870910a 50012 'Benbow' on the 09.11 departure for Plymouth. The building in the center of this photograph is the Pirates Hotel, formally a nursing home where the late Jon Woods railway photographer was born on the 1st January, 1937. A railway trip was always organised on New Years Day to celebrate the occasion. Today the site has been redeveloped into retirement homes. Copyright Michael Forward
870910b 50007 'Sir Edward Elgar' formally 'Hercules' at rest with a test train composed of the equivalent of today's Network Rail yellow vehicles. Copyright Michael Forward
870910bb 50007 Sir Edward Elgar getting underway at 10.25 with the test train,presumably to have a clear run throughout Cornwall. Copyright Michael Forward.
870910c Seen in the background of the first picture, here is 50044 Exeter with a lengthy van train due to depart at 12.10 Copyright Michael Forward
870910d 47489 with the 10.27 departure for Edinburgh 'The Cornish Scot' seen pulling away at Chyandour. Copyright Michael Forward
870910e Now we see 50036 'Victorious' passing the site of the former Ponsandane Signal Box at 10.45 with the 05.45 from Barnstaple. In the background is the Heliport which saw its last flight to the Isles of Scilly on 30th October, 2012, Michaels father in law worked at the heliport as a fitter, prior to that he worked on the 'Rapide' aircraft flying between Lands End and the Isles of Scilly. This is now a Sainsbury Supermarket with scenic views of Mounts Bay from its first floor restaurant. Copyright Michael Forward
See More on the Features Page July to December, 2015