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Hayle viaduct Roger Winnen

30/9/2012

Roger Winnen has been to take a look at the works taking place on Hayle viaduct. It has previously been reported that strengthening work was taking place on four of the piers. A visit today found that on the four piers on which work has been being carried out a new concrete foundation has been constructed to above ground level around the piers. This has so far reached a height of 2' to 3' feet above the surface. Holes have been drilled through the piers concerned through which a number of RSJ's have been fed. Presumably once the RSJ's have been so positioned as to take some of the weight the area around them will be surrounded in concrete to provide a permanent support.

Further to this Roger reports that there are notices advising the public of possible severe delays on the nearby roads overnight on 2nd to the 5th October 2012. Quite what work will be carried out at this time is unknown at present.

Roger Salter visited the viaduct on 3October12 and kindly sent along these photographs which serve well to illustrate the description provided by Roger Winnen. Many thanks to you both.

Bodmin and Wenford 2nd Gen DMU By Roger Winnen

30/9/2012

Roger reported that yesterday 29th September 2012 that eight trips between Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction were operated by a 'hired in', unit 150 263. Other services were hauled by 33110, 47306 Sapper, 50042 Triumph and 08044

Many thanks to Bernard Mills for the first picture I have of this event.

Steam on the Looe branch Nov 4th & 11th 2012.

27/9/2012

Derek Buttivant has kindly forwarded this information to me today

I expect you have heard via other sources that there are to be special workings of the Didcot GW Railmotor on the Looe branch in November. Just in case you haven't heard and would like to publish details on the CRS web site, all the information, including the timetable, is in the attachment.
Trains are planned at 08.30, 10.30, 12.30, 14.30 & 16.30 on Sundays 4th and 11th November 2012.

Ticket sales are being handled by Ticket Web: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user?query=search&region=xxx&category=misc&search=rail+motor

Rosevidney an interesting interlude by Roger Salter

26/9/2012

Roger out for an afternoon stroll got these images - many thanks.

Oliver Cromwell Incident Brought to our attention by John Roberts

22/9/2012

I am most grateful to John Roberts for bringing to our attention a report on an incident which occurred on a locomotive familiar to us in Cornwall. 70013 Oliver Cromwell. Go to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch Website using this link and you will be able to download this most interesting report.

Timber Train By Roger Winnen

20/9/2012

Roger visited Newton Abbot today and reports that the Heathfield to Chirk Timber Train was hauled by 56 094 in Corlas Livery.
It is understood that this train is to become a weekly event the empty stock working down on the Wednesday and departing on the Thursday.
The locomotive was stabled overnight in the Heathfield Bay at Newton Abbot.

Further to the above news item We are very pleased to receive the following as blogg comment from Tony Hill. Colas Rail Freight operated a trial run of a Class 56 (vice cl 66) on their full timber diagram which includes each week workings to Britton Ferry Wales, Teignbridge Devon and Ribblehead Cumbria. On the 19th September Class 56 No.56094 worked the 6Z52 10:35 Gloucester New Yard - Teignbridge (via Heathfield to run round) with the empty bogie wagons(usually 15) prior to working the return loaded train to Chirk on Thurs 20th September.

Thank you for the additional information Tony - do you have any photographs of the train please?

Just received today are these pictures taken by Mike Roach on 6th and 19th September 2012. In these he has caught both a 66 and a 56 on this service. Many thanks for these interesting shots. 23September12

Walking the Tavistock line, Clearbrook to Marsh Mills plus steam at Plymouth 15th September 2012

16/9/2012

The party assembled outside the station to await the arrival of the 10.15 number 83 Tavistock bus. We travelled to Clearbrook Cross on the bus and made our way down a steep hill through Clearbrook Village and onto the trackbed. The walk, which was undertaken in good weather was a total of 6.5 miles.

Penzance Refurbishment Pictures by Roger Salter

16/9/2012

Three very fine shots of the work which as taken place at our terminus. Roger says :- Here are three shots of the new Pz station. They are now going to start on the roof. Is it me or has logic gone out of the window?

An interlude with Roger Geach - Sunday 9 September 12

12/9/2012

Cornishman Roger Geach was back in Kernow for the weekend of the 8th and 9th September 2012. The Sunday in particular was not a nice day, however, Roger got some very good results with his camera as he ranged about his home district. Many thanks to you Roger for sending in your work.

Dawlish Footbridge Renewal

12/9/2012

DAWLISH STATION TO GET NEW PLASTIC FOOTBRIDGE

Appreciation to Network Rail Media Centre for this information

Thursday 07 Sep 2012 00:00

Work is due to start this month on the new footbridge for Dawlish railway station as part of a £1m improvement project.

Contractors BAM Nuttall intend to begin preparatory works this month. The existing footbridge will be removed on 7 October and the new footbridge will be installed on 14 October. Completion for the whole scheme is expected to be end-November 2012.

Network Rail’s route asset manager for buildings, Simon Gyde said: “The renewal of Dawlish Station footbridge is driven by the asset condition and safety. The existing footbridge was last reconstructed in 1937, using steel girders taken from Park Royal Station.

“Despite numerous repair schemes being carried out, the bridge suffers from the harsh marine environment, and now has significant areas of corrosion to the main girders and roof structure with poor protective paintwork and rotten timber decking.”

The footbridge will be the second fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) footbridge to be installed on the Western Route. The first was at St Austell in Cornwall in October 2007.

Plastic is being used because the steelwork of the existing footbridge has been badly corroded by the harsh marine weather conditions. The timber decking has rotted and the protective paintwork has broken down.

The plastic components are being supplied by Pipex Ltd, the Plymouth-based structural composites manufacturer, replicating the style of the original steel bridge at the grade 2 listed station.

Network Rail’s engineers considered a number of alternatives, including a complete refurbishment and strengthening scheme using traditional materials, before deciding to completely replace the existing footbridge with a plastic FRP structure.

Not only will the manufactured mouldings replicate the existing style of the original steel bridge - even down to plastic rivet heads - but it will be better able to withstand the harsh marine environment along the Dawlish seafront.

When finished, the footbridge will be painted Admiral Gray in keeping with the rest of the station. The new structure will be lighter and easier to install and will require considerably less maintenance than the footbridge it replaces.

While the work is taking place, a footbridge diversion will be in operation from the town end of the railway station. Local residents, businesses and Dawlish Town Council will be kept informed of the plans throughout the work.

The footbridge diversion will use the subway and the ramp leading to platform 2. If there is severe weather, contingency plans will be put in place to lead passengers over the Barrow level crossing.

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