A night out
with Paul Rundle
with Paul Rundle
Morning Keith, Friday night / Saturday morning saw a unexpected class 56 working in Devon. 56078 worked 6X54 from Westbury to Crediton consisting of 2 railvacs, (railvac 3 and 4) . Railvac 3 was placed at Eggesford and railvac 4 at Lapford for engineering works.
Regards Paul. Many thanks Paul
Regards Paul. Many thanks Paul
Exeter 56078 00.02 Saturday 1st October 2016 Copyright Paul Rundle
00.25 Exeter 56078 1st October 2016 Copyright Paul Rundle
A smashing shot at Crediton as 56078 waits to enter the possesion. 00.46 1st October 2016 Copyright Paul Rundle
56078 Lapford 05.01 1st October 2016 Copyright Paul Rundle 56078 pauses at Lapford after detaching Railvac 4 , is this the first class 56 to go past Crediton? Regards Paul
Final Royal Duchy
Craig Munday & Ron and Jenny Westwater
Craig Munday & Ron and Jenny Westwater
Hi Keith
The final Royal Duchy of the 2016 season was worked throughout from Bristol by WCR 57314. The passengers seemed in good spirits from their seats anyway. The sun shone for the train 1Z37 through Mid Cornwall and is seen just West of Lostwithiel on the 2nd Oct.
Kind regards
Craig
P.S. Another well known couple were nearby.
The final Royal Duchy of the 2016 season was worked throughout from Bristol by WCR 57314. The passengers seemed in good spirits from their seats anyway. The sun shone for the train 1Z37 through Mid Cornwall and is seen just West of Lostwithiel on the 2nd Oct.
Kind regards
Craig
P.S. Another well known couple were nearby.
Hi Keith, A lovely October day (at least where we were)
A hundred yards down the line Jenny gets her shot,with Lostwithiels distant signal just in view.
Nice to meet Craig Munday here.
B Regards, Ron and Jenny Westwater
A hundred yards down the line Jenny gets her shot,with Lostwithiels distant signal just in view.
Nice to meet Craig Munday here.
B Regards, Ron and Jenny Westwater
Same train, almost the same place. 021016 57314 begins the climb out of Lostwithiel with 1Z37 0848 Bristol Temple Meads to Par. Copyright Ron Westwater.
Same train, almost the same place. 021016 57314 begins the climb out of Lostwithiel with 1Z37 0848 Bristol Temple Meads to Par. Copyright Jenny Westwater
Sorry no prizes, 10/10 for all three I think. Craigs picture recd 15.35, those from Ron and Jenny 19.11.
150265 heads over Largin viaduct. Copyright Ron Westwater Ron
The Semaphore Signals at Taunton in Mar 1983
Michael Forward
Michael Forward
830326b The signals on the gantry have already been put back to danger as the HST departs westwards. Copyright Michael Forward
830326a Looking at Taunton West Signal Box we see an eastbound HST arriving at Taunton. What a contrast to todays Taunton Station. Copyright Michael Forward
Thanks Michael
Around Laira area
Nick Dyke
Nick Dyke
Nick Dyke, a senior driver at Laira, takes us around Laira depot with the aid of his camera. We see things not available to the enthusiast within the high security area inside the fence. Many thanks to Nick.
Pilot line up!! But one missing! 26th October 2014. Copyright Nick Dyke
43002 Dragged out of the shed by 08644 during its major exam 19th August 2016 Copyright Nick Dyke
Another view of 43002. Dragged out of the shed by 08644 during its major exam 19th August 2016 Copyright Nick Dyke
Looking very smart with burnished brass. Class 08 Interior Note its fitted with TPWS and GSMR Radio for use on the Mainline between Laira and Plymouth. Copyright Nick Dyke
The end of the line. 153370 stands on the blocks at Plymouth Friary with a Route Learning trip 7th March 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke N.B. The lines to Friary station used to continue on for another hundred yards or so beyond the bridge.
57310 on the Flushing Apron at Mount Gould before running round its train via Friary Yard 20th November 2014. Copyright Nick Dyke
57310 light engine in the process of running round at Friary 20th November 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke
57310 back in the HST Shed 20th November 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke
Moving an HST cab about! 18th May 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke
08644 drags a rake of exam coaches out of the westend of the HST shed 10th May 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke
A Nightime shot of the Day Sheds 17th May 2014 Copyright Nick Dyke
'66 A Black Year
Mike Roach
Mike Roach
Many thanks, Mike, for looking back 50 years, 1966, especially the Autumn was a grim time.
1966 was a really black year for the railways of South West England with many line closures. Residents of some communities suddenly found themselves 30 to 40 miles from the nearest railway station. The year started with the closure of the Somerset and Dorset line, and October 1966 was a particularly bad month with several lines closed on the first weekend in the month. All the lines had been through the TUCC appeal procedure. The lines down for closure in Autumn 1966 were:
Bristol - Weymouth local trains on 3 October 1966
Yatton - Clevedon on 3 October 1966
Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Town on 3 October 1966 but the service survived until 1 March 1967
Taunton - Barnstaple Junction on 3 October 1966
Okehampton - Wadebridge on 3 October 1966
Halwill - Bude on 3 October 1966
Callington - Gunnislake on 7 November 1966
Ilfracombe - Barnstaple Junction 3 October 1966 *
Liskeard - Looe on 3 October 1966 *
St Erth - St Ives on 3 October 1966 *
Padstow - Bodmin Road already approved by the Minister of Transport but not closed until 30 January 1967
The British Railways office at Lynton on 3 October 1966
* Although the closure of Ilfracombe to Barnstaple Junction had been approved by the Minister of Transport the line somehow hung on until closure on 5 October 1970. Does anyone know the full story of the four year delay.
* Both St Erth - St Ives and Liskeard - Looe were reprieved by the Minister of Transport at the last moment and history has proved this to have been a wise decision. The Minister used PSO Grants to support the passnger services on the lines to St Ives and Looe. Public Service Obligation Grants are still around and it is believed they are used to support flights from Newquay Airport to Gatwick.
Due to the economic situation prevailing in the Autumn of 1966 the Western Region planned the withdrawal of individual lightly loaded passenger, parcels and freight trains. They also rationalised services on the Barnstaple, Kingswear and Exmouth Branches and many others. It was reported that the Plymouth to Penzance line was to be modernised involving the singling of long stretches, with the possibility that one new signal box would be built to control the whole length of the line. Fifty years on it has still not happened.
1966 was a really black year for the railways of South West England with many line closures. Residents of some communities suddenly found themselves 30 to 40 miles from the nearest railway station. The year started with the closure of the Somerset and Dorset line, and October 1966 was a particularly bad month with several lines closed on the first weekend in the month. All the lines had been through the TUCC appeal procedure. The lines down for closure in Autumn 1966 were:
Bristol - Weymouth local trains on 3 October 1966
Yatton - Clevedon on 3 October 1966
Yeovil Junction - Yeovil Town on 3 October 1966 but the service survived until 1 March 1967
Taunton - Barnstaple Junction on 3 October 1966
Okehampton - Wadebridge on 3 October 1966
Halwill - Bude on 3 October 1966
Callington - Gunnislake on 7 November 1966
Ilfracombe - Barnstaple Junction 3 October 1966 *
Liskeard - Looe on 3 October 1966 *
St Erth - St Ives on 3 October 1966 *
Padstow - Bodmin Road already approved by the Minister of Transport but not closed until 30 January 1967
The British Railways office at Lynton on 3 October 1966
* Although the closure of Ilfracombe to Barnstaple Junction had been approved by the Minister of Transport the line somehow hung on until closure on 5 October 1970. Does anyone know the full story of the four year delay.
* Both St Erth - St Ives and Liskeard - Looe were reprieved by the Minister of Transport at the last moment and history has proved this to have been a wise decision. The Minister used PSO Grants to support the passnger services on the lines to St Ives and Looe. Public Service Obligation Grants are still around and it is believed they are used to support flights from Newquay Airport to Gatwick.
Due to the economic situation prevailing in the Autumn of 1966 the Western Region planned the withdrawal of individual lightly loaded passenger, parcels and freight trains. They also rationalised services on the Barnstaple, Kingswear and Exmouth Branches and many others. It was reported that the Plymouth to Penzance line was to be modernised involving the singling of long stretches, with the possibility that one new signal box would be built to control the whole length of the line. Fifty years on it has still not happened.
Golant
Roger Geach
Roger Geach
37670 passing Golant with a afternoon set of empties from Carne Point 3 9 1989 . This was a Local engine working off St Blazey as 37182 before it was refurbished at Crewe works during 1987. It was a La engine from October 1982 to April 1983 as 37182. Then again as renumbered 37670 from April 1987 but arriving during August 87 at La. It stayed until July 99 , Many will recall its name as St Blazey TRS depot named at ST Blazey 4 2 1993. This loco was involved in a serious collision at Tavistock Junction along with 37671 on the 25 11 1987 so wa sthen missing from the county for quite some time while it was repaired. Cheers Roger Geach Copyright
Many thanks Roger for the picture and the mass of detail.
Ashburton
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Good day Keith, With talk about the South Devon Rly possibly extending back to Ashburton,sometime in the future,which would be a good move I'm sure and I hope it happens rather sooner than later.
However, here's a few pics I took there in August 1970, when members of the Taunton GWS group were on a trip to the then Dart Valley Rly and called in for a quick look around. Besides 1450 & 1638 being stored there, 7827 was being restored in the old goods shed and we saw 4555 leave to take up duty at Buckfastleigh as Ashburton at that time was used as the loco depot.
cheers JOHN C. Many thanks John, Memories are made of this
However, here's a few pics I took there in August 1970, when members of the Taunton GWS group were on a trip to the then Dart Valley Rly and called in for a quick look around. Besides 1450 & 1638 being stored there, 7827 was being restored in the old goods shed and we saw 4555 leave to take up duty at Buckfastleigh as Ashburton at that time was used as the loco depot.
cheers JOHN C. Many thanks John, Memories are made of this
Copyright John Cornelius
Copyright John Corfnelius
Copyright John Cornelius
Weymouth Tramway
Mike Morant
Mike Morant
LCGB: The Green Arrow Rail Tour 3/7/66
This tour didn't work out as planed because the assigned Gresley V2 had been failed before the off and Bulleid original West Cuntry no. 34002 Salisbury was substituted. The V2 did make its way to Basingstoke but was again failed and so took no part in the day's events. However, one can reasonably assume thain glorious sunshine.the participants enjoyed the tour's other major event which was Ivatt 2MT 'Mickey Mouse' 2-6-2T no. 41298 traversing the Weymouth Quay Tramway as depicted here on the outward leg. The train has just passed under Town Bridge and is heading for the Quay station.
[Mike Morant collection]
This tour didn't work out as planed because the assigned Gresley V2 had been failed before the off and Bulleid original West Cuntry no. 34002 Salisbury was substituted. The V2 did make its way to Basingstoke but was again failed and so took no part in the day's events. However, one can reasonably assume thain glorious sunshine.the participants enjoyed the tour's other major event which was Ivatt 2MT 'Mickey Mouse' 2-6-2T no. 41298 traversing the Weymouth Quay Tramway as depicted here on the outward leg. The train has just passed under Town Bridge and is heading for the Quay station.
[Mike Morant collection]
LCGB: The Green Arrow Rail Tour 3/7/66
Ivatt 'Mickey Mouse' 2MT 2-6-2T no. 41298 running light on the Weymouth Harbour Tramway.
Mike Morant Collection
Ivatt 'Mickey Mouse' 2MT 2-6-2T no. 41298 running light on the Weymouth Harbour Tramway.
Mike Morant Collection