Treesmill
Railhead Checks
Craig Munday
Railhead Checks
Craig Munday
Hi Keith
As the leaf fall season now getting off to a very late start, part of our duties is to make reactive & proactive rail head checks. One troublesome area is between Par & Milltown on the UM. There is a Traction Gel Applicator (TGA) machine here, and at other strategic locations in the Duchy.
The machine is a metal tub full of gel (a sandy, sticky substance) next to the track, and pipes to deliver it to the railhead for each passing train. The TGA can be seen on the Up side with its own solar panel power pack.
I had a couple of trains to pass before I could obtain a blockage to gain access to the track, so caught some lucky sunshine for 1C77 Padd - Penzance, and later saw 2C47 pass on the down. In between this 6P24 ran early from Parkandillack, so a broadside shot was obtained from the bare field further up the line. It made an awesome sight grinding up hill with 66023 working hard to pull the 38 CDAs up to Treverrin at around 8mph, which allowed me to rattle off a sequence of shots!
Kind regards, Craig Munday
Very many thanks indeed for your time and trouble getting out and about on our behalf, we learn something new every day.
As the leaf fall season now getting off to a very late start, part of our duties is to make reactive & proactive rail head checks. One troublesome area is between Par & Milltown on the UM. There is a Traction Gel Applicator (TGA) machine here, and at other strategic locations in the Duchy.
The machine is a metal tub full of gel (a sandy, sticky substance) next to the track, and pipes to deliver it to the railhead for each passing train. The TGA can be seen on the Up side with its own solar panel power pack.
I had a couple of trains to pass before I could obtain a blockage to gain access to the track, so caught some lucky sunshine for 1C77 Padd - Penzance, and later saw 2C47 pass on the down. In between this 6P24 ran early from Parkandillack, so a broadside shot was obtained from the bare field further up the line. It made an awesome sight grinding up hill with 66023 working hard to pull the 38 CDAs up to Treverrin at around 8mph, which allowed me to rattle off a sequence of shots!
Kind regards, Craig Munday
Very many thanks indeed for your time and trouble getting out and about on our behalf, we learn something new every day.
Lucky sunshine for 1C77 Paddington - Penzance. 5th November 2016. Copyright Craig Munday
The machine is a metal tub full of gel (a sandy, sticky substance) next to the track, and pipes to deliver it to the railhead for each passing train. The TGA can be seen on the Up side with its own solar panel power pack. 5th November 2016 Copyright Craig Munday
- It made an awesome sight grinding up hill with 66023 working hard to pull the 38 CDAs up to Treverrin at around 8mph, which allowed me to rattle off a sequence of shots! 5th November 2016 Copyright Craig Munday
2C47 passes on the down line. 5th November 2016. Copyright Craig Munday
50 years ago today
Callington Closes
Mike Roach
Callington Closes
Mike Roach
Passenger and freight services were withdrawn from Callington, and part of the Callington Branch, 50 years ago. The last passenger trains ran from Callington to Gunnislake on Saturday 5 November 1966. Gunnislake has been the terminus of the branch passenger services ever since. Many thanks for reminding us Mike.
Who better to have a picture from than Mike Roach who sent in the reminder of 50 years ago. Copyright Mike Roach. You'll find more pictures of this branch on this website in the Cornwall branches section.
Can you help?
Nick Trudgian
Nick Trudgian
Dear Keith,
I am very fond of your magnificent site and extremely grateful that so many precious images have been saved.
I wonder if any of your members have images of the occasion in, I think, December 1967, when the Great Western Society’s 6998 Burton Agnes Hall and 1466 plus some coaching stock appeared at North Road station Plymouth on their way from Totnes Quay to Didcot. I believe they came to Laira for a check over and for turning to face Didcot.
I would be most pleased to see photos of this rare event. I was there but only 8 years old.
With kind regards, Nick Trudgian
I am very fond of your magnificent site and extremely grateful that so many precious images have been saved.
I wonder if any of your members have images of the occasion in, I think, December 1967, when the Great Western Society’s 6998 Burton Agnes Hall and 1466 plus some coaching stock appeared at North Road station Plymouth on their way from Totnes Quay to Didcot. I believe they came to Laira for a check over and for turning to face Didcot.
I would be most pleased to see photos of this rare event. I was there but only 8 years old.
With kind regards, Nick Trudgian
South Devon Diesel Gala
4th November 2016
John Ball
4th November 2016
John Ball
Hi, Keith
Just back from the Sulzer Day of the South Devon Railway diesel gala - featuring D7612 and D6501 from the home fleet, with 24081 visiting from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
Best Regards John Many thanks John
Just back from the Sulzer Day of the South Devon Railway diesel gala - featuring D7612 and D6501 from the home fleet, with 24081 visiting from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
Best Regards John Many thanks John
The classic location, and nice to see a diesel.24081 passing Hood Bridge on the 13.20 from Buckfastleigh. Copyright John Ball
24081 arriving at Buckfastleigh on the 14.00 from Totnes. 4th November 2016 Copyright John Ball
24081 waiting to leave Buckfastleigh on the 15.20 to Totnes. 4th November 2016 Copyright John Ball
D6501 leaving Buckfastleigh on the 14.40 to Totnes. 4th November 2016 Copyright John Ball
The station dog at Buckfastleigh. 4th November 2016 Copyright John Ball N.B. John adds - Yes, Keith; he/she was in an open basket, watching the proceedings with interest. Must have been well 'trained', excuse the pun!
Falmouth
(From up the pole with)
Keith Barrow
(From up the pole with)
Keith Barrow
An unusual view at Falmouth. 153373 and a sister unit depart from the terminus at Falmouth Docks forming 2T79, the 13.50 to Truro on 10 October 2016. Taken with a 5m camera pole. Copyright Keith Barrow
Oathe
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius