Hello Keith,
Please find attached a small selection of photographs from the collection of my friend and colleague Geoff Salmon, which I’ve scanned and sent for possible use on the CRS site.
The photograph of 50035 Ark Royal at Camborne is particularly interesting – undated, though probably 1989 time. If anybody can help provide a date this would be welcome. The activity in the foreground might jog the memories of some. Perhaps it was even reported in the CRS newsletter of the day?!
Second, there are three images from Drump Lane – Redruth taken on Thursday 20/11/1986. Although the signal box had been closed on 12/01 that year, an incident in a possession led to ballast machine DR77202 being put away clear of the down main line in the former (and by then long out of use) down sidings. The machine was put on a skate and moved shortly after to Truro yard where it rusted quietly until early 1988 when it was eventually cut up. The semaphore signal behind the machine in one of the views was by then motor worked and under the control of the signalman at Roskear Junction. This too was eventually recovered and replaced by a colour light example west of Redruth. I’d need to check my records but this was possibly when the Holmans branch was permanently taken out of use in September 1987.
Final, two undated photographs (though if accounts on the internet are right, before April 1978) of an unidentified Class 25 at work on Hayle Wharf.
Geoff started his railway career in BR days, and worked Hayle Signal Box among other things. I am sure that these images will be of interest to the site viewers. Kind regards, Martin Duff.
Many thanks to Martin for sending in this interesting collection and also especially to Geoff Salmon who took these once in a lifetime Gems.
Please find attached a small selection of photographs from the collection of my friend and colleague Geoff Salmon, which I’ve scanned and sent for possible use on the CRS site.
The photograph of 50035 Ark Royal at Camborne is particularly interesting – undated, though probably 1989 time. If anybody can help provide a date this would be welcome. The activity in the foreground might jog the memories of some. Perhaps it was even reported in the CRS newsletter of the day?!
Second, there are three images from Drump Lane – Redruth taken on Thursday 20/11/1986. Although the signal box had been closed on 12/01 that year, an incident in a possession led to ballast machine DR77202 being put away clear of the down main line in the former (and by then long out of use) down sidings. The machine was put on a skate and moved shortly after to Truro yard where it rusted quietly until early 1988 when it was eventually cut up. The semaphore signal behind the machine in one of the views was by then motor worked and under the control of the signalman at Roskear Junction. This too was eventually recovered and replaced by a colour light example west of Redruth. I’d need to check my records but this was possibly when the Holmans branch was permanently taken out of use in September 1987.
Final, two undated photographs (though if accounts on the internet are right, before April 1978) of an unidentified Class 25 at work on Hayle Wharf.
Geoff started his railway career in BR days, and worked Hayle Signal Box among other things. I am sure that these images will be of interest to the site viewers. Kind regards, Martin Duff.
Many thanks to Martin for sending in this interesting collection and also especially to Geoff Salmon who took these once in a lifetime Gems.
What's interesting here? Well, it's Camborne Level Crossing and the barriers are down. Preserved 50 035 Ark Royal (Which once hauled a CRS Railtour) with an up service waits to proceed. Take a closer look. On the left hand side of this picture, inside the barriers is a vehicle, with the drivers door open. No doubt he, or she has decided to try and beat the barriers down - and failed. Can anybody date this incident please. Copyright Geoff Salmon
Thanks to Geoff we can date this one - it's the 20th November 1986 and defective tamper 77202 has been put away off the down main line into the disused sidings at Drump Lane. to the left of the picture are the down and up main lines whilst to tamper stands on one of the two very long head shunts which were a feature of this yard. To aid 'fly shunting' these head shunts were on a very slight gradient down to the west whilst the main lines sloped away down to the east. Copyright Geoff Salmon
The view of the defective tamper standing in the yard is interesting in itself however the view under the footbridge clearly shows the relationship of Drump Lane Signalbox to the yard and main line. Housing has already started to appear in the field north of the railway. 20th November 1986. Copyright Geoff Salmon
Oh dear, look at this. Drump Lane Signalbox shorn of its cast nameplate (I wonder who has got that?). Despite the effort put in all those years ago by the bricklayers and carpenters to produce a fine looking structure mindless vandals have seen fit to smash nearly all the windows. The box had been closed just ten months. What a shame. 20th November 1986 Copyright Geoff Salmon.
We now move to the level crossing at Hayle. The picture is captioned 'Steam Packet Level Crossing'. There was once a hotel of that name (Formerly The Brittania) alongside the railway, Hayle estuary side of it, about 25 yards beyond the harbour masters office. The point rodding on the right of the picture would have operated the points which would divert any runaway wagons from the station area into the worlds first sand drag. Copyright Geoff Salmon
Moving over the level crossing and into the wharfs area an unidentified class 25 has propelled its train of tankers into the sidings, the tanker wheels have cut furrows in the ground. To the left and out of use is the old weigbridge. This area has now, in 2015, changed almost out of recognition. Copyright Geoff Salmon.
Finally a close up of the unidentified class 25 standing on the wharf sidings. Copyright Geoff Salmon.