​The picture was taken by my friend and colleague Dr Chris Page during the first (and so far only) visit of a new IET set (two sets, actually) to Penzance.  If you use the photo, please credit it to Dr Page.  Of note is the control panel for train door opening and closing with its invitation to select which doors to open. Also, the train's on-board clock - accurate to the second - agrees with Penzance time as shown on the station clock. 

Saturdays Outing
Ride Cornwall in a Day

Saturday 29th July 2017
Using Ride Cornwall ticket @ £10.75 with Railcard
You can either go to Penzance or St Ives not both owing to train connections)
 Train Night Sleeper Par 06.37 St Austell 06.45 Truro 07.04 Redruth 07.18 Camborne 07.25 St Erth 07.40 Penzance 07.53 or alight at St Erth for the 08.00 for St Ives 08.13/08.14 St Erth 08.26 arrive
Train departs Penzance 08.28 St Erth 08.36 Camborne 08.46 Redruth 08.52 Truro 09.02, Truro depart 09.20 Falmouth Docks 09.44 / 10.20 Truro 10.40 
Truro dep 11.05 Plymouth 12.32 Loco Hauled. Plymouth dep 12.54 Gunnislake 13.40 / 13.45 Plymouth 14.30 / 14.58 Newquay 16.47   Fish & Chips Cafe outside of station. Newquay dep 17.26 stay on the train to Liskeard 18.46 arrive  Liskeard 19.28 Looe 19.59 / 20.00 Liskeard 20.28
Liskeard 21.13 Bodmin Parkway 21.25 Par 21.38 St Austell 21.45 Truro 22.03 Redruth 22.17 Camborne 22.23 St Erth 22.34 and Penzance 22.44 Passengers may return home earlier by alighting from the 17.26 Newquay at Par 18.21 and catching the 18.28 all stations to Penzance
This event last Saturday ran to time with every train running to time and all connections being made.
The only problem was the weather which went from bad to worse from the early afternoon. However the Six who went on this outing enjoyed the travel and over 300 miles were covered

​For a few years in the late 1980’s, Redland used the Speedlink network to distribute some of their products around the country.
Two of the loading points were Eling Wharf, Totton, Southampton and Tiverton Junction, where roof tiles produced at Burlescombe were loaded.

​The Network Rail New Measurement Train (HST) made one of it's semi-regular visits to Westbury on the afternoon of 27th. Following a trip from Paddington to Exeter via Basingstoke, Yeovil Jctn and Honiton, the return leg from Exeter to Salisbury was delayed for around an hour at Gillingham station. Here, it is understood, during a booked pathing stop a member of the public attempted to board the train.  Unable to do so the person promptly collapsed on the platform and became unconscious. Following their removal by ambulance the HST was able to continue it's journey.    By the time the train reached Westbury a pleasant sunny afternoon had been replaced by torrential downpours, shelter having to be taken under a large tree in order to grab the attached side-on shot.   Thankfully the rain cleared just in time to catch the Westbury-Salisbury leg hurrying through Dilton Marsh, power car 43062 leading.
                 Guy Vincent                 Many thanks Guy
We hope the gentleman concerned has recovered - an unfortunate incident.

Saturday 29th July 2017
Using Ride Cornwall ticket @ £10.75 with Railcard
You can either go to Penzance or St Ives not both owing to train connections)
 
Train Night Sleeper Par 06.37 St Austell 06.45 Truro 07.04 Redruth 07.18 Camborne 07.25 St Erth 07.40 Penzance 07.53 or alight at St Erth for the 08.00 for St Ives 08.13/08.14 St Erth 08.26 arrive
Train departs Penzance 08.28 St Erth 08.36 Camborne 08.46 Redruth 08.52 Truro 09.02, Truro depart 09.20 Falmouth Docks 09.44 / 10.20 Truro 10.40 
Truro dep 11.05 Plymouth 12.32 Loco Hauled. Plymouth dep 12.54 Gunnislake 13.40 / 13.45 Plymouth 14.30 / 14.58 Newquay 16.47   Fish & Chips Cafe outside of station. Newquay dep 17.26 stay on the train to Liskeard 18.46 arrive  Liskeard 19.28 Looe 19.59 / 20.00 Liskeard 20.28
Liskeard 21.13 Bodmin Parkway 21.25 Par 21.38 St Austell 21.45 Truro 22.03 Redruth 22.17 Camborne 22.23 St Erth 22.34 and Penzance 22.44 Passengers may return home earlier by alighting from the 17.26 Newquay at Par 18.21 and catching the 18.28 all stations to Penzance

Dear Keith.

I have reading with interest some of the theories regarding picture of Truro shed from Adrian Vaughan.  Some ideas have been put forward including a Dean Goods which I initially agreed with, however blowing the image up to 500% I noticed a couple of design features that make me believe there are only two sets of driving wheels .  My reason for this are the springs on top of the running plate, one is next the the side sheet of the cab and one other forward of this is next to the boiler's dome, but no springs in front of that set just a sand box.  If there was to be another driving wheel surely there would be a third set of springs but there isn't.  This then leads me to believe it is either a 2-4-0 or a 4-4-0 and this is where I have some fun trying to identifying the locomotive.  It is certainly a Dean designed locomotive, if it is a 2-4-0 then very 'similar' to the GWR Stella Class 2-4-0 but not a perfect match, If it is a 4-4-0 it has a sticking 'resemblance' to the 3521 class locomotives.  I doubt it is a Dean Goods, in all the images I have seen they don't have springs on the running plates plus it would have three sets and this locomotive only has two, but the plot thickens as they say!

The wagon in the foreground seems to carry the number 5300 on the end.

Kind Regards

Karl (Friends of Penmere).

​Yesterday (24th) 37405 and Inspection Saloon 975025 'Caroline' were used on a Network Rail fact-finding tour of the Avonmouth Loop and Portbury branch. In fact two full round trips were planned but in the event the second trip omitted the Portbury line.  Two pics of the duo parked up for the night in platform 2 at Temple Meads.

Guy V

​Guy Vincent writes :- The large lattice steel girder bridge with cross-braced arches at Stapleton Road, Bristol, is about to be demolished according to local press reports.  Work has now started to remove the landmark structure which was last used by trains in February 1984.  A new bridge will be built in its place as part of the £33,000,000 (2014 cost, so probably much more by now!) 'Filton Bank Redoubling' project.   Plenty of info on this work and the Stapleton Road bridge project by 'Googling' the subject and by checking out the bristol-rail.co.uk (Bristol Railway Archive) website.   It is still just possible to photograph the bridge either from the platforms or footbridge of Stapleton Road station or from the public road close by although access is to be denied during the removal works.

The condition of the bridge was, I believe, given as the main reason for 'dequadrifying' the four-track section from Dr Day's Junction to Filton Junction. Also, of course, in the early 1980s when that decision was made nowhere near as many trains used the local Bristol rail network which was still in decline through the effects of the then economic recession.  Improved motorway links (the M32 passes through the area close by) also caused traffic to be lost.   Remember the BTM-Severn Beach service being almost totally in the hands of a single class 121 'bubble car?

I for one will miss the 3 span bridge as it is very much a part of the railway heritage of Bristol and a reminder of a now departed age in heavy engineering.  I recall one of the last times I travelled over the structure. This was on January 3rd 1984 when returning from Birmingham New Street to Temple Meads on a 1307 York-Plymouth relief train hauled by 37263. The bridge always 'rattled' as trains passed through, especially at high speeds and this was exactly such an occasion!   My last trip over it was, appropriately, on the last day it carried scheduled services, Saturday February 18th 1984. This was behind 45141 on the 1V95 1935 Birmingham New Street-Bristol Temple Meads. 

Another source of very interesting information is the RM Web site, 'Western Region 1980s freight - West of England division'. Some excellent photos and recollections of the railway we all miss, not only around Bristol but, as the title suggests, covering the west country as a whole.

A similar recent casualty was the large girder bridge at the west end of Newport station which was replaced last year.

Guy Vincent
As usual a very comprehensive and interesting article - many thanks Guy

I made a short Youtube video last year (All Change at Chard Junction) showing a bit of the level crossing at Chard Junction and the demolition of the milk factory.  Since then I wanted to make a part two to that video,particularly after the final demolition, and this time I'd like to concentrate a bit more on the old railway station at the junction.  

In researching for the new video I discovered some wonderful pictures (and history) on your site and thought they would be really useful in my video.  Naturally, I didn't want to poach them and hence I'm seeking your permission to use some of them.  Assuming I'm given permission, rest assured that any material I do use will be credited to your site in my video details section.  

To give you a flavour of what I'm trying to achieve, along with filming I have recently done I would like to show past and present pictures.  It has proved quite difficult to reproduce the exact camera angels, for a number of reasons.... different photographic equipment, lenses and processing, tree/bush growth, new fences and trying to capture pictures in similar light conditions as in the originals. I have attached some photos of the area I've captured so far.  Two are pictures taken from your site and the others are (to the best of my ability) are taken from the exact same positions.  In fact, the milk factory sidings picture needs to be done again.  I realise that I need to have the camera a foot or so lower and the camera lense brought forward around five foot.  I'm just waiting for the right lighting conditions, then I'll be down there again.

You are more than welcome (if you wish to) to use my images on your site.

I look forward to hearing from you soon... hopefully before I finish editing the video. Kind regards Mark Lancaster.
Well, with permissions obtained, we couldn't refuse could we? Here are his samples. Many thanks Mark

Further much appreciated comment from Roy Hart concerning the three Truro Shed photographs, two above and one below,  
The three photographs (1900-1936 and 1960) show that little changed throughout the life of the shed.
In the 1900 photo, the engine appears to be an 'Armstrong'  0-6-0 (like a Dean Goods, but with outside frames). These engines worked in Cornwall for only a short time in the 1900s. Photos of them in the Duchy are rare.
The low building with chimney in the foreground is the sand furnace, where sand for loco sandboxes was dried.
The 1936 photo shows that almost nothing had changed (except for the larger turntable -out of view).
The 1960 shot shows a light-coloured extension at the front of the shed. This was erected in 1959 for diesel servicing.
In the 1900s the allocation of Truro shed was chiefly 4-4-0s of the 3521 class (Falmouth trains and locals) Duke 4-4-0s for main line work and a selection of 0-6-0 saddle tanks.
In the first world war period, 'Aberdare' outside-framed 2-6-0 s were to be found at Truro for freight work.  By the 1920s the 4-4-0s had been replaced by 43XX moguls.
Truro got two brand new 'Halls' in 1928-9 and thereafter there was always a selection of Halls and Granges, plus a dozen 45XX and the usual panniers. Truro suddenly acquired 'superstar' status in the 1950s when two 'Counties' were allocated (1007 and 1023).
As a matter of general interest,  4911 'Bowden Hall', victim of a direct hit at Keyham in April 1941, was a Truro engine at the time.

Roy                                           Many thanks Roy

I was recently surprised and honoured to be asked to identify a photograph in the collection of Adrian Vaughan.  After some deliberations and comparison with the 25" to the mile maps I was able to confirm that it is indeed the depot at Truro.  Can anybody date the construction of the depot Adrian asks? 

​Truro MPD   Additional information courtesy Roy Hart.

Truro  motive power depot was built in 1900. The contractor was Carkeek of Redruth. The work was part of the general rebuilding of Truro station into its present form.
The shed is formed of two wings, which are visible in the picture: a 3-road engine shed on the south side, engine repair shop in the centre and carriage and wagon repairs on the north side. The depot was constructed because of inadequate repair facilities on the Cornish main line, Carn Brea being the only repair shop on the main line west of Plymouth.
Truro shed was also provided with the conventional coal stage/water tank and a turntable (replaced with a longer one for the arrival of 'Halls' in 1928.).
The design of the shed is of the standard 'Dean' layout for straight road sheds.
Truro shed replaced a wooden structure dating from 1859, sited where the car park now stands, north of the station.

                                  Roy                                      Many thanks Roy

Hi Keith,  Some pictures from recent days. I have included a couple from an evening shift at St Erth. A rather rare working of the NR Grinder in the Branch siding. It was working on night shifts grinding the points around the station. 57602 is seen waiting departure on the sleepers too. 

66085 in the super DB red livery made a welcome visit on 20th working the JIAs. It is seen at Burngullow and St Blazey 

Finally I was called out to Chapel farm crossing. The Newquay to Par service is seen in the rural setting - with a strangely European feel to it I think. The town of Newquay is ever expanding with new properties. How long before this area is swallowed up one wonders? Craig Many thanks