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A brilliant morning at Forder By Ron Westwater

14/10/2014

Hi Keith One of these marvellous high tide/low wind mornings at Forder.
66117 TnT 66168 cross Forder Viaduct with the 3J13 07:50 Taunton-St.Blazey Pic 9594 is taken by the assistant manning the tripod.
Last pic is a FGW 150 crossing the viaduct on the 0927 St James Park to Penzance
All the best Ron Many thanks Ron

66117 TnT 66168 cross Forder Viaduct with the 3J13 07:50 Taunton-St.Blazey. Time for reflection at 09.48 Copyright Ron Westwater

A second view of 66117 TnT 66168 crossing Forder Viaduct with the 3J13 07:50 Taunton-St.Blazey. Taken by Ron Westwater's assistant. Copyright

FGW 150 crossing the viaduct on the 0927 St James Park to Penzance taken at 10.55 14th October 2014 Copyright Ron Westwater

Heavy Reading - spotted by David Tozer

13/10/2014

Keith, Came across this on the First Great Western Coffee Shop website.
Some heavy reading on a miserable day.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/planning-policies-and-plans/long-term-planning-process/route-studies/

Regards Dave Many thanks for advising us of this document

RHTT visits to Falmouth branch today 12th October 2014

12/10/2014

Received minutes ago
Hi Keith Today 12-10-2014 on the Falmouth branch 66117 and 66168 with rail head treatment train, at Penryn (13.46) heading for Falmouth and just past Sparnick Tunnel (14.50) on its way to St Blazey via Truro.
Regards Mick Very many thanks Mick - you're on the ball

The first of two action shots. The RHTT busily spraying passes through Penryn on its way to Falmouth. Note the service train on its way to Truro waiting further up the platform. The platform on the left hand side was, until singling of the Falmouth branch, the up platform. However,now, by lengthening the former down platform trains from both directions can be catered for using a long loop with the Falmouth bound trains coming into the platform as above. 12th October 2014 Copyright Mick House.

The returning RHTT having left Sparnick tunnel heads for Truro and St Blazey. 12th October 2014 Copyright Mick House

Meeting Report by Mike Roach

12/10/2014

At the CRS Meeting last evening, Saturday 11 October 2014, members watched an interesting presentation on the Ruabon to Barmouth line and the present Llangollen Railway, given by Martin Davies of Swansea. Many thanks to Martin for his second visit to the CRS. Martin showed many pictures of the BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 tender engines numbered between 75000 and 75079, including 75029. This class of loco dominated the services on the line during the last two years of its existence, 1963 and 1964. Six of the class have been preserved.

All 80 locomotives in the class were built at Swindon between 1951 and 1957. A small batch of five locos of the class was sent to Laira Shed, Plymouth in April/May 1954 straight from Swindon Works. The CRS website includes a picture of 75025 taken by the late Jon Wood. Jon managed to catch 75025 on the coaling line at Laira on 8 May 1954 when it would have been brand new. Of the 5 locos that started their working lives at Laira 2 have been preserved. 75027 is preserved at the Bluebell Railway and 75029 is at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Many thanks Mike

75025 stands at the coaling stage at Laira 83D on the 8th of May 1954 This picture is the copyright of the Late Jon Wood Collection. How fortunate we are to have this very fine photograph taken over sixty years ago. Jon Wood was very active member of the Cornwall Railway Society.

Goss Moors and Castle an Dinas Craig Munday

11/10/2014

Hi Keith. I hope you enjoy these in superb light this afternoon. Please choose a couple if necessary! A sequence of shots from the Goss Moor of 2N08 heading towards Tregoss Crossing with 2N08. The colours catching the strong October sunshine. 153380 2N08 11th Oct 2014.
Regards Craig Many Thanks Craig
Craigs pictures are taken from an unusual angle of a service train heading for Newquay. The service has just crossed the infamous 'black bridge over the former A30.
Also of interest, beyond the railway, the old A30 and the new A30 is Castle an Dinas is an Iron age Hillfort. It is considered one of the most important hillforts in the southwest of Britain. It dates from around the second and third centuries BC and consists of three ditch and rampart concentric rings, 850 feet above sea level. During the Twentieth Century it was also the site of a successful wolfram mine - this appears in Craigs pictures.

The Newquay service has just crossed the 'Black Bridge'over the old A30 and is now trundling down grade towards Tregoss Crossing. 11th October 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

Beyond the humble 153 and out of sight lies the old A30, beyond this the earthworks of the new 'superhighway' A30 and beyond this Castle an Dinas Wolfram Mine and the ditches of the old hill fort - worth a visit if you are in the vicinity. 11th October 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

As the service gets near Tregoss Crossing with its attendants cottage and one time signal cabin at the start of the double track section to St Dennis Junction a 'glint' is to be seen from the unit which adds interest to the picture. Copyright Craig Munday

Lelant gets an improved service - some days!!!

11/10/2014

With the current 'clock face' timetable on the St Ives branch Lelant station gets a poor service - during the times when Lelant Saltings is busy and there are consequently longer stops there there just isn't time to fit in poor little Lelant. However, strangely, when the branch is closed over weekends for engineering works the replacement bus service is such that throughout the day every bus finds time to pop down to serve Lelant - strange but true. If anybody knows what work has been done during the current closure please let us know!!
It is reported that there have been occasions on 'normal service days' when intending passengers have been left stranded when trains have sailed through non stop.

First Great Western

11/10/2014

An announcement today stated that First Great Western is to hang on to its franchise to run services in the South West until at least 2019

The RHTT in the Restormel Valley By Craig Munday

11/10/2014

Hi Keith, Hope you are well, October a slow burner compared to the constant clicking in September. I took a gamble and headed up to Restormel for the RHTT this afternoon, and I struck lucky. The sun came out just as 66117 & 168 sprayed by. 10th Oct 2014.
Cheers Craig. Many thanks Craig.

Autumn colours are starting to show as the RHTT traverses the Restormel valley on the 10th October 2014. Copyright Craig Munday.

The RHTT at Forder Ron Westwater

11/10/2014

Hi Keith A couple of shots taken this afternoon of the RHTT on Forder viaduct. 66117 TnT with 66168 head the 3J13 0845 Westbury-St Blazey over Forder viaduct. I took the lower shot and my wife (The assistant) manned the tripod for the upper shot. The front loco was already a bit grubby,catch it clean while you can. Cheers Ron Westwater

The RHTT at Forder viaduct with Trematon Castle in the background. 10th October 2014 Copyright Ron Westwater.

Another shot of the RHTT crossing Forder viaduct. 10th October 2014 Picture by the assistant. Copyright.

Bodmin gets a Rocket Contribution by Derek Buttivant

9/10/2014

Hello Keith. I happened to pass by Bodmin General today just as "Rocket" arrived on the low loader ready for the Victorian Weekend on the Bodmin & Wenford on Saturday & Sunday 11 & 12 October. It arrived complete with its open passenger carriage and the B&W Special Saloon, also in service at the weekend, was being prepared nearby.You might like to put the attached photos on the B&W web site to whet appetites for the Victorian Weekend. Best wishes, Derek

Rocket and train arrives at Bodmin General. Copyright Derek Buttivant. 9th October 2014

A closer view of the arrival about to be unloaded onto B & W metals. 9th October 2014 Copyright Derek Buttivant.

A reminder of the past

The 'Rocket' came down for the exhibition in 1983. Here we see an 'LST' arriving at Platform 2 Truro. We think it should have stayed in the sidings but it actually ventured out onto the viaduct. This was the first steam into Truro since 1964, it beat 'Clun Castle' to it!!

Lets hope that in the future - like this weekend you'll visit Rocket at Bodmin though it is doubted if it will be going out onto the main line at Parkway!!!

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