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David wishes all web watchers a very good New Year with this picture from the past - as he says when things were more interesting at Exeter! Many thanks David and all the very best to you.  DVT 82101 at Exeter St David's Copyright David Tozer For full details your attentions is drawn to this news item http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-30627608
many thanks to Martin for drawing our attention to this item. I was tempted out by the stunning light today to get some rather standard traction in the lovely Grampound / Coombe area. Please note these were taken on private land with the farmer's express permission. All the best for 2015, thanks for allowing my photos to be shown on the site Keith in what was a bumper year! Kind regards Craig With very many thanks to you Craig for your 'bumper coverage' during 2014, here's to 2015. 
1A89 heads East at Grampound 29th December 2014 Copyright Craig Munday
2C46, 150121 heads Sales shoppers to Truro 29th December 2014 Copyright Craig Munday
2P87 is Plymouth bound near Trenowth. 29th December 2014 Copyright Craig Munday
2C47 catches the lengthening shadows as it crosses Fal viaduct. The glade below still frozen from overnight 29th December 2014 Copyright Craig Munday
Try this link kindly sent in by Martin Duff :- http://www.directrailservices.com/news-articles/2014/12/18/date-announced-dr
Hello, Regarding Martin Duff's note on the 3rd of Dec. I believe that the loco - hauled cross country 'Cornish Scot' went over to HST operation in July 1991, the summer timetable that year started late owing to awaiting cascaded HSTs from the East Coast Mainline.
Now I have a question for your members/viewers, does anyone know the last time the 15xx Penzance to Paddington Perishables ran and the last time the 10.50 Plymouth to Penzance vans ran please? Regards Jonathan Sunday 28th December, 2014 saw the Winter Steam Up of the B & W Railway comprising of engines 30120 with a set a goods Brake vans and engines 4247 and 4612 taking turns with a three coach set complete with buffet. A beautiful sunny day was encountered, not a cloud to be seen, the temperature being way into single figures.  141228a 4612 Backs on to the 10.58 service from Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General Station. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228aa Churchward 2-8-0 4247 heads the 11.30 service from Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228b Greyhound T9 30120 seen storming into Bodmin General with the 11.24 from Boscarne Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228c 30120 Seen resting in the yard with its brake vans prior to the 13.00hr service to Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228d 30120 Running around its brake van train at Bodmin Parkway prior to departure at 13.28. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228e A splendid sight as The Greyhound crosses the viaduct on departure from Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228f The 15.00 Departure from Bodmin General seen arriving at Boscarne Junction taken from the rear brake van. Copyright Roger Winnen.  141228g The Boscarne Junction nameboard, has it grown since my last visit! Copyright Roger Winnen  141228h 30120 Running around its train at Boscarne Junction, this engine will make light work hauling the brake vans to General Station. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228i Approaching Bodmin General on the sharp curve prior to joining the Branch from Bodmin Parkway coming in on the right hand side adjacent to the bridge. Copyright Roger Winnen  141228j 4247 Brings in the last train of the day, the 15.58 service from Bodmin Parkway. The T9 stands in the left hand road of the shed whilst 4612 is on the right. Copyright Roger Winnen On Sunday 2st December 2014 Using 150 234 there were six Santa trains from Newton Abbot up the goods only branch to Heathfield, plus the last train which was non-Santa and run by Branch Line Society, doing the loop at Heathfield station, the end bit beyond the station and platform 9 at Newton Abbot. The last train left Newton Abbot platform 3 and returned to platform 9 - couldn't alight there, and reversed back to the Tuckers maltings and into the main station onto platform 3 again. There were large piles of logs at Teignbridge level crossing. Good news - I was told that the use of Exeter Riverside yard has been only temporary so that the Heathfield branch is not yet dead. The trains were full and standing, a very successful afternoon out despite indifferent weather. Many thanks John.  150 234 stands at Heathfield on 21st December 2014. Copyright John Ball. It is understood that the final working was into the Heathfield Bay at Newton Abbot.  Railtours are always the excuse for chats - "Do you remember the good old days when ....."! Here such a conversation is taking place at Heathfield station. 21st December 2014 Copyright John Ball  141225a The static display at Long Rock depot over Christmas Day and Boxing day with every siding full. Copyright Roger Salter  141225b The line up of the HSTs at Long Rock, hidden on the left is a Cross Country Voyager and the Night Riviera is between the two HSTs on the right. Copyright Roger Salter  141225c A distant view of the line up shows the Night Riviera with Pride of Carlisle between the HSTs. Copyright Roger Winnen  141225d The fuel storage tanks at Long Rock now supplied by road transport keeps the railways running 363 days a year. Copyright Roger Winnen We do not as a rule have adverts on our site but as a thank you to Steve Andrews for providing the CRS with an excellent evening on 13th December we hope you may look to see what they have on offer.  Copyright Classic Traction We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to hearing from you once again in the New Year. In this seasonal image, GWR Collett 0-6-0 3205 passes a snowy Staverton Station with the 1130 Totnes - Buckfastleigh 'Santa Special' on 22nd December 2010. From all at Classic Traction Happy Christmas! Steve Andrews CLASSIC TRACTION
www.classictractioncollection.weebly.com In the section of this website concerning the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash mention is made of 'rumours' of a temporary roadway being laid across the bridge in the form of a 'linear level crossing' to facilitate the passage of military vehicles across the bridge during World War 2. Tony Cooke has kindly provided the evidence that this did in fact happen under a cloak of wartime secrecy. Whilst browsing your site some week or so ago, I noticed a mention of the R.A.B. being decked over during the war. I believe it said that it was uncertain if this was so. I have now found the New Works Order dated 17.10.1945 in respect of the removal of this decking. This work was authorised by the General Manager on 20.9.1945 (as per details attached) and was completed on 4.4.1946 (as per details shown on reverse but not copyable). I hope this is some help. Tony Cooke. Very many thanks indeed to Tony for this information.  With reference to the New Works Order (item 2) above and to the photograph below it suggests that the likely route on and off the temporary RAB level crossing was up the up platform ramp and sharp right before the station building. Thence up Albert Road to Station Road. Both the canopy and the signal box would have been in the way of any exit along the up platform. Perhaps the verandah covering refers to the storage area at this end of the station.  Saltash – cab view from Royal Albert Bridge August 1973 Copyright Trevor Tremethick  Royal Albert Bridge Box on 11th February 1974 (The box and the down line in the foreground had been closed w.e.f. 2nd July 1973 hence the rusty track). Copyright K Jenkin. This rather faded image shows the incline, up behind the signalbox, of any likely road access to the temporary road crossing on the bridge from the Plymouth end. |