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A very RARE OPPORTUNITY - visit to IMERYS Installations

21/10/2013

On Friday 22nd November a visit, or rather tour around the China Clay district has been arranged by Maurice Dart in conjunction with Ivo Bowditch of IMERYS. The itinerary and timings are as detailed below.
The cost will be that of the hire of the transport divided amongst the party plus a small donation to a charity chosen by IMERYS. It looks like we already have numbers in excess of a minibus so a coach will be provided.

Please contact Maurice Dart by post to the address below enclosing an A5 stamped address envelope for a reply. You can phone Maurice Dart on 01726 65479 if you wish.

A pasty can be ordered for our lunch stop - please state whether you would like a meat or cheese pasty.

Mr. M.E.J. Dart, 40, Chapel Field, Bethel, St Austell, Cornwall. PL25 3ES

Engineering work at Penzance - Extensive coverage by Roger Salter

20/10/2013

Keith,
What a morning ,dark start,thunder,lightning,torrential rain,strong winds and in the end sunshine,all we needed was hail & snow!!
Roger Salter Many thanks Roger for your persistence - well done.

First light, what a wild morning it would be weatherwise. DR73907 tamps the track at Ponsandane bridge. Penzance. 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

A view from Ponsandane footbridge of the tamper at work. 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

DR73907 giving a problem at Eastern Green Penzance during tamping work on 20th October 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

Passing the site of Ponsandane Signal Box, with the rear wall still standing 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

43145 at rear of unusual movement at Long Rock leaving to start service to Paddington from St Erth because of line possession 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

The tamping machine heads for the station. 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Chy-an -Dour bridge. Working on line to Slopers Siding 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Chy -an-Dour bridge track maintenance 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

DR73907 in Penzance after tamping early morning outside Penzance 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Starting to renew sections of rail at platform 4, Penzance. 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Track renewal at platform 4 Penzance 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Getting to grips - Track renewal at platform 4 Penzance 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Work continues on points just outside platform 4, Penzance station 20th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

On a dismal day Roger Winnen

20/10/2013

Two 143's at Dawlish. Waiting for the R.H.T. Train, which for some inexplicable reason never turned up! 19th October 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Latest Post from Craig Munday

20/10/2013

One of the advantages of being a signalman on Network Rail is that one gets the chance to visit spots prohibited to us mere mortals and to gain those shots we'd all like to gain, had we the opportunities. However through the camera of Craig we can at least see the views we'd like to be able to take. Many thanks Craig for pictures taken at St Austell during last weekends operations.

An HST set arrives and its passengers leave the train to join onward road transit. Sunday 13th October 2013 Copyright Craig Munday

The HST then moved forward and takes the point onto the siding - this line at one time led to St Austell goods yard.13th October 2013. Copyright Craig Munday

With the crossover points set to transfer to the down line the HST cautiously finds it way across. The ground frame controlling the crossover is in the foreground. 13th October 2013. Copyright Craig Munday

16th October 2013. The RHTT crossing St Pinnock viaduct - its already looking quite weathered compared with last weeks pictures. Copyright Craig Munday

66081 on the up clay at Par. 17th October 2013 Copyright Craig Munday

The railhead treatments train RHTT in charge of 66187 and 66074.17th October 2013 Copyright Craig Munday

The end of an era? Roger Salter

20/10/2013

Dear Keith,
With the disappointing rumours that the fuel train is coming to an end, meaning we have no freight this side of Burngullow I braved the poor weather and dark morning to take what might be the penultimate shots at Long Rock Depot. The light levels were very poor and the SE gale from the sea didn't help.What we do for that photograph!!!
Regards Roger
Many thanks for the news and pictures Roger - I hope that the rumours are incorrect but very sad if it is true.

08410 links up with the empty fuel tanks for nearly the last time at Long Rock depot. 18th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

On a dark, wet October early morning 08410 pulls the empty fuel tanks out ready for the new shipment. Long Rock depot 18th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

08410 pushes the empties ready for 66122 to arrive with the full tanks. Long Rock Depot 18th October 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

66122 arrives past the closed Mexico Level Crossing to enter Long Rock for nearly the last time. 18th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

At 09.17 with the improved light levels the empty fuel train passes Marazion March. 18th October 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

A little bit further on the penultimate journey Roger Winnen snaps the oil empties. 18th March 2013 Copyright

And just last week in sunnier weather a picture from Craig Munday

66167 at Dowgas with the returning empties. 11th October 2013 Copyright Craig Munday

Victorian gala - Bodmin & Wenford Roger Salter

15/10/2013

Roger Salter attended the Bodmin & Wenford's Victorian weekend gala on Saturday 12th October 2013. He has sent us all these excellent photographs of what must have been a grand day.

Bodmin General Shed - preparing for the Victorian Weekend 12th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

GWR Special Saloon No. 9044 just outshopped after restoration. Bodmin General 12th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

0-6-0 PT 5700 class No. 4612 at Bodmin General 12th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

At the Bodmin and Wenford Victorian Themed Gala 12th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Hauling stock to prepare for the first trip of the day to Boscarne. 12th October 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

The old and not so new at Bodmin General. The Victorian Coach awaits the road to the station 12th October 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

METROPOLITAN RAILWAY 'E' CLASS 0-4-4T NO1 BUILT NEASDEN 1898 AT BODMIN GENERAL 12/10/13 Metropolitain Railway 'E' Class 0-4-4 No. 1. Built at Neasden in 1898. Seen here at Bodmin General 12th October 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

What a lovely shot. Beattie Well Tank hauls the newly restored Victorian Special Saloon from Boscarne to Bodmin General 12th October 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

Oh dear! Quarry Curve Bridge has at last been hit. 12th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

MET 1 & 30120 Leaving Bodmin Parkway for Bodmin General 12th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Look out, it's on top of you!!! On the way to Bodmin Parkway. 12th October 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Camborne platform electronic indicators Mike Hitchens

15/10/2013

Mike Hitchens reports that electronic indicators, showing current and expected arrivals/departures, have been installed on both platforms of Camborne railway station.

He wonders if they will show that certain trains do indeed belong to stop there on Wednesdays.

Autumn Sunshine Craig Munday

11/10/2013

Morning Keith
Couldn't resist the fab sunshine this morning so headed down to deepest mid Cornwall to get the tanks and 1A81 near Coombe. Thew loco was 66176

Have a great weekend. There's engineering on this weekend so trains start / terminate at St Austell Sunday. I'm on the Ground Frame from Sunday evening. Eastbound trains terminate at Bodmin Parkway, run empty to Lostwithiel & crossover to restart services at Bodmin.
Craig Many thanks for your pictures and info Craig. Much appreciated as usual

Todays empties returning east not long ago. A nice picture at Dowgas in the Coombe Valley. 11th October 2013. Copyright Craig Munday.

Overcrowded Trains - try this website Trevor Goldsworthy

8/10/2013

Trevor has kindly sent in this website - try it if you think our trains are overcrowded. Many thanks Trevor.

http://safeshare.tv/w/vwncRciSFb

Rogers Report Roger Winnen

8/10/2013

Hello Keith, Went down to the station hoping to see the railhead treatment train, but after speaking to Craig on the mobile,he said it was still in St Blazey depot 60 mins after departure time. Also it may only do alternate evenings, so I will be kept on edge. Anyway I took a few photos, I believe that the Aberdeen-Penzance must be the most travelled mileage train in the country which amounts to 776.5 miles according to the timetable.
All the best, Roger Many thanks Roger

57604 awaits departure of The Night Riviera. 7th October 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

A Voyager forms the 22.08 service to Plymouth. 7th October 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Voyagers side by side, left 08.20 from Aberdeen and right 09.00 Glasgow-Pz. 21.50 on 7th October 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

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