Items added on the 16th November 2016 Those added most recently come first

Steam in Cornwall '62
Mike Roach

There has been a certain amount of discussion as to what steam ran in Cornwall in 1962 - from his records Mike has been able to help us out - many thanks Mike.
The following trains appear to have been regularly steam-hauled (but not necessarily every day) right though the year of 1962.

DOWN    7.45am Plymouth to Penzance passenger

                4.20pm Truro to Penzance passenger

UP            mid afternoon Penzance to ????????? parcels

                5.50pm Penzance to Truro passenger

                6.00pm Penzance to London milk train

I am sure there would have been a few others, particularly freight trains.

I travelled down on the 7.45am from Plymouth (11.50pm ex Paddington) on 3 November 1962 and the train was pulled by a Hall class 4-6-0; although I believe it was sometimes a Castle. The loco returned on the mid afternoon parcels. I saw the 4.20pm Truro to Penzance and that had a Hall that day. I saw a steam hauled up freight at Liskeard on my journey down in the morning.
Hope this helps.  Regards, Mike 

Derailment at Parkandillack
Fred Elton

Sometime in the late 70's there was an 'event' at Parkandillack where several vehicles of a train being shunted ran amock off the end of the track. This event was captured by Fred Elton and his originals were very recently added to Roger Winnen's collection. Roger has kindly allowed us to share these shots of this rare event with a steam crane in attendance.  An exact date for this event would be appreciated, can anybody help?

The rolling stock in considerable disarray lies at the end of the truncated track. This line continued, until 6th February 1966, on to St Dennis Junction, the route of this was, on this picture, towards the right and then swinging left around the flank of a hill atop which stands St Dennis Church. Roger Winnen Collection

Steam crane lifting wagon. Photograph by Fred Elton. Roger Winnen collection

One of the errant wagons is placed on the rails. Roger Winnen Collection.

And finally a view which puts it all in perspective. Against a background of the clay driers at Parkandillack the class 47 in charge of the breakdown train marshals the stock and crane. Roger Winnen Collection.

Truro painted Red
Roger Geach

An amazing picture taken at Truro on the 5th April 1978 as the track recorder coach passes over the level crossing at the east end of Truro station. Red paint is being liberally deposited on the track and crossing. Roger reports that the train loco was 50045 and also draws our attention to the down sidings being still extent. Copyright Roger Geach

First HST Hind
Roger Winnen

The first Penzance to Paddington Golden Hind worked by an HST passes Clink Road Junction - a remarkable photograph by Roger Winnen. 6th August 1979. Copyright

Roger writes :-   ​I took this photograph through the front window of a DMU to Weymouth, we were held at Clink Road Junction for the Golden Hind to pass on route to Paddington.  At that time I was on an all line railrover and set off from Paddington to Westbury and Weymouth via Castle Cary and returning via stations on the Weymouth Waterloo line where I took some of the recent photos sent in. I was advised before leaving home on holiday that the Golden Hind was commencing HST operation on 6th August 1979.
So I was watching out for it!

Athelney
John Cornelius

Seen here with its red namplates, the only one of the class to be so treated. As of 2016, D1013 has been undergoing an extended overhaul since 2009 at Bridgnorth. It is currently planned to return to service in 2018 Copyright John Cornelius