Items added on 22nd March 2018. Most recent items come first.

West Cornwall Blockade
Day 3  21st March 2018

180321k The roadrailers in action on the sea siding. Copyright Andrew Triggs

180321h Working with the road railer crane at St Erth. Copyright Roger Salter

20180321_9 A quiet day train movement wise. 6C30 had been moved back into Platform 2 ready for departure on Friday morning and 6C28 was moved from the fuel point over Long Rock crossing and backto the main where 70817 is seen opposite 21B points. Copyright Alan Peters

180321a 70808 Job completed as 70808 stands at the buffer stops at Penzance Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

For the full story of the West Cornwall blockade and pictures Click Here and scroll down to item 1803

Test Train
Last night 
Mike Evans

​Test train to Newquay and Looe.  Just been advised of this running tonight 21-22 March . Will be 37254. Pictured this afternoon at Plymouth courtesy Mike Evans.
              My apologies for the late inclusion of this superb picture.

37 254 at Plymouth before last nights duty. 21st March 2018 Copyright Mike Evans

It is fortunate that KJ was a little late in putting 37254 at Plymouth yesterday on this website as we can now continue the story of the train throughout the night with notes and pictures from Craig Munday. 

​Hi Keith
An overnight duty on Ground Frames with with the Network Rail UTU test train. This was Driver Darren Harris's last main line duty with Colas, so it was a privilege to accompany on his final class 37 turn. Darren will continue driving trains in the West Country. 
Kind regards,  Craig.  Many thanks to Craig Mumday of whom we are all envious and best wishes to Darren in his continued driving career. 

A token change at Goonbarrow 3Q53 37254 22nd March 2018 Copyright Craig Muday

The end of the line at Newquay 3Q53 37254 22nd March 2018 Copyright Craig Munday

A reversal at Coombe Junction 22nd March 2018 Copyright Craig Munday

Not many spectators at Sandplace. 22nd March 2018. Copyright Craig Munday

Driver Darren Harris on his last turn for Colas. 22nd March 2018 Copyright Craig Munday

Class 70's Kernow
'A benefactor'

 A loco pool screen shot image showing six of the 17 Colas class 70 locos to be located in the Penzance area on the morning of Tuesday 20th March.            Hardly common and unlikely to happen too often in the future.                              Aren't we lucky at this happening on our doorstep!

Mutley tunnel
Car park
Clive Smith

Many will remember the days of Mutley Tunnel before the days when the appearance of the west end of it and the general area was ruined by the erection of an unsightly car park over it.  A very bad move planning wise.
However the local paper, the Plymouth Herald did capture the scene before the area was spoilt. Clive Smith has sent in the following link to enable you all to see the last days of the clear entrance. Many thanks Clive.
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/history/16-truly-amazing-pictures-plymouth-1273831

DRATTED  DOORS
Peter Munagham

One of the delights of the old HST's were the drop down windows enabling enthusiasts to photograph the passing scene. So for us enthusiasts the new sliding doors on the 'Castle Class'  stock is a definite retrograde step. However. Peter Murnaghan, who made a special trip to Liskeard station to take the photograph below says that a very neat job has been done.
                                        Many thanks to Peter

'Castle Class' HST 2+4 doors 21st March 2018 Copyright Peter Murnaghan

Newquay
Kevin Foulkes

An interesting panorama from the end of Newquay station taken on Saturday 24 June 1995, a few minutes after an HST has arrived from the north of England. The station had been reduced to a single platform with no signalling since October 1987 yet the former platform 3 and the carriage sidings on the left were still clearly visible in a way which is not the case today. As on much of the railway today, the left side of this picture today is overgrown with trees. The rationalisation of Newquay station back in 1987 resulted in significantly fewer long distance "summer Saturday" trains running to the town, but this picture highlights that the few services which remained in the early/mid 1990s continued to be very well used in mid Summer. Copyright Kevin Fowkes. What will this summer see one wonders? Will HST's come from the north, will the new 'Castle Class' HST's call or even the 802's?.

Melksham, near.
Ron Kosys

47313 departs Melksham on the morning of 11th August 1988 with 3 empty UKF pallet vans for Westbury, where they will be added to the afternoon Speedlink service to Gloucester. Their eventual destination was Ince, Cheshire, where UKF (as it was then) had a massive plant producing fertiliser. Copyright Ron Kosys

Exeter 
John Cornelius

The famous GCJ. Copyright John Cornelius