The Great Western Railway 150 Sprinter
Photgraphed by Andrew Triggs
Photgraphed by Andrew Triggs
160221c The 08.28 Bristol Temple Meads arrives at Penzance with the Great Western Railway 150232 unit on Sunday 21st February, 2016. Copyright Andrew Triggs
160221d Contrast in trains at the terminus. 150232 passes 153325 in Platform 2 and a Great Western HST in Platform 4 awaiting its next turn of duty. Copyright Andrew Triggs
160221e 150232 coupled to 150202 passes Marazion on the 13.39 to Exeter. Copyright Andrew Triggs
Just the ticket
Chris Heaps
Chris Heaps
An interesting letter from Chris Heaps for which many thanks
Dear Keith,
I refer to Alan's recent query about his Truthall Halt ticket on the CRS web-site.
Although the running in board proclaimed "Truthall Halt", tickets in my collection issued to me during the fnal years of the branch when I knew it variously referred to :-
Truthall Bridge Halt - on 2nd. Single dated 20/8/59 and on 2nd. Ordinary Return bus-type ticket issued by guard on train (undated);
Truthall Platform - on 2nd. Singles dated 11.9.61 and 3/11/62; and
Truthall Halt - on 1st Return (with name inserted in writing) dated 20/8/59.
Many tickets issued on the last day were purchased as souvenirs and were unlikely to be clipped or collected.
Some of these tickets feature in my book "The Helston Railway - Past & Present" published by Silverlink (Past & Present Publishing Ltd) in May 2012 to mark the 125th Anniversary (to the day) of the opening of the line.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Heaps.
Dear Keith,
I refer to Alan's recent query about his Truthall Halt ticket on the CRS web-site.
Although the running in board proclaimed "Truthall Halt", tickets in my collection issued to me during the fnal years of the branch when I knew it variously referred to :-
Truthall Bridge Halt - on 2nd. Single dated 20/8/59 and on 2nd. Ordinary Return bus-type ticket issued by guard on train (undated);
Truthall Platform - on 2nd. Singles dated 11.9.61 and 3/11/62; and
Truthall Halt - on 1st Return (with name inserted in writing) dated 20/8/59.
Many tickets issued on the last day were purchased as souvenirs and were unlikely to be clipped or collected.
Some of these tickets feature in my book "The Helston Railway - Past & Present" published by Silverlink (Past & Present Publishing Ltd) in May 2012 to mark the 125th Anniversary (to the day) of the opening of the line.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Heaps.
Coombe Jct. Staff
David Hayball
David Hayball
Many thanks to David Hayball for sending us in this photograph of the above staff from his collection, this the last of the current selection we have - if you have an interesting token or staff please send us a picture.
Moorswater - Coombe Junction - Looe staff. Picture courtesy of David Hayball.
Additional Notes by Roy Hart - for which many thanks
LOOE AND MOORSWATER
The staff in the photo dates from as recently as May 1981, when Coombe Junction box closed. The key is for the Ground Frame points at Coombe.
The Looe line was independent of the GWR and the signalling was done by contractors (Saxby and Farmer, later absorbed by Westinghouse). The line was worked by electric tablet -like on the Southern; a heavy brass disc withdrawn from what looked like an enormous Victorian chocolate machine. The boxes were at Looe (inside the station building, levers and all) Coombe Junction and Liskeard Branch. Looe box was replaced in about 1920 by the rather sad little hut in the photograph: it had 7 levers. The tablet instrument was still in the station building.
Looe box closed in 1964 and the line worked by wooden staff from Coombe -not the wooden staff in the picture, though.
Liskeard branch box also went in 1964 and the token instrument transferred to the main line box. The more modern token had replaced tablet working in about 1956.
The signal in the photograph is Terras Crossing up distant. Terras crossing had a 3 lever ground frame, operating two distant signals and the gate bolt. The lady crossing keeper had a repeater instrument and bell which warned her of train movements. The crossing became 'open' and the signals etc removed in the 1970s.
Roy
LOOE AND MOORSWATER
The staff in the photo dates from as recently as May 1981, when Coombe Junction box closed. The key is for the Ground Frame points at Coombe.
The Looe line was independent of the GWR and the signalling was done by contractors (Saxby and Farmer, later absorbed by Westinghouse). The line was worked by electric tablet -like on the Southern; a heavy brass disc withdrawn from what looked like an enormous Victorian chocolate machine. The boxes were at Looe (inside the station building, levers and all) Coombe Junction and Liskeard Branch. Looe box was replaced in about 1920 by the rather sad little hut in the photograph: it had 7 levers. The tablet instrument was still in the station building.
Looe box closed in 1964 and the line worked by wooden staff from Coombe -not the wooden staff in the picture, though.
Liskeard branch box also went in 1964 and the token instrument transferred to the main line box. The more modern token had replaced tablet working in about 1956.
The signal in the photograph is Terras Crossing up distant. Terras crossing had a 3 lever ground frame, operating two distant signals and the gate bolt. The lady crossing keeper had a repeater instrument and bell which warned her of train movements. The crossing became 'open' and the signals etc removed in the 1970s.
Roy
Looe signal July 1969 N.B. Signalbox closed 15 March 1964 - Copyright Mike Roach
Tiverton Junction
Mike Morant
Mike Morant
From the Mike Morant Collection. An atmospheric shot of former GWR Collet 5700 class 0-6-0 pannier tank No. 3659 shunting at Tiverton Junction on the 22nd May 1963. No 3659 was an Exeter based engine at the time but would move to 82E at Barrow Road five months after this shot was taken. It was withdrawn from Barrow Road in October 1965.