Items added on 3rd September 2017 Those added most recently come first

A Glorious sight in the gloom 35028 'Clan Line' leaves Exeter St David's
David Tozer

170903a A Glorious sight in the gloom as 35028 Clan Line leaves Exeter this evening on the return Torbay Express from Kingswear to Bristol Temple Meads. Copyright David Tozer

An unusual train seen at Exeter St David's
by the CRS Party whilst on route to Barnstaple
Roger Winnen & David Tozer

Departing from Exeter St David's on the 09.27 to Barnstaple a unit number 150244 was seen stabled in Platform 2 bearing headboards at each end. Enquiries made during the day revealed that this train had been hired by a manager as a Wedding Train. It departed from Exeter as the 5Z09 13.14 to Tiverton Parkway via Taunton arr 14.08 to form the 2Z09 14.15 via Tiverton Loop to Tiverton Parkway via Newton Abbot arr 16.45. It then ran as the 5Z10 ECS 16.56 to Exeter St David's via Taunton arriving at 17.56
David Tozer took this photograph at Marsh Barton Exeter on its run to Newton Abbot

The Wedding Party special on route to Newton Abbot seen passing Marsh Barton Exeter. Copyright David Tozer

 Cornwall Railway Society explore the remains of the Bideford Westward Ho! & Appledore Railway which closed 100 years ago
Roger Winnen

Members of the Cornwall Railway Society travelled to Barnstaple by train and then to Bideford by Stagecoach Bus Services to explore what remains of this unique standard gauge railway running from Bideford Quay and stops to Kenwith Castle, Abbotsham Road, Comborough Cliffs Halt, Westward Ho! Beach Road Halt, Northam Pimpley Road, Richmond Road Halt, Lovers Lane Halt and Appledore. Opened in 1901 to Westward Ho! and extended in 1908 to Appledore. The railway closed in 1917 requisitioned by the government to assist the war effort in France. Tank engines with skirts were used on the line and coaches built to an American design operated on the line.

Map of Bideford, West Ho and Appledore Rly Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland,

170902l Members of the party at the former Appledore Station with its trackbed now converted into a road. Appledore Station opened in 1908 and closed in 1917 Copyright Roger Winnen -

170902k The Bideford Westward Ho! & Appledore Railway Carriage Shed at Bideford. Copyright Roger Winnen

170902u A short distance along the sea front at Westward Ho! is the bridge abuntments for the line. Richard Horwood explores the scene. Copyright Roger Winnen

170902z The coastal footpath from Westward Ho! follows the formation of The Bideford, Westward Ho! & Appledore Railway to Cornborough Cliffs where the railway turns inland to Bideford. Copyright Roger Winnen

170902zg To end the day we visited the preserved station at Bideford. The main station buildings at Bideford were at one time the Midland Bank after the railway closure. Copyright Roger Winnen

For more photographs on the Cornwall Railway Society visit to the Bideford Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway see the Features Pages Mid May to December 2017

Fair Exchange
Adrian King

Hi Keith,      As we were in South Devon recently we had to have a trip on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and followed this with a cruise on the Dart itself. I took this shot from the deck of the paddle steamer 'Kingswear Castle' as we steamed back towards Dartmouth. What the shot can't show as ex. London Transport No.L.94 accelerates away from Kingswear Station was the short 'battle of the steam whistle's'  which took place as the loco and steamer passed by each other. Firstly the engine crew sounded a blast on the whistle only for the captain of the steamer to respond in kind, which the loco then answered back to be followed by another reply from the steamer. Its a shame I couldn't record the sound of both the loco and the paddle steamer as it really was something I think,CRS followers would have enjoyed. 
           I've also included a couple more you may be able to use of 4277 Hercules just arriving with a morning service at Paignton on the 22nd August and later that day Hercules posing alongside D3014 Samson. 
                                                                                                             
Best Regards Adrian                    Many thanks Adrian

L94 on the Torbay Line 21st August 2017. See the story at top of the article. Copyright Adrian King

Hercules arrives at Paignton. 2nd August 2017. Copyright Adrian King

Hercules and Samson pose. 22nd August 2017 Copyright Adrian King

Last year of working?
Peter Murnaghan & David Tozer

​There are not many more workings of this train left in the current timetable - and it may not run next year, if DMU cascades work through to the Duchy by then.  Does anybody have a clear indication of its future in next year's timetable yet? A PS to my earlier photograph.  I now realise why the DRS loco was used on today's loco-hauled train.  Three of GWR's own Class 57s were up at Old Oak Common for their open day.  
​                                       Many thanks Peter

57310 crosses Forder viaduct with Trematon Castle beyond on the 2nd September 2017 Copyright Peter Mungahan

170902aa 57310 Hauls the 13.35 Plymouth to Exeter service seen at Marsh Barton, Exeter. Copyright David Tozer

Canute Road Crossing
Mike Morant

Always a point of interest to railway enthusiasts at Southampton Docks is the railway access to the docks over Canute Road. Access beyond this crossing is generally denied to the general public. If you wish to see more of Mike's Collection of pictures which are included in the Southampton section of our website please click here.

BR Standard 5MT 4-6-0 no. 73081 negotiates the Canute Road crossing in Southampton docks. 73081 didn't last until the end of SR steam being withdrawn in July 1966 whilst allocated to Guildford shed.

Dunster bound
John Cornelius

Another 'Picture Postcard' from John Cornelius. Many thanks John - Copyright