September 26th, 2018

First RHTT train.
By Andrew Keast.

 
66120 and 66200 worked the first RHTT train of the year into St Blazey. The train was 340F 08:50 Westbury-BZ and arrived 50 minutes early.
​Words & photos by Andrew Keast.
Many thanks Andrew.

Here we see 66120 photographed from the A3082 Par Green level crossing. The train is about to reverse back into the sidings next to St Blazey shed. Copyright Andrew Keast.

66200 heads the RHTT past St Blazey turntable. Copyright Andrew Keast.

The RHTT wagons looking particularly clean in the sunshine. This will not last long! Copyright Andrew Keast.

66120 tails the train past the turntable. Copyright Andrew Keast.

Now parked up next to the shed, 66120 looks a fine sight next to 66034 which had worked down earlier this morning from Bescot. Copyright Andrew Keast.

Yealmpton Branch
Cylinder Bridge
Colin Burges

​This is the remains of Cylinder Bridge between Steer Point and Yealmpton.

Cylinder Bridge. Bob Le Marchant takes a rest. Bridge Rail in the Foreground. June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges. Note the bridge rails forming crude reinforcement of the displaced concrete abutment. Mudbank Lake is at left and River Yealm at right. With a nod from the gamekeeper, we later followed the river down from Puslinch Bridge as far as Kitley Quay.

​Doing up his bootlaces and moaning about being dragged out on his bike with me last year on a route refresher of the Yealmpton Branch is a great friend of mine, Bob Le Marchant, . A veteran of South Crofty and a graduate of the Camborne School of Mines, Bob went to work in a South African gold mine where he managed an enormous underground operation. He drove his Willys Jeep across Africa when he returned home, later joining Robin Daniel and Pete Hughes in blasting the deviation tunnel on the Festiniog, opened in 1977. After that, he came back to Devon and opened the George & Charlotte Mine tramway at Morwellham Quay, eventually blasting through to New Quay. He ran the whole operation at Morwellham for many years, with early ambitions to make a spiral tunnel down to the hydro-electric station and reopen part of the line to Devon Great Consols. Today "retired," he still puts in a week every month with the "Rest of the World Gang" in North Wales and is otherwise busy on his own projects or those he is called in to assist because of his rare set of skills. He's always cheerful and always willing to help; I'm proud to call him my friend. In his 70th birthday card last year I wrote: "You're the engineer I wanted to be."

Cylinder Bridge from another angle. June 2017 Copyright Colin Burges

This year we followed the Turnchapel Branch and then made for Wembury and the ferry across to the exquisite Newton Ferrers. It was once possible for commuters to catch the ferry from there to Steer Point for the train to Plymouth.

That's enough, I think ...

Colin         Many thanks Colin.       We'd like more in due course.

GWR P.W. Works
Info forwarded by Derek Buttivant

Hello Roger.
Just in case you haven't picked up the details from elsewhere, I thought you might like to look at a new web page on the GWR web site giving full details of engineering works for the rest of this year and the start of next year.  There are some significant ones coming up, notably closures of Marley and Whiteball tunnels.  You are welcome to put the link on the CRS web site if you think it appropriate - or just use it for your own enlightenment!  The link is below.
Best wishes,
​                       Derek                         Many thanks Derek 

​www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering/SWupgrade

Exminster today
David Tozer

David spent and interesting hour and a quarter on the bridge at Exminster today - lovely sunshine.                Many thanks David

150266 12.26 Exmouth to Paignton at 13.08 on the 26th September 2018 Copyright David Tozer

43009 with the 1C77 on the 10.33 Paddington to Paignton at 13.14 on the 26th September 2018 Copyright David Tozer

Here comes the 'prize catch' for the day. In pristine condition the RHTT - how long will it stay like this? 66200 & 66120 on the 11.28 Westbury to St Blazey RHTT at 13.49 on the 26th September 2018 Copyright David Tozer

Ivor the Engine
Ken Mumford

Ivor (who features at several preserved railways) is a modification of a small Peckett industrial locomotive to resemble Ivor.
Ivor's fondest dream is to sing with the Grumbly and District Choral Society, a dream that is realised when his whistle is replaced with three pipes from an old fairground organ. He becomes the first bass of the choir, as well as providing them with a means of getting from place to place.

MUCH MORE information can be found on the Internet which, in my humble opinion, is certainly well worth exploring.
        Kind regards,   Ken (Mumford)                Many thanks Ken

Ivor the engine at Swindon & Cricklade Railway at Blunsdon. 26th September 2018 Copyright Ken Mumford.

Par Shunt with 66034.
​By Andrew Keast.

I managed to catch the Par Docks shunt this morning at 07:45. 66 034
 was shut down in order not to annoy the neighbours (and the driver).
This is a regular Wednesday morning working, the train having come down from Bescot (Running as 648L) in the early hours.
    Words and Photos by Andrew Keast.    Many Thanks Andrew.

66 034 stands behind the gates on the A3082 Par Green road crossing. Copyright Andrew Keast.

Looking behind the gates on the A3082 Par Green road crossing gives a better view of 66 034. Copyright Andrew Keast.

D1008 Western Harrier arrives at Plymouth Station during the remodelling in April 1974
Roger Winnen

740419a D1008 Western Harier arrives at Plymouth North Road from Plymouth Friary with a goods trains during the time of the remodelling of Plymouth Station on 19th April 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

740414a The remodelling of Plymouth Station on 14th April 1974. The through platforms of numbers 2 & 3 were converted into bay platforms with the Gunnislake services using Platform 3 at the west end. Copyright Roger Winnen

South Brent
Then And Now
1982 and 2018
Clive Smith

img 272 50029 Renown passes the closed signal box with the 11.38 Plymouth to Manchester on 16th October 1982. Copyright Clive Smith

IMG_1547 Power Car 43087 leads the 05.41 Penzance to Paddington on the 31st August,2018 Considerable tree growth has taken place on the old down platform. Copyright Clive Smith

img271 31234 heads west with the 05.15 Paddington to Plymouth parcels on the 16th October 1982. Copyright Clive Smith

IMG_2388 Inter City liveried 43185 leads the 10.03 Paddington Penzance on 25th September 2018. A mass of budlea occupied the former up platform. The former goods shed is now a very smart health centre including my local dentist. Quite a surreal experience watching and hearing the trains go by as your cavities are being drilled into. Copyright Clive Smith

Thanks Clive