Chacewater to Newquay branch alongside to the right has albeit disappeared.Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Gunnislake 71
Ron Kosys

The service from Plymouth has just arrived at Gunnislake on the 23rd August 1971 Copyright Ron Kosys Note the red tail lamp riding in the cab.

Ron has ventured past the sign at Guunislake to take another view of the unit standing beside the island. 23rd August 1971

Bristol TM
John Cornelius

Items added on May 23rd 2017 Those added most recently come first

23/5/2017

The Beattie Well Tank
on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Roger Winnen

170520d The approach to Bodmin Gerneral Station with the preserved diesel fleet in the sidings 33110 50042 'Triumph' 37142 and the DMU. Copyright Roger Winnen

170520i 30587 at Boscarne Junction with the driver Charles Daniel and guard Paul Foster standing on the buffer beam. Copyright Roger Winnen

170520e Beattie Well Tank 30587 rounds the curve from the Boscarne Line into Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

170520f One hundred years plus span the building of the Beattie in 1874 and the HSTs from 1976. Copyright Roger Winnen

170520h 30587 Departs Bodmin Parkway with the last train of the day. Copyright Roger Winnen

D1008 Western Harrier at Penstraze
Near Truro
Sid Sponheimer

D1008 Western Harrier photographed on 10th May 1973 near Penstraze, Truro. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

3212 at Westbury
John Cornelius

Items added on the 22nd May 2017 Those added most recently come first.

22/5/2017

Looking very Smart!
The refurbished Camborne Station Footbridge
Roger Winnen

170521e The refurbished footbridge was installed at Camborne late Saturday evening. Copyright Roger Winnen

170521f The bridge looking up Beacon Hill towards Beacon and Troon as the skies darken. Copyright Roger Winnen

170521g The update on the restored Camborne Station Bridge. Copyright Roger Winnen

Laira
Sid Sponheimer

Diary Dates
Karl Hewlett

With summer coming I have produced a list of forthcoming railtours and there requested motive power, as we have been blessed this year with some interesting tours:

Steam Charters

'The Cornishman' 29th May, 60163 Paddington to Penzance (see CRS May page for times), still no return times for 60163 to leave Cornwall after its week at Bodmin.

'Torbay Express' Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return, 60163 18th June, 02nd and 23rd July, 20th August and 10th September. 35028: 20th August and 03rd September.

'The Dartmouth Express' 24th June, 6023 or 34046 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return.

'The Devon Belle' four day tour 06th July, London Waterloo to Exeter TBA, 48151 Exeter to Kingswear , 07th July Kingswear to Penzance and return, 09th July, TBA Kingswear to Waterloo via Weymouth (48151 Castle Cary to Weymouth).

'The Royal Duchy' Bristol Temple Meads to Par and return 46100 23rd, 30th July and 06th August, 6023/34046 or 70013 27th August and 34046 03rd September .

'The Cathedral Express' 26th September, 34046 Taunton to Kingswear and return.

Diesel Charters

'The Cornishman' 29th May, class59/2 Penzance to Paddington.

Mazey Day Cornishman' 24th June, DRS class37x2 Worcester Shrub Hill to Penzance and return.

'The Devonian' 3rd June, unspecified diesel Tyseley Warwick Road to Goodrington Sands and return, steam Goodrington Sands to Kingswear and return. Shown as Vintage Trains charter but not much detail on this?

'The Saltburn Pilgrim' Saltburn to Plymouth and return 30th June to 3rd July, Pullman stock and unspecified diesel. Possible trip to the South Devon Railway but not finalised and no information on whether by coach or train?

'The Torbay and Dart Explorer' 8th July, class 50x2 (to/from Worcester Shrub Hill), Burton Upon Trent to Kingswear and return.

'Dartmouth Regatta Statesman' 26th August, WCRC diesel Wolverhampton to Kingswear and return.

The above are subject to the usual disclaimers of the above changing or being cancelled.

Kind Regards, Karl (Friends of Penmere).

Many thanks indeed Karl for this very comprehensive list.
This list is repeated in 'Features'.

Taunton
John Cornelius

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