Serious flooding at Broom
New Years Eve 2001/2
John Cornelius
New Years Eve 2001/2
John Cornelius
Severe Flooding at Broom Crossing.Broom Crossing lies about two and three quarter miles west of Chard Junction. John Cornelius was on duty at Chard Junction Box that night. Here's what happened in his words:- Some pics of the result of severe flooding down the AXE valley during the night of December 31st 2000 & January 1st 2001. I was on late turn at Chard Junction that Sunday evening.
The water started rising around 2100 and by midnight the floods had more or less reached a peak of 6 feet deep in the milk factory yard and on the road both sides of the crossing. The water was also running down the the railway line through the old branch platforms like a river. The men in the factory weighbridge hut were marooned there for three or four hours until the water subsided. Likewise I couldn't get out to go home because of the floods in the road, so I advised Waterloo control of the situation and told them I would remain on duty through the night to monitor the situation. Gradually the water receded and by 03.30 was clear of the road and milk factory yard and the milk lorries got on the move.
I then took a handlamp and walked the station limits between both sets of points inspecting the line,thankfully the track was o.k. After this I reported to Waterloo control and told them, that while the track was ok at Chard junction, I suggested that p/way carry out a full examination of the line before any trains were allowed to run in the morning. This they did and found the washout at Broom.
What a night!! cheers JOHN C. Luckily for us John has sent us pictures from his 'Treasure Trove'of the washout at Broom Crossing. Many thanks to the man at the scene, John Cornelius - it's recorded history. By his actions in phoning Waterloo Control and closing the line there is no doubt that John prevented a serious accident.
The water started rising around 2100 and by midnight the floods had more or less reached a peak of 6 feet deep in the milk factory yard and on the road both sides of the crossing. The water was also running down the the railway line through the old branch platforms like a river. The men in the factory weighbridge hut were marooned there for three or four hours until the water subsided. Likewise I couldn't get out to go home because of the floods in the road, so I advised Waterloo control of the situation and told them I would remain on duty through the night to monitor the situation. Gradually the water receded and by 03.30 was clear of the road and milk factory yard and the milk lorries got on the move.
I then took a handlamp and walked the station limits between both sets of points inspecting the line,thankfully the track was o.k. After this I reported to Waterloo control and told them, that while the track was ok at Chard junction, I suggested that p/way carry out a full examination of the line before any trains were allowed to run in the morning. This they did and found the washout at Broom.
What a night!! cheers JOHN C. Luckily for us John has sent us pictures from his 'Treasure Trove'of the washout at Broom Crossing. Many thanks to the man at the scene, John Cornelius - it's recorded history. By his actions in phoning Waterloo Control and closing the line there is no doubt that John prevented a serious accident.
Copyright John Cornelius
You'll find the rest of pictures in features (Mid may to December 2017)
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Truro Shed memories
Neil Phillips
Neil Phillips
Sid Sponheimers Truro Shed picture generated a lot of memories - this picture was in the News section on the 17th May and is also in the main section on Truro where his comments, below, are repeated.
Sid Sponheimer’s photo taken over the roof of Truro steam shed was of much interest to myself, as I was a regular on the ‘Black Bridge’ back then and I can recall the rakes of stored coaches there in the late 1960s. I had no real interest in coaching stock at the time and all I can remember is that they were mostly maroon with one of two green ones mixed in. Looking back I decided that these must have been Hawksworths which had been in mainline use up to 1967. Sure enough, much of the stock visible in Sid’s photo has the characteristic Hawksworth curved roof ends and window layouts. Those which don’t may have been Bulleids, a few of which the Western Region received in the mid-1960s (brake vehicles only I believe) which would account for the green ones. I wasn’t there to witness it myself but I was told that D6322 was used to drag them away – I’m sure it was before 1970 - and the noise and clouds of rust dust from virtually seized brake shoes was very entertaining!
My earliest surviving spotting notes from 1967 include the sighting of Class 08 shunter D3525 at Truro – could that be it lurking below the bridge? Maybe not, but it was certainly in Cornwall 50 years ago – and it still is! D3525 became 08410 at TOPS renumbering and is Long Rock’s resident shunter. Half a century of service (although admittedly not all in Cornwall)!
Good to see the Swindon & Cricklade Railway featured, my daily commute takes me close to Blunsdon station. I admit that I don’t call in as often as I should…..
Best regards, Neil Phillips. Many thanks Neil for your memories.
Sid Sponheimer’s photo taken over the roof of Truro steam shed was of much interest to myself, as I was a regular on the ‘Black Bridge’ back then and I can recall the rakes of stored coaches there in the late 1960s. I had no real interest in coaching stock at the time and all I can remember is that they were mostly maroon with one of two green ones mixed in. Looking back I decided that these must have been Hawksworths which had been in mainline use up to 1967. Sure enough, much of the stock visible in Sid’s photo has the characteristic Hawksworth curved roof ends and window layouts. Those which don’t may have been Bulleids, a few of which the Western Region received in the mid-1960s (brake vehicles only I believe) which would account for the green ones. I wasn’t there to witness it myself but I was told that D6322 was used to drag them away – I’m sure it was before 1970 - and the noise and clouds of rust dust from virtually seized brake shoes was very entertaining!
My earliest surviving spotting notes from 1967 include the sighting of Class 08 shunter D3525 at Truro – could that be it lurking below the bridge? Maybe not, but it was certainly in Cornwall 50 years ago – and it still is! D3525 became 08410 at TOPS renumbering and is Long Rock’s resident shunter. Half a century of service (although admittedly not all in Cornwall)!
Good to see the Swindon & Cricklade Railway featured, my daily commute takes me close to Blunsdon station. I admit that I don’t call in as often as I should…..
Best regards, Neil Phillips. Many thanks Neil for your memories.
Hayle
Sid Sponheimer
Sid Sponheimer
1057 Western Chieftain crosses Hayle viaduct on the 11th April 1973 Copyright Sid Sponheimer
Bere Alston 2
Ron Kosys
Ron Kosys
Bere Alston on the 10th August 1972 Copyright Ron Kosys
Bere Alston, change for Callington! That section of the branch closed in 1966. A nice view across the valley and the Tamar towards Calstock. The train will of course be seen again from this location as it climbs left to right through Calstock, and again with a telescope as it reaches Sandyway Ceossing.10th August 1972 Copyright Ron Kosys
Colas in Cornwall
Ron & Jenny Westwater
Ron & Jenny Westwater
Hi Keith
Three from us today. Best regards, Ron & Jenny Westwater.
Many thanks
Three from us today. Best regards, Ron & Jenny Westwater.
Many thanks
The low early morning sun casts striking shadows across the furrows. 18th may 17 66850 heads on early running 6C22 04:56 Falmouth Docks to Westbury over Bolitho viaduct 66847 was on the rear. Copyright Ron Westwater
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Taunton
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius