Burning the Midnight Oil
at Penzance
Andrew Triggs Roger Winnen
at Penzance
Andrew Triggs Roger Winnen
. WellA group of seven railway enthusiasts arrived by midnight at Penzance Station to witness the first run in the dark to Penzance of an IEP and being the first 0802 101 set a nine car formation on a test run. The train was the 5X23 Laira T&R.S.M.D. 21.13 to Penzance and returning at 03.31hrs. Well done!!!
180124a One small step for man as 802101 a nine coach IEP unit arrives Penzance at 00.03 hrs Copyright Roger Winnen
180124d A black and white photograph 802 101 Copyright Andrew Triggs
180124b Viewed from the balcony at Penzance Station. Copyright Roger Winnen
180124e 802 101 Brand new condition with its seats still covered over stands in Platform 1 at the terminus. Copyright Andrew Triggs
180124c This train was scheduled over three hours at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
180124f The full length of this unit viewed from the buffer stops. Copyright Andrew Triggs
Bristol Temple Meads
Today
Martin Scane
Today
Martin Scane
Bristol Temple Meads Take 1 16.30 23rd January 2017 Copyright Martin Scane
Bristol Temple Meads Take 2 23rd January 2017 Copyright Martin Scane
Many thanks Martin
Exeter's New Depot
David Tozer
David Tozer
Many thanks to Dave Tozer who has sent us the link below to some very interesting information on the start of work on the new depot. Please click below :-
https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-centre/news/2018/january/work-on-new-40-million-rail-depot-for-exeter-due-to-start
https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-centre/news/2018/january/work-on-new-40-million-rail-depot-for-exeter-due-to-start
Blackwater Junction
Roy Hart
Roy Hart
BLACKWATER JUNCTION An article by Roy Hart
The late Lance Ibbotson, former General Manager of the Western Region once commented to me that they ‘closed the wrong Newquay branch’. How right he was, but too late.
As a teenager, I spent much time in Chacewater box, in the company of the late Leslie Roberts. His father, still alive then (this would be 1964-6) had worked on the construction of the line in 1901-3 and lived to ride on the last train on February 2nd, 1963. The old man lived at Blackwater and would often climb up on to the rusty track and shake his head in bewilderment at the course of events. Both he and his son told me about Blackwater Junction.
The photographs show the junction in the spring of 1903, just before the passenger opening. The first of the three boxes to open was the East box, on December 21st 1902. The West and North boxes followed on July 6th 1903. The photographs show that the line from East box to Perranporth appears ready for traffic, but the signals on the West curve carry crosses –‘not in use’. West and East boxes had 19 lever frames: North had 17. Picture (1)
Note the contractor’s tiny locomotive with wagons at the centre of the second picture. Pictures (2A) & (2B)
For almost its entire life, Blackwater West box was ‘switched out’. There was limited traffic on the West curve (notably a daily freight from Redruth) and regular passenger trains on the curve stopped during the first world war.
Oddly, West box had the longest life of the three: it opened in 1892 as Scorrier signal box. It was of wooden construction. A new brick box opened at Scorrier in 1902 and the structure was dismantled and re-erected at Blackwater West Junction. It was the first of the three to close (18-9-24) and was again dismantled and re-erected at Par signal depot, where it survived as a workshop and store until demolished in 1967, when the depot moved to St Blazey. Par signal depot stood on the up side, just beyond the overbridge: the site is notable today for the vast clump of the pernicious Cupressus Leylandii there, which seem to be taking over the place.
The normal operation of trains on the branch required East box (on the main line) to be open and also North box. North box issued the electric staff for the section to Perranporth. St Agnes was then merely an intermediate station with a freight siding operated by ground frames: trains could not cross there.
Passenger services between Truro and Perranporth began on July 6th 1903 and were operated by steam railmotors from the start. Chacewater station at this time was merely an intermediate station with two, short platforms: trains could neither start nor terminate there. The section beyond Perranporth to Newquay (partly using an upgraded section of the old Cornwall Minerals Railway) opened in 1905.
With the West curve virtually unused, the GWR made the inevitable economy in 1924. West curve (officially closed since 1919, but still usable) was removed on September 18th while a new third line into Chacewater station (which had been rebuilt in 1912 with a bay line) opened on November 9th.
The triangle was constructed largely of mine spoil and was so polluted that almost nothing would grow on it. The ballasted formation of the west curve was still a distinctive feature of the view from main line trains until the whole site was bisected by the construction of the A30.
Many thanks to Roy for this article.
The late Lance Ibbotson, former General Manager of the Western Region once commented to me that they ‘closed the wrong Newquay branch’. How right he was, but too late.
As a teenager, I spent much time in Chacewater box, in the company of the late Leslie Roberts. His father, still alive then (this would be 1964-6) had worked on the construction of the line in 1901-3 and lived to ride on the last train on February 2nd, 1963. The old man lived at Blackwater and would often climb up on to the rusty track and shake his head in bewilderment at the course of events. Both he and his son told me about Blackwater Junction.
The photographs show the junction in the spring of 1903, just before the passenger opening. The first of the three boxes to open was the East box, on December 21st 1902. The West and North boxes followed on July 6th 1903. The photographs show that the line from East box to Perranporth appears ready for traffic, but the signals on the West curve carry crosses –‘not in use’. West and East boxes had 19 lever frames: North had 17. Picture (1)
Note the contractor’s tiny locomotive with wagons at the centre of the second picture. Pictures (2A) & (2B)
For almost its entire life, Blackwater West box was ‘switched out’. There was limited traffic on the West curve (notably a daily freight from Redruth) and regular passenger trains on the curve stopped during the first world war.
Oddly, West box had the longest life of the three: it opened in 1892 as Scorrier signal box. It was of wooden construction. A new brick box opened at Scorrier in 1902 and the structure was dismantled and re-erected at Blackwater West Junction. It was the first of the three to close (18-9-24) and was again dismantled and re-erected at Par signal depot, where it survived as a workshop and store until demolished in 1967, when the depot moved to St Blazey. Par signal depot stood on the up side, just beyond the overbridge: the site is notable today for the vast clump of the pernicious Cupressus Leylandii there, which seem to be taking over the place.
The normal operation of trains on the branch required East box (on the main line) to be open and also North box. North box issued the electric staff for the section to Perranporth. St Agnes was then merely an intermediate station with a freight siding operated by ground frames: trains could not cross there.
Passenger services between Truro and Perranporth began on July 6th 1903 and were operated by steam railmotors from the start. Chacewater station at this time was merely an intermediate station with two, short platforms: trains could neither start nor terminate there. The section beyond Perranporth to Newquay (partly using an upgraded section of the old Cornwall Minerals Railway) opened in 1905.
With the West curve virtually unused, the GWR made the inevitable economy in 1924. West curve (officially closed since 1919, but still usable) was removed on September 18th while a new third line into Chacewater station (which had been rebuilt in 1912 with a bay line) opened on November 9th.
The triangle was constructed largely of mine spoil and was so polluted that almost nothing would grow on it. The ballasted formation of the west curve was still a distinctive feature of the view from main line trains until the whole site was bisected by the construction of the A30.
Many thanks to Roy for this article.
Blackwater Junctions From 25 inch OS Map 1900. Reproduced with permission of National Museum of Scotland. The Great Western Main line heads to Redruth, left and to Truro, right. The Newquay branch heads north crossing the old A30 road by means of a substantial brick bridge. The new A30, dual carriageway parallels the railway from the left cutting through the triangle.
Picture (1) Looking at Blackwater North Signalbox the line crossing the old A30 bridge - see brickwork to the left. The branch line becomes double just prior to this location, to the left it swings towards Blackwater East Junction with the main line and to the right it heads to join the main line at Blackwater West Junction.
Picture (2A) We are now looking at Blackwater North signalbox from the far side of the main line which is in the foreground. Looking carefully you can see a contractors loco beyond the telephone pole.
An edited enlargement from the picture above. In this view in which the telephone pole has been removed the contractors loco and wagon are better seen. Apologies for the quality of this picture.
Blackwater Junction. This picture taken from a down train on the 18th February 1964 shows the Newquay branch heading away for St Agnes. Blackwater West Signalbox would have been just off this picture to the right. Copyright K. Jenkin
50016 Barham
at Penzance
Michael Forward
at Penzance
Michael Forward
850616a 50016 Barham having just arrived at Platform 3 with the 07,02 from Exeter. Copyright Michael Forward
East Anstey 1
John Thorn
John Thorn
East Anstey1 Camping Coach holiday at East Anstey (just W from Dulverton) in August 1952. Copyright John Thorn
Special trains this week
Karl Hewlett
Karl Hewlett
Dear Keith. A third attempt at running, this week 'should' see a run of a test train to our region which will be the usual Colas Rail class 37 with coaches and DBSO. The down run is in a Q path again and there are no less than at least three different variations of this path currently in the system, all Q and with the dreaded pink banner: Runs as required - this service only runs when it is required. This warning will disappear if it is activated in the railway computer systems. Again keep a close eye nearer the day, but I am on the understanding that the times sent below should be the right ones. The times are:
Tuesday 23rd January Exeter Riverside NY to Penzance via Falmouth Docks
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H33267/2018/01/23/advanced
Wednesday 24th January Penzance to Exeter Riverside NY via Newquay and Looe
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H33273/2018/01/24/advanced
Another return visitor to the south west is an IET set. There has been some confusion in the past over their official classification of IEP or IET, I can confirm that it is IET. Unfortunately this run is at night but there are a few stopping points en route at Liskeard, Bodmin, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell and Redruth, times are:
Tuesday 23rd January Laira T&RSMD to Laira T&RSMD via Penzance
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97613/2018/01/23/advanced
Kind Regards Karl Hewlett Many thanks Karl
Tuesday 23rd January Exeter Riverside NY to Penzance via Falmouth Docks
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H33267/2018/01/23/advanced
Wednesday 24th January Penzance to Exeter Riverside NY via Newquay and Looe
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H33273/2018/01/24/advanced
Another return visitor to the south west is an IET set. There has been some confusion in the past over their official classification of IEP or IET, I can confirm that it is IET. Unfortunately this run is at night but there are a few stopping points en route at Liskeard, Bodmin, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell and Redruth, times are:
Tuesday 23rd January Laira T&RSMD to Laira T&RSMD via Penzance
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97613/2018/01/23/advanced
Kind Regards Karl Hewlett Many thanks Karl
Also from Richard Kitson The IET Test Train
This has been passed to me by a colleague in Exeter, unfortunately extremely unsociable hours.Mon 22/01/18
5X22 19:13 Stoke Gifford to Laira
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K12945/2018/01/22/advanced
Tue 23/01/18
5X23 21:13 Laira to Laira via Penzance
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97613/2018/01/23/advanced
Thu 25/01/18
5X32 21:10 Laira to Stoke Gifford
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K12948/2018/01/25/advanced
Richard Kitson Many thanks Richard
5X22 19:13 Stoke Gifford to Laira
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K12945/2018/01/22/advanced
Tue 23/01/18
5X23 21:13 Laira to Laira via Penzance
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97613/2018/01/23/advanced
Thu 25/01/18
5X32 21:10 Laira to Stoke Gifford
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K12948/2018/01/25/advanced
Richard Kitson Many thanks Richard
Nanstallon
Alan Harris
Alan Harris
Unfortunately low resolution but a fascinating study of Nanstallon. Undated. From the Alan Harris Collection
Mallago Vale 1
Butlins Express
Ron Kosys
Butlins Express
Ron Kosys
The main road was clear when I headed out of Bristol to Bristol Airport. Unfortunately some four hours later (after doing my work followed for a very short photting stint at Flax Bourton) I joined a very slow moving line of traffic heading towards Bristol.
I wasn’t going to get the Butlins express returning at this rate. I only knew of a couple of suitable locations but was still keen to shoot the 31s returning south off the footbridge that crossed over the site of the former extensive carriage sidings at Malago Vale.
I turned off the main road at the first opportunity making very frequent left and right turns following only my sense of direction. Incredibly I found the footbridge, parked in the only remaining parking space, ran up onto the bridge as I heard an approaching train. This turned out to be a 158 heading north but as soon as that had passed under the footbridge the 31s appeared around the corner heading south. How do you spell ‘phew’??
Regards Ron Many thanks Ron
Saturday 11th August 2007
31454 (front) 31452 (rear)
1Z39 1406 Bristol - Minehead
I wasn’t going to get the Butlins express returning at this rate. I only knew of a couple of suitable locations but was still keen to shoot the 31s returning south off the footbridge that crossed over the site of the former extensive carriage sidings at Malago Vale.
I turned off the main road at the first opportunity making very frequent left and right turns following only my sense of direction. Incredibly I found the footbridge, parked in the only remaining parking space, ran up onto the bridge as I heard an approaching train. This turned out to be a 158 heading north but as soon as that had passed under the footbridge the 31s appeared around the corner heading south. How do you spell ‘phew’??
Regards Ron Many thanks Ron
Saturday 11th August 2007
31454 (front) 31452 (rear)
1Z39 1406 Bristol - Minehead
Malago Vale 31454 heads the 1Z39 1406 Bristol - Minehead 31452 11th August 2007 Copyright Ron Kosys
Malago Vale 31452 on the rear of 1Z39 1406 Bristol - Minehead 31454 11th August 2007 Copyright Ron Kosys
Exton
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
A delightful spot. Copyright John Cornelius