CRS Outdoor Events. Visits to Bere Ferrers and Yelverton 30th August 2014

This outdoor event, organised expertly, as usual by Roger Winnen, was held in ideal weather. The party grew as participants joined our up train, the 08.39 off Penzance, at various stations in Cornwall. At Plymouth we changed onto 10.59 service to Gunnislake which we left at Bere Ferrers, the home of the Tamar Belle, where there is a most interesting collection of coaches and relics.
Chris Groves greeted the party and straight away took a ride on the made up train of miscellaneous stock and propelled by a Hunslett Diesel locomotives.  The ride is a little on the short side being about sixty yards. Several runs were undertaken with members being able to ride aboard the various vehicles including a engine ride.
Following this several members walked to the end of the line in the former goods yard where a point enables access to two short sidings. In one of the sidings lay a trolley which supported an amazing number for a photo shoot.
A very enjoyable 'finger lunch' followed being taken in either of two restaurant vehicles, we were very well provided for. Pinhoe signalbox has been rebuilt on the surviving platform at Bere Ferrers where it has been externally renamed Beer Ferris. Th signalbox internally is still Pinhoe complete with track diagram and Chris has expertly wired it up to a simulator which enables one to operate the box just as it did prior to its removal. More details of this fascinating location will be provided at a later date.

140830a Hunslet Diesel named Lord St Leven at the Tamar Belle, Bere Ferrers. The main running line of the Network Rail branch is beyond the distant platform edge. Copyright Roger Winnen

140830b Awaiting departure from 'Journeys End'. Some members decided to ride third class ride in the open wagon! Copyright Roger Winnen

140830c CRS members awaiting sustenance at Journeys End. Peter Bragg President, Eric Dowson in brake van, Roger Salter and Keith Jenkin. Copyright Roger Winnen.

140830a Another view of the 3rd Class coach. Here we see Mike Hitchen, Peter Bragg, Keith and Valerie Jenkin. We are awaiting our first train ride at Bere Ferrers. Copyright Roger Salter

140830d The CRS Special is up tight to the buffer stops. Copyright Roger Winnen. The loco is standing on a point which serves a second short siding to the left.The network rail line can be seen to the extreme right in this picture. The line leading towards the centre of the picture leads to the operational platform.

140830e A view from the footplate of Lord St Levan looking back towards the terminus of the demonstration line and to the left the Network Rail station. Pinhoe signal box is at the far end of the main station building. Copyright Roger Winnen.

In this view by Tony Wright the 11.53 service from Gunnislake run into Bere Ferrers. Behind the fence at the back of the platform lie Pinhoe Signalbox and the privately owned station buildings. The former up platform is lost amongst the undergrowth. 30th August 2014 Copyright Tony Wright.

The maintenance Trolley is subject to a test with a heavy load. Front row Trevor Tremethick, Roger Salter, Christine Simmonds, Lyn Goulding. Behind them L to R Tony Wright, Mike Hitchens, Peter Bragg. At the back Valerie & Keith Jenkin, Jack Goulding and Eric Dowson. Copyright Roger Winnen

140830h Part of the group seated in the LNER Teak Coach participating in The Finger Buffet. Copyright Roger Winnen From left to right. Eric Irons, John Gallagher, Christine Simmonds, Trevor and Barbara Tremethick, Tony Wright, Peter Bragg, Jack, Tony and Lyn Goulding.

Bere Ferrers [Pinhoe] Signal Box. The track diagram refers to the boxes former location. 30 August 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

Bere Ferrers [Pinhoe] Signal Box. Chris Groves explains a finer point in the operation of the box. 30 August 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

Bere Ferrers [Pinhoe] Signal Box stands at the back of the former down platform. 30 August 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

The second part of our superb day out was to Yelverton where we visited the station and entered the tunnel.  This site is strictly private and is dedicated as a Nature Reserve. Permission for our visit was given by Lady Elizabeth Kitson the owner of the estate in which the former station lies.  We were indeed honoured to be conducted around the station by Lady Kitson, who gave us a detailed tour with many details of the flowers and fauna in addition to the railway features.  Our tour lasted well over an hour.

Firstly, as it once was, courtesy of Mike Roach

A smashing picture of Yelverton looking north taken by Mike Roach in November 1962. Smoke can be seen still rising from the tunnel. The station approach lane came down alongside the buildings on the left hand side of this picture, the Princetown branch left from a platform behind the curiously shaped building on the right. Copyright Mike Roach

This view of Yelverton station was taken from the Princetown branch branch platform in November 1962 Copyright Mike Roach Note the sharply curved platform. In the foreground lay a turntable used solely for turning the snowplough, see recent picture at the bottom of this feature. The footbridge crossed the double track passing loop in the main station.

Prarie 4555 runs into Yelverton station from the Plymouth direction alongside the refuge siding. November 1962 Copyright Mike Roach.

Lady Elizabeth Kitson meets the Cornwall Railway Society Party

140830o. The introductions - Lady Kitson our host with Roger Winnen. Copyright Roger Salter

---  And now we take a look at what remains in 2014.

140830i Mike Hitchens leads the party over the estate bridge which crosses Yelverton Station. This has recently been repaired with steel plates over the original planking. Copyright Roger Winnen

Yelverton 'Down' Platform looking North,, Yelverton tunnel can be seen in the distance. 30 August 2014. The station approach is down a steeply descending lane from the public road and roundabout, The lane lies behind the original station railings seen behind the platform. The bridge crossing the station site carries a private estate road. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

Another view of Yelverton 'Down' Platform looking North, Again the estate bridge can be seen, rather than covered with brambles as we expected the station site is covered with many evergreens. 30 August 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

Proceeding north and turning about we once again see Yelverton 'Down' Platform, 30 August 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

We now headed along a rather damp cutting where the navies had cut through hard rock prior to the tunnel. Lady Kitson explained to us that much of the rock hewn here was used to provide the massive embankments at the south end of the station. Beyond the tunnel lay Horrabridge, this was the junction station for the branch to Princetown prior to the opening of Yelverton. 30 August 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

140830l Yelverton tunnel is a dead straight bore of 841 yards. It is very wet in places. 140830l Copyright Roger Winnen

140830m One has to laugh at one's self at times. Rogers caption is 'Take your Partner. Keith & Valerie Jenkin - Strictly Come Dancing' . Copyright Roger Winnen Actually it was pretty dark in there, Rogers flash caught us picking our way through the blackness..

Heading south the party climbs up the end of the platform which on the right served trains towards Plymouth and on the sharply curved face served the Princetown branch. Copyright Roger Winnen.

Another view of Yelverton 'Up' and Princetown Platforms looking South, Note the almost jungle conditions. 30 August 2014. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

140830z Yelverton turntable pit still very visible. Copyright Roger Salter

140830p The party, minus Roger Winnen, stand with our host and expert guide Lady Kitson at the end of the tour. Photograph by Roger Winnen. 30th August 2014

Our very sincere thanks to Lady Kitson for her time and trouble and for giving us access to her private station and nature reserve.