Blog Archives

31st July 2019

31/7/2019

Wash and Brush Up
Exeter
Phil Smith

43002 gets its screen washed. The year is 2000. Copyright Phil Smith

I haven't seen this done for a long time, many thanks for your picture Phil.

On familiar ground.
Dawlish
Clive Smith

On a misty day 50027 'Lion' patrols the coast heading east along that marvellous coastline with the 10.00 Paignton to Newcastle. 18th Sept 1982. Copyright Clive Smith

Crewkerne
Brian Pibworth

33039 & 33042 pass Crewkerne at speed with a Saturday service from Brighton to Exeter S D during the Summer of 1982. Copyright Brian Pibworth.

During the afternoon of 29th West Coast's 47802 returned to Bristol Temple Meads to collect the company's two failed locos (33025 and 47245) from the former Motorail siding and return them to Southall for repairs. It was possible to start the engine of 47245 and once the locos had shunted onto the Up Through line 47802 ran round and the trio headed off for Southall at 1658. Just like old times watching the action, a great pity that Bath Road depot no longer exists though!

Guy Vincent Many thanks Guy

Bristol TM. 47245, 33025, & 47802 at the west end of the station. Trees grow in the vicinity of the one time Bath Road Depot. 29th July 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

47245, 33025, 47802 at Temple Meads 29th July 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Bristol TM 47245, 33025,& 47802 wait to commence their journey on to Southall. 29th July 2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

Penlee Quarry
Peter Dale

Peter Dale has sent in a selection of pictures he and his Dad acquired of Penlee Quarry tramway once a local attraction for enthusiasts visiting the Penzance/Newlyn area. Many thanks indeed Peter.

History - courtesy Wikipedia
Mineral extraction at Penlee dates back to the early 19th-century when copper, zinc and rare minerals were mined. Stone quarrying was started by James Runnalls of Penzance, at a quarry near the Old Battery in 1879.The operations were transferred to the current site at the turn of the 20th-century, becoming known as Gwavas Quarry. Penlee supplied mainly aggregate (crushed stone) but on occasion also supplied large chunks of stone as rock armour - "armourstone". The full-scale aggregate operations ran throughout most of the century reaching peak output in the 1960s and 1970s.
With production increasing a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway was opened around 1900. This connected the quarry with the south pier of Newlyn harbour, approximately ½ mile away to the east. A steam locomotive named Koppel was purchased to work this line. Internal combustion locomotives replaced steam from 1930 onwards. Stone was shipped from Newlyn to destinations around the Bristol Channel and the south coast and in later years to as far afield as Germany.
The railway was more or less straight apart from the curve on to the south pier at Newlyn. It was double track for most of the route although at some point in the past it had been singled, the double track being reinstated as production increased in the later years. In the 1960s when a ship was being loaded, six locomotives were needed for operations, four higher powered ones on the main line and two lower powered ones shunting the empty tipper wagons through the two loading points. The empty trains were reversed back to the loading points from the harbour.
In 1973, the railway ceased operations and was replaced by an electrical conveyor system using the same route. Operations at the quarry then slowed throughout the late 1970s and the 1980s, eventually coming to an end in 1989/90.
Present day An application has been submitted to develop the quarry area with a hotel.

Penlee 01 - From Papa Dale's postcard collection 1930s

Penlee 02- Beyond loading tunnels 20 April 1966 - Copyright Peter Dale

Penlee 03- Locomotive named J W Jenkin 20th April 1966, Copyright Peter Dale.

Penlee 04- Penlee in loading tunnels 20 April 1966. Copyright Peter Dale

Penlee 05- At the Loading quay 20th April 1966. Copyright Peter Dale

Penlee 06- Beyond the loading tunnels 20th April 1966. Copyright Peter Dale

Penlee 07- Beyond loading tunnels 20 April 1966. Copyright Peter Dale.

29th July 2019

29/7/2019

Yesterdays Express to
Kingswear
Clive Smith

Another fine selection of pictures from Clive - many thanks.

(1) The A4 returns along the River Dart from Churston after turning. This long shot was taken from dockside at Royal Naval College Britannia in Dartmouth. 28th July 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) 60009 at the front of the Torbay Express at Kingswear. 28th July 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(3) 47802 now runs in to attach itself to the front of the A4 much to the chagrin of photographers. 28th July 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(4) The 47 is now coupled to the A4 in the glorious setting of Kingswear. 28th July 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

(5) The A4 was not the only steam activity on the Dart. Britain's last coal burning paddle steamer built in 1924 'Kingswear Castle' was also active on estuary and coast cruises. This was a snatched photo through my open car window as I sat on the lower ferry daydreaming . 28th July 2019. Copyright Clive Smith.

Newham News
Julian Stephens

You may be interested to learn that what I understand to be the building in the centre of your 1973 picture stills exists and continues to be put to commercial use.

Following the closure of the Newham branch and the subsequent clearance of the site, the shed was dismantled and moved to a reclamation yard near Chiverton Cross.

In 1981 the shed was purchased by the owner of Treweath Engineering in Redruth. It was transported to a site on the Cardrew Industrial Estate, opposite the Pall factory, where it was reassembled and remains in use to this day.

Best wishes

Julian Stephens
Many thanks for 'shedding light' on the movements of this building.

On the Newham branch very close to the terminus soon after lifting. The shed, the subject for discussion lies in the distance. Also in the distance Truro Cathedral can be seen. The two spectators who seem to have little interest in the shed are Kevin Jenkin who is examining the road passing under the bridge and Cherrie the dog who just seems to be surveying the scene. 30th June 1973. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

The shed in its current location on the Cardrew Industrial Estate, Redruth. 16th May 2019. Copyright Julian Stephens

16th May 2019. Copyright Julian Stephens

28th July 2019

28/7/2019

Diesel Woes
Guy Vincent

Good afternoon Roger / Keith Bear with me while I recite the tale of two defective diesels that caused problems for the Torbay Express coaching stock movement from Eastleigh to Bristol yesterday (27th).
This story also features Saturday's Paddington-Minehead steam charter hauled by 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland'. Following that train's passage reports were received of small lineside fires in the Somerton area. The Fire Brigade attended and the line between Cogload and Castle Cary was closed for just over an hour to allow access to extinguish the smouldering vegetation. As a result the return excursion was hastily re-planned with 6233 remaining at Bishops Lydeard and diesel 47802 running light as 0Z47 1708 Southall-Bishops Lydeard. 47802 took the charter back to London, finally departing Taunton at 2021, 86 minutes late, with arrival into Paddington at 2302, only 15 late. Ironically much of Somerset received a good soaking from early evening when a band of heavy showers passed over!
Now to the main subject. For today's 1Z27 'Torbay Express' the empty coaches were booked to run as 5Z25 1547 Eastleigh-Bristol Kingsland Road, routed via Basingstoke, Reading West, Swindon and Box and hauled by diesel 47245. This loco was declared a failure in platform 4 at Basingstoke at 1640 and the driver had to make his way to Southall to collect a rescue loco in the form of 33025. After some hours this arrived and departed Basingstoke at 2053, the type 3 diesel hauling the failed 47 and 12 carriages! En route problems developed with the 'Crompton' and it too was declared a failure in Swindon East Loop which was reached at 2226, some 253 minutes late. The option taken to get the coaches to Bristol for the fully-booked 'Torbay Express' was to send 47802 from Paddington to Swindon and take on the whole ensemble, this was achieved and departure from Swindon was at 0110, 5Z25 at this point now 387 minutes late. Arrival into Bristol was at 0152, 349 minutes late. The two defective diesels, 33025 and 47245 were subsequently deposited in the former 'Motorail' siding next to P2 at Temple Meads and the 'Torbay Express' departed platform 7 at 0822, 22 minutes late, hauled by 47802 piloting LNER 'A4' 60009 'Union of South Africa'. The diesel pilot was ruled necessary as a precaution against the starting of any lineside fires although the steam loco was certainly providing a degree of power when I first observed it passing through Bradford-on-Avon, the diesel seemingly idling ahead of it. Further delays were encountered beyond Frome due to signalling difficulties following an overnight engineering possession but the train finally made it through to Kingswear with an 'on-time' arrival recorded. This was made possible by a much reduced stop-over at Taunton and the generally easy timing schedule thereafter.
Formation of 1Z27 0800 Bristol Temple Meads-Kingswear:

47802 60009 35486 4998 4959 1691 3147 3123 3121 3149 3141 1651 3066 3068 21269
Pictures of the train arriving at Westbury plus the two diesels in the former Motorail siding at Bristol Temple Meads.

All times quoted are from Real Time Trains, reports of fires from postings on online enthusiast groups.

47802 & LNER 60009 Westbury 1Z27 28.07.2019 Copyright Guy Vincent

The two diesels 33025 & 47245 in the former Motorail siding at Bristol Temple Meads. Copyright Guy Vincent

The two diesels 47245 & 33025 in the former Motorail siding at Bristol Temple Meads. Copyright Guy Vincent

Many Thanks Guy

Night shift at
Bristol
Phil Smith

Bath Road shed 47402 Taken in 1987. Coming off Bath Road shed. It seems 5 minutes ago when I took this! Copyright Phil Smith

Cornish Rover
Andrew Triggs

The Cornish Day Rover ticket offers very good value for money and on the 26th July 2019 Andrew took advantage of this 'flexible friend' as we see below. Many thanks Andrew.

1. XC 1S49 09.25 Penzance-Dundee departing Liskeard at 11.07, already running 10 late 26.7.2019 Copyright Andrew Triggs.

2. GWR 1A87 10.49 Penzance-London Paddington arriving at Liskeard, formed of 2 x 5 Car IET's 26.7.2019 Copyright Andrew Triggs.

3. The Calstock GWR coach of 1886, recently repainted, following walking from Gunnislake back to Calstock 26.7.2019 Copyright Andrew Triggs.

4. Dramatic lighting as 150243 crosses to Cornwall working 2G71 14.54 Plymouth-Gunnislake. Copyright Andrew Triggs,

27th July 2019

27/7/2019

Steam in Wiltshire today
Ken Mumford & Guy Vincent

Slightly out of our South West Rover ticket area Duchess of Sutherland is seen passing Pewsey Wiltshire on route to the West Somerset Railway. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Ex LMS No 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' arriving at Westbury this morning on the Railway Touring Company's 1Z29 0800 London Paddington-Minehead (West Somerset Railway) 'West Somerset Steam Express' charter. The train was a sight to behold with a maroon loco heading a full set of matching mark one carriages. At Bishops Lydeard one of the WSR's steam locos 53808 was due to relieve the 'Duchess' for the trip to Minehead and back. Copyright Guy Vincent

Many Thanks to Ken Mumford & Guy Vincent

Events in Somerset today
David Tozer

27th July 2019 150265 working the Bishops Lydeard - Taunton shuttle at Norton Fitzwarren. Copyright David Tozer

47810/47501 0510 Crewe - Kingswear photographed at Norton Fitzwarren. Copyright David Tozer

46233(6233) Duchess of Sutherland 0800 Paddington - Minehead also at Norton Fitzwarren. Copyright David Tozer

46233(6233) Duchess of Sutherland going away towards the triangle at Norton Fitzwarren 0800 Paddington - Minehead. Copyright David Tozer

53808 with the Paddington train at Crowcombe Heathfield.
Copyright David Tozer

Thanks David

Events in Devon Today
The Statesman Crewe-Paignton
Martin Duff

190727a The two 47s await departure to Goodrington Sidings. Copyright Martin Duff

190727b D1924 & D1944 enters Goodrington yard. Copyright Martin Duff

190727c D1924 on The Statesman in Goodrington yard. Copyright Martin Duff

190727d_0750 17.26 Reasy for departure at Paignton. Copyright Martin Duff

Thanks Martin

Seen at
Exeter
Phil Smith

47500 Great Western stands at Exeter St Davids in the late1980s. Copyright Phil Smith

The nameplate carried by 43003 in 2010. Copyright Phil Smith.

Many thanks Phil.

Heathfield branch
Teigngrace
Clive Smith

56113 at Teigngrace. Seen on the 29th May 2014 Copyright Clive Smith.

56113 creates quite a few fumes just ticking over amidst the foliage at Teigngrace on the Newton Abbot - Heathfield branch on the 29th May 2014. The contract to take timber from here to Chirk brought life back to the mothballed freight branch for a number of years. The loading facility was created next to the line just down from the level crossing. My employer's depot relocated to nearby Kingsteignton around this time and a heads-up that the 'logs were running' provided me with this photo opportunity on the morning commute. Not sure I was going to capture it as the shot was only possible from private land where the timber was stored. Thankfully a security guard gave me the nod and the shot was duly taken.

Regards, Clive Smith.
Your personal notes including mention of an obliging security guard very much add to the interest - Many Thanks to you Clive.

26th July 2019

26/7/2019

Exeter 1990
Phil Smith

Phil brings us one from the 1990's taken at Exeter when the view to the right of this picture was rather different to that today. The wooden building to the right subsequently disappeared in a fire. Many thanks Phil.

47052 at Exeter St Davids in 1990 with a mixed consist. Copyright Phil Smith

Redruth Tunnel
Paddy Bradley/Roger Winnen

The 47yard Redruth tunnel was opened in 1852 providing a route towards Truro for the West Cornwall Railway. From the extremely small layer of ground above the arch of the tunnel it can only have been constructed by the 'cut and cover' method and is really a long bridge! In Roger Winnen's picture you can almost see the east end of the Redruth's down platform. From the structure of the building on the right hand side of these pictures it is obvious that at one time these were served by the railway. I understand from our good friend Roy Hart that there at one time existed a candle factory on the ground floor with a siding off the main line - perhaps somebody can throw 'some light on this'!! In my childhood I recall being taken by me father to see quite an extensive 'O' gauge railway which once existed on the ground floor. As access to the property, then known. appropriately as 'Tunnel Stores' was at street level on the far side of these pictures. Above the tunnel lies the road junction of Fore Street. Higher Fore Street, Wesley Street and Station Road. I suppose the lowest floor could be considered as a cellar. The railway was operated by a gentleman called', I believe 'Trenbath', I recall in my visit - I could have been maybe five at the time, that there were other young boys, but much older than myself playing with the trains. They seemed to be intent in crashing one train into another - the trains were of a very high standard - perhaps Basset-Lowke! K.J.

The track at Redruth Tunnel gest a routine inspection. From the Paddy Bradley Collection.

Another view from the very same location - this time a class 25 on an up freight occupies the tunnel. Copyright Roger Winnen.

25th July 2019

25/7/2019

The Castle Class HSTs
Roger Winnen

During this last week on 17th July 2019 an exhibition has been staged at the GWR Steam Museum Swindon before an invited audience showing the cast nameplates to be afficed to the four car Class 255 Castle Class HSTs.
A list of names have been released covering Castles and Stately Homes in Cornwall including the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Somerset and South Wales.
The list includes Chepstow Castle-St Mawes Castle-Cromwells Castle-Chun Castle- Tregenna Castle-St Michaels Mount-St Cathrine's Castle-Castle an Dinas-Trematon Castle-Launceston Castle-Kingswear Castle- Compton Castle-Berry Pomeroy Castle-Okehampton Castle- Castle Drogo- Powderham Castle- Rougemont Castle- Taunton Castle- Dunster Castle-Walton Castle- Cardiff Castle-Caerphilly Castle & Newport Castle plus one other name.
It is understood that most of the existing names will be removed from the fleet.
Below you see the 4 car HSTs in Cornwall today between 11.00 and 15.00 hrs

190725a 43097 The Enviroment Agency arrives at Redruth its 14.10 hrs. Copyright Roger Winnen

190725b The nameplate at Redruth Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

190725c 43093 Old Oak Common departs Camborne on the 13.22 service. Copyright Roger Winnen

190725d 43198 Driver Stan Martin 25th June 1960 - 6th November 2004 brings up the rear at Camborne.. Copyright Roger Winnen

190725e One of the few remaining slam door HST stock works the 11.41 Penzance to Newton Abbot. Copyright Roger Winnen

Cornwall in the 1980's
The way it was
Clive Smith

(1) 50004 arrives at Par with the 15.40 Penzance - Milton Keynes on the 19th July 1986. A class 142 pacer can be seen on the Newquay platform in chocolate and cream livery. BR Western Region called them 'Skippers' and they represented the new dawn of DMUs on the Cornish branch lines, although 'Squealers' would have been a better description due to the noises from their wheels on the tight rail curves. Their introduction thankfully was short lived. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) 45150 crosses Hayle Viaduct on the 16th April 1983 with the 10.20 Plymouth - Penzance. . The land behind the viaduct pillars is now of course a large ASDA built a few years ago. Copyright Clive Smith.

(3) 50003 & 45118 at Penzance on the 7th May 1983 with the 13.45 Penzance - Bristol TM. No failures here. Probably returning the 50 to Laira and saving a path. Copyright Clive Smith.

(4) 45124 crosses the Royal Albert Bridge into Saltash station on the 23rd April 1983 with the 10.20 Plymouth - Penzance conveying parcel vans at the rear. Copyright Clive Smith.

(5) Class 118 DMU set B472 (W51315, 59482 and 51330) leave the then open spaces of Falmouth Docks station with the 11.30 to Truro on the 11th January 1986. Copyright Clive Smith.

Respryn
Chris Harvey

Here is a flashback to the July of seventeen summers ago that you might be able to use - the last year of the Virgin XC 47s.

On a sunny 20th July 2002, 47 810 races around the curve at Respryn with the 0848 Penzance - Manchester.

Best Regards, Chris Harvey, Bodmin.

Chris specialises in photographs in the country and in this shot has caught the striking 'Virgin Red' against the lush green of the trees beautifully. Many thanks Chris.

Respryn 47810 respondent in Virgin Colours 20th July 2002 Copyright Chris Harvey.

24th July 2019

24/7/2019

Exmouth
Colin Burges

The movement of trolleys was always shown on notices, along with the special conditions which took account of the trolleys’ characteristics, whether recording or running “light.”
When Tony Hill asked his old pals if any of them had kept such a notice, Stephen Derek, a former B.R. manager, was prompted to reply: “On reading this, I recalled an early photo I’d taken of a ‘Swiss Matisa Track Recording Machine’ leaving Exmouth, for Exeter, on Sunday 8th May, 1960, a few months following my transfer to the Trains Office at Exeter Central.”
The photograph is reproduced here with Stephen’s kind permission.
If Stephen were to take up that same position today, he would be standing in the middle of Marine Way, part of the road expansion works that necessitated the virtual destruction of the station. But, in 1960, looking at the Southern’s grand rail gateway to Exmouth of 1924, few could have guessed what the future held.

The trolley is leaving Platform One in full recording mode, with probably an Exmouth Junction Driver acting as Pilotman standing at the door; being a steam man, he may have found the cab too confined. The line in the foreground served Platform Two, part of which forms the pocket station in use today. To the left were Platforms Three and Four. There was a space between the lines serving Platforms Two and Three which must have been left for an engine release road, but this was filled with beds containing flowers and shrubs. The space was wider still immediately in front of the camera to allow for the box (right of camera), with its “bridge” where the signalmen gave and received the tokens for the two single line branches. At the end of each platform were lattice-work bracket signals which, as in the one seen, could allow a train to proceed from each platform to either the main (Exeter) or branch (Budleigh). In the background can be seen the goods shed, while out of sight are the loco shed, platform canopies and fine frontage, and the harbour branch. Copyright Stephen Derek

Actually, I was wrong and will have to amend the caption: Stephen was standing at the boundary fence beyond what is today Marine Way. About here, I would say. Photograph and comments by Colin Burges.

Castle Class
Nameplates
Guy Vincent

You and CRS members will be very interested in the following I'm sure. STEAM museum at Swindon have put on display for one month only (ending on 17th August) the complete set of newly made nameplates set to adorn the HST power cars that will make up the 'Castle Class'. Details are on the STEAM museum website and, more comprehensively, on the GWR Coffee Shop site (www.firstgreatwestern.info) including a full listing and photos of all the plates. Subject heading: 'Castles to Legend Land HST Castle Class 255 Nameplates'. Individual allocations have not yet been decided for the names, it is worth getting pictures now of the PC's before the new plates go on, especially the PC's currently named.
Regards Guy V Many thanks Guy

23rd July 2019

23/7/2019

A 'Gem' from Guy
Langport Viaduct
Guy Vincent

Langport Viaduct 1906. From the Guy Vincent collection.

A vintage postcard image c1906 showing the newly constructed viaduct at Langport, Somerset on the then recently opened Castle Cary-Curry Rivel line, part of the GWR's shorter route to the west country. This followed on from the building of the Patney & Chirton-Westbury route via Lavington which opened in 1900. At the same time as the Langport route was built a further stretch of new line was constructed from just beyond Athelney to Cogload where a flat junction was provided, this being replaced by the current split-level 'flying junction' in 1931. This high-speed stretch relegated the section of the original Taunton-Yeovil route from Durston to Athelney (via Lyng Halt) to secondary branch-line status, as had happened to the Patney-Holt Junction line via Devizes in 1900. By 1933 cut-off lines had been built avoiding both Westbury and Frome so making through journeys even quicker. Langport boasted two stations, Langport East on the direct cut-off route and Langport West on the Curry Rivel-Yeovil Town section of the former Taunton-Yeovil branch line. East opened on 2nd July 1906 and closed to both passengers and goods on 10th September 1962 ahead of the Beeching report and, despite repeated calls for it to re-open this has yet to happen. West closed along with the whole of the Taunton-Yeovil route to passenger traffic on 15th June 1964.

Guy Vincent
Many thanks Guy for the rare view and the history. Flashing over it in modern stock with no forward view or even drop down windows one doesn't realise what a structure the viaduct is.

Langport East which had been closed just over a year ago on 10th September 1963 is seen here on 13th June 1964 No time had been wasted removing the platforms, the footbridge and station building was subsequently removed. Copyright Mike Roach

Many thanks to Mike Roach for this picture of Langport East. More pictures in the Taunton to Witham section.

Exeter in 1992
Phil Shattered

I'm afraid that 'Keith Shattered' cannot remember your surname but felt that your most most amusing e-mail address of 'Phill Shattered' deserved an airing. Many thanks Phill. N.B. Phill has advised me that he is called Smith - thanks Phill.

In the low light 37671 is the lead loco coupled to 37413 Seen at Exeter Riverside Yard in 1992 the silver bullet syphons live up to their name. Copyright Phill Shattered

22nd July 2019

22/7/2019

With a bonus
Exeter
Clive Smith

46009 comes off the 14.35 Paignton - Leeds at Exeter St Davids to be replaced by 45076. Exeter St Davids Middle Box looms over the scene and the Red Cow Crossing keeper's cabin is seen on the left. Just two years later would see my favourite peak smashed to smithereens on the infamous nuclear flask test train demonstration. At least 46009 went out with a bang rather than languishing and rusting away in a scrapyard and succumbing to a blowtorch.

Check the link below to see Youtubes footage of this amzing event.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPhELx2GxVE

Of great local interest is picture of 45009 running into Redruth station with Carn Brea in the background. This is glimpsed at the very beginning of the sequence. Many thanks to Clive Smith for drawing our attention to this remarkable trial and for bringing us the superb picture of 46009 at Exeter.

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