Blog Archives

Log traffic From John Ball

22/7/2014

Hi, Keith Short notice, but I've just learned that a working is planned for tomorrow (Wednesday) and the plan is to run empties down from Chirk to Newton Abbot 15.06, run round and go up the branch at 15.26, Heathfield ECC 15.46, run round and start back at 16.06 1/2 , leaving the empties at Teigngrace (more accurately Teignbridge road crossing) 16.13 then back LE and usually (on past form) back the following day to pick the loaded trucks up. Motive power has been a 56 in the past; no guarantees!
Regards John Ball Many thanks John

From the Cornishman - observed by Victor Menhennet Waterloo, Ontario.

21/7/2014

St Erth footbridge. The following was observed in the Cornishman Newspaper concerning the proposed destruction of the footbridge at St Erth station by our distant reporter in Ontario - Many thanks Victor

http://www.cornishman.co.uk/St-Erth-residents-fight-demolition-historic/story-21644660-detail/story.html

Yesterday offering - from David Tozer

20/7/2014

The following arrived at 21.15, after my closing time sorry.
Hi Keith,
I have been enjoying the pleasures of the Caledonian Sleeper – hence no photographs of late.
Today’s offering, an exile from Reading Depot. 150002 turned up this evening working the 1749 Paignton – Exmouth. Then a drive back to St David’s, yes a ‘Southern’ man does take videos/photographs of other locomotives. 5029 heading home on tonight’s Torbay. Dave
Glad you are back and many thanks

150002 (On holiday from Reading depot!) arrives at a very green Topsham 20.7.2014 Copyright David Tozer

It's 19.07 on the 20th July 2014 as 150 002 departs from Topsham for Exmouth. Copyright David tozer.

And now a dash to Exeter St Davids to see 5029 Nunney Castle departing on the return Torbay Express at 19.51 on the 20th July 2014 Copyright David Tozer

Todays Noteable event From Mike Roach

20/7/2014

A notable railway anniversary occurs today. It was exactly 80 years ago on Saturday 21 July 1934 that the last of Brunel's timber viaducts in Cornwall was taken out of use after a service life of 71 years. The last timber viaduct in Cornwall was the one at Collegewood, Penryn on the Falmouth Branch. However Collegewood was not the last Brunel timber viaduct in use anywhere as that honour fell to two viaducts in the Dare Valley near Aberdare in South Wales.
Mike Many thanks for the reminder Mike

Welcome to Rod Garner

20/7/2014

Rod Garner is the Chairman of the Tarka Valley Railway Group based at Torrington Station. Rod made the CRS group very welcome when we called there on July 5th. In talking to us he mentioned that he had a few Cornish views and would look for them. Below are a couple of his gems of the Helston Branch taken while on holiday down here in the 1960's. More will appear on the St Ives branch and Kingswear branch pages in due course.
If in the area Torrington station is well worth a visit - certainly you should visit their website on www.tarkavalleyrailway.co.uk

Hanging out of the window out of the steam hauled train, one got lovely views especially after Truthall Platform as the train coasted down grade along a line which hugged the contours towards Cober Viaduct which is prominent in this picture. A prank for local schoolchildren on their way home on the corridor-less 'B' stock was to transfer from one compartment to another on the outside of the train as it crossed the viaduct - this was done on the far side of the curved viaduct - out of view of the driver and guard. The prize, a 'six penny piece'. It is hoped that this viaduct will again support trains as the Helston Railway Preservation Society extends its track to Water - ma - Trout. This picture is the copyright of Rod Garner.

The second of Rod Garners Helston pictures is of Helston station itself. In this view the 45 or 55 tanks has gone to quench its thirst at the water column alongside the engine shed road. There are two stories to tell here. The first relates to a driver who didn't check his signals on being given 'right away' by the guard. He accelerated away complete with his train into the engine shed - doing some damage. The second is about an manouver which occurred when the run round loop was occupied with goods stock. In order to get the engine to the right end of the train the engine would be uncoupled and give a hefty shove to push the stock out of the station and up the grade out under the bridge, The locomotive would then rapidly return and retire to the engine shed with the stock gravitating back under the control of the guard. Also note the serpentine siding with a wagon standing under the shute. Copyright Rod Garner.

Roger W goes off to be replaced by Roger S

19/7/2014

Hi Keith, As you asked last week about pics of the green goddess I took these this morning in far better conditions than last week. Both RW & I missed the scheduled presence of the engineers train at PZ very annoying as I was on the Marshes with the dog heard this typical 66 noise thought that's funny at 7.15am looked up and it trundle up country!! Two 66’s perhaps someone further up saw it going back to Westbury.
Hope everything OK Roger Thank you Roger. N.B. Roger W has gone off on the week long CRS Midland Tour so today Roger Salter has taken over the role.

140719a 5E75 10.15 Long Rock -Par empty stock with 57604 Pendennis Castle, awaits departure at the Depot copyright Roger Salter

140719b 5E75 10.15 Long Rock-Par passes the old Marazion Station copyright Roger Salter

Gover China Clay Tip Tramway, Trewoon. St Austell. A snippet from Maurice Dart

18/7/2014

Maurice tells us of his latest findings :- A woodway dating from before 1900 which carried sand to a tip exists at this isolated and difficult to reach location. N.B. Trewoon is north west of St Austell. Many thanks Maurice.

Class 56 at Taunton, nice one. July 17th, 2014

17/7/2014

Hi Keith 0Z57, 16.29 Plymouth - Washwood Heath (possible route learning as was light engine both ways) at Taunton 18.15 tonight running approx 60 early. Nice find! Regards Martin Duff Many thanks Martin - on site 65 mins after taken.

Engineering Blockages Advice from Derek Butivant

16/7/2014

Hello Keith.
CRS members might like to know of two periods in the autumn when train services to, from and in Cornwall will be significantly affected by engineering work.

The first blockade will be between Castle Cary and Taunton where works to improve flood resilience will be carried out. This work will take place from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 October and Monday 13 to Thursday 16 October 2014.

The second blockade will be between Truro and St Erth, the principal purpose of which is to carry out major repair work on Hayle Viaduct, though other bridge and track work will also be done during the possession. The dates for this work are from Saturday 8th to Sunday 23rd November inclusive.
More details of these two blockades are now available at www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Autumn2014.
Best wishes, Derek Many thanks for this Derek

A letter from Neil Phillips

16/7/2014

Some historic details from Neil - we look forward to his and your early photos. Going back a bit now, but Roger Geach drew my attention to Sid Sponheimer’s photo of a Brush Type 4 pulling out of Truro on a down train, taken from Dobbs Lane over the roof of the old steam shed. I don’t think that Sid had intended to obtain the earliest known photo of one of these locos on a passenger train to Penzance but that is what he achieved! The year must have been 1967 – full yellow ends on green Class 47s first appeared in Spring that year, and the coach behind the loco is one of the three Hawksworth SKs (W1719/2135/2283W) painted in blue/grey livery – I believe that these and Truro’s resident Class 08 pilot had gone by early 1968. It probably pre-dates my own first two sightings on down trains in October that year, D1677 Thor and D1640 – I don’t think it’s one of these as it doesn’t appear to be named and I’m not standing on the black bridge! Hymeks D7029 and D7088 were also regular visitors at that time, having been loaned to Laira August to November apparently to cover for the temporary loss of D601/2/4 to South Wales. The down Cornish Riviera Express occasionally found itself with Type 3 power that autumn, and on one occasion I witnessed the two Hymeks side by side at Truro – D7029 on the down CRE and D7088 in the bay (D7017 also turned up in the bay one day). Considering D600 and D603 were still around to rub shoulders with Hymeks and Brush Type 4s as well as the other regular hydraulics in truly mixed liveries, Cornwall Autumn 1967 is an attractive proposition for railway modellers with hydraulic tendencies – it is after all pretty much the only legitimate use for Kernow Model Rail Centre’s forthcoming model of D600 Active in blue with full yellow ends!

It has been argued that Class 08s with TOPS numbers would never have retained the radiator ladders – never say never, as Trevor Tremethick’s illuminating (in more ways than one) photo of 08928 at Long Rock proves otherwise! His shot of D4161 at St Blazey in August 1973 indicates another candidate (it was still in early blue when renumbered 08931 the following spring) and I’m trying to find out if green 08840 was the same, for modelling purposes – it still had ladders as D4008 in January 1974. This kind of detail didn’t register with me at the time. Only locos in such remote locations would have achieved this feat.

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