Corrections - many thanks to Chris and Roy. Chris says - A most interesting interior view of Hayle Wharves. I assume it is safe to say that this was not the original brick 2-story signal-box, but the ground-frame which replaced it in 1964. From Chris Osment.
Roy says The photos which appear today are not of the frame at the wharves box, but of the ground frame which replaced it in 1964. This was not a new frame, but was 'secondhand' from somewhere, for it had the 'stud' type interlocking, which was obsolete before the first world war! From Roy Hart
Thank you gentlemen
Roy says The photos which appear today are not of the frame at the wharves box, but of the ground frame which replaced it in 1964. This was not a new frame, but was 'secondhand' from somewhere, for it had the 'stud' type interlocking, which was obsolete before the first world war! From Roy Hart
Thank you gentlemen
Water Towers at Didcot Adrian King
Hi Keith, I hope you are keeping well and everyone else at the Cornwall Railway Society, this gives me the opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year. Looking through your latest contributors items earlier today I picked up on the two excellent black & white shots by Nick Gaskell, especially the one entitled 'Reflections of Bodmin'. I say especially because you may recall I visited Didcot Railway Centre last October as I sent you a number of photos of Cornish interest and one of the many pieces of railwayana on show was none other than - Bodmin water tank. So, enclosed, are a couple of photos I took that day which you might like to use on the website. Cheers Adrian Many thanks.
Didcot water tower with 3650 28th October 2015 Copyright Adrian King
The early bird catches the Tractor Martin Duff
Hello Keith, I set the alarm clock early Saturday 09/01 to get this one. Colas Rail have recently painted split head code box Class 37 No. 37057 in BR green. It visited Exeter SD while working 3Q06 21.52 FO Eastleigh to Derby via Exeter. It called 02.41/03.22, arriving and departing via the Southern. A selection of photographs attached for site inclusion. Needless to say I was not the only photographer present in the middle of the night!
Regards, Martin Well done Martin, you deserve a medal!
Regards, Martin Well done Martin, you deserve a medal!
37057 at Exeter St Davids at 02.43 Saturday 9th January 2016 Copyright Martin Duff
37057 at Exeter SD looking very good at 02.43 Saturday 9th January 2016 Copyright Martin Duff
37057 at Exeter SD at 02.43 Saturday 9th January 2016 Copyright Martin Duff
Torbay Express extended to Penzance!! Roger Winnen
The 22.13 down service at Redruth last night 9th January 2016 was listed on the train describer boards and also announced as the Torbay Express. The service, the 17.06 off Paddington due Penzance at 22.42, seems to have been rather off route!
Menheniot down loop Roger Geach
Menheniot down loop was east of the station and extended for a considerable distance starting from beyond the buffer stops the Quarry Sidings. Here are two pictures from Roger Geach of his favourite form of motive power at the location of the then recently removed loop.
1062 Western Courier passes the recently removed down loop at Menheniot with the 6b59 Ponsandane to Riverside 7th March 1974 Copyright Roger Geach
Looking Glorious 1072 Western Glory 6b33 on the 1400 Exeter Riverside to Truro passes the formation of the down loop at Menheniot.7th March 1974 Copyright Roger Geach
Hayle Signal box
Recollections from Craig Munday
Recollections from Craig Munday
More on Hayle Signal Box - this the memories of Craig Munday
I have a picture of Hayle box after it was rewired with standard WR block instruments (just visible on top the cupboards in Julian's picture). It was remarkable really. Hayle was given an illuminated diagram including the "lozenge" light style track circuit indications and the spagnolletti blocks (not a spaghetti dish) replaced in around 1980. The box only saw traffic for a further 18 months before it was mothballed, most of which it was switched out of circuit of course, and demolished in 1983. I think the last Hayle Wharves branch trip was 1981 from memory.
One piece of equipment I can vaguely recall was an over-ride for the red / green crossing lights which prevented the crossing lights turning red for the Wharves train. In normal operation, the red lights came on when an Up train entered Hayle cutting. The branch train would diverge before the crossing and trundle around the back of the box. There was an over-ride switch (which Percy Brookes always seem to curse each time he set it)!
Another amusing story concerns a warm day with the box switched out of circuit. A Driver mentioned to the St Erth Signalman that Hayle's down distant was showing yellow. One of the Hayle station staff investigated and noticed that the down advance starter (Section signal) had dropped to "Wrong". He thought he was being helpful by dropping the distant back into the frame, and taking the Starter signal lever back to tighten the wires. Unfortunately he put the down starter too far into the frame and the lock caught. In a panic he then tried re-clearing it, but a line-clear from St Erth was required! With the box switched out of circuit, there was no option but to place all the down line signals to danger, and get a qualified Signalman to open the box and pull off properly. A good turn can often cause implications!!
Thanks for the info and story Craig
I have a picture of Hayle box after it was rewired with standard WR block instruments (just visible on top the cupboards in Julian's picture). It was remarkable really. Hayle was given an illuminated diagram including the "lozenge" light style track circuit indications and the spagnolletti blocks (not a spaghetti dish) replaced in around 1980. The box only saw traffic for a further 18 months before it was mothballed, most of which it was switched out of circuit of course, and demolished in 1983. I think the last Hayle Wharves branch trip was 1981 from memory.
One piece of equipment I can vaguely recall was an over-ride for the red / green crossing lights which prevented the crossing lights turning red for the Wharves train. In normal operation, the red lights came on when an Up train entered Hayle cutting. The branch train would diverge before the crossing and trundle around the back of the box. There was an over-ride switch (which Percy Brookes always seem to curse each time he set it)!
Another amusing story concerns a warm day with the box switched out of circuit. A Driver mentioned to the St Erth Signalman that Hayle's down distant was showing yellow. One of the Hayle station staff investigated and noticed that the down advance starter (Section signal) had dropped to "Wrong". He thought he was being helpful by dropping the distant back into the frame, and taking the Starter signal lever back to tighten the wires. Unfortunately he put the down starter too far into the frame and the lock caught. In a panic he then tried re-clearing it, but a line-clear from St Erth was required! With the box switched out of circuit, there was no option but to place all the down line signals to danger, and get a qualified Signalman to open the box and pull off properly. A good turn can often cause implications!!
Thanks for the info and story Craig
Avid Gardener at Brixton Road.
Hi, It was with great pleasure to come across the old photos of Brixton road station. My father ( Bill Clarke )was a locomotive driver with GWR, and took up residence at the station in the early 1950s. Dad was and still is an avid gardener and spent a lot of his spare time on the “allotment” or tending to the garden around the station. We had the privilege to witness the last passenger train to go through late fifty’s or early sixties. We left Brixton road in June 1962 to go to Nyasaland in central Africa. All our family now reside in West Australia. Thanks again……………Martin Clarke.
Brixton Road Copyright Charles Fennamore. It is thought that this picture of the rather neglected allotments once so carefully attended by Bill Clark that 'sparked off' the letter from Martin Clark
Probus in the news
It's amazing what comes to light. I am most grateful to Chris Osment (Rail West) for the following information concerning the movements of signal boxes.
Keith
Having read the ‘Headlines’ item about Probus, I decided to look in the relevant Register from the Signalling Record Society, and based on the information gleaned from it.....
1. The box from Probus Siding went to Yealmpton. As the latter had a large frame (23 levers rather than 11), then I would guess that only the superstructure was re-used.
2. Probus East had come second-hand from Bristol (exact location unknown).
3. Probus West was constructed using the top from the former box at St Brides (in South Wales) and the lever-frame from Tresulgan (though it is not known whether East or West there).
Chris
Having read the ‘Headlines’ item about Probus, I decided to look in the relevant Register from the Signalling Record Society, and based on the information gleaned from it.....
1. The box from Probus Siding went to Yealmpton. As the latter had a large frame (23 levers rather than 11), then I would guess that only the superstructure was re-used.
2. Probus East had come second-hand from Bristol (exact location unknown).
3. Probus West was constructed using the top from the former box at St Brides (in South Wales) and the lever-frame from Tresulgan (though it is not known whether East or West there).
Chris
Two oblique pictures from Nick Gaskell
In the recent post two rather unusual oblique pictures kindly sent in by Nick Gaskell.. Many thanks.
The '2010 Okehamton steam up' .at Meldon Halt. The crew of 30075 prepare for the right away to Okehampton Copyright Nick Gaskell
This one could well be entitled 'Reflections at Bodmin'. Copyright Nick Gaskell.
Hayle Wharves Signal Box Lever frame
The late John Fill
The late John Fill
It is through the kindness of Mary Fill that in the sad task of sorting through her husbands collection she has so very kindly sent us many of his railway photographs and amongst these is picture of the lever frame at Hayle Wharves, a real 'gem'. Many thanks to you Mary. Please note The photos which appear today are not of the frame at the wharves box, but of the ground frame which replaced it in 1964. This was not a new frame, but was 'secondhand' from somewhere, for it had the 'stud' type interlocking, which was obsolete before the first world war!
Hayle Wharves Signal Box 1 copyright the late John Fill
By a rather poor 'cut and paste' operation we bring you the simple track diagram otherwise hidden by the levers. The legend on the left hand side reads - 'From Hayle Coal Wharf and Power Station'. Copyright the late John Fill
The Saga of St Austell Signalbox Lever Frame Julian Hanwell
We have recently shown various views of St Austell Signalbox and as the box is still standing, it future uncertain, it prompted the question - is the frame still there? Julian answers the question -
With reference to the St Austell S Box frame, this is no longer in the box. It was removed shortly after the box closed and sold to me as 'scrap' for £80. I used the frame to build my own signal box (in Norfolk) just like Bill Carne did at the Farm Museum. I sent pictures to Frank Speritt when I put it all together. I attach a photo of my self putting 1/2 the frame together at my house.
I eventually sold the frame to a Cornish Lad in St Austell who then resold it to one of the railway societies for spare parts. So it is still out there in parts somewhere. A scrap dealer also wanted the frame but BR sold it to me ! I did manage to keep some (about 5) of the remaining brass lever plates which I still have.
There is no mention of the cast iron name plate being ordered in M Dunn's book 'GWR Signal Box Name Plates'. (An excellent reference book). It may have been removed when St Austell was no longer a level crossing? The general thoughts were (back in the 70s) that the plate was broken when removed during WW2 but there is no evidence to support this. Many thanks for this info Julian.
With reference to the St Austell S Box frame, this is no longer in the box. It was removed shortly after the box closed and sold to me as 'scrap' for £80. I used the frame to build my own signal box (in Norfolk) just like Bill Carne did at the Farm Museum. I sent pictures to Frank Speritt when I put it all together. I attach a photo of my self putting 1/2 the frame together at my house.
I eventually sold the frame to a Cornish Lad in St Austell who then resold it to one of the railway societies for spare parts. So it is still out there in parts somewhere. A scrap dealer also wanted the frame but BR sold it to me ! I did manage to keep some (about 5) of the remaining brass lever plates which I still have.
There is no mention of the cast iron name plate being ordered in M Dunn's book 'GWR Signal Box Name Plates'. (An excellent reference book). It may have been removed when St Austell was no longer a level crossing? The general thoughts were (back in the 70s) that the plate was broken when removed during WW2 but there is no evidence to support this. Many thanks for this info Julian.
Here is St Austell lever frame in Norfolk, No doubt about the authenticity of the frame, Amazing that somebody took the trouble to 'signwrite' the frame. Julian operates the levers. Copyright Julian Hanwell