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Weekend workings - Saturday 29th November Craig Munday

30/11/2014

Hi Keith, Hope you are well.
Here are some piccies of Colas workings in Cornwall on the gloriously sunny Nov 29th. Two trains from the Westonmill (Devonport) relaying site were disposed of in Cornwall. One at St Blazey & one at Par DGL. They left site within 20 minutes of each other, and caught most of us on the hop!
I got the first 70804 with 6C20 at Liskeard viaduct. 6C20 had the scrap track panels, and four wheelers, totaling over 40 wagons. This was taken to St Blazey, and was the first visit of a class 70 there.
The second train loco was 70801, 6C21 contained the yellow Falcon wagons. Kind regards Craig Munday Many thanks Craig

70804 with 6C20 at Liskeard viaduct in smashing sunshine. 29th November 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

70804 with 6C20 arrives at St Blazey. 29th November 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

70804 with 6C20 at St Blazey yard having run round. 29th November 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

Here is the second train. The loco was 70801, 6C21 contained the yellow Falcon wagons. Copyright Craig Munday

Completing the picture - Newcourt R.N. Depot. by Chris Osment

30/11/2014

Travelling the Exmouth branch quite some time ago I recalled seeing some apparently disused sidings near Topsham and wondered what they were once used for - there were covered over sections I remember. However, when it came to putting this web site together nobody seemed to have any pictures of the area, being RN it was secret, so nobody dared show a camera. It is therefore with great pleasure that I received a picture from Chris Osment showing the turnout for the depot. I wonder if anybody has pictures of the sidings please??

The Exmouth branch coverage is coming along nicely with more pictures to complement those by Roger Winnen and David Tozer. We also have views inside Exmouth Junction box - see the Exeter to Honiton section. many thanks to all. KJ

An Exmouth bound service passes the junction for Newcourt R.N. Depot in 1980. This Newcourt picture shows a down train just passing the entrance to the MoD depot. The concrete hut to the left was the old 1944 ground-level signal-box, which was reduced to a GF in 1973. Copyright Chris Osment

On Friday 28th November, 2014 The Branch Line Society in conjunction with Mr Ivor Bowditch of IMERYS Minerals and Maurice Dart ran a tour visiting various IMERYS Sites. By Roger Winnen

29/11/2014

141128a Welcome to St Austell Station where our part gathered for the Branch Line Society Tour on a bleak looking November morning. It was planned to visit Par & Fowey travelling on the haul road via the Pinnock Tunnel but 24hrs prior Health & Safety stepped in as the party was to large to permit a visit. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128b St Austell still has it two bridges not for long now! as workman appear to be putting the finishing touches to the new bridge. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128c Ivor Bowditch together with Maurice Dart reorganised the schedule, firstly visiting the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum at Carthew where a film on the clay industries development during the various stages of clay production was shown together with a visit around the museums transport section. In this photograph the large waterwheel is shown. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128d Ivor Bowditch speaks to the party alongside one of the Signal Boxes from the Lee Moor Tramway, Nr Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128e An information plaque for a Pentewan Loco on site. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128f A locomotive from the Pentewan Sand Co Railway on display. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128g Lee Moor No 1 in the Museum. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128h Looking in the cab of Lee Moor No 1 Copyright Roger Winnen

141128i The large Little John's Pit with conveyors moving the stone. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128j The extensive pit of Little John's with the village of Whitemoor centre right. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128k Loading the CDAs at Rocks Dries, Goonbarrow, Bugle. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128l Alex at the end of one of the sidings at Rocks Dries. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128m Isaac a sister engine to Alex moves CDSs from the loading point. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128n Ivor Bowditch addresses the group before departing from Rocks for the Stenalees Tunnel and a lunch break at Maurice Darts watering hole "The Sawles Arms" for a pint and a large Cornish Pasty, proper job. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128o The derelict Blackpool Dries at Burngullow. Copyright Roger Winnen

141129p These and the other silos at Blackpool were never a success. The latest quote for demolition is 3 million pounds, what a price! Copyright Roger Winnen

141128q Security was in evidence of Drinnick Low Level after a numbers of incidents. We were only allowed to travel in this area aboard the bus as guard dogs were on patrol. Here we traverse the trackbed near the former power station. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128r Only a stone throw behind our coach was the overbridge carrying the line to Parkindillack, through the bridge lead to Nanpean Wharf, now completely overgrown. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128s This was Collins Siding at Meledore Mill. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128t Loaders at Treviscoe Dries . Copyright Roger Winnen

141128u Looking from Treviscoe toward Parkandillack the terminus of the line. The village of Treviscoe is visible. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128v Clay from the hoppers at Parkandillack. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128w The new power plant constructed at Parkandillick during the past twelve months. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128x The large Waste incinerator under construction adjacent to the end of the line at Parkandillack to house the whole of Cornwalls waste. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128y What a building to burn the rubbish!. Copyright Roger Winnen

141128z The end of the line at Parkandillack, looking towards Treviscoe. Many thanks must go to Ivor Bowditch and Maurice Dart for organising this tour especially for revising the route at so late a notice. Well done to you both! Copyright Roger Winnen

A Gem from the past. Exeter St Thomas From Chris Osment

28/11/2014

Remember this station as it was? Exeter St Thomas complete with its overall roof. Here it is in 1970 as a class 47, under power, see the smoke, roars through with a down service. This view just a memory thankfully caught by Chris Osment. Copyright

A final word on footbridges and the height of the walls.

28/11/2014

Roger Salters article on Powderham Footbridge has sparked off a few comments. Thank you to David Critchlow who sends in the following. Hi, It seems that all recent footpath bridges are constructed with height in mind regardless of their location. Early in the century a footbridge replaced a crossing at Andover (Hants); it was similarly high-walled. H&S would seem to be the answer but besides suicide you have the possibilities of vandals (Andover’s bridge was to become a primary route to the new local secondary school) and the prevention of train watchers (thus ensuring these new wheelchair-friendly structures would not get blocked). Uncharitably, H&S needn't come into the latter.
Regards, Dave Critchlow, Scottish Borders

Hayle Viaduct Repairs on video. A contribution from Mike Mycetes

28/11/2014

Whilst the repairs to Hayle viaduct were being completed I stood beside some of the contributors to your website and we talked as we watched the repairs take place.

At the end of each day I visited your website to see their results and was most impressed with both their contributions and with your website as a whole.

However, I did not take any photographs, but took some video each day standing on the same bridge. I have now put the video into date order and placed it on YouTube. The video is 28 minutes long.

It can be found at YouTube with a search for 'Hayle Viaduct' or by clicking on the link below :-

http://youtu.be/FHSEB3qyKtc

If you think that any of your members who were unable to witness these scenes for themselves, might be interested, then please feel free to add the link to your website. As far as I am aware, I was the only person who took a video of some of the impressive equipment at work.

Thanks for listening - you know what I mean. Mike (from Hayle)

Congratulations on your video Mike, an excellent record of the action, thank you very much for advising us of the link. Viewers are recommended to see for themselves.

A where is it from Chris Osment

27/11/2014

Keith, The attached picture is either Derriton or Woolston viaduct, west of Holsworthy. My belief is that it is the former, but I’d welcome confirmation please from anyone more knowledgeable of the area. Regards Chris.
It's a case of 'Have a go, Joe'. Take a look at Google Earth.

Derriton or Woolston viaduct? Copyright Chris Osment

Memories are made of this - a bit of steam from Roger Salter.

26/11/2014

Roger has kindly sent in this picture of the Cornish Riviera Express at Long Rock in 1955. Many thanks Roger

Long Rock in 1955. Copyright Roger Salter

Thieves on the Helston Railway. Victor Menhennet

26/11/2014

The West Briton gets around. Victor Menhennet in Waterloo, Ontario - a Cornishman in exile reports that he has read in the West Briton about the sad loss of £400 worth of metal fittings from the Helston Railway. We can only hope that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice.

The Answer - a wise comment from Martin Budd.

26/11/2014

I have studied Roger Salter's photos of this new structure with interest.

Having been the B.R (W.R.) London Division Accident Clerk for 5 years during my railway career, I think that the reason why sides of this footbridge are so high is to prevent attempted suicides. This is a very lonely spot and anyone considering such an act would soon realise its potential!! On the other hand, anyone determined to commit such an act would reach the line by some easier means.

Apologies for contacting you concerning such a morbid subject.

Wishing you a long life, Martin Budd.
Many thanks for your comments Martin and best wishes to you as well!.

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