Sometime ago now Mike Morant kindly passed on to us a collection of rare and wonderful pictures taken in the West Country for use on our site. There are many more of these to come. Our sincere thanks to Mike for making these superb pictures and his collection of rare labels available to us. So here we are - some cracking Capitol pictures of Cornwall's Capital!
Truro station exterior from the elevated terrace opposite. A picture which has changed little over the years apart from the collection of classic period cars which will delight many of you. From the Mike Morant Collection
5020 Trematon Castle makes a grand entrance heading for platform 4. Note the coaching stock in the sidings, and the houses on Dobbs Lane and Sunningdale which have a superb view over the station unimpeded by trees. Perhaps they suffered from smoke from the depot in easterly winds? From the Mike Morant Collection
A general view along the platforms from the west end looking east. The diesel age has certainly arrived with what are now called 'heritage sets' in platform 1, for Falmouth, and platform 3. The goods yard still looks to be busy and platform 4 in use. There is a board crossing to enable station staff to make a quick but somewhat hazardous crossing from platform 2 to the island which forms platform 3 & 4, From the Mike Morant Collection
We look west under the black foot bridge at Truro which as long served as a grandstand for operations to the west of the station. There used to be much shunting activity in the yard beneath and movement of motive power to and from the shed. From the Mike Morant Collection
Mike has very kindly sent an enlargement for his original slide showing shed 83F looking rather empty. Steam would appear to have finished although there are coal trucks alongside Truro West Signalbox which itself closed in 1971. A Class 22 63xx lurks by the water tower possibly on the metals which served the turntable. Truro Shed closed to steam in March 1962 and to diesel in November 1965. It changed from being 83F to become 84C in September 1963 From the Mike Morant Collection
Also, a just arrived addition (Dec 14) to his label collection. Another rarity.