Items added on the 27th January 2016 Those added most recently come first

Great Western to the rescue as 66156 rather disgraced itself hauling the Fowey to Parkandillack clay empties on Monday morning by Craig Munday.
66156 rather disraced itself on Monday morning hauling the 6P 07 Fowey to Parkandillack empty clays. The loco failed on the bank near Holmbush, St Austell and required assistance. This came in the form of the only mainline loco in the district, GWR hired DRS Class 57 57303 from the over night Night Riviera.
Crewed by Phil Jones and Nigel Gilbert, the loco was crossed over at the St Austell G.F. and attached to the front of the errant GM 66156. The train was eventually hauled to Burngullow where it was terminated.
Single line working had been instituted over the UM between Par and St Austell around the failed train. A bit of main line Pilotman's duties for my good self!
Thanks very much Craig

160125a With Craig Munday on the St Austell GF 57303 approaches the signal for entry into the former motorail headshunt. Copyright Craig Munday

160125b 57303 uses the headshunt to gain the down main line. Copyright Craig Munday

160125c 57303 is now seen attached to 66156 and the 6P 07 Clay Empties from Fowey to Parkandillack. Copyright Craig Munday.

160125d The train is seen passing through St Austell Station on route to Burngullow where the train terminated. Copyright Craig Munday

Distant Memories of Ponsandane and Long Rock by Michael Forward

880617a 155302 Heads past the lovely goods shed at Ponsandane with the 11.50 Penzance to Exeter. Copyright Michael Forward

880617b A little further on we see '50035' Ark Royal with a good mixture of coaches and liveries. Copyright Michael Forward

880617c At the site of Long Rock Box we see 155326 sweeping around with the 06.45 Swindon-Penzance (12.10 Arrival) I wonder if any one made the complete journey!. Copyright Michael Forward

880617d 47427 Rest outside the depot after being towed out there from the station by 08801. Copyright Michael Forward

Weymouth Tramway -
​The Hastings Diesel Swansong.
Mike Morant

​Charing Cross 08.37d
Orpington08/58,  Sevenoaks09/07,  Tonbridge09/14
Hastings09.55a ~ 10.10d,  St Leonards Depot10.16 ~ 10.26, Rye11/03
Tonbridge11/48, Sevenoaks11/57,  Brixton12/25,  Woking13/04
Basingstoke13/25, Winchester13/42, Southampton13/59, 
Bournemouth14c40, Dorchester South15/17
?Dorchester Jn15/18,  Weymouth Tramline15.29 ~ 15.32,
Weymouth Quay15.50 ~ 16.05
?Weymouth Tramline16.23 ~ 16.26,  Dorchester West16/42
Yeovil Pen Mill17.09 ~ 17.10,  Castle Cary17/24, Frome17/38
Westbury15c43 ~ 18c45, Newbury19/33,  Reading New Jn19/54
Clapham Junction20/53,   Waterloo

Above are the timings for this extremely extensive over twelve hour railtour courtesy the Six Bells Junction website. It is most interesting that only three minutes was allowed to travel the Weymouth Tramline - this equates to about 20MPH - surely not!

202001 stands at Weymouth Quay on the 8th August 1987 The Mike Morant Collection

203001 The 'Hastings Diesel Swansong' departs Weymouth Quay to travel the tramway back to the main line. 8th August 1987. The Mike Morant Collection