Items added on the 12th May 2016 Those added most recently come first

Falmouth branch - a true tale
From Perranwell

Finally another S & T story which I can confirm is true as I heard it from several people including Frank and Terry Cox himself. The Staff instrument was being replaced at Perranwell - Penryn in 1962. I have attached original copy of this instruction sent to Mr Coates at St Blazey S & T depot. Terry Cox had not long tansfered to S & T St Blazey from Plymouth and one of his first jobs was to 'hump' the old Staff Instrument down those long stairs ! Mr Coates gave him and another lad the instructions to, 'get on with it lads'. Terry and this other lad started to argue on who was going first 'underneath' the Instrument when getting the heavy Instrument down the stairs. Mr Coates heard then arguing and went over to see what all the fuss was all about. Mr Coates was a very big strong bloke and listened to their mumblings on 'who was going first'. Terry told me that Mr Coates said that 'in his day you had to do it on your own'. Terry did not believe his story as those Staff Instruments were made of Cast Iron and weighed quite a bit ! He then (Joke-in-ly) told Mr Coates to, 'show us then how it's done. That's near impossible to do on your own'. Before anything else was said and there in front of everyone on the job, Mr Coates grabbed the Instrument, bent his back then balanced the instrument in the middle holding it with one hand to stop it slipping off, then took it down those stairs on his own! Terry was shocked as was the rest of the gang and was relieved when Mr Coates got to the bottom and let it 'slip' off his back on the ground ! 'There, he said. That's how it's done'........ Julian H

The instruction for work at Perranwell.. From the julian Hanwell Collection.

Yeovil Railway Centre
More about the coach

​Morning Keith, I was interested in Mike Bojko's pic of the coach at Yeovil Junction. May 8th 
I have been a member at Yeovil Railway Centre  for over 20 years. It was the middle coach of a dmu set, No 59515, at the WSR.
It was purchased by one of our members in 2013.The first pic is  of it shortly after arrival at Yeovil.
It was modified for our use by our members, the carriage connctions at each end were removed and blanked off and with windows fitted at each end. The toilets in the centre of the coach were removed to make way
for wheel chair access and a wider door fitted. A cab has been fitted at the leading end and a vacuum brake fitted for the trailer driver[brakeman] to control stopping the train at the end of the out ward runs.
Its first public appearance was on the 2013 Santa specials then in undercoat grey livery. Since then it has been painted in a light green livery of our choosing and not representing any particular railway livery. It is normally used on the busier days, on other occasions the 'GWR' brakevan only is used. I thought this may be of interest.  cheers JOHN C
                                                                                     Many thanks John 

Copyright John Cornelius

Copyright John Cornelius

Copyright John Cornelius

Yeovil Railway Centre
More info. John Cornelius

 In response to my various questions John Cornelius has very kindly supplied the following information.
​History The South West Main Steam Co was formed in 1993 to preserve the turntable at the junction for future steam railtour locos that required turning. Of course things have moved on a lot since then, from erecting a 15000 gall water tank, recovered from Morlands at Glastonbury in 1994 and building a two road locomotive shed in 1997-1998,plus a myriad of other things over the years. Our greatest coup to date was the signing of a new lease which included the south chord and two small fields. The former Transfer shed is our visitor centre and refreshment area. We have five locos on site, two steam, 'Lord Fisher' and 'Pectin'[which is having its ten year overhaul], and three diesels, Ruston 4wd 'River Yeo', two 0-4-0 Fowlers 'Cockney Rebel' and 'Sam',plus several goods vehicles. A temperory platform was constructed of scaffolding at the east end for special events. Trains normally run on 1st & 3rd Sundays March to October,any other as required plus our
Santa Specials at Christmas.
The future There is talk of south west trains reusing platform 3 again and reinstating the footbridge and possibly the south chord so Weymouth trains could use the junction station. But this is only hearsay at present.
 So Keith,this is a quick preamble of the 'Yeovil Railway Centre' as we are better known.
I hope this is of interest cheers   JOHN C. 
                                                                                  Many thanks John

Just by Chance
David Tozer

Hi Keith,
By pure chance I was on the 1425 to Minehead from Bishops Lydeard today, courtesy of a coach trip with friends. Managed to take these off my video footage. Hampshire unit 1118 left Williton behind 66552 'Maltby Raider'.
Bit surprised that the Booking Office at Bishops Lydeard would not accept cash for tickets, payment by credit card only. Is cash being phased out!. I had to purchase my ticket on the train.
Best I could do, Dave 
                     Your best is just the ticket for us, many thanks to you David

66552 Mailtby Raider 11th May 2016 Copyright David Tozer

1118 leaving Williton 11th May 2016 Copyright David Tozer

Tiverton Parkway - 30 today
Mike Roach

Tiverton Parkway looking towards Taunton. 1st November 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen

Tiverton Parkway, looking towards Exeter. 1st November 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen.

Happy Birthday
It was 30 years ago that Tiverton Parkway Station opened on 12 May 1986. The previous station for the area, Tiverton Junction, closed the previous day on 11 May 1986. The distance between the two locations is 1 mile 62 chains. The platforms of Tiverton Junction can still be seen alongside the goods loops. Passenger numbers for Parkway have climbed every year recently and were 447,000 for 2014/15 the latest year for which figures are available. The car park is often completely full, and the station can surely be declared a major success story.
                                                      Many thanks for this reminder Mike.

Closed 30 years ago yesterday was Tiverton Junction

Seen from an up, non stop train is Tiverton Junction down side yard looking quite busy with engineering trains on the 9th November 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

Tiverton Junction in the July 1961 as 6813 Eastbury Grange rushes through on a down train. Copyright Mike Roach Note the Hemyock branch coning in on the right has access to either side of the down island platform.

Sampford Peverall Halt which closed 52 years ago was located on the site of Tiverton Parkway.

Sampford Peverell Halt seen here in June 1965. The Halt had closed along with many of the small stations on the main line and the Hemyock branch on 5th October 1964. No time had been wasted as can be seen, access to the down loop had been removed - the point being substitued by plain track. This picture is taken from the pedestrian access off the road bridge. Nowadays Tiverton Parkway station down platform commences in the foreground, however one would be faced with a walk of nigh on half a mile to get from this location to the platform. Looking across at the up side yard one can see that the current car park occupies almost the footprint of the old yard. Copyright Mike Roach

Another of Mikes wonderful black and white pictures taken from the down platform in June 1965. The current down platform of Tiverton Parkway occupies the trackbed of the down loop. In retrospect what a shame that the four track arrangement wasn't kept here for use twenty one years hence? Copyright Mike Roach.