Simon Howard
Paul Barlow
Ex Bridgwater cellophane factory class 03 D2133 was working shuttles with two Toad brake vans on the old Barnstaple line.
Kind regards, Paul
Roger Winnen
VSOE off to Oxford Parkway Simon Howard 67024 hauls the 1Z82 Victoria – Oxford Parkway past West Brompton, with 67005 bringing up the rear...while alongside a District Line train heads into the City. Copyright Simon Howard Many Thanks Simon WSR Steam Rally Paul Barlow A couple of pictures from the West Somerset railway steam Rally at Norton Fitzwarren last Sunday. Ex Bridgwater cellophane factory class 03 D2133 was working shuttles with two Toad brake vans on the old Barnstaple line. Kind regards, Paul Many Thanks Paul Southampton August 1976 Roger Winnen Eastleigh Works August 1976 Roger Winnen Penzance Parcels 1984 Steve Widdowson 50038 leaves Penzance, departing with a parcels train. ( around midday ) 26th July 1984. I bet I can rely on your members for what the train is. Regards Steve Widdowson Hello Steve Looking at a Working Timetable for July 1982 That train would be the 12.10 3S15 Parcels to Glasgow Roger Winnen Many thanks Steve. Caption Error. Phil Ramsay Sorry this isn’t 34074. I know it’s a MM Collection one but I cant find a way of telling him/the owner. I discovered this when researching for a modelling conversion. This engine has the RAF Plaque lower to leave space for the Golden Arrow Arrow when attached. It also has a cut down tender which 74 never had, except possibly in an emergency. I hope you don’t mind me pointing this out so that others may not be fooled by the 34074 caption. All the best Phil Ramsay Notts. Thanks Phil - any offers of help please. it's 34054 Lord Beaverbrook which did run with a cut down tender- other images in the MM collection show this.
Class 33 arrives at Newton Abbot Michael Adams Many Thanks Michael Feeling the heat Craig Munday The summer of 2022 will be remembered as a classic one! Maybe the relentless sun and blue skies may be wearing on some - but the conditions for the camera are A1. Evenings and mornings are best, but the quality of the light is supreme at the moment. Here are some shots from the recent days gone by. Some trains at St Blazey, Penzance and, so far a favourite of 2022, a Castle set heading west just shy of the sun peaking near Grampound Road. The landscape looking absolutely parched, and the crops withered with the heat. Best wishes, Craig. Many thanks Craig - mad dogs out in the midday sun. Phew. Class 50 on the Dawlish Sea Wall & Exeter Michael Forward Thanks Michael From Graveyard to Scrapyard Simon Howard Already an hour into its journey 66726 passes West Brompton Cemetery (on the left) with the 5Q55 working to Sims Newport. Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC in the background while the District Line branch to Wimbledon runs adjacent. A footnote by Simon. An alternative heading could have been ‘66726 Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge’! Many thanks Simon, a sombre scean at a sombre place. North Dorset Railway Newsletter Using the link below will provide you with a most informative and interesting report on the substantial progress being made. Regular updates are posted on our Facebook page at - https://www.facebook.com/ShillingstoneStation/ Well done to the NDR.
Lunchtime at Pinhoe today David Tozer Thanks David Time is running out for three Cornish Signal Boxes Roger Winnen Hayle Weighbridge Roger Salter Rails to nowhere except into the drink Many Thanks Roger Highly recommended The Aeronian XP Summer Special Editor Ken Mumford Subject: THE AERONIAN XP SUMMER 2022 SPECIAL Friends of the AERON VALLEY RAILWAY SOCIETY, Here is an extra SUMMER SPECIAL issue for you to read. The AVRS Committee trust that you will find something in it to read and which might cause you to respond to the next 'normal' issue [due out towards the end of August/beginning of September subject to any unforseen commitments by your Editor] and a contribution maybe - hint! Your Editor has been working on it as our good friend (David Patten of RAILTALK) sent THE AERONIAN XP SUMMER SPECIAL on which he has worked his 'magic' and to whom the AVRS are extremely grateful for his work. Below is a note [from David Patten] on the locos that are shown in THE AERONIAN XP SUMMER SPECIAL as at LONG MARSTON. Kind regards, Ken - your AVRS Editor Snippets from the current Aeronian XP Publication
To whet your appetite here are a few snippets from the current edition. As you will ee the Aeronian XP tackles a wide variety of subject - trains, buses, trams, Lorries and cars. Enjoy. Instow Signal Box An appeal. You will note that Ken has - address above, asked if you, our readers, can supply any information and articles etc he would be most grateful. Meantime our appreciation to hard working Ken. A footnote from Ken Good morning Keith and Valerie, Your 'plug' [thankfully not a bathroom one!] is very much appreciated. A very good time and effort work by your good self. It is hoped that anyone who enjoys THE AERONIAN XP SUMMER SPECIAL will want to have their own personal copy - this can be arranged via our Chairman, Terry Davis. Thank you, again, Keith. An opportunity missed Trerulefoot station Colin Burges Dear Keith, Your coverage of Trerulefoot omits mention of its suitability as a "park and ride" station within the Plymouth "travel to work" area. This old newspaper piece talks of it and has it on an aspirational map. https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/new-plymouth-metro-could-include-1136309 It could have been the counterpart of Devon's Ivybridge. It is often said that the failure of this B.R.-era venture to live up to its full potential - a "park and ride" for the South Hams - dampened any further development of plans for new stations and the recreation of the old "Plymouth Suburban." Cheers, Colin Many thanks for that Colin, a park and ride from Trerulefoot would certainly have provide a quicker route to Plymouth. Perhaps still an idea for the future. That's it - job done Colin Burges That's it: I've now been to every one of the stations in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. It's sad in two ways: the hard reality of the railway deserts with their abundance of ruins and abandoned earthworks; and that I will never again visit many of the places I remember. There are still some "refreshers" to do. https://www.teignrail.co.uk/scouting/70-hamworthy-junction-to-salisbury/ Are you sure that there would be no interest in a C.R.S. cycling group? Cheers, Colin Many thanks Colin. - I hope you won't be retiring from exploring - you've done a grand job.
Out in the Midday Sun David Tozer A few photos taken at Silverton late this morning. Thankfully in the shade of a large tree. 43160 and 43016 with the 0900 Cardiff (Central) to Penzance. 66620 with the late running 0828 6C27 Westbury to Exeter Riverside Hanson's. Copyright David Tozer Thanks David A great little gem from the past A Bulldog at Penzance By kind permission of Alan Clark I would date this picture to just before the first world war, say 1912. The coaching stock in view is from the Edwardian period or earlier. The few females in view are wearing the vast hats which were in vogue at this time The picture seems to be recording a special event of some kind, going by the crowds. Bulldogs (along with Dukes and Atbaras) were the star engines at PZ until outnumbered and replaced by 'moguls' during the first world war. Cheers, Roy Hart Trerulefoot Chris Harvey Hi Keith, Saturday (6th August 2022) was a hot day spent roaming around Trerulefoot with the camera. The best two efforts are attached - the landscape shot shows 800 013 + 800 007 on the 1310 Penzance - Paddington, whilst the other image shows 802 017 + 802 022 rounding the curve on the climb up from St Germans, with the 1104 Paddington - Penzance. Best Regards, Chris Harvey. Many thanks to you Chris. Chris is a welcome regular contributor based, I believe in Bodmin. .
Trerulefoot [Courtesy Wikipedi]a (pronounced /ˈtruːlfʊt/, Cornish: Bentrer Roy Hart mentiones that Trerulefoot lies between Menheniot and St Germans (i.e, west of St Germans). It was the site of a signal box, intended to break the long section between Menheniot and St Germans. It opened around 1910 and closed in 1925. A second box -situated right next to the overbridge -was opened in 1938 and replaced by Intermediate Block Signals (IBS) in 1954. This box only had 6 levers, but was big enough for 40, so it is supposed that it would have been the junction for the new Looe branch which was projected in the 1930s. Otherwise, when Trerule is mentioned, I always think of that terrifying road sign: 'Beware of oncoming traffic in middle of road'. Is it still there?wall) is a village in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is located on the A38 trunk road a .Trerulefoot has a farm shop, two cafés and a petrol filling station. Many Thanks Roy 70000 Britannia passes Newton Abbot with the return English Riviera Railtour Roger Winnen Passing at Cullompton Keith Turley Many thanks Keith Passing at Marston Footbridge Ken Mumford I got to this vantage point [Marston footbridge] about 45 minutes before the class 33 double-headed special was due. Many thanks Ken. Scrap train at Shrivenham Andrew Jenkins Sent via Ken Mumford, A scrap train did run on Thursday (4th August) in the normal path. It was an Ilford EMU Depot - Newport Docks (Sims). It was hauled by 37884 with two scrap EMUs (322 481 and 321 901), see attached photo. Regards, Andrew Jenkins. Thanks Andrew. 'On yer bike' - or not? Swindon cycle rack Ken Mumford Ken wonders how this may be - many bikes left abandoned on the cycle rack - some with flat tyres some very rusty. May I (KJ) suggest that the cycles might have been stolen from somewhere by somebody in a hurry to get to the station - are they cycle locked one wonders? Thanks for that Ken - do you use your bike to get to the various photographic locations? Lest I forget Part 2 South Devon Spring Gala 2012 Paul Barlow Paul sent in a smashing collection featuring the South Devon Spring Gala 2012 - here are some more. Many thanks indeed Paul - memories form before Covid.
The Clay in Plymouth Contrasting liveries at Truro Roger Winnen Circular Tour 1960 Michael L. Roach In the latest edition of Steam Days, August 2022, Leslie R. Freeman describes a full day circular tour from Plymouth to Plymouth via North Devon using a rover ticket. The trip took place on Wednesday 1 June 1960 via Okehampton, Halwill Junction, Torrington, Barnstaple Jnuction, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple Junction, Dulverton and Exeter. Leslie and a friend left Plymouth at 08.25 and arrived back at 22.00 hours. Just ten weeks later a friend (IDM) and I made a very similar circular trip from Plymouth to Plymouth via North Devon, although we left earlier and got back earlier. Despite this many of the trains were at similar times, but some were different because we travelled on a Saturday. The date was Saturday 6th August 1960, and we used a circular tour ticket; the only time I ever used one. Although there were probably a couple of other occasions when a CTT would have been an advantage I was probably put off by the need to visit the station and give a couple of days notice of the trip to allow the fares to be worked out and the tickets written out. The individual hand-written paper tickets, measuring 100mm by 120mm, were stapled into a card cover and were torn out as the ticket was checked on each leg. The day finished with an empty card cover as shown in the scans, and we covered 215 miles at a cost of 46 shillings (£2.30). Every train was steam hauled using several different classes, and from Launceston to Exeter St Davids it was all new line for me. We left Plymouth at 7.10am and travelled via Tavistock South, Lydford and Launceston to Halwill Junction where we had the same loco and one coach but a few more passengers being a Saturday starting with 4½ and arriving Torrington with 7½ passengers. After Halwill Junction our route was identical to Leslie Freeman's route. By leaving Exeter St Davids soon after arrival we managed to have steam down the main line in the shape of St. Phillips Marsh 5924 Dinton Hall on the 10-coach 9.20am Bradford to Paignton running a mere 5 minutes late. Bearing in mind that 1960 was around the peak year for holiday trains and the line's terrible reputation for late running on Summer Saturdays the Hall had obviously put up a good performance taking its ten coaches over Whiteball. Looking back, and I could not have known this at the time, the highlight of the day was having a small prairie tank to haul our train from Barnstaple Junction to Dulverton. I visited the Taunton to Barnstaple line many times over the next four years before steam gave way to diesel early in September 1964 and never again saw a 4500/5500 tank on the line. Their reign of several decades had given way to near 100 percent Churchward 2-6-0 Moguls soon after our trip. Leslie's train from Barnstaple Junction to Taunton travelled via Barnstaple (Victoria Road) but the station closed to passengers ten days later and our train travelled via the east curve avoiding Victoria Road. All the trains ran well to time, and although the train from Barnstaple Junction departed five minutes late it fair romped along gaining time and culminating in an arrival at Ilfracombe eleven minutes early. Here are the trains we travelled on that day: Time From Dist. Loco. Notes 7.10 Plymouth to Launceston 34¾ 5531 + 2C 9.20 Launceston to Halwill Junction 14 34108 + 2C 10.52 Halwill Junction to to Torrington 20½ 41314 +1C * 12.45 Torrington to Barnstaple Junction 14¼ 41312 + 5C * 1.32 Barnstaple Junction to Ilfracombe 15 31840 +3C 2.55 Ilfracombe to Barnstaple Junction 15 31849, 34061 + 2 PV + 3C 3.55 Barnstaple Junction to Dulverton 24¾ 5571 + 3C 5.30 Dulverton to Exeter St. Davids¼ 24¾ 2AC + 1471 * 6.55 Exeter St.Davids to Newton Abbot 20 5924 + 10C 9.20am Bradford to Paignton 7.55 Newton Abbot to Plymouth 32 6845 + 5C local stopping train * same loco as Leslie Freeman's trip MLR / 4 August 2022 Many thanks Mike for your, as usual very accurate record of a remarkable day out - good value too. To give readers a 'taste' for Mike's journey here are four pictures not taken on the circular tour but taken a couple or more years later. Mike didn't own a camera for his circular tour. Again Many thanks. Paul Barlow at Rewe Many thanks Paul - we are well Rewewarded! Another named Castle Taunton Bill Elston Another Castle name to report, namely Lydford Castle on pc 43010, seen today at Taunton. Best wishes, Bill Elston Many thanks Bill - not many to catch now. Swindon Scrap Colin Pidgeon These are Colin Pidgeon's photos of today's scrap train. Previously these scrap trans usually ran on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so this is unusual UNLESS it is something that is going to be a regular working in the future. Left Wimbledon 3 mins EARLY - was it seen off by The Wombles or were they too busy clearing Wimbledon Common of litter? Its route was via th West London Line, Acton (Main Line), Reading and Swindon [passed ON TIME] and arrived at Newport [Sims] 19 minutes EARLY! NOTE Colin's comment about this train - please see below. Many thanks Colin - like many of the scrap trains the stock looks too good to scrap. This item forwarded by Ken Mumford.
Not an advert, yet it is. Moseley Heritage Museum Andrew and Diane Jones Dear Keith and Valerie, With this glorious weather set to continue, I decided to pick up my passport and travel west to the wonderful Moseley Heritage Museum near Redruth. Colin Saxton and his fantastic team of volunteers are busy recreating many aspects of life well known to children of the 50’s and 60’s. Several model layouts are operated during your visit as well as amazing Meccano constructions only dreamt of in my childhood, (except in the window of Gamages department store in London at Christmas). You can ride behind ex Crofty and Geevor battery locomotives on an ingenious circuit of the farm. There is an exhibit of Standard and Broad gauge track which illustrates the potential of Brunels concept. The site entrance is completely free of charge (donations are much appreciated) and is open on Thursday, Sunday and Monday afternoons. Very best wishes Andrew and Diane Thank you to Andrew and Diane for visiting and writing this report. I must admit to hanging my had in shame at living barely two miles away from this this fabulous collection I have not visited it more frequently - it really is worth the effort and no expense to visit. Go back in time to your childhood - you'll be astonished. K.J. St Pinnock Viaduct Andrew & Diane Jones Dear Keith and Valerie, Please find attached a photograph of St Pinnock viaduct taken today - 4th August 2022. I have deliberately used a silhouette format which in my opinion enhances the grandeur of this iconic structure, just 1.25 miles west of Doubleboi,s towering over Trago Mills. Similar to the much lamented Walkham Viaduct which was hastily removed in the 1960’s and latterly replaced at great expense by a slightly lower construction, known as the Gem Viaduct forming part of the Drakes Trail by Devon Council.St Pinnock is 151 feet high and 633 feet long, grade 11 listed in 1985 and the highest viaduct on the Cornwall Railway. Andrew & Diane Jones Many thanks Andrew and Diane - you got an unusual view there. Wadebridge Railway Carriages National Railway Museum Andrew and Diane Jones Our friends up the Valley were very excited on a visit to York last week to come across the National Railway Museum. I suspect many members of the CRS have come across this marvellous exhibition of all things great about Britain and its remarkable industrial past. So it came as a surprise to my non railway enthusiast friends that the exhibit of carriages built for the Wadebridge railway in 1834 are still in existence and are the oldest preserved passenger coaches in the world! Please see photographs sent to me and copyright of Gail Wilson. Apparently they were found in a shed during the early 1900's and were thankfully preserved. Obviously sprung buffers were a later development and 1st class passengers benefit from all weather protection and some rudimentary suspension. In 1952 Charles Clinker uncovered a huge precious collection of written logs and documents from the earliest days of the railway hidden in a derelict loft nearby and are available through the museum to view. The National Railway Museum is free of charge and if you haven't been make it a priority if you are up north. Best wishes Andrew and Diane Article submitted 2nd July 2022 My apologies to Andrew and Diane Jones and friends for the late inclusion of this article; I am afraid it got parked during a busy period. Crabtree Viaduct Clive Smith 43184 heads the 1E63 15.27 Plymouth - Leeds over Crabtree Viaduct. Not the usual photo from the footbridge over the track as the sun was in the wrong place, but an opportune moment to take advantage of the tide being out and stepping onto the river Plym foreshore. 4th August 2022. Regards, Clive Smith Many thanks Clive. A smashing picture taken from a most unusual spot - congratulations for grabbing the celebrity in such a way. Didn't know it was called Crabtree.
Despite the leaden skies there was plenty to photograph along the sea wall albeit no sign of 43184. Teignmouth Clive Smith Many thanks Clive, leaden skies but good light. Avocet line Polsloe Bridge David Tozer I made a trip yesterday from Polsloe Bridge to Topsham and return. For many months Polsloe Bridge platform has been under restoration. From the attached photos you can see before and after. The mesh netting between the plillars has been replaced with a galvanised fence. The concrete pillars were stripped back to the reinforcing rods in places and repainted. As yet the lighting which was previously attached to the poles between the concrete pillars has not been replaced. At Topsham I photographed two car Class 165 165127 working the 1420 Paignton to Exmouth. Usually these are three car 166's. Dave Many thanks David. Trencreek Newquay Branch Mark Lynam Today saw the first Castle Set HST working on the Newquay branch so far this year. Many thanks Mark - the ever growing Newquay lies in the background. Eastleigh Dennis Clarke I was at Eastleigh yesterday. The Campbell Road bridge next to the works was being surveyed for an upcoming repaint. Gladly, the team there said they were not aware of any plans to increase the height, so the excellent view should still be available. Here are a couple of photos. 70008 working the 4M55 Freightliner from Southampton to Lawley Street and 07007 and 442412 in the works, Regards, Dennis Good News about the bridge Dennis - many thanks.
Named Class 47s 47 Years ago in 1975 Roger Winnen A quick visit to Cowley Bridge Jct Keith Turley Many thanks Keith Yesterdays Photographs Colin Pidgeon Ken Mumford stuck at home recovering after having two big toe - toes nails removed - sends thanks to Colin. You MAY have seen something about this on television!! Many thanks to Colin Pidgeon.
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