Cornwall  Railway  Society
  • June 22 Home Page
  • LATEST INPUT , NEWS & OLD PICTURES ETC.
  • INDOOR & OUTDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME
  • CORNWALL RAILWAY SOCIETY GENERAL INFORMATION CONTACTS & WEBMASTERS MEMBERSHIP FORM ETC.
  • FEATURES, MAIN INDEX & OUTDOOR EVENTS REPORTS.
  • CORNWALL GALLERIES
  • DEVON GALLERIES
  • North & East of TAUNTON & HONITON
  • Military and Industrial Tramways & Light Railways
  • Pleasure Tramways & Light Railways
  • RAILTOURS, AERIAL VIEWS ,MISCELLANEOUS
  • STEAM & DIESEL RAILTOURS 22 ONWARDS
  • CORNISH RAILWAYS WAR DIARY
  • LOCAL YOUTUBE
  • Historical Outdoor Events INDEX
  • ARCHITECTURE
  • INDEX TO ARTICLES WRITTEN BY COLIN BURGES
  • ARTICLES SECTION.
  • ENGINEERING PLANT DIARY
  • News reports Jan to Aug 2012
  • Links
  • MAPS, PHOTOS, AERIAL VIEWS
  • Official Documents available to the General Public
  • Public notices and posters collection

Items added on the 7th February 2018                                                                        Those added most recently come first.

7/2/2018

 
Turbos at Melksham
Guy Vincent
                                   Todays News
         TURBOS INTO SERVICE ON TRANS WILTS ROUTE 
                                   By Guy Vincent 


Monday 5th February saw the launch of former 'Thames Turbos' (class 166) 3 car units on the Westbury-Swindon via Melksham 'Trans Wilts' service.   In the space of just 6 weeks, daytime trains on this route have gone from predominantly single class 153 units through 2 car 150 & 158 sets to the three car 166s.   This morning I took a trip out to Melksham to see the 'new' trains in action and to observe the special arrangements needed there due to the short platform, something that was never an issue for these trains in the Thames Valley.

Due to the short section of usable platform (37.9 metres) at Melksham station special working arrangements have had to be made and approved in order for the newer trains to call.   Despite planning approval being granted 14 months ago to extend the platform at the north (Chippenham) end by 33 metres, giving a total length of 70.9 metres, this work has yet to be started.  Class 166 sets were built with DOO (Driver Only Operation) capability and, at each station, it is the driver that releases the doors with no selective operation possible of fewer than all sets on each side of the train.  To overcome this, special marker boards have been erected beyond the existing usable platform length instructing the driver to stop but not to release the train doors.   The Guard then opens his rear cab door, walks along the platform and manually opens the first set of passenger doors using the external 'butterfly' emergency egress valve. Once passengers have boarded/alighted the guard closes the door, rejoins the train and gives the ready to start signal to the driver.  Sets are currently being modified as they arrive in the Bristol area. Intermediate door control panels worked by the guard are being installed and once all units have been completed only the first set of doors in the leading coach will be used, controlled by the guard.

Guy Vincent    Many thanks for your up to date report Guy - one wonders if these units will ever operate down in Cornwall?
Picture
Melksham (1) Turbo Stop Marker (North,Up) from Platform, Chipp'm end. 7th February 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Picture
Melksham (2) Turbo Stop Marker Up 7th February 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Picture
Melksham (3) Up Turbo arriving for Swindon alongside disused platform section 7th February 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Picture
Melksham (4) Rear door opened by Guard for passengers to join & alight 7th February 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent.
Picture
Melksham (5) Turbo departing for Swindon & passing site of approved platform extension. 7th February 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Picture
Melksham (6) 'Down' train correctly platformed for boarding-alighting at rear. 7th February 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Picture
Melksham Turbo Poster Feb 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent
Snow in the Duchy
Craig Munday

Hi Keith.  Since getting the SLR in 2012, I have been awaiting a "proper" guts down of snow in the Duchy. Each passing winter has brought nothing of note. There was a substantial fall yesterday, but unfortunately wet so it failed to stick (or pitch as we say in Bristol!). 
Still 66187 did make an impressive sight departing Treviscoe with loaded CDAs for Burngullow, first portion of wagons to form the afternoon Carne Point departure.
The nest day, after an icy start, the sky was blue and the light perfect for a wander up to Coldrennick viaduct for 70816 working the cement train down, which ran via Lostwithiel to run around. 
I ventured to Largin with the sky becoming heavy with dark clouds, but was fortunate to grab a slice of sun for the loaded tanks storming up the bank. 
      All the best, Craig                 Many thanks Craig
Picture
66187 Treviscoe snow 6th February 2018 Copyright Craig Munday
Picture
6C35 Coldrennick Viaduct 7th February 2018 Copyright Craig Munday
Picture
Largin Viaduct 6C35 7th February 2018 Copyright Craig Munday
47738 on display
Adrian King
Hi Keith 
          I know Bridgend in South Wales is well out of your area but I thought these photos may be of interest as CRS carried a story on 3rd November '17 regarding a Class 47 cab being moved from Plymouth Station. Wayne Phillips had sent in a great nightime shot showing the loco being moved out from Plymouth on a low loader, and Guy Vincent provided an excellent account of the locomotives history. 
         Well, as Guy wrote, 47738  now resides at the Cab Yard in Bridgend which to give it its full title is the South Wales Locomotive Cab Preservation Group. Unfortunately the locomotive itself is now without its bogie set which has gone to another society. The first photo shows the Class 47 in a temporary position on the site, as Richard Benyon the new owner of 47738, has plans to develop the present layout as the Group now has in excess of 30 cabs of various locomotives. Through the cab window of 47738 on the second shot you can see part of the yard and some of the other loco cabs around the yard. The final photograph shows Richard himself standing in the cab doorway which leads to the engine compartment of the Class 47. 
        Hope you'll be able to use this on the website.  Cheers Adrian
  Many thanks Adrian for the 'What happened was!' and the photographs.
Picture
The Class 47 in a temporary position on the site at Bridgend 11th January 2018 Copyright Adrian King
Picture
Through the cab window of 47738 one can see other cabs in the yard. Copyright Adrian King
Picture
Richard Benyon the new owner of 47738 Copyright Adrian King
Changes on the
Great Western in Cornwall
Roger Winnen

Picture
180207a Changes to the timetable in March 2018
Picture
180207b Changes at the terminus, new GWR Post & Signs as the 07.02 Plymouth Penzance service arrives behind 43155 The Red Arrows . The Cliff Hotel seen above the HST predates the coming of the railway to Penzance in 1852 the original station being built at this location, the new station of 1879-1880 was constructed on land behind necessitating the building of a new road to serve the station and harbour. Copyright Roger Winnen
Mark Lynham visits Penzance
Picture
180206a Resident Long Rock shunter 08410 in the old dock siding with barrier vehicle and two day coaches from the Night Riviera. Copyright Mark Lynham
Picture
180206b A 3 car 150926 passing the remains of the former Ponsandane Signal Box working the 2C43 06.24 Bristol Parkway to Penzance. Copyright Mark Lynham
Picture
180206c A low level picture of 43002 the rear power car for the 1A88 12.04 service to Paddington. Copyright Mark Lynham
Totnes, Near.
Geoffrey Matthews
Picture
Hydraulic days! D856 'Trojan' on a up passenger train about 2 miles east of Totnes on 28th June 1966.. Copyright Geoffrey Matthews
Kingsteinton
Ron Kosys

Picture
47705 runs alongside the upper reaches of the river Teign with the Paddington to Penzance Motorail service. Cars were conveyed in the two vans seen at the rear of the train. 5th August 1989 Copyright Ron Kosys
Taunton
Roger Geach

Picture
Fifteen years after the picture below 1022 Western Sentinel awaits 'right away' with the 1a19 1100 Penzance to Paddington train at Taunton on Thursday 10th April 1975 Copyright Roger Geach.
Roger Geach, a very keen Hymek fan,  asks if anybody has any pictures of that class working down in the far west.
Taunton
John Cornelius
Picture
Copyright John Cornelius

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011