The loco hauled day stock off the Night Riviera provides a very interesting ride to Exeter on summer Saturdays - the ride in the superb stock is far superior to anything offered by any other rail, or road, for that matter, vehicles. An added bonus for us and Roger Winnen are the tail end views which he is able to bring us. Many thanks to Roger for last Saturdays the 9th August views.
140809zc The Rolling stock on the loco hauled. Copyright Roger Winnen
A shot of the empty stock movement from Penzance to Par
The empty stock movement from Long Rock to Par passes over Gwinear Road level crossing with 57 604 Pendennis Castle 9th August 2014 Copyright Mick House N.B. Mick also spotted the Cornish Flags.
The journey up
140809a 57604 Stands at Par with the SO 11.25 service to Exeter. Copyright Roger Winnen
Nice to see the Cornish flag displayed either side of the centre lamp bracket. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809b 57604 app Treverrin Tunnel. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809c Treverrin Tunnel East Portal. Copyright Roger Winnen Note the glimmer of light at the far end of this 565 yard tunnel, and the obvious change of gradient.
140809d The 07.36 Paddington-Newquay passes the junction with the Fowey Branch at Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen Note the detail of the junction, the catch points and the protecting home signal.
140809e The 88 yard Brown Queen Tunnel east portal. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809f Nearing the site of Largin Signal Box entering the single line section over the Viaducts. Copyright Roger Winnen Note the spare points 'parts' lying nearby.
140809h St Pinnock Viaduct rebuilt in 1882 with iron Girders. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809i The catch point protecting the single line between the St Pinnock and Largin viaducts. Although the catch point leads into conventional rail - the last section of the run off is in bridge rail. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809j Sperritt Tunnel near Doublebois. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809k Moorswater Viaduct. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809l Liskeard Station. The east crossover, the signal box and the very recent footbridge. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809m Menheniot Station. The shelter on the right is of Cornwall Railway origin but, unfortunately, there is no such cover on the down side. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809n Coldrennick Viaduct Rebuilt in 1897 with iron girders and renewed by steel in 1933. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809o Coombe by Saltash Viaduct rebuilt in 1893. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809r Crossing over the former Southern Main Line west of St Budeaux. Copyright Roger Winnen Note there were two similar bow string bridges at this location, however when double track between the east end of the Royal Albert bridge and St Budeaux Ferry Road was singled on 2nd July 1973 an opportunity was taken to recover the former down line bridge. The 'southern' line passing under the GW line at this point was singled 7th September 1970.
140809s Keyham Station Station. Copyright Roger Winnen Just one loop line remains around the up side of the station, There was once a large goods shed here - the signalbox was at the end of the down platform. During WW2 a bomb fell on a locomotive at the end of this platform destroying the locomotive.
140809t The site of Ford Halt (Great Western), this closed as the result of enemy action on 6th November 1941. It is amazing that the down platform still remains after all these years. Keyham station lies just beyond the cutting. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809t Dockyard Halt. Ford Halt GWR lay just across Keyham viaduct, about a quarter of a mile away. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809v The eastern end of Mutley Tunnel looking towards Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809w Ivybridge Station. The prospect of a 'loco hauled' rouses the interest at this location. One gentleman examines the results on his camera - something not possible until we moved into the digital era. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809x The Aish Emergency Crossovers situated west of Brent. Something impossible to fully appreciate without this rearward view. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809y Marley Tunnels. At the top of Rattery bank is Rattery Viaduct and the 869 yards (795 m)[11] Marley Tunnel. The original single-track tunnel had a second bore added alongside it in 1893 when the line was doubled. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809z Totnes Station. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809za The former Stoneycombe Signal Box. The conveyor which served the quarry still crosses the track. The signalbox, which has been out of use for some years now is of unusual construction to protect the signalman from flying rocks. Copyright Roger Winnen
The journey back to Penzance
140809zb The west end of Devonport Tunnel. Copyright Roger Winnen
140809zd Departure at 20.03 from Par Station, Chapel Siding lies alongside the main line at this point - the nigh on level siding serving to illustrate the steep bank on the main line away from Par. Copyright Roger Winnen
301140809ze Crossovers at Burngullow under darkening skies. Copyright Roger Winnen. It is understood that the rails at crossovers such as at this point are painted white to reflect the summer sun and thus reduce the heating effect.
140809zg Leaving Truro Station for Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen. This almost midway between the lines shot makes an interesting view. A correspondent queries the need for the cut away portion spoiling the symmetry of the end elevation of the canopy over platform 3.
140809zh Highertown Tunnel at Truro at 20.30hrs. The final shot of the day in quickly fading light. Copyright Roger Winnen
Many thanks to Roger for this magnificent record of the line.