Items added on 22nd December 2016 Those added most recently come first.

Wishing all members, contributors and visitors to our website a
Great Christmas and Happy
New Year From Mick House. 

Bruff road rail vehicle in the snow, By Mick House.

56's at Westbury
Guy Vincent

Hello again Keith,
                          The pics I sent last night  show the two 56's arriving at Westbury from the Hawkeridge Junction direction, they came from Washwood Heath, Birmingham, via Cheltenham, Bristol and Bath then up the Avon Valley through Bradford-on-Avon.    I was on the last bridge before Westbury looking towards Hawkeridge first, then towards the signal box and station.  Sorry I didn't make this clear in the posting last night.
This morning I was able to catch another shot of the 56s stabled in Westbury up yard together with 66847 and 66716, these two were about to leave for Hinksey yard, Oxford at 0955am. Colas must have need of extra locos over Christmas as they look to have hired in 66716 from GBRf.
I see from postings on one of the groups that 56087 & 56302 are due to work on Friday 23rd, 6T56 0830 Westbury-Swindon Cocklebury (via Melksham) arr 0953, returning Tuesday 27th as 6T56 0710 Swindon Cocklebury-Westbury via Foxhall Jctn (0739-54) and Melksham, arriving Westbury at 0910.  This is what I've seen anyway!

Regards GV                                       Many thanks Guy

66847, 66716, 56087, and 56302 at Westbury 22nd December 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent

Moorswater - Return empties
 Peter Murnaghan

22nd December 2016 Return empties at Coombe 10.17 The 07.41 PZ to Padd on the viaduct Copyright Peter Murnaghan (Well caught)

The aborted attempt to photograph
The Angarrack Village Lights
Roger Winnen

Passing over Angarrack yesterday on my return from the Plym Valley Railway, the Christmas Lights really shone out in the village below. I intended tonight to attempt to photograph those lights from the 17.39 Penzance to Paddington H.S.T.  However the train was late arriving at the terminus and departed 10 mins late.  After a long wait at St Erth Station we were informed that the train had a serious problem with an axle and was limited to 20 m.p.h. therefore it was returning at 20 m.p.h. to Penzance. However I was able to photograph Long Rock Depot in the dark at a slow speed on my return 11.5 mile journey home.
Let us try again! 

161222a The Class 57 for the sleeper service photographed from the returning 17.39 to Paddington. Copyright Roger Winnen

Journey to the North Pole
'A wild and lonely place'
Roger Winnen

On the run up to Christmas the Plym Valley Railway has been running the Polar Express between Marsh Mills and Plymbridge Platform, a great success with trains fully booked with families young and old and plenty of entertainment laid on for the children. The last train departed in the downpour at 16.30 on 21st December, 2016

161221a The North Pole (Plymbridge Platform) with the departure to Marsh Milla in the distance. Copyright Roger Winnen

161221b The North Pole Express at the platform. Copyright Roger Winnen

161221c Merlin from the Bowes Railway at the North Pole. Copyright Roger Winnen

161221d The last Polar Express for 2016 awaits its 16.30 departure for the North Pole in the driving rain. Copyright Roger Winnen

For more on the Plym Valley Railway,
The North Pole Express see the features page

JUST THREE SHOPPING DAYS LEFT

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This is John Cornelius who has provided us with over 350 unique pictures taken over the last 50 years. It's his birthday today so many thanks for your time and trouble and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY John.

Mount Hawke Halt

Mount Hawke, source unknown, from the Alan Harris Collection

Seen from a Newquay bound DMU Augustt 1962 Copyright Keith Jenkin

Mount Hawke Halt on the 2nd March 1974. We are looking towards St Agnes - the line climbed away to the right and then swung left. The centre of the village which it served was three quarters of a mile away along an open road which could be very wet and windy. Standing here today you'd never know a railway was ever here - the cutting has been filled in. .Copyright Roger Winnen

Again looking towards St Agnes in 1974 - somebody has pinched a platform slab. Copyright Roger Winnen

T9 and snow in Cornwall
Chris Harvey

Hello, As we are nearly at Dec 25th, it is a good time of year to share my only picture of steam, snow and sunshine in Cornwall. 30120 pants into Bodmin General on 18th Dec 2010, with a service from Boscarne Junction.
Merry Christmas!
Best Regards,  Chris Harvey  Bodmin
                                                       Many thanks Chris - a nice picture.

30120 pants into Bodmin with a train from Boscarne 18th Dec 2010 Copyright Chris Harvey