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Many thanks to Mike and Craig for their pictures of the up stone train.  On a day a blustery showers and bright sunny periods Craig was lucky to get this great view of 66109 at Clinnick at 11.45 29th July 2013 Copyright Craig Munday  Mike Roach a few miles further up the line at Liskeard was also able to get a nicely illuminated view from the road bridge of the same train. Copyright Mike Roach A thought on Par Signal Box.
Par Signal Box is very worthy of Listing, and hopefully eventual preservation, because it is believed to be the last box on Network Rail still in use, that when built, controlled broad-gauge trains. The broad-gauge was abolished in Cornwall in May 1892. There is believed to be only one other signal box in the same category, and that is Williton on the West Somerset Railway. Many thanks for that Mike. We hear that the following specials will work in the coming week.
Mon 29th July 7Z26 Westbury to Burngullow stone train arrives at 05.00 7Z27 11.13 Burngullow to Exeter Riverside stone train Wed 31st July 2Q08 class 150 Network Rail DMU 03.45 Plymouth to Truro via Gunnislake, Parkandillack, Lostwithiel (Rev), Penzance (Rev) & Truro. Plymouth 03.45 Gunnislake 04.26 / 04.32 Plymouth 05.13 / 05.24 Par 06.12 Parkandillack 06.41 / 06.51 Par 07.35 Lostwithiel 07.41 / 08.01 Truro 09.25 Penzance 09.56 / 10.11 Truro 10.54 Thurs 1st Aug 2013 2Q08 class 150 Network Rail DMU 04.30 Truro to Exeter Riverside via Hackney Yd / Paignton Truro 04.30 Liskeard 05.14 Plymouth 05.37 N Abbt 06.49 / 06.52 Goodrington 07.09 / 07.12 Friday 2nd August 2013 7Z26 Westbury to Burngullow arr 05.00 7Z27 Burngulllow dep 11.13 to Westbury No railway enthusiast likes to hear about or see the demolition of the traditional signal boxes. However Network Rail are proceeding with the creation of Signalling Control Centres which will supervise rail traffic over vast areas - our control will be at Didcot.
A certain amount of pleasure is gained from the news that both Lostwithiel and Par signalboxes have gained 'Listed Status' and as such, as buildings they are safe. However without the lever frames and instruments they will not have the same attraction. Maybe they'll become restaurants though there are already facilities at Par, With the demise of the boxes we'll miss the semaphores which give an early warning of train movements either from the front or back. Such is progress. Derek Brooks, Recorder of the Goonhavern Old Cornwall Society kindly sent in this picture yesterday. It is understood to be at one of the three road over rail bridges at Goonhavern taken pre 1953. There were three bridges at Goonhavern, however this can be narrowed to two as the third one was of iron construction. Whatever is going on seems to be a big job involving at least ten men, there must have been somebody else posted as lookout in case a train came along. They appear to have a pole in the middle of the 4' way. Many thanks for this Derek. 
Hi Keith. An overnight rail drop between Roskear & Penzance produced this early morning picture of 66193 storming through Liskeard with an engineers train. It had restricted signals, following close on the tail of the Up Golden Hind, which had only just cleared St Germans. The down sleepers were next with 57605 in charge. The mist had started to come in at this point. A poignant day as the royal baby was born later that afternoon. Cheers for now, Craig An exciting day for the Royals. Many thanks Craig 
Liskeard 06.42 22nd July 13 Copyright Craig Munday
Further to Craig Mundays information concerning train reporting numbers, Nike Roach has drawn our attention to the FGW Network timetable which provides the reporting numbers for each individual passenger train. These timetables are available from major stations at £4 per copy. A sample of the cover of the previous timetable is shown below as well as a typical page. Many thanks for this information Mike. 
Cover of the Dec 2012 to May 2013 FGW timetable. The current one features a view of the Dawlish Coastline.
A sample page showing trains on the Gunnislake branch. Apologies for the station list being incomplete but we had no wish to damage the table by bending it fully open for scanning.
Roger Salter 'shopped' these two trespassers on the outskirts of Penzance - one wonders why they couldn't have flown across! Bearing in mind that swans are usually paired for life one hopes that these royal birds have remained paired! Many thanks for this picture Roger. 
With many thanks to John Roberts for drawing our attention to this report of which an extract is below:-
Report dated July 16th, 2013 Heritage Railways are worth £250m to the UK economy, a report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail has revealed. Over 100 heritage railways and tramways attract tourists and provide local employment as well as valuable skills training and apprenticeships. The Group concludes that apart from the economic benefits, heritage railways also provide employment for over 3,700 staff nationally and a productive outlet for a staggering 18,500 loyal volunteers. |
