Leslie Curnow
Visits the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway
Visits the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway
160506a 7827 Lydham Manor stands at the buffer stops of Paignton Queen Park Station. Copyright Leslie Curnow
160506b Locos inside the shed at Paignton including its Class 25, 5239 and most probably 4588. Copyright Leslie Curnow
160506c 4277 running around its train at Paignton with 7827 in the background. Copyright Leslie Curnow
160506d 4277 being coaled at Paignton. Copyright Leslie Curnow.
A railway family history
Lewis Slee
Lewis Slee
Many thanks to Lewis Slee who has written with some details of his family history which for us, railway enthusiasts, makes very interesting reading.
:- My parental grandfather lived at Illogan and started his career at Carn Brea as a cleaner. He later moved to Plymouth and became a top link driver. He was due to retire just before WW2 but was asked to stay on. His main claims to fame were driving the Royal Train conveying the King and Queen after they had visited Plymouth back to London and then blotting his copybook by overshooting the red carpet by quite a few feet! He also drove the train which took Mr Churchill back to London after he had landed in Plymouth Sound in a Sunderland Flying Boat following a meeting with American President Roosevelt.
My father, Ivor Slee, was also on the GWR and became a top link driver also working from Laira, he appears in the first picture below looking up into the cab just in front of number 4 road at Laira shed. He drove main line steam until steam ended and then decided he didn’t want to drive diesels. He spent his remaining years working in the North Road and Millbay areas primarily making up trains and shunting. I used to skive off school and join him in the cab. My father was twice machine gunned by the Luftwaffe during the war, once crossing the Royal Albert bridge and the second time when travelling the sea wall at Dawlish on route to London.
Lewis broke the family tradition by joining the army and later joining the motorway police. He now lives overlooking the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster. Lucky chap.
Very many thanks to you Lewis for your contribution.
:- My parental grandfather lived at Illogan and started his career at Carn Brea as a cleaner. He later moved to Plymouth and became a top link driver. He was due to retire just before WW2 but was asked to stay on. His main claims to fame were driving the Royal Train conveying the King and Queen after they had visited Plymouth back to London and then blotting his copybook by overshooting the red carpet by quite a few feet! He also drove the train which took Mr Churchill back to London after he had landed in Plymouth Sound in a Sunderland Flying Boat following a meeting with American President Roosevelt.
My father, Ivor Slee, was also on the GWR and became a top link driver also working from Laira, he appears in the first picture below looking up into the cab just in front of number 4 road at Laira shed. He drove main line steam until steam ended and then decided he didn’t want to drive diesels. He spent his remaining years working in the North Road and Millbay areas primarily making up trains and shunting. I used to skive off school and join him in the cab. My father was twice machine gunned by the Luftwaffe during the war, once crossing the Royal Albert bridge and the second time when travelling the sea wall at Dawlish on route to London.
Lewis broke the family tradition by joining the army and later joining the motorway police. He now lives overlooking the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster. Lucky chap.
Very many thanks to you Lewis for your contribution.
Laira 4 road shed. Driver Ivor Slee (Who was twice machine gunned durring WW2) stands talking to the engine crew . Copyright the late Michael Slee
The famous one at Laira- KGV. No doubt Ivor drove this one many times. Copyright the late Michael Slee
A King Class on Speedway curve. Copyright the late Michael Slee
3310 Waterford, was fitted with a domeless parallel boiler, a steel Belpaire firebox, and an enlarged cab. Penultimate of class cira 1899 Copyright Michael Slee
70018 Flying Dutchman Copyright the late Michael Slee
Box Tunnel secrets
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
Roger travelling the West Country courtesy of a 'Freedom of the South West Railrover' (Wonderful value) looked out of the window on a train between Swindon and Bath and took the following pictures.
About 3/4 mile before entering the east end of box tunnel can be seen the remains of Corsham station closed 4th January 1965. This picture dated 5th May 2016. Copyright Roger Winnen
The train enters the east end of box Tunnel. The smaller tunnel entrance to the right leads, or rather led to labyrinth of tunnels which have an extremely interesting history. Note the steep flight of steps leading down from the strictly engineering staff only access. The gate on the tunnel carries a 'Ministry of Defence' notice. There was once a railway goods station in the tunnel beyond the gate. 5th May 2016. Copyright Roger Winnen
Beneath the steps lies a small defence position. 5th May 2016
For more details concerning the fascinating history that lies beneath Corsham please click on the following links
www.burlingtonbunker.co.uk/
www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/cosmicrudloe.html
www.burlingtonbunker.co.uk/
www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/cosmicrudloe.html