Blog Archives

Thursday 31st August 2023

31/8/2023

The Barnstaple Line
David Tozer

Gents,

With reference to the article today on your website concerning a working to and from Barnstaple on 26th August 2023.
In the current Modern Railways there is an article on GWR and Devon County Councils aspirations for a faster train service between Barnstaple and Exeter.
The working was the 1110 5Z76 Exeter St David's to Barnstaple and 1232 5Z76 Barnstaple to Exeter St David's operated with Class 165/1 165102. Timing as shown on Realtime Trains:-
Realtime Trains | 5Z76 1110 Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple | 26/08/2023
Realtime Trains | 5Z76 1232 Barnstaple to Exeter St Davids Prem Tran | 26/08/2023
Looking at one trip today from Exeter to Barnstaple the journey time takes some one hour and eighteen minutes. With five minutes waiting time at Crediton and eleven minutes at Eggesford. Likewise a Barnstaple to Exeter trip take one hour and twelve minutes with three minutes at Eggesford and two minutes at Crediton.
Looking at the outward trip on 26th August this was completed in sixty two minutes with three minutes waiting time at Crediton and seven minutes at Eggesford. The return trip was completed in fifty seven minutes with two minutes at Eggesford and less than a minute at Crediton. With no signal box at Eggesford the driver has to undertake opening the gates crossing the road and token exchange.
Clearly with modern signalling a reduction in times between Exeter and Barnstaple can be achieved. The reason for the 5Z76 is just me speculating.
Dave

Thanks David

Devons least used station
Chapelton
Andrew Hickson

Hi Keith
Recently visited the delightful Chapelton station which is the least used station in Devon. On the day of our visit (Saturday 26 August) there would have been no passengers because it was a strike day. After setting off for a walk from the station (having arrived by car) we were therefore surprised to hear a train in the distance rumbling over the bridge spanning the River Taw.
On Realtraintimes this train was shown as being 165102 running empty from Exeter to Barnstaple and back. Does anybody know the purpose of this? Please see the item immediatley above by David Tozer - 'The Barnstaple Line',

Chapelton has recently been featured on Geoff Marshall's youtube channel when Geoff is lucky enough to visit the old station.

Regards. Andrew Hickson.

Chapelton - least used station in Devon - from the approach - 26th August 2023. Copyright Andrew Hickson.

Chapelton - least used station in Devon - the view from the former down platform looking towards Barnstaple - 26th August 2023. Copyright Andrew Hickson..

There is a lengthy report on the history of the station which makes for very interesting reading please click here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelton_railway_station

Many thanks for calling in Andrew - as Andrew says any idea why the 'Ghost Train' ran on a strike day? Please see the item immediately above by David Tozer - 'The Barnstaple Line',

Jon Hird chases the
Red 66
Jon Hird

Another one from me today of our very photogenic current “local” engine 66190.
This is the train approaching Luxuylan with 6G09 Goonbarrow - Fowey consisting of 14 loaded JIA wagons.

All the best, Jon Contrary to my earlier email which stated ‘just the one today’, I couldn’t resist an after work trip to see 66190 returning the empties to Goonbarrow.

Please find attached some photos of 66190 and 16 JIA’s (a correction to my earlier email when I stated 14) seen at Shirehall Moor, running around and departing Lostwithiel and then running along (a horribly overgrown) Rundles Walk at St. Blazey.

(By coincidence, Mark Lynam joined me at Lostwithiel, he may also send you his photos, if this is the case I will take no offence if you wish to leave out any of my images which are duplicates of his, there’s no point filling the website with photos taken shoulder-to-shoulder with one another!)

All the best, Jon

Thanks Jon, As I am sure that as your photographs are taken at well known locations that our viewers will be able to locate each of the pictures shown in your gallery = please click on a picture to obtain a larger view. All copyright Jon Hird.

Many thanks Jon.

Wednesday 30th August 2023

30/8/2023

New Railway Infrastruture at Exeter
David Tozer

Gents,

I heard on the radio this morning an outside broadcast BBC Radio Devon with Michael Checker. This was from St Katherine's Priory which is located at the rear of Morrison's Supermarket, the site was the former 72A Locomotive Depot.

The Exeter & District Model Engineering Society and in the process of laying out track work in the form of an elongated circle. They have a gap of twenty four metres to lay in the coming years. On Sunday 3rd September they will have an open day from 1000 to 1600 hours when they will be celebrating the opening of their new siding and engine shed.

The engine is use this morning was an American style 4-4-0 named 'Iron Horse'.

Thanks David

Exeter Transfer shed
Simon Hickman

In yesterdays News Column I asked if anybody can give any more details on the listed transfer shed just to the east of Exeter St Davids station. I had a very quick response from Simon Hickman - most grateful to you Simon for such a rapid reply.

Midland Pullman 43059 43046 1419 Mount Gould plat to Crewe ECS Exeter Riverside passing Exeter Transfer shed. 27th Aug 2023 Paul Barlow

Simon writes - Hi there,
You ask on the latest input section of the CRS website for more details of the Exeter St David’s transfer shed. There’s a good summary on Historic England’s list description, here: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1268441?section=official-list-entry

Historic England are encouraging people to upload photos and information to records of listed structures via the missing pieces project, so perhaps you could encourage your members to participate? It’d be great to see some more pictures of the South West’s listed railway structures on there.

Kind regards, Simon Hickman.
Principal Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas
Historic England South West. 07766 364540

Historic England / Fementation North / Hawkins Lane / Finzels Reach / Bristol / BS1 6JQ

SX 9193 EXETER Former Transit Shed, Exeter St. 871/11/10013 David's Station II
Details from the Historic England Website
Goods trans-shipment shed for mixed gauge trains. c1860. Brick with engineering brick dressings to openings and limestone cornice, and corrugated sheet roof Rectangular plan originally with a central island platform. Single storey; 13-bay sides. EXTERIOR: A long, symmetrical shed with entablature and cornice all the way round under the eaves and across the coped gable ends; the sides are a round-arched arcade with stone keys and alternately blind and with metal-paned round-arched windows. The gables contain 2 wide semi-circular arches, that for the former broad gauge line slightly wider than that for the standard gauge line; above the cornice is a keyed gable oculus vent. INTERIOR: The arcades are repeated on the inner walls; the roof has timber principals, wrought-iron ties and king rods, and decorated cast-iron braces. One side of the two lines has been filled in. HISTORY: The shed was used for the trans-shipment of goods between the GWR's broad gauge wagons and the standard gauge wagons of the LSWR. It clearly manifests this use by the absence of doorways in the sides, as ordinary unloading sheds would have, and the different sizes of the end archways, for the different-sized trains. One other is known of, a timber shed that has been moved to Didcot. Trans-shipment would have ceased in 1892 when the broad gauge was converted. As such this building is of considerable historic interest, coming at the break of gauge between the two systems, and providing evidence of an important episode in British transport history . Corrugated iron extension not of special interest. Maggs, C, 'Rail Centres: Exeter', Ian Allen, 1985, 103.

Many thanks to Simon for forwarding the link to the Historic Englnd site - I hope that our members will see fit to submit any suitable material to Simon for inclusion in the archives.

Thomas departs the
Swindon and Cricklade.
Ken Mumford

These are SOME of my photos taken as it was almost ready to leave Blunsdon and make the long journey north to the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway near Falkirk in Bonnie Scotland!

[1] My first sighting of THOMAS!

[2] The lorry driver and the escort van driver discussing final details - both these genlemen were very helpful in all ways.

[3] Thomas leaves the Swindon and Cricklade site

[4] Farewell to the S & C

The Thames Valley 31s
Michael Forward

Hello Roger, An unusual sight to brighten up a dull afternoon on 17 November 1987 at Oxford is this pair of class 31s,31125 and 144 on a freight for Didcot yard,which includes some MOD traffic from Kineton. Copyright Michael Forward

Many Thanks Michael

Class 31 at Reading
Michael Adams

Roger, Michael Adams photographed 31434 at Reading on 24 July 1985 with a van train for Paddington. Thanks, best wishes Copyright Michael Adams

Many Thanks Michael

Didcot Open Day
Colin Pidgeon

Please click on a picture to see an enlargement.

Locos on display/working at Didcot Railway Centre 28-08-2023.

Avonside Engine Company 1340 Trojan.

Hunslet Engine Company 2409 King George.

4079 Pendennis Castle.

5051 Drysllwyn Castle.

Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Bonnie Prince Charlie.

18000 has been receiving some remedial work to the bodyside at last.

These pictures all supplied by Colin Pidgeon - his copyright, many thanks.

'Martin House'
Lostwithiel
Jon HIrd

Just one from me today, of 66190 running around the JIA’s at Lostwithiel with todays Fowey - Goonbarrow empties. Restormel Castle watches on from the hill in the background.

Nice to have a red ‘66’ back on the local clay circuit and bonus points for it being an ex-works namer!

All the best, Jon

Lostwithiel 66190 Martin House. 29th August 2023. Copyright John Hird.

Thanks Jon. A nice scene with Medieval Restormel Castle watching the scene for the nearby hilltop.

Effortless departure
Westbury
Guy Vincent

Guy Vincent (using Cathy’s iPad). In sparkling condition 60029 Ben Nevis pauses at Westbury at 1740hrs on Tuesday 29th before making a clean and effortless departure with the ‘as required’ 6Z61 1655 Merehead - Willesden DC Rail sidings loaded aggregates service. If only the 70-odd member of this class languishing out of use around the Midlands could be like this…. Regards Guy.

Westbury 60 029 29th August 2023. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Nice picture - long load. Many thanks to you Guy.

Tuesday 29th August 2023

29/8/2023

Clay at Lostwithiel in 1975
Roger Winnen

750402b A Class 47 on the clay at Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen Edit

750404j Clay heading for Carne Point on 4th April 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen Edit

750404k Clay heading for Carne Point on 4th April 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen

China Clay Wagons at the end
- a brief look back.
Neil Phillips

While we are still within the month which saw the end of the CDA hopper wagons’ 35-year reign on Cornish china clay traffic, I hope a brief article on these which does not include any motive power (and includes a photo of a model) will be acceptable!

Although these wagons have been well recorded, particularly during their later years, there seems to be some confusion over numbers so I’ve researched this carefully. The story began in the early 1980s when it became apparent that the 13-ton wooden-bodied end-tipping open wagons, built by BR Swindon from 1955 to replace much older wagons to a similar design and which had become the familiar ‘clayhoods’ from 1973/4 with the addition of protective tent covers, were rapidly approaching the end of their lives – and in any case such small vacuum-braked wagons had become an anachronism on the modern railway so modernization became inevitable, including the discharge facilities at Fowey Docks. The first sign that change was in the air came in 1986 with the arrival at St Blazey of a specially-cleaned HAA hopper wagon, 351297, borrowed from the Midlands ‘merry-go-round’ power station coal delivery circuit, to test the suitability of this wagon design for the transport and discharge of dried china clay. This must have been a success as in early 1987 another HAA wagon, 353224, was modified with a G Nevilles Ltd roller-type canopy and cradle-mounted end vents (to aid discharge while keeping the canopy closed) and ladders for further testing. This showed that the concept was sound, although the end vent arrangement required a redesign and the ladders were found to be unnecessary.

Construction of a fleet of 124 CDA hopper wagons commenced at BREL Doncaster in mid-1987, five years after Shildon had turned out the last HAA. These were numbered 375000-123, with the first, 375000, arriving at St Blazey for assessment in September. This wagon displayed the revised end vent arrangement but was unique in having the smaller side vents diagonally offset, positioning one of them above the air brake distributor which on the CDA was placed above the chassis with a protective top shield, unlike the HAA where it was carried below. Although subsequent wagons had these vents on the same side, 375000 was never modified to conform. All 124 new-build CDAs had been delivered by February 1988 allowing the change-over from the old ‘clayhoods’, rounded up to 125 by the addition of 353224 which had received the new end vents in lieu of the original cradle-mounted design but retained all other HAA-derived features including the underslung brake distributor, as well as the end ladders which made it readily identifiable within a rake. The body was also mounted on the chassis the opposite way round to the production wagons.

In 1989 a further 14 CDAs were supplied by Doncaster, these being conversions from redundant HAA coal wagons which, unlike the prototype 353224, lost their original identities becoming ‘follow-on’ 375124-37 – however they did share that example’s reversed body mounting (some sources say not all 14 were like this, personally I find it hard to believe a BREL works would be this inconsistent but on the railway anything is possible!) and other HAA features. So at its peak the CDA fleet reached 139 wagons. Interestingly the CDAs’ dominance of the local china clay traffic was challenged in 1999 when CEA wagons (a covered version of the HEA hopper type used to deliver coal to the power station at Drinnick Mill in the 1980s) were briefly trialled in their place – why this was considered necessary is unknown.

A downturn in traffic saw 353224 and the final 14 additional conversions sidelined in 2004 – perhaps these ‘non-standard’ wagons having their bodies mounted in reverse compared to the new builds caused operational issues, as the CDAs always ran with their roller canopies one way round for loading purposes. After an extended period in store at St Blazey most went for scrap, but 375125/35/37 have lived on as ‘reach wagons’ or wheeled buffer stops at Fowey Docks, and after a period in splendid isolation at the far end of St Blazey Yard the prototype conversion 353224 was purchased by the National Wagon Preservation Group in 2017, remarkably still carrying its unique end ladders. As traffic has continued to dwindle the situation leading up to the end was 38 in service, 40 stored at St Blazey, 57 scrapped, three at Fowey and one preserved. So at the time of writing there are (presumably) 78 CDAs in St Blazey Yard with a few of these hopefully destined for preservation on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Since the last of the 11,162 HAA coal wagons upon which the CDA design was based disappeared from British metals in 2009 things eventually came full circle, with the 4-wheel CDAs becoming an anachronism on the modern railway just like their little wooden 13-ton predecessors four decades earlier.

I was extremely fortunate to call in at St Blazey on 14th September 1987 – my first visit in just over 10 years – and find the first CDA, 375000, on display in the yard. I took two photos at the time, sent one of them away never to be seen again and the negatives also went missing, to be fortuitously rediscovered just a few months ago. So I have been able to scan these properly, and the results are attached. The fortunate timing of my visit led to me checking rakes of passing CDAs for 375000 whenever I had the opportunity (usually only once or twice a year at the time) and it was whilst doing so at Lostwithiel in April 2000 that I managed to capture the prototype 353224 on its way to Fowey for unloading – this was a big surprise as I was unaware of its existence at the time (and had assumed that Hornby numbering their first OO gauge CDA model 353224 had been a mistake – they clearly knew more than I gave them credit for!) I did eventually catch 375000 passing through Par in August 2002, looking somewhat different to its near-pristine appearance 14 years earlier. The latest word is that this one will survive and won’t be travelling very far - although it will require some additional restoration after sitting idle in St Blazey Yard for at least the last 3½ years and is now missing some parts, including the canopy winding gear. Luckily there are plenty of ‘parts donors’ nearby…….

Photos:

1 – First Production CDA 375000 at St Blazey   14th September 1987
2 – First Production CDA 375000 at St Blazey   14th September 1987
3 – CDA 375000 passes Par station bound for Fowey Docks   August 2002
4 – CDA 375000 withdrawn at St Blazey on the last day of CDA operation   11th August 2023
5 – Prototype CDA Conversion 353224 (note ladder visible extreme left) at Lostwithiel   April 2000
6 – For the record, Hornby-based model of 353224 as initially converted in early 1987 – note the ladder and very short-lived single cradle-mounted vent. Photos of the real one in this condition are extremely hard to find – I have only seen one!

Best regards,

Neil Phillips

1 - First Production CDA at St Blazey - 14th September 1987. Copyright Neil Phillips.

2 - First Production CDA at St Blazey - 14th September 1987. Copyright Neil Phillips.

3 - CDA 375000 at Par - August 2002 Copyright Neil Phillips

4 - CDA 375000 withdrawn in St Blazey Yard - 11th August 2023. Copyright Neil Phillips.

5 - Prototype CDA conversion 353224 at Lostwithiel - April 2000. Copyright Neil Phillips.

6 - Model of Prototype CDA 353224 as converted in 1986. Copyright Neil Phillips. For the record, Hornby-based model of 353224 as initially converted in early 1987 – note the ladder and very short-lived single cradle-mounted vent. Photos of the real one in this condition are extremely hard to find – I have only seen one!

Many many thanks Neil for your detailed history of the humble CDA - hours of worthwhile research in this.

Droning around
Exeter
Paul Barlow

Midland Pullman 43059 43046 14.19 Mount Gould platform to Crewe ECS Exeter Riverside. The listed transfer shed is next to the rear power car. 27th August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43007 43008 on 1427 Plymouth to Leeds Exeter St Davids. 27 August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43008 43007 on 0811 Leeds to Plymouth 1V48 Queens road Exeter St Thomas. 27 August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks as usual Paul for your elevated views - apart from it being listed does anybody know more about the listed transfer shed please?

Good and Bad at - and ugly.
Plymouth
Andrew Triggs.

Returning from London by train, I stopped off to capture 43007 with 43008 depart with 1S51 12.27 Plymouth-Glasgow Central on the classic North Road angle from the Eastern end of Platform 5, looking across towards Platform 4
Also while there, FGW Blue liveried 150238 was stabled in the former Mail bay behind Platform 3, sadly a victim of 'Tagging' by graffiti artists (idiots), reported as happening while in the Par area at the weekend, not what you want to see of course but still worth recording as part of our area's History
All the Best
Andrew

43007 and 43008 Plymouth 28th August 2023. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Shame on the vandals

150 238 sadly vandalised in the bay at Plymouth. 28th August 2023 Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Thanks Andrew for your pictures - sadly the last two showing what idiots do. Those responsible should have 'Idiot' tattoed on their foreheads. What will it cost to have this damage repaired. Shame on them.

Family photograph
Roger Winnen

Penmere - 30 years celebration.

Great coverage from Roger W of the Penmere event. I was delighted to see my brother-in- law Ian and nephew Jago sat on their super mini traction engine Puffer!

They had a great day.

Best wishes , Craig

Looks a grand family moment - thanks Craig and Roger.

Monday 28th August 2023

28/8/2023

Above
Exeter
Paul Barlow

The Midland Pullman in bright blue always makes for an unusual shot and the caption and the presence of the swan in Paul's second view makes for a delightful scene.

43046 43059 pass alongside Western Road Exeter sees the 07.57 Crewe to Mount Gould. 25th August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow

'Swans and swallows' IC swallow liveried 43008 bring s up the rear of the rrain crossing Exeter flood relief channel. 25th August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul.

Recent Round Up
Craig Munday

Hi Keith

Hope all is well? My apologies for the lack of prompt pictures lately, it really is a barmy time with the end of the CDAs, the resignalling interest, work and domestic stuff. I'll be glad for a rest soon!

Here is a recent round up of images in the Duchy:

The GBRf operated weedsprayer 3Q98 visited for a catch up with the programme over the period of 18th/ 22nd Aug. The Friday night run coincided with Storm Betty which had caused all manner of operational issues. Sadly the train returned having not operated on 22nd Aug. It is seen at Par, St Blazey and returning eastbound at Tywardreath.

By chance, St Blazey also had the RHTT set on the depot which looked like a "showcase" for all manner of things spraying the infrastructure! The visit of former LMS loco 45116 also allowed a quick picture passing the vehicles on Sunday 20th whilst it was turned.

Also on the 20th the long awaited arrival of the stored wagons to bolster the clay fleet arrived in the County. The 22 wagon train just squeezed into the down goods loop at Lostwithiel (see how close the loco is to the exit signal LL40). The 7 wagons are behind the locomotive 66190, and include 5 JGA wagons. They will be attended to at the workshops prior to entering service. I understand all the wagons will join a general pool and could find themselves on the local circuit or going up to Stoke On Trent. I fear that the JGAs will be covered in graffiti before if that happens though.
The picture is also of interest in the signalling department. Look closely and you can see the clamp lock machines mounted on concrete plinths that will eventually drive the points across when they become electrically operated from Exeter.

All the best for now, Craig.

3Q98 with 66301 Par 18th August 2023 Copyright Craig Munday

45116 on St Blazey turntable. 20th August 2023. Copyright Craig Munday

45116 being coaled at St Blazey 20th August 2023. Copyright Craig Munday

St Blazey 66701 45116 20th August 2023. Copyright Craig Munday

6V53 Lostwithiel 6V53 JGA 20th August 2023. Copyright Craig Munday

St Blazey 66701 66199 20th August 2023. Copyright Craig Munday

66701 66304 Tywardreath 22nd August 2023. Copyright Craig Munday.

Hi Craig, many thanks for your comprehensive notes and photographs - we are most fortunate to have contributions from knowledgeable people such as yourself.

Questions and hopefully answers later
Penmere?
Phil Hawke

Keith , good evening.

The recent celebrations re Penmere reminded me of a question that has puzzled me for a long time. From various snippets on the internet I gather that the tanker sidings were provided in the early part of the second world war to serve the storage tanks at Swanvale. Now, I've seen the product that was transported and stored referred to both as petrol and diesel, this traffic lasting until the 1960's.

Now my questions are; were the rail tankers delivering or collecting and was it petrol or diesel and where did they originate or terminate at the other end. As the Air Ministry commissioned the building of the storage tanks I assume the fuel was aviation grade petrol during the war and later became kerosene for use in jet engines at St Mawgan? I can feel an answer from the east on its way before long!

Phil Hawke

Many thanks for your questions Phil - I am hopeful that we may have answers from the east - Yangoon, or maybe from our historical expert Phil Hadley.

Answer from Roy Hart - Rangoon.
Dear Keith/Phil,

Penmere sidings were indeed provided in 1941 at the behest of the Air Ministry. The fuel came by sea, of course. The layout consisted of a long loop siding, with a connection to four long loading sidings at the Falmouth end. I have always assumed that the fuel was taken on by road.
There were 2 ground fames working the points, released by annett's key on the Penryn-Falmouth train staffs.
After the war, Nancekuke and Predannack airfilds ceased to be operational and traffic at Penmere dwindled. By 1958/9 it was zero. The main loop siding was used for storing condemned goods stock in the early sixties, but the oil sidings remained fenced and locked although the pipework and taps etc remained intact. It was all lifted in 1966.

All the best to you both,

Roy

Three from Phil
Phil Smith

43128 slowing for Bodmin Parkway in 2010. Copyright Phil Smith

43002 leaving Gloucester station- non-stop run to Exeter St Davids then sadly retirement. 2019 Copyright Phil Smith.

43002 Namplate. Copyright Phil Smith.

Many thanks Phil.

Sunday 27th August 2023

27/8/2023

NINETEEN SIXTY TWO – PART 40 Michael L. Roach
Coryton
Coryton Station was 26¾ miles from Plymouth on the GWR's branch to Launceston, and 24 miles from Tavistock Junction. Milepost 24 was just off the west end of the single platform. The railway was located in and followed the valley of the River Lyd for several miles each side of the station. To the west of the station the gradients were generally easy at 1 in 140 or less; but to the east it was a different story as the line climbed higher and higher above the river in order to leave the valley on the approach to Lydford Station more than 4¼ miles away. The first two miles of the bank were at a gradient if 1 in 55 and the remaining two miles at 1 in 57. As an aside this was a similar gradient and length to the more famous incline leading up to the summit at Talerddig on the Cambrian main line east of Machynlleth, where double-headed steam trains would struggle up the bank with a dozen coaches on summer Saturdays up to 1966. Luckily there were few heavy trains on the Launceston Branch and the small prairie tanks, which were the normal motive power, coped with the two coach passenger trains and the ten or twelve wagons of the returning freight train. The prairies were allowed to take 220 tons from Launceston to Plymouth which equates to just over six coaches.
The hamlet of Coryton was some distance from its railway station and the population of the whole parish when the railway was being planned and built was just 375 persons. This suggests to me that the station was provided originally to break up the long distance (7m 51c) between the stations each side of Coryton at Lifton and Lydford, because the railway was built at a time when railway promoters considered that a station should be provided every three miles or so. In 1933 Coryton issued 3,508 passenger tickets and dealt with 3,150 tons of goods and minerals; an average working day would have seen the staff issue 11 passenger tickets and deal with 10 tons of goods. The station was destaffed in 1959.
It is known that the local squire used Coryton Station as it was the nearest station to his family home at Lewtrenchard, two miles north of the station. He was also an anglican priest, collector of folk songs, novelist and writer on various subjects, including hymns. His most famous work was to write the words for the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers” in 1865. He was the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) and Lewtrenchard is a place of pilgrimage to this day. Until recently there was a Sabine Baring-Gould Appreciation Society with its own website. He will have a huge number of descendants as he fathered no less than 15 children. Next year will mark the hundredth anniversary of his death and articles are already starting to appear in the local papers; e.g. WMN on 12 August 2023 where the writer said that Sabine Baring-Gould's greatest achievement was as a collector of folk songs of the West Country.
I was there in the vicinity of Coryton Station on the afternoon of Saturday 18 August 1962 from about 2.00pm to 7.45pm and witnessed five trains pass. It was my only visit to Coryton and the weather was kind unlike the weather on the day this article was written, 18 August 2023, which started with some sunny periods but degenerated to torrential rain and gale force winds called “Storm Betty.”
The trains I saw at Coryton were:
4574 on the 2.05pm SO Launceston to Plymouth
6400 on the 2.20pm Launceston to Tavistock Junction freight
4555 on the 3.05pm Plymouth to Launceston
4555 on the 5.40pm Launceston to Plymouth
5568 on the 6.20pm Plymouth to Launceston
It was 5¼ hours between photographing the first and the last of the trains listed. It can be seen that 6400 (and its footplate crew ?) did indeed swop duties with 4574 the engine of the goods train. Something different would have happened on Mondays to Fridays because the 12.14pm from Plymouth did not run being Saturdays Only. It was highly unusual to see a 6400-class pannier tank on a goods train and in the 60 years since I have not even seen another photograph of such an occurrence, except on a heritage railway. 6400 emerged from Swindon Works in February 1932 and spent its first 27 years at just two sheds in South Wales. It moved to Laira on 18 April 1959 and would have worked the Saltash autos until replaced by dmus after which it would have worked principally between Plymouth and Tavistock South.

MLR / 18 August 2023

7302 6400 passes under the minor road alongside Coryton Station and sets out on the 4-mile climb to Lydford at 1 in 55/57 with 10 wagons on the 2.20pm Launceston to Tavistock Junction goods train. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Coryton station building - the station had not been painted since. 1946; Copyright Michael L. Roach.

7307 4555 calls at Coryton with the 3.05pm from Plymouth to Launceston.. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

7313 5568 sets out from Coryton with the 6.20pm from Plymouth to Launceston. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Many thanks indeed Michael - a superb article and pictures to treasure.

Steam & Diesel at
Bodmin 36 Years Ago
Neil Phillips

With the Bodmin & Wenford Railway's 'Small Prairie' 5552 and the Bodmin North AC Cars railbus service both being in the news lately I was pleased to find these two views while looking through my photos the other day. They were taken during a holiday at Seaton near Looe in September 1987, on a visit to Bodmin we called in to General station to see how things were going. The condition of 5552 back then serves to remind us what time and dedication - lots of both! - can achieve. Photos of this engine shunting at Newham in Truro had prompted me to repaint a Lima model into lined green livery, before I knew it had been preserved and was back in Cornwall, so finding it at Bodmin that day was a nice surprise!

The AC Cars railbus, W79976, was not one of the pair used on the Bodmin North shuttle. When the WR's four railbuses became redundant in early 1967 the ScR took them on but a year later they were all out of use. W79976 (the number prefixes were not changed in Scotland) had its engine, transmission and control gear removed following withdrawal but was nonetheless secured for preservation. It then led a nomadic existence, moving around various preservation sites including the BWR between 1985 and 1993 where it reportedly spent some time in use as a static buffet - restoration to working order there was not considered worthwhile as it would have been unsuitable for use on the line's steep gradients (since W79977/8 could manage the 1-in-37 when running empty from St Blazey I assume the additional weight of 46 passengers was the perceived issue!) Its condition has deteriorated badly since then and it narrowly avoided scrapping at the Great Central Railway in 2018, but was rescued at the last minute and moved to Nemesis Rail's Burton depot, with the long-term aim of restoration to full working order. So the now skeletal W79976 continues to cling to life.

There is another preserved AC railbus, W79978, which was one of the Bodmin pair. It spent its first decade in preservation working on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and then less productive years at the Kent & East Sussex and Colne Valley Railways before moving to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway in November 2019, where it has since been successfully started. I didn't find out about this until after I'd moved from Swindon to Cornwall two months later, which was disappointing as in 1966 I had seen W79978 at Bodmin North (John Roberts may remember this as his father had driven us there) and it would have been nice to have seen it again 53 years later! We still have family reasons to visit Swindon so maybe one day I'll get there.....

Best regards, Neil Phillips.

5552 awaiting restoration at Bodmin General. September 1987 Copyright Neil Phillips

Railbus W79976 awaiting developments at Bodmin General September 1987. Copyright Neil Phillips.

Many thanks for your very informative article Neil. full of gen - its great to think of how things were and now are.

Saturday 26th August 2023

26/8/2023

30 Years Anniversary of the Friends of Penmere Platform

Celebrating on Saturday 26th August 2023
Roger Winnen

230826dd Adverting the show at Penmere. Copyright Roger Winnen

230826k A 1936 Austin Taxi being the only one known west of Exeter. Copyright Roger Winnen

Click Here to find more photographs of todays celebrations Its in the Features Section August to December 2023 Item 2319. Scroll right down to the bottom of the page

David Tozer up with larks
Silverton

I popped out early for the Midland Pullman at Silverton.

0536 1Z43 Plymmouth to Llandudno.

I saw the sunrise and twenty minutes later when the Pullman appeared it poured with rain.

Not the best of photos.

Dave

Sunrise at Silverton 26th August .2023 Copyright David Tozer

Midland Pullman in heavy rain passing Silverton 26th August 2023. on route from Plymouth to Llandudno Copyright David Tozer.

Many thanks David up early - before it was light - well done. KJ remembers years ago that at that spot there was a handy apple tree convenient from the road!!

Colourful Plymouth
Andrew Triggs

Stopped off at Plymouth on the way back from Taunton and Exeter and got lucky with capturing, by todays standards, a multitude of HST power car liveries which passed through the station today - 25th August 2023.
All the Best
Andrew

1. 43378 (with 43366) with 1S51 12.27 Plymouth-Glasgow departing North Road
2 & 3 LSL 43046 with 43059 arriving and departing again working 5Z42 07.57 Crewe H.S- Mount Gould Platform

4. 43008 leading 5E63 Laira T&RSMD-Plymouth passing Aspley Road
5. 43007 departing with 1E63 15.27 Plymouth-Leeds
6. Colas 43277 departing with the delayed (89 minutes down) 1Q18 05.25 Reading Triangle Sidings-Paignton 4 weekly NMT (with 43299)

Many thanks Andrew - as you say very colourful. All six pictures are copyright Andrew Triggs.

Yesterdays Aerial Views
Paul Barlow

43378 43366 pass alongside Western Road St Thomas Exeter on 1227 Pymouth to Glasgow 1S51 25 August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

43046 43059 pass over Okehampton Road Exeter on 0757 Crewe to Mount gould platform ECS move 5Z42 25 August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks indeed Paul - that view of the Blue Pullman is particularly impressive. Both of these locations are on the GW main line approximately half a mile west of Exeter St Davids station.

Rounding the curve at Dawlish Warren
Michael Adams

Hello Roger, Here are two pictures taken by Michael Adams of trains rounding the curve at Dawlish Warren on 1 August 1981. Copyright Adams

Now we see HST set number 253003 with the 12.08 Penzance to Paddington. Copyright Michael Adams

Agincourt at Bristol Temple Meads

'Agincourt' at Bristol. Copyright Michael Adams

Many Thanks Michael

Ryde St Johns
Michael Forward

Hello Roger,Almost 30 years since my picture of the O2 at Cowes,here we see—on 20 July 1982—483007 coming into Ryde St.Johns station and passing the lovely signal box. Copyright Michael Forward

Many thanks Michael.

Cross Country at
Newton Abbot
Sam Ryder

Cross Country Power cars 43007 and 43008 on a Plymouth to Leeds working on the 25th August 2023.

Newton Abbot 25th August 2023 Copyright Sam Ryder

Newton Abbot 25th August 2023 Copyright Sam Ryder. Nice one including the keen photographers.

Newton Abbot 25th August 2023 Copyright Sam Ryder

Thank you Sam - a new contributor.

WW2 aerial view taken
80 years before the
Gala at Penmere Platform

While our friends of Penmere Platform celebrate their formation 30 years ago with an excellent display (And congratulations to them) we bring you an aerial view of the site almost exactly eighty years ago. Full detai ls of what will be available today is on their poster reproduced in our 'News Column' yesterday. Every best wish to those attending this event today.

Penmere Station and Oil Depot Sidings 8 September 1943

You will find the above aerial view of Penmere Platform of great interest as it shows not only the station but also the oil depot - the target of some German bombs during WW2. Also of historical interest is the bridge to the east over the branch line. The was demolished some years ago.

The above aerial view kindly sent in by Phil Hadley Fact & Fiction in Cornwall at
philhadleypublications.com

25th August 2023

25/8/2023

Attention friends of Penmere Platform

Dear Keith,

An email to let you know this Saturday 'The Friends Of Penmere Station' in Falmouth are celebrating their 30th anniversary of looking after the station by way of a gala. I have attached a PDF copy of the poster for you, if you could put this onto the CRS website that would be appreciated.

As you can see we have quite a few attractions and stands to keep people entertained including a traction engine and a 5 inch size engine, a 1936 Austin taxi (the only one west of Exeter), stationary engines, a vintage coach in the afternoon to link with 'Penryn Fair Day', a feast of stalls including 'Dynamite Valley Brewery' with their full range of beers.

We have been in contact with the relatives of the last two station masters Leonard Grose and Robert (Bob) Lamport, unfortunately the daughter of Leonard Grose could not make it this year but the daughter of Bob Lamport, Zara Radford, will at some point in the day be attending.

Our gala does however fall on the same day as one of the strikes (the dates for these were confirmed after all our arrangements had already been made), we hope that people can still try and make it in by bus or car/carshare. There is no parking at the station itself on the day because our galas now have to take place solely in the car park, but there is some parking in the immediate area and again bus and taxis are available.

Regards

Karl
Friends Of Penmere Station.

Apologies for the rather poor copy of the poster.

Peter Todd visits
Didcot and Oxford

Friends,

These are from another good friend of mine Peter Todd [quite surprising to some thatAs it was a sunny day, I set sail for Oxfordshire

The blue water tankers were parked in Didcot's station sidings. Why, who knows.

Freightliner 66525 southbound @ 1255 hours, Rep. No. 6C50. Oxford Banbury Road sidings to Whatley Quarries. Empties I suppose.

GWR 165 127 running into platform 3 to become the 1155 trip back to Didcot.

GWR 800 xxx southbound for Paddington @ 1131. No front cowlings and if you look closely on the right you will see a BTP officer doing his best to coax a distressed lady of the Chiltern Rly. tracks. He was successful. Apparently due to a signal fault in the London Area no Chiltern Trains were running anyway.

EWS 66140 southbound to Didcot with a short rake of car transporters @ 1153. Rep. No. 4Z20, Bescot to Didcot.

Freightliner 70011, southbound @ 1150, Rep. No 4090. Leeds FLT to Southampton Docks.

Two observations, these freight trains seem much longer than usual, fully loaded and impressive at speed. I understand, money has been spent in the docks at Southampton extending the loops and sidings to accommodate the longer trains.

Just as I arrived at Didcot in the morning a fully loaded Freightliner with 66552 at the head raced through Platform 2 at 70mph. The draft and noise were intimidating, and it is easy to understand how prams and wheelchairs can get dragged in.

Cheers, PeterTodd.

Didcot. 24th August 2023. Copyright Peter Todd

66525 Oxford. 24th August 2023. Copyright Peter Todd

165127 Oxford. 24th August 2023. Copyright Peter Todd

Oxford 802xx . 24th August 2023. Copyright Peter Todd

Oxford 66140. 24th August 2023. Copyright Peter Todd

Oxford 70011 240823. 24th August 2023. Copyright Peter Todd

Many thanks Peter for your excellent photographs and detailed notes.

The National Mesurement Train
with a refurbished Power Car completed by the S.D.R.
Mark Lynam Mick House Roger Winnen

230825a Power Car 43277 has been refurbised recently at the South Devon Raailway Buckfastleigh now runnning with the measurement train. Copyright Roger Winnen

230825b The Measurement train at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen

Mark Lynams contribution

. A rather scruffy 43299 on the leading end. to Penzance. Copyright Mark Lynam

. Today saw 43277 in it's new livery visit Cornwall for the first time on the 4-weekly NMT visit. It left shortly after to Longrock depot for fuel then went back up the line just before 13.30. Inline image 1. 43277 at Penzance about to go off to Longrock depot. Copyright Mark Lynam

After a long wait on Marazion bridge it finally made an appearance at 13.29 in the sunshine working 1Q18 0545 Reading Triangle Sidings to Paignton via Penzance. Copyright Mark Lynam

Mick House contribution

Seen passing Redruth on the downward journey to Penzance. Copyright Mick House

Seen passing throuth Redruth on route to Penzance. Copyright Mick House

24th August 2023
60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
The Golden Hind Slough to Plymouth and Return
Roger Winnen

230824a 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley arrives at Plymouth at 13.24 running just over 20 mins late on a Charter from Slough. Copyright Roger Winnen

230824d Sir Nigel Gresley of 1937 stands by our latest GWR trains built 80 years later. Copyright Roger Winnen

230824n Departre of the railtour to Slough at 16.18 hrs seen leaving Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

Click Here for more views of The Golden Hind Railtour in Railtours August 2023 Onwards

This week with
Mark Lynam

Below are a few photos taken this week, it's been good to see the sun again!
On Tuesday I went to Lostwithiel to see 950001 go down the Fowey branch then drove to Bodmin Parkway to get a train to Plymouth then spent to day on the Gunnislake branch.
Then Wednesday saw a GWR Castle set make a trip to Newquay, being swapped at Plymouth from an IET.

Thanks,
Mark Lynam

1. Network Rail test unit 950001 at Coulson Park in Lostwithiel returning from Fowey working 2Q08 0318 Plymouth to Penzance via Gunnislake, Parkandillack & Fowey. Tues 22nd August.. 950001 Coulson Park, Lostwithiel. Copyright Mark Lynam.

2. 150238 at Calstock crossing the impressive viaduct working 2G78 1119 Gunnislake to Plymouth. Tues 22nd August. Copyright Mark Lynam.

3. 150238 at Bere Alston working 2G80 1319 Gunnislake to Plymouth. Tues 22nd August. opyright Mark Lynam.

4 150238 at Gunnislake before working 2G82 1519 Gunnislake to Plymouth. Tues 22nd August. Copyright Mark Lynam.

5. 43094 + 43098 at Trencreek working 1C74 0904 London Paddington to Newquay (HST from Plymouth to Newquay). Copyright Mark Lynam.

6. 43098 + 43094 from the other end of the field at Trencreek for the return working 1A94 1455 Newquay to London Paddington (HST from Newquay to Plymouth). In the distance a new road is being constructed to link the Trencreek area of Newquay to the new and expanding community of Nansledan, which will crossover the Newquay branch. Copyright Mark Lynam.

And Thank you too Mark - a very good collection from two days out. You were lucky to catch the test train on the Fowey branch - nice refelction too.

Red at B.T.M.
Phil Smith

43123 dressed in Virgin red at Bristol Temple Meads in 2000, Copyright Phil Smith.

Many thanks Phil.

Bodmin North Railbus
Douglas Nicholls

Re your item on Bodmin North Rail Bus workings. I have the Wadebridge Traincrew Diagrams for Summer 1965. These were done by B.Braund at Plymouth Div.Office. He gave them to me with others when he retired from Paddington Diagram Office where we worked together. The Railbus (Diagram 91) workings shown were thus :-
Empty from St.Blazey MO to B.North. MX 0720 Empty from Wadebridge. Last SX 1750 B.North to Wadebridge Finish SO 1905 Empty Bodmin N to St.Blazey Hope that helps Doug Nicholls in WR Diagrams 1969 to 1999

Many thanks Douglas - hope you will keep them safe and sound.

Colours at Westbury
James Bown

I was at Castle Cary today and photographed the contrasting colours of SWT and GWR. The SWT service was running to Yeovil Pen Mill and then returning up the line on a rather circulatory route to London Waterloo via Westbury and Salisbury, quite a cross country service! Best wishes James Bown

158883 at Westbury. 24th August 2023. Copyright James Bown.

166296 at Westbury. Copyright James Bown.

Thanks James

24th August 2023

24/8/2023

Above and around
Parsons tunnel
Paul Barlow

An early finish from work today, so I took advantage of the nice weather.
A few shots from the sea wall at Parsons tunnel

Kind regards, Paul Barlow.

43239 43303 pass Sprey Point on the 06.06 Edinburgh to Plymouth 1V50 23rd August 2023 Copyright Paul Barlow

GWR Castle set 43027 43187 1050 Penzance to Cardiff approaches Parsons tunnnel on the 23rd of August 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow

43239 43303 emerge from Parsons Tunnel on the 0606 Edinburgh to Plymouth 23rd August 2023 Copyright Paul Barlow

What better place to be in - many thanks Paul.

Lyme Regis branch
Cannington viaduct
James Bown

Hi Keith This impressive structure of 203 yards long was made of mass concrete sections of which were were hauled up from The Cobb at Lyme Regis [over a mile away] by cableway, that must have been a fine sight. Due to Earth settlement during construction a diaphragm wall and a Jack arch were added to stabilise the line. It appears to be In reasonable condition considering the last trains ran over the structure in November 1965. Best wishes James Bown.

Cannington Viaduct 2023. Copyright James Bown.

Still after 58 years of disuse a remarkable structure - the 'Jack arch' adds to the interest. It would be extremely expensive to demolish. Many thanks John.

For further information please see https://sremg.org.uk/structures/struct_44.html

Swindon steam
Ken Mumford

Morning trip.
Change over from diesel to steam at Willesden took longer than planned - why??
Timings should have been there 0907 to 1007 , but actual timings were 0912 to 1056, therefore it left 49 LATE. Slough left 44 LATE, Reading 46 LATE, Challow (for water) 1139 to 1202 and actually left 48 LATE.
Swindon - was due to stop on the middle track but sped ast platform 4 37 LATE at 1306 with a 32 LATE arrival at Bristol (Temple Meads).

Kind regards, Ken (Mumford) - Swindon

45690 approaching Swindon. 23rd August 2023. Copyright Ken Mumford.

A very impressive shot of 45960 passing Swindon - return run. 23rd August 2023. Copyright Ken Mumford.

45960 passing Swindon and heading east. - return run. 23rd August 2023. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks Ken - it seems you had a unexpected wait at Swindon.

Train mad Grandad
You'll enoy this

If you were impressed with the pictures of Looe signalbox signs a couple of days ago here is a link to introduce you to the gentleman concerned - all I can say is that I wish he lived in or near Cornwall.

Grandad spends 30 years building working miniature railway in his back garden | Watch (msn.com)

23rd August 2023

23/8/2023

NINETEEN SIXTY TWO – PART 39
Michael L. Roach

6400-class Pannier Tank to Launceston
In the 1950s and up to the closure of the line at the end of 1962 passenger and freight trains between Plymouth and Launceston, via Tavistock South, were hauled almost exclusively by GWR prairie tanks in the 4500 and 4575 series. However between Plymouth and Tavistock South there more trains and more variety of motive power. The trains were mostly autotrains which meant that the coaches, normally one or two, were propelled one way and hauled the other. Most were worked by one of the 40 engines in the 6400-class of pannier tank of which Laira Shed normally had three with two being needed on most days. When none were available the autotrains could be worked by one of the prairie tanks of which Laira had 8 or 9 of the class, including some auto-fitted examples which had been displaced from the Welsh Valleys after they had been replaced by diesel multiple units in 1958. If no prairie tanks were available the train would be worked by a 5700-class pannier tank. The 6400-class never normally proceeded north of Tavistock to Lydford and Launceston.
On Saturday 18 August 1962 I decided to spend the afternoon photographing trains in the woods to the west of Lydford Station where the line was descending at a constant gradient of 1 in 55 or 1 in 57 for more than four miles to the station at Coryton. Heavy earthworks were necessary with high embankments and deep cuttings through rock. It is hard to see why the line was brought this way to reach an elevation of 700 feet AOD on the edge of Dartmoor when a direct route from Lifton to Tavistock would have saved at least four miles of track and served the villages of Chillaton and Lamerton leaving the LSWR to serve Lydford and Mary Tavy. My first port of call was at milepost 21¾ (measured from Tavistock Junction); approximately 2¼ miles west of Lydford. I recorded that the train in scan 7296 was on a 70 foot (20 metre) high embankment and I was standing on the top of a 25 feet (8 metre) high cutting. After capturing 4570 with two coaches I moved further east a quarter of a mile to milepost 21½ to see the 12.14pm SO train come down the bank running a few minutes late. It was most unusual for me to record comments like this but the train was recorded as “belting along,” and it can be seen in scans 7298 and 7300 that 1/250 of a second has not quite stopped the train. The two corridor coaches (one in chocolate and cream, and one in maroon) were being hauled by a 6400-class pannier, the first and only time I ever saw one between Tavistock and Launceston. It was quite a strange feeling to see 6400 on this stretch of line.
The 6400-class were visually very similar to the 5700-class standard pannier tanks, with many dimensions being similar or identical (e.g. length, width, height, driving wheel diameter). The main differences were that the cylinder diameter was one inch less on the 6400s and the boiler pressure was 165psi against 200psi. The 6400s had a lot less power, but enough for what they were designed for which was autotrains up to four coaches long. British Railways rated the 6400s as 2P; while the 5700s were rated 3F. In reality BR used the standard pannier tank as a 3MT (mixed traffic) engine, and they were used as the standard passenger engine on many branch lines all over the Western Region, including some longer routes like the 47 miles from Newport to Brecon. The 6400s always appeared lower and squatter than the standard pannier and they were with the boiler pitch being 3-inch (76mm) lower. The real giveaway was the taller chimney on the 6400s.
The 12.14pm SO from Plymouth was due to arrive Launceston at 1.47pm; and it might have been expected that the engine off the 1.47 arrival would have worked back on the 2.05pm SO Launceston to Plymouth passenger train except that it didn't as the 2.05pm was worked by the engine that had worked out on the daily goods from Tavistock Junction. This left the engine off the 12.14 to return with the Launceston to Tavistock Junction goods train enabling the freight train crew to shorten their day after a very early start. It would be interesting to see what would happen on this day in view of the fact that a pure passenger loco, 6400, with less tractive effort had arrived on the 12.14 from Plymouth.

.MLR / 17 August 2023

Gallery pictures - please click on image to obtain framed enlargement.
All pictures copyright Michael L. Roach.

7296 4570 rounds the curve at milepost 21¾ with the 12.40pm SO Launceston to Plymouth. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

7298 6400 with two corridor coaches (one in maroon and one in chocloate & cream) belting downhil at milepost 21½ with the 12.14pm SO Plymouth to Launceston. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

7300 A much cropped scan of the negative used in the previous image. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

7301 4574 (unusually not bunker first) crossing the river just west of Coryton Halt with the 2.05pm SO Launceston to Plymouth and the same two corridor coaches as seen earlier.. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Many many thanks indeed Michael - as usual full of interest.

Services to
Bodmin North
David Mitchell

Having seen Simon Shreeve's query and read Rob Lomas' reply I've been digging through my large collection of passenger timetables to see if I could resolve this. I was confident that I had the 15/6/64 WR timetable and was pleasantly surprised to find within it, a small booklet of Alterations effective from the start of the timetable; these mostly comprise a long list of individual items, but three pages show the completely recast Table 75 Bodmin Road to Padstow service! I've scanned and attach these pages which show that the weekday service between Bodmin North and Boscarne merely comprised four return trips, meaning that the railbus completed approximately fifteen revenue-earning miles daily - no wonder BR was losing a fortune at that time! As the service started and ended at Bodmin North each day I assume that it was stabled there overnight - can anyone confirm? As there wasn't a Sunday service presumably the Railbus went to St Blazey for fuelling etc. I've also got the 7/9/64 supplement which shows that the weekday service now included a 17.50 Bodmin North to Wadebridge through train. As there wasn't a return service, perhaps the railbus stabled at Wadebridge and worked ECS to Bodmin the following morning to start the service - a sight of the WTT would be interesting...

Speaking of which, my collection of WTTs prior to 1970 is extremely meagre, but I can also answer Mr Shreeve's other query regarding the Tavistock to Lifton goods service as I do have a copy the WTT of Local Freight Trips effective 15/6/64 and I attach a scan of Plymouth Turn 996 which covered this job.

Regards
David Mitchell

Table 75 Revised Part 1. Copy supplied by David Mitchell

Table 75 Revised Part 2. Copy supplied by David Mitchell

Table 75 Revised Part 3 Copy supplied by David Mitchell

Very many thanks David for your full and detailed reply. Those are invaluable copies of the timetables.

Additional info concerning railbus overnight stays.
Bodmin North
Roy Hart

Dear Keith,

I can confirm that the railbus was stabled at Bodmin North on weeknights. I recall being in Lostwithiel box one Saturday night when the unusual bell code 3-1-3 was received from Bodmin Road. This was the railbus returning to St Blazey. All signallers were warned about these trips as the railbus frequently failed to operate track circuits.
One other point: I guess that Boscarne exchange platform was the very last rail installation to be fitted new with oil lamps!

Roy Hart.

Good to hear from you Roy - many thanks for that info.

Rocks Latest &
Aerial Views.
Phil Hadley

20th August 2023. Copyright Phil Hadley

Dear Keith,
Many thanks for the plug for my exhibition at the West of England. Please find attached two photos taken this evening at the road entrance to Rocks at Bugle as Hunslet was being taken away by low-loader. She's obviously finished her stint at the Rocks sidings but I have no idea where she's going.

Also, I don't know if you've picked up on the media reports last week of Historic England making available many of the USAAF aerial reconnaissance photographs from their training missions over the UK in 1943 and 1944. The photos have been available through the US archives previously but they've created a useful tool to make them more accessible to a UK audience. Being US government property and over 70 years old the copyright has expired under UK law, although Historic England don't tell you that - they just say they are free to use for non-commercial use. Anyway, they have released a small number of locations in Cornwall so I have gone through them and selected and cropped those which show railway features in the county. I have zoomed in to get the best shots of each location from the original photos which cover several square miles at a time. I will attach them to this email as I thought they may be of interest to your members and website viewers. You may want to create a feature on them or drip feed them on your latest page. I leave it up to you how you use them. If you create a feature and want an introductory blurb I can supply one - rather than this rambling explanation! The file names will give you the location and the date the photo was taken. I think you'll find them fascinating.

You can find the originals here by zooming into Cornwall on their map, clicking on a box to open the photo.
Baseball and Bombers: USAAF Reconnaissance Photography During the Second World War | Historic England

All the best,
Phil

As usual, Many thanks Phil for your picture of the latest movement from Rocks and also for more details of that link and copies of the pictures therefrom.

Silverton
David Tozer

The 1115 3Q98 St Blazey to Margam taken at Silverton.

Dave

66701,66304 Silverton 22nd August 2023. Copyright David Tozer

66304 22nd August 2023 Copyright David Tozer

Many thanks Dave - a nice spot.

Lostwithiel report
Andrew Jones

Dear Keith and Valerie, Well three railway venues in a week is a record for me!
Diane and my oldest daughter Amber decided to swim in the Penzance outdoor pool which gave me an opportunity to drop them off at Lostwithiel and fill in some memories and soon to be lost images of this wonderful station.
There is a team of volunteers that deserve huge praise for their efforts with the flower beds and hanging baskets if only BR realised that railways require the human touch and at least retained perhaps one working signal box and semaphores in the Duchy.
I couldn’t send all the 114 photographs I took today but attach just a few. Lovely to meet Roger a true stalwart of CRS.
Very best wishes Andrew and Diane

Lostwithiel 22nd Aug 2023 2C65 from Gloucester minus nose cone at 11.30. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

Lostwithiel 22nd Aug 2023 2U20 castle class 43097 and 43040 to Cardiff Ce... 12.01..Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

Lostwithiel 22nd Aug 2023 2U20 43040 with dedicated 40th anniversary Falkland nameplate Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

Lostwithiel 22nd Aug 2023 6G09 The new order there was a lengthy turn arou... 13.46 Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

Lostwithiel 22nd Aug 2023 CRS Top photographer RW was on hand to record procedings Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

Lostwithiel 22nd Aug 2023 How things change in just two weeks. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

I see you escaped a good swim but nevertheless had a good afternoon with an eminent personality. Well done.

Dear Keith, Please find additional photographs of the Clay..22nd August 2023, I didn’t realise the significance of this movement and by the time I had finished filming Roger had gone to catch the shipment at Golant.

Please click on a picture to see an enlargement - all are copyright of Andrew Jones

Thanks for the bonus collection Andrew.

Laira Report
Trevor Tremethick

Hi Keith and Roger

Just for interest’s sake, we find the yard completely empty as I type this, except for two power cars on the sidings by Embankment Road. Driving past, these appear to be 43093 Berkeley Castle and 43188 Newport Castle. Some signs of activity within the depot buildings.

There is still a lone power car in green livery over on the old steam shed site, too far away for identification.

Regards, Trevor Tremethick.

Sad but true, many thanks for your observations Trevor as the HST era at Laira draws to a close.

Penzance report
Andrew Triggs

Two shots of Network Rail no.950001 on Oil 2 siding, arrival at 09.48 earlier in the day as 2Q08 03.18 Plymouth-Penzance, having visited Gunnislake, Parkandillack and Fowey Docks branches on the journey west
All the Best
Andrew
1. At 17.00, in glorious Summer light
2. At 21.00, as darkness falls

Many thanks Andrew - a lovely day.

22nd August 2023

22/8/2023

The Clay to Fowey today runs with its maximan load of sixteen JIA wagons
Point problems at Lostwithiel causes delays
Tony Shore Roger Winnen

230822e 66199 arrives at Lostwithiel with the 13.03 Goonbarrow to Fowey Docks with a maximan loading of 16 JIA wagons. Copywright Roger Winnen

230822f This is the first time that a load of sixteen of these wagons have run on the branch. Copyright Roger Winnen

230822g With point problems at Loswithiel the train was unable to run around, after a few minutes the train pushed back into the down main stopping at Loswithiel Signal Box to pull forward to access the down loop for the engine to run around. Copyright Roger Winnen

Crossing the crossing at Lostwithiel with JIA wagons sixteen of these replaces a 38 wagon trains of CDAs Copyright Tony Shore

The high level photograph of the Clay arriving at Golant. Copyright Tony Shore

Looking down on the clay. Copyright Tony Shore

230822j A dash to Golant was made just intime to witness the train arriving with a load of 16 JIA wagons. Copyright Roger Winnen

230822k The Clay at the pretty village of Golant. Copyright Roger Winnen

230822l After 66199 arrivalr at Golant. to wet our whistle we adjourn to the Fishermans Arms. Copyright Roger Winnen

The Weedkiller returns home to South Wales
David Tozer Roger Winnen

230822a 66701 hauls the weedkiler from St Blazey to Margam today. I believe it was a wasted journey coming down as no spraying was done. Copyright Roger Winnen

230822b 66701 awaits departure from Par just after 11.00hrs this morning. Copyright Roger Winnen

230822c Tailing the train was 66304. Copyright Roger Winnen

230822d Going around the bend as a signal was pulled off for a Penzance train. Copyright Roger Winnen

The Weedkiller at Silverton David Tozer

66701,66304 Silverton 22.8.2023 Copyright David Tozer

66304 22.8.2023 Copyright David Tozer

Many Thanks David

Calstock & Chilsworth
Howard Sprenger

Herewith a selection from Calstock and Chilsworthy taken on various dates in the 1970s and early '80s. That completes my collection from the Callington branch - I'll see what else I might be able to come up with next! I particularly enjoyed the Isle of Wight and Chard photos on the site recently.

Best regards, Howard.

Calstock station 18th August 1977. Copyright Howard Sprenger.

Calstock viaduct. 18th August 1977 Copyright Howard Sprenger.

Calstock Viaduct 18th August 1977. Copyright Howard Sprenger

Chilsworthy June 1972 (1) Copyright Howard Sprenger.

Chilsworthy June 1972 (2) Copyright Howard Sprenger.

50041 Bulwark
at Plymouth
Michael Adams

Roger, here is a nice nostalgic shot by Michael Adams of 50041 ‘Bulwark’ at Plymouth on18 June 1981 with the Penzance to Glasgow service.. Thanks, Michael Copyright Michael Adams

Many Thanks Michael

Cowes Isle of Wight
Michael Forward

Hello Roger,I hope you are well and I see you have been out and about. Nice pictures on the Island which prompted me to dig out this one I took at Cowes station on my only visit in steam days on14 August 1962. It shows O2 number 31 ‘Chale Copyright Michael Forward

Many Thanks Michael

Powderham
David Ive

Good Morning Keith,

I hope you are well.

On Saturday DB Cargo operated a 6Z73 1432 Exeter Riverside to Par service. This brought down the empty clay wagons from Cliffe Vale, Stoke, but the consist also included 5 JGA type hopper wagons and 2 additional JIA type clay tankers (all immediately behind the loco), which had been in store at Long Marston. These 7 wagons are to augment the wagon fleet for Clay operations, following withdrawal of the CDAs. The train terminated in Lostwithiel Down Goods Loop and recessed there over the weekend, continuing to St Blazey early this morning. Attached is my image of 6Z73, with 66190 in charge, taken at Powderham Footbridge. I hope that it is of interest.

Kind regards, David Ive.

66190 at Powderham footbridge, CDA 19th August 2023 Copyright David Ive.

Many thanks David - the bright red loco makes for a fine picture and thanks for the detail too.

A very fine collection of signalbox signs nameboards local, to us
Signalbox Nameboards
Peter Murnaghan

Keith and Roger,
I hope you're both keeping well. I particularly enjoyed the cab ride in the Western.
My good friend, Brian Oldham, has sent me this link, which you might like to share on the website. It's in the Daily Mail, so is in the public domain. The chap has an enviable selection of local signs on his shed. Shame he's up in the west Midlands, rather than local.
All the best, Peter Murnaghan.

Wherever the signs are preserved it's a good job they are being cared for.

I understand the gentleman is 83 - younger than KJ - he has accumulated a wonderful collection. Many thanks to Peter for sending in the picture.

A short interval at
St Columb Road
Andrew and Diane Jones

Dear Keith and Valerie,
Unusually I was passing St Columb Road station today in time to witness the 11.18 1A86 Newquay to Paddington express.
Formed of 9 coaches operating as 800304.
Its been some while since I last used this station which unusually has a substantial car park and is free of charge, so when Cornwall returns to normality I think I may return for a trip down to Par.
From the Newquay end of the station you can just spy out the minor road level crossing which various local sources call ‘Cuckoo crossing’ or ‘Halloon’ which I remember as a child watching the gate keeper controlling the traffic from the adjacent tiny cottage.
As I write this article I note that 800304 is now approaching Tiverton Parkway and is running 10 minutes late, but in context I think Brunel would have been pleased with an expected arrival time in Paddington at around 16.30 some 5 hours from Newquay!
There was a gentleman patiently waiting to board the train at St Columb and was dumb founded when it didn’t stop, which given the short period it would have required having slowed for the level crossing seems a little unreasonable in my opinion and another customer lost to National Express which he muttered, head down passing me at a pace.

Very best wishes Andrew and Diane

St Columb Road 800304 heading to the Metropolis, The help point is the human contact. 21st August 2023. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

St Columb Road is but a shadow of its fomer self. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

St Columb Road looking towards Par. 21st August 2023. Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

St Columb Road the lonely level crossing. 21st August 2023 Copyright Andrew and Diane Jones.

A very pleasant time to be at St Columb Road - many thanks to Andrew & Diane though not if you want to catch a train!!

Polbathick
Chris Harvey

Please find attached a shot from the summer of eight years ago. On 15th August 2015, 57 602 is captured from the Polbathic Road overbridge, between Trerulefoot and St Germans, in charge of the 1125 Par - Plymouth.

No doubt some CRS members were onboard!

Best Regards,

Chris Harvey
Bodmin

57602 'Restormel Castle' seen at Polbathic. 15th August 2015 Copyright ChrisHarvey

Many thanks Chris - a good vantage point.

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