Blog Archives

Penwithers Points failure Report by Roger Winnen

30/10/2012

Roger Winnen reported that Railfreight 66's 66547 & 66557 were busy on the Falmouth branch with ballast operations in the Sparnick tunnel area.
Problems were experienced with a failure of the points at Penwithers Junction which resulted in the departure of the 18.47 Truro to Penzance service being delayed by 70 minutes.

Railhead Treatment Train in daylight By Roger Salter.

29/10/2012

Thought you might like these photos of RHTT train I took yesterday afternoon.Because the Falmouth branch is closed this week this was a rare occasion when we see it this far west in the daylight,albeit getting duller by the minute,as the clocks had altered Sunday morning!!

Great News - on the grapevine from Tony Wright

27/10/2012

Hi Keith,

I have it on good authority, though I am not allowed to reveal my source, that the re-signalling of the main line in Cornwall has again been postponed indefinitely on cost grounds. So we can look forward to our semaphore signals and our remaining signal boxes, for a few more years yet.

Tony Wright

Tony Hill sent in this comment with which I think we would all agree. Excellent news for train reliability and passenger satisfaction if this means these Cornish Mech boxes will remain beyond 2025-30 (the envisaged dates for transfer of signal control to the Didcot Mega box and thus closure of SBs in Cornwall & elsewhere on the Western).

Remember Mechanical Signalling has a place on a non intensive railway and is far more reliable than costly high tech rapidly superseded and prone to satellite hazarded stuff worked by highly paid people sitting unhealthily at a desk all day looking at screens and using a mouse etc !

Railmotor on Looe branch Tickets still available

26/10/2012

Just a reminder that this unit is visiting the Looe branch on the Sunday's of the 4th & 11th November. There are still tickets available for the 08:30 & 16:30 departures for both days according to the website. £25.00 each. From Mike

Try, try, try again. RHTT Craig Munday

20/10/2012

After a black cloud spoiled previous attempt Craig returned again on 19th October 2012 to get this superb view of this seasonal train from a slightly higher elevation.

Phototographers Nightmare! RHTT by Craig Munday

18/10/2012

On a good sunny day, having made the trip to Largin Viaduct to take pictures of the Rail Head Treatment Train Craig got into position for a photograph and took a trial shot of the viaduct in the sun. However, as frequently happens, a big black cloud blocked out the sun for the crucial shot. Still despite the lack of sun a nice picture was obtained with a healthy spray coming off the trailing vehicle. A trip back down the valley saw an up HST crossing Clinnick viaduct in the sun. N.B. Craig has an article on RHTT's in the Articles section of this site - well worth a read.

How was your weekend? Craig Munday tells us about his.

17/10/2012

For people on shift work, this question can often make you scream. My last one (Saturday 13th, Sunday 14th and Monday 15th October 2012) was eventful to say the least, and I travelled extensively too!
I was booked to work an afternoon shift at Par signalbox, but due to a last minute shift change, I was requested to cover the morning shift at Roskear too. This resulted in a 12 hour shift for both Saturday & Sunday, as I was already covering Penzance all day. I made it to Roskear and sent the grateful night man home who'd exceeded his shift. It was a sunny morning, and I recorded a couple of photos of the trains passing.

At 1pm I travelled back up the A30 to Roche and across to Par to start the afternoon shift there till 6pm (18.00). The green liveried class 153 was working the branch service to Newquay. The two class 66s 66094 & 011 passed through the station after 15.00 heading back to St Blazey after their overnight rounds spraying the rails between Penzance & Westbury, plus the branches. The shift passed uneventfully, and I had an early night for my trip down to Penzance for 7am Sunday.

The Sunday shift is a long one, and surprisingly busy. The units that arrive all end up on different workings, so care must be taken regarding platforming. The platform plan is formulated using the Gemini information (allocations). This included the yard full of units when I arrived, including a defective 150102 which had failed the day before on the Falmouth branch. The plan was sorted and faxed down to the station. It was basically HST (FGW Paddington services in plat 1), units in plats 3/4 and Voyagers in 2 and elsewhere. It is common for almost every DMU working to be exchanged for others before departure, and there was a "5-pack" class 150, class 153, class 150 combo which was quite impressive. An extra working was scheduled in for a 10.30 departure, 150102 (the defective unit from the Falmouth branch). This departed after noon due to driver issues.

I have included the Monday morning as a postscript, as the class 08 shunter number 08410 scuttled in to take the "Night Riviera" stock to Long Rock. I have included some pictures taken to show this veteran 350hp loco in front line action.

All in all, a busy 48 hours, with me on duty for 24 of them and three boxes covered too.

Many thanks Craig for this insight into a very busy weekend and also for the pictures.

Railmotor on Bodmin & Wenford Roger Salter

14/10/2012

Over the weekend of 12th, 13th, and 14th October the Railmotor built at Swindon in 1908 performed a number of journeys from Bodmin General to both Bodmin Parkway and also to Boscarne. As can be seen from this excellent set of pictures kindly provided by Roger Salter the Railmotor was a particularly tight fit at Bodmin Parkway.

Lostwithiel Freights Craig Munday

9/10/2012

Autumnal colours appear in Craigs latest pictures of freight passing through Lostwithiel station. Many thanks Craig

More on Class 150 on the B & W

8/10/2012

Many thanks to our magazine editor, Keith Lloyd, who has sent in proof that 150 263 covered virtually all the metals of the B & W during its visit. Thinking about it, it is amazing that a common FGW unit should cause such interest. Perhaps the rural branch lines on the national network should also make a practice of hiring in heritage units?

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