On a nice dry day, perhaps tomorrow, try exploring the quarries and associated tramway with the aid of an article by Peter Murnaghan. N.B. Porthoustock is private. For Peters notes click below.
See Features Mid May to Dec 2017.
See Features Mid May to Dec 2017.
Porthoustock quarry in the distance with section of rail on the left of the path. Copyright Peter Murnaghan
NMT at Lostwithiel
Mike Bojko
Mike Bojko
Hello Keith
Despite the weather I decided to venture out and obtain a picture of this train. The picture shows it passing Lostwithiel at 13:20 hrs today.
Kind Regards
Mike Bojko Many thanks Mike
Despite the weather I decided to venture out and obtain a picture of this train. The picture shows it passing Lostwithiel at 13:20 hrs today.
Kind Regards
Mike Bojko Many thanks Mike
A lovely picture on a grotty day - but those semaphores really make the picture don't they. 30th June 2017 Copyright Mike Bojko
NMT at Truro
Roger Aston
Roger Aston
Keith
Despite terrible weather I manged to photograph today's test train as it ran through Truro
Formed of:-
67027 Charlotte
977969 Staff Coach (former Royal Saloon 2906)
977997 Radio Survey Test Vehicle
72631 Brake Force Runner
975091 Overhead Line Inspection (Formerly named (Mentor)
67023
Best regards, Roger
Many thanks Roger - mucky day to be sure.
Despite terrible weather I manged to photograph today's test train as it ran through Truro
Formed of:-
67027 Charlotte
977969 Staff Coach (former Royal Saloon 2906)
977997 Radio Survey Test Vehicle
72631 Brake Force Runner
975091 Overhead Line Inspection (Formerly named (Mentor)
67023
Best regards, Roger
Many thanks Roger - mucky day to be sure.
NMT runs into Truro on the 30th June 2017 Copyright Roger Aston
NMT at Truro 30th June 2017 Copyright Roger Aston N.B. Not much for the last coach to test down this way!!!
In very wet conditions the NMT proceeds through Truro 30th June 2017 Copyright Roger Aston
Todays Workings
30 down to 13!
Craig Munday
30 down to 13!
Craig Munday
Hi Keith, What a contrast in temperatures. Who'd live anywhere else eh? From a steaming heatwave to torrential horizontal rain and blowing a hoolie.
I caught the down sleepers the other morning running into Liskeard across the viaduct with a hint of sunshine, the weather unpredictable even last week.
Then I received news around the same time that this month's NMT was due to be loco hauled due to the non availability of the usual HST. The colourful pairing of 67023 & 027 did little to brighten the gloom on 30th June, but a record of the first run was taken for posterity. The train is seen at Truro & Hayle viaduct on return.
What a week traction wise with 50008 making it to Okehampton & West Coast class 57s working down west too.
I hope to capture the Monday morning ECS class 57 return at Penzance. It resides at Slopers siding all weekend.
All the best for now, Craig. Many thanks Craig
I caught the down sleepers the other morning running into Liskeard across the viaduct with a hint of sunshine, the weather unpredictable even last week.
Then I received news around the same time that this month's NMT was due to be loco hauled due to the non availability of the usual HST. The colourful pairing of 67023 & 027 did little to brighten the gloom on 30th June, but a record of the first run was taken for posterity. The train is seen at Truro & Hayle viaduct on return.
What a week traction wise with 50008 making it to Okehampton & West Coast class 57s working down west too.
I hope to capture the Monday morning ECS class 57 return at Penzance. It resides at Slopers siding all weekend.
All the best for now, Craig. Many thanks Craig
The down sleeper 1c99 Liskeard viaduct 30th June 2017 Copyright Craig Munday
A dash to the west side of Liskeard catches the sleeper on Moorswater viaduct. 30th June 2017 Copyright Craig Munday
67023 and 67027 on the NMT at Truro 30th June 2017 Copyright Craig Munday
The NMT climbs away with 67023 and 67027 from a rarher wet Truro 30th June 2017 Copyright Craig Munday
And finally from Craig as 67023 67027 take the NMT across Hayle viaduct on the 30th June 2017 Copyright Craig Munday
Castle Cary to Westbury
Colin Burges on bike.
Colin Burges on bike.
What better way to explore a railroute in detail than on a bicycle? Colin, a keen cyclist rode on the 28th June 2017 from Castle Cary to Westbury, It's 19 miles as the crow flies as the crow flies, but how far did he actually go? Colin answers :- The odometer recorded 40 miles, but about three of those were in Exeter. So 37 road miles for 19 3/4 rail miles, via Frome.
Many thanks for your very interesting report Colin
Many thanks for your very interesting report Colin
To complete my route knowledge from Bruton to Westbury, yesterday I rode out from Castle Cary. Thundery showers were forecast but the rain held off and the sun shone for a bit.
Brewham Road was closed to traffic and this was blissful for a lone cyclist. When I reached the blockade it was contractors working on a railway bridge and they let me through.
Sheephouse Crossing is marked by a piece of bridge rail which would once have carried a trespass notice. The fence straining posts are still in the brambles.
Brewham Road was closed to traffic and this was blissful for a lone cyclist. When I reached the blockade it was contractors working on a railway bridge and they let me through.
Sheephouse Crossing is marked by a piece of bridge rail which would once have carried a trespass notice. The fence straining posts are still in the brambles.
The site of the former Sheephouse Level Crossing, now closed. 28th June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges
Sheephouse Crossing - diverted path 28th June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges
It seems that the railway was able to extinguish the right of way here by providing a route under the bridge carrying the line over the River Brue. Sheephouse was also on a public footpath and this has been diverted.
Sheephouse Crossing - diverted path 28th June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges
Just along from the former crossing, Bruton Station can be seen, as well as the severe curve on what was never originally intended to be a main line to the west.
Just along from the former crossing, Bruton Station can be seen, as well as the severe curve on what was never originally intended to be a main line to the west.
Bruton in the distance 28th June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges
Out of sight to the left, visible from the train, is the Bruton defensive dam. I thought at first that this may have been part of the upstream works talked about after the 2014 floods, but I find that it was built in 1984 to relieve Bruton of the awful flooding it used to suffer.
The railway crosses the Brue twice more between Bruton and Cary; the S. & D. crossed it on Cole Viaduct. The river passes under Highbridge Station and issues at Burnham-on-Sea.
After lunch in the market square at Frome, I set off down Clink Road. Coalway Lane Bridge, now overgrown and carrying only a footpath looked interesting and as I approached it I could hear the characteristic whistling of a Class 66. This was waiting for the road through the single line junction at the head of a train of empties. Soon a loaded train emerged from the junction and accelerated rapidly away towards Westbury.
The railway crosses the Brue twice more between Bruton and Cary; the S. & D. crossed it on Cole Viaduct. The river passes under Highbridge Station and issues at Burnham-on-Sea.
After lunch in the market square at Frome, I set off down Clink Road. Coalway Lane Bridge, now overgrown and carrying only a footpath looked interesting and as I approached it I could hear the characteristic whistling of a Class 66. This was waiting for the road through the single line junction at the head of a train of empties. Soon a loaded train emerged from the junction and accelerated rapidly away towards Westbury.
Frome - Coalway Lane bridge 28th June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges
Frome 28th June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges
With plenty of time before the 18.04 from Westbury, I rode on via Dilton Marsh and Fairwood, one moment enjoying the solitude of a bridle path skirting the depot, the next caught up in the murderous "going home" traffic in a quite miserable town.
Dainton Signalbox alongside the boating lake at Westbury. 28th June 2017. Copyright Colin Burges
Westbury isn't such a nice place as Castle Cary to while away an hour with a can of beer and a newspaper. The asinine announcements one after the other nearly had me crying out "SHUT UP!" You've heard the latest: "See it, say it, sort it."
While looking at six empty spaces in the van, the guard informed me that he had been instructed to refuse cycles that had not been booked; this is of course to prepare us for the new trains which have fewer spaces in more than one place.
After this policy was brought in last summer, I dutifully booked on every train, on one occasion picking up nine tickets for three trains. Some clerks seemed to take ages making the reservations; some didn't seem able. I tried not to get in the way of revenue custom so often I had to stand back from the queue. Yet not once did it make any difference; every guard I asked said he would not enforce the rule. Yesterday I judged from experience whether booking would be necessary; I have sometimes booked the return on the day. Mine was the only cycle from St. David's and Westbury. I have noticed that the policy has suppressed demand, which is what the operator clearly wanted.
The HSTs were the last trains to be built with van space: the power cars, if you remember, originally had a cage for mails and parcels. Apart from a brief experiment providing two cycle spaces when the TGS was not platformed, this two-ton carrying capacity at each end of the train has run around empty for over three decades, over which time white vans have proliferated and the traffic that might have been carried has burgeoned.
This summer looks like being the last in which I will enjoy what's left of the old railway, flinging my bike in the van and leaning out of the window to enjoy the best air conditioning there is - now there's a thought!!
Drivers know the road, but how many have stood on every bridge and followed the roads and paths closest to the railway all the way between Westbury and Penzance?
With best wishes, Colin
We are most grateful to you Colin for your report - no wonder you are so fit!
While looking at six empty spaces in the van, the guard informed me that he had been instructed to refuse cycles that had not been booked; this is of course to prepare us for the new trains which have fewer spaces in more than one place.
After this policy was brought in last summer, I dutifully booked on every train, on one occasion picking up nine tickets for three trains. Some clerks seemed to take ages making the reservations; some didn't seem able. I tried not to get in the way of revenue custom so often I had to stand back from the queue. Yet not once did it make any difference; every guard I asked said he would not enforce the rule. Yesterday I judged from experience whether booking would be necessary; I have sometimes booked the return on the day. Mine was the only cycle from St. David's and Westbury. I have noticed that the policy has suppressed demand, which is what the operator clearly wanted.
The HSTs were the last trains to be built with van space: the power cars, if you remember, originally had a cage for mails and parcels. Apart from a brief experiment providing two cycle spaces when the TGS was not platformed, this two-ton carrying capacity at each end of the train has run around empty for over three decades, over which time white vans have proliferated and the traffic that might have been carried has burgeoned.
This summer looks like being the last in which I will enjoy what's left of the old railway, flinging my bike in the van and leaning out of the window to enjoy the best air conditioning there is - now there's a thought!!
Drivers know the road, but how many have stood on every bridge and followed the roads and paths closest to the railway all the way between Westbury and Penzance?
With best wishes, Colin
We are most grateful to you Colin for your report - no wonder you are so fit!
Bournemouth
Mike Morant
Mike Morant
Drummond T9 class 4-4-0 no. 707 awaits departure from Bournemouth Central. [Mike Morant collection]
Athelney
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius