Items added on the 1st May 2016 Those added most recently come first

Judy at Bristol this weekend,working on the Bristol Harbour Railway
Roger Winnen

160430i The Bristol Harbour Railway with M.V. Balmoral moored alongside the Quay. Copyright Roger Winnen

160430j Judy from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway propels its trains alongside Bristol Docks. Copyright Roger Winnen

160430k Judy on the Dockside at Bristol propels its train to Victoria Bridge which crosses the River Avon (New Cut) Copyright Roger Winnen

160430l Judy near Victoria Bridge the terminus at Present on its run from the harbour. Copyright Roger Winnen

160430m Judy running alongside the River Avon (The new Cut) from Victoria Bridge. Copyright Roger Winnen

160430n The cloud is building up for another heavy downpour as Judy departs for the S.S.Great Britain. Copyright Roger Winnen

50 Years ago Marazion Goods Loading Banks lost its rail access.
Roger Salter
This week the crusher is at work reducing to rubble the last remaining sections of that loading bank

160427a The last remains of the goods loading platforms being crushed. Copyright Roger Salter

160427b Crushing what remains of the goods loading platform at Marazion. Copyright Roger Salter

Creech Troughs
Can you help?

On the journey up the main line about five miles east of Taunton lies Cogload Junction. Before this and just east of the former Creech St Michael station at Charlton lay Creech water toughs, now long gone.  ​Derelict buildings once associated with the troughs have been resurrected to form a very attractive dwelling alongside the railway. See picture below.

Now the question is, is that the Pump house/Float house, or whatever it was called, what was in it, and how did it work?

Somewhere in the past,  I read that a pump sucked water from the River Tone to fill the canal and that this did not please local Mill Owners who relied on the river flow to run their machinery. I believe that the canal also served as a reservoir to store water which had been pumped up - this water was then fed down to the float chambers or cisterns where what were in effect 'ball valves' controlled the water levels in the troughs.

It really isn't so simple when one thinks about how it really worked - there must have been cisterns for each trough.  Does anybody know any more please? 

Photographed from an up train, the Torbay Express on Friday morning. 30th April 2016 Copyright Roger Winnen. What an attractive residence for those seeking a view not only of the railway but also of the lush countryside beyond.

The Cornishman Railtour 1Z88 1Z89 Chester  Penzance Chester
Keith Jenkin, Andrew Triggs, Roger Salter, Ron Westwater, Jenny Westwater and Roger Winnen 
Keith Jenkin

This railtour visited Cornwall for 90 mins 5400 seconds to allow people to explore the South West, it was a nice sunny but windy day however with the tour running early passengers had an extra 33 minutes at Penzance, a grand total of 7380 seconds!

Quite an incredible picture as 57315 passes St Erth signalbox on the down leg of the Cornishman - Chester to Penzance and return. 30th April 2016 Copyright Ron Westwater

With regard to the picture above I queried with Ron whether it was taken from a legal position.  This is his reply -  ​Keith,  This was taken from the end of the platform,a small wooden fence marks the end of the line I just couched down low at the fence and used a moderate telephoto (145mm)
Know what you mean about trespass especially on a station but as far as I am aware its 100% legal. Best  Regards, Ron.
                                                       Glad to hear this, and congratulations.

Jenny Westwater was certainly legal when she took this one on the downward Cornishman. 30th April 2016 Copyright Jenny Westwater

160430a The 05.10 1Z88 The Cornishman Railtour from Chester to Penzance arrives at the terminus behind 57315 running 33 mins early mainly due to a late running Paddington - Penzance service. Copyright Roger Salter

160430b 57313 tailed the railtour into Penzance. The railtour again departed at 15.18 for Chester. Copyright Andrew Triggs

160430c 57315 passes Marazion on the return railtour to Chester. Copyright Andrew Triggs

160430d Going up through Marazion Marshes with 57313 leading. Copyright Roger Salter

160430e 57315 Tailing the train at Marazion Marshes. Copyright Roger Salter

160430i 57313 Approaching the Coach Lane Bridge at Redruth on its return working. Copyright Keith Jenkin

1Z89 heads back over Coldrenick viaduct making for Chester. 30th April 2016 Copyright Ron Westwater

Taunton Revisited    5
John Cornelius

Certain 'happenings' stick in your mind. One of those for me was of standing on the current number i plarfprms and seeing the down Torbay Express pass through with a gleaming Castle at the head. The sudden roar and rush, the gleaming connecting rods then it was gone and quiet returned to the station! Picture by John Cornelius

Just by contrast but also to show the Pendennis Castle is still in good hands - here it is at Didcot in October 2015 Copyright Adrian King

Bodmin Scene
Jim Lewis

It's June 1979 as a class 37 heads away from Bodmin General for Bodmin Road with a load of clay hoods, almost a daily scene then. However now the line thankfully remains open to traffic as the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, and long may it do so, Copyright Jim Lewis