at Bodmin Parkway today
Jon Morley at Bodmin Parkway today Jon kindly sent in these two pictures he took today at Bodmin Parkway, or Bodmin Road as we prefer it!! Many thanks Jon. Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway.When visiting the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire steam railway on the 17th July 2016, I came across a St Ivel six wheeled tank wagon in Toddington yard, but unfortunately it had no markings on it, I hope they are going to restore it and not just use the under frame and wheels. I questioned a couple of staff regarding the details of the wagon and it’s future without any success. So my questions to our many readers is has anybody got details of this wagon and did it visit Cornwall.I also photographed 7903 Foremarke Hall and she was very smartly turned out, my compliments to cleaning staff on site. StoneycombeIts the 29th May 1957 as 7813 and 5972 climb past Stoneycombe sidings which served the massive quarry alongside the notorious Dainton Bank. The piloting engine is 7813 Freshford Manor - this was built in January 1939 and withdrawn in September 1965. The second steam locomotive is no. 5972 Olton Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive. In the 2000s the locomotive achieved fame after it was used to haul the "Hogwarts Express" in the Harry Potter films. Built in April 1937 at Swindon railway works it was first allocated to Carmarthen, South Wales where it remained until 1951 then allocated to Plymouth Laira TMD. Its last shed allocation was to Cardiff East Dock, before it was withdrawn in December 1963, and acquired by Woodham Brothers, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan for scrap in May 1964. Thankfully it survived. Mike Morant Collection 160709_W_BR_7813_5972_Dainton_29-5-57 Goods at Thorney John Cornelius The first of two goods train shots at Thorney, Many thanks to John Cornelius A classic from Mike Morant Last day of the Tavy branch A lovely colour shot taken at Horrabridge on Saturday 28th December 1962. There being no Sunday service this should have been the very last day of trains on the Marsh Mills, Tavistock and Launceston branch. However due to the big freeze and blizzard conditions trains were stranded and the timetable became chaos. Note that 6400 bears a wreath to signify the sad occasion. From the Mike Morant Collection. 160709_W_BR_6400_Horrabridge_29-12-62 See more pictures in our Marsh Mills, Tavistock to Launceston section.
Signal Box and Signalling Matters in Cornwall Roger Winnen Thorney & Kingsbury John Cornelius Mike Morant at Brent Mike Roach replies -
Hi Keith There have been no answers to the query about what 5573 was doing at Brent so I will offer my two pennyworth. 5573 was at Newton Abbot Shed from December 1957 to December 1962 when it was transferred away to Whitland. I photographed the loco on the Kingsbridge Branch on Saturday 1 July 1961, and I have seen a picture of it on the Branch the previous Saturday. A month later I photographed it at Wadebridge and Bodmin General but it was not formally transferred to St. Blazey so perhaps it was on loan. The previous summers would have been similar but lets assume that this is a Saturday in June or July 1961. The train is the 10.55am Saturdays Only Kingsbridge to Paddington. The train would have arrived in its normal platform in Brent at 11.30am. 5573 would then have propelled its coaches out towards Newton Abbot over the crossover and onto the up main. It would then have worked its train westwards through the up platform out under the road bridge from which the photo was taken and into the up loop. The 11.15am Plymouth to Paddington arrived in the up platform and 5573 propelled its coaches out of the loop and on to the back of the Paddington train. Departure from Brent was scheduled at 11.45am and arrival at Paddington at 4.18pm. Hope this helps. Best wishes Mike Many thanks indeed Mike N.B. Another suggestion, which Mike thinks more plausible than his own - this comes from Charles Fennamore and is added to the Plymouth - Exeter section. A couple of days on the West Somerset Roger Aston, 2 - 15th July Thorney and Kingsbury Halt John Cornelius 82008 leaves Thorney for Yeovil on the 7th February 1962 Copyright John Cornelius. N.B. The halt with its shelter can clearly be seen beyond the bridge. By the rodding the Milk Factory siding point was clearly operated from the North Ground frame. Steam heating of the train was necessary at this time of the year as is evidenced by the 'emissions' along the train. A note on nameplates at Thorney from Chris Osment Keith Just to be pedantic...:-) According to Dunn’s book on GWR SB nameplates, the order for those GFs specified “Thorney Halt North Ground Frame” and the ‘...Halt South....’ equivalent. A GWR WTT Appendix has various references to ‘Thorney Halt Siding’. regards .Chris. With the best will in the world I try to get it right but it is very handy to have an expert in the wings to prompt me. Many thanks Chris. A joint effort Mike Morant The mighty Kings were often aided over the Devon banks and below is a typical example of steam at work. Here we see 5064 piloting 6022 on the 23rd May 1957. 5064 was built in June 1937 as Tretower Castle, its name was quickly changed in September 1937 to Bishops Castle. The loco was withdrawn in January 1963. 6022 King Edward 111 was built in 1930 and withdrawn on 30th September 1962 and was cut a year later. Courtesy the Mike Morant Collection 160709_W_BR_5064_6022_23-5-57 A couple of days on the West Somerset Roger Aston, 1 - 14th July The Herd of Wildebeestie Railtour Featuring 4 Class 73s from Waterloo to Paignton Roger Winnen Roger Salter Andrew Triggs & Jamie Dyke After leaving Penzance on the 08.39 to Exeter it was revealed that the train had been Cancelled on realtime trains, however after making contact with our good friend Martin Duff it was revealed that the tour was starting from Basingstoke owing to the late running of the stock from Eastleigh. Leaving Basingstoke some 18 mins late it lost time by Salisbury then leaving 30 late, however with a booked stop for passing at Honiton the train regained time arriving a Exeter St David's 18 mins late. After seeing the arrival at Exeter, Roger Salter and Tony Brokenshire headed for Dawish and myself carried on to Paignton. At Paignton the crowd in anticipation were getting worked up! where was the train! By that time the Dawlish photographers were on the train behind the special but were held up at Newton Abbot West the site of the famous bridge which was demolished for the new bypass. After sometime held at the signal, the passengers aboard the train were advised that the railtour in front had broken down and that they were returning to Newton Abbot Station. It was eventually discovered that the Railtour had broken down at Torre. The train eventually ran into Paignton Station with fire bells ringing 81 mins after leaving Exeter. The Dawlish photographers returned home after a number of cancellations to services. More Photographs to be seen on the features page Craig's back Cornwall and Devon Hi Keith, After a long recess, some railway pictures at last! I popped up to Dawlish today (along with many railway photographer royalty)! to capture 1Z73 Waterloo to Paignton, which started at Basingstoke. The locos were GBRF class 73s 73128/107 73962/963. The train is pictured passing Dawlish Marine. In the Duchy - the sun shone all day we hear! The evening was magnificent, which allowed a picture of 2C51 heading west (the first this season)! The shadows almost had me West of Probus for 57603 working the loco hauled, but the village of Probus was brightly lit above. Please note: this was taken in a private paddock with farmer's permission. Kind regards, Craig Many thanks Craig, nice to have you back. Thorney and Kingsbury Halt John Cornelius Operation of the Milk Factory and siding. A note from John Cornelius. There were two ground frames at Thorney to give access to the loop serving the milk factory siding, the one nearest the road overbridge and halt was named 'Thorney North', and the one at the distant end named 'Thorney South'. As far as I know the milk was sent in churns in siphon'G' vans, I don't think milk tanks were ever used there. The daily milk train came down from Yeovil and returned there. If the loco needed water it would run light engine to Langport West to fill up. I remember seeing siphon'G's stabled in the head shunt and also stabled in Martock goods yard. Because of the milk traffic, the weekly financial income credited to Thorney,was greater than that at Martock, so I was told. Out on cycle ride with friends on a Sunday in 1956 we happened to get to Thorney just as the milk train arrived from Yeovil,headed by 4507, the only time I saw the train. When I worked on the modernisation of the milk factory in 1962, rail traffic had ceased by then,with milk going by road. I think possibly the last vehicle to be shunted into the milk factory platform,was a box van with equipment for the modernisation in Feb or March 1962,which was shunted in, off the Yeovil goods train by 5798. Then a week or so later the empty van was taken away on the Yeovil goods. Many thanks for the info john - it's all valuable history. Newton Abbot, Castle
Mike Morant Jamie Dyke visits Newton Abbot Hi Keith, I am a recently new member of the CRS and I would like to share some photos that I took on Sunday 10th July at Newton Abbot. 1.) 46100 'Royal Scot' passes Newton Abbot with 'The Torbay Express' 9:15 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear. 2.) GBRF 66732 at Newton Abbot as backup for the 'Torbay Express'. This loco was hired by DB Cargo. Many Thanks Jamie Dyke Many thanks to you as well Jamie 46100 'Royal Scot' passes Newton Abbot with 'The Torbay Express' 9:15 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear. A very nice shot, one can just glimpse the tail of the train as it passes the west end of Hackney Sidings, and note the line to Heathfield bearing away to the left. 10th July 2016 Copyright Jamie Dyke Steam today, at Wick. John Cornelius Hi Keith, here's a pic of 46115 passing Wick near Langport, with the trip to the WSRLY. It passed me at 12.30 about 20 min late CHEERS JOHN C. Personally I didn't know there was another Wick - you learn something everyday! Many thanks John. However, look for Wick Manor, Langport on Google Earth and you'll find it some half a mile west of Curry Rivel Jct. Stations, bus. Sid Sponheimer As you will no doubt realised the CRS website is not really for buses, however, they do come into our field of interest at times - useful for conveying us on some of our outdoor events and often as rail replacement services. Afternoon Keith, I know the attached aren't of railways but of course there is a historical connection. A commemorative run from Exeter Bus Station to Plymouth's Bretonside Bus Station took place this morning as both are due to close shortly. I haven't seen so many buses in Bretonside for many a year. The "bent" panoramic view was taken before everything arrived. There were few WN & SN vehicles present. Sid. Many thanks Sid The L & B Woody Bay Roger Aston A good time to remind you that on the Saturday 24th September the CRS will be paying a return visit to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway for its 2016 Gala. Details on Outdoor Events. John Cornelius at Yeovil Junction Good morning Keith, just to show their is more to railways then chasing around the countryside photographing trains. This is a pic taken yesterday by Brian Haig of me trimming our boundary hedge around the turntable at Yeovil junction, a job which I have been doing for several years, twice a year, to keep things tidy around the turntable. Not been out with the camera lately, hope this will change shortly. Been up the junction a bit lately and I will be there next Sunday doing guard duty on our train. cheers JOHN C Many thanks John Thorney & Kingsbury Halt John Cornelius Dawlish seawall
Mike Morant The next Cornwall Railway Society Outdoor Event Takes place on Saturday 30th July, 2016 (Weather Permitting) Riding the Gunnislake Branch and Walking part of the East Cornwall Minerals Railway from the summit of the incline to Calstock Quay and return by Boat or Train to Plymouth. Train dep Penzance 08.28 Camborne 08.46 Redruth 08.52 Truro 09.04 St Austell 09.20 Par 09.27 Bodmin Parkway 09.37 Liskeard 09.50 Plymouth 10.17/10.59 Gunnislake 11.45 for a twenty minute walk to the summit of the incline, we amble down this incline for a short way before retracing our steps down a minor road alongside to gain further access a little way down to the incline which eventually takes us to the rivers edge at Calstock. For those catching the boat it departs at 15.45 for Plymouth Barbican arrive 17.30 (Fare £15.50) However seats on the boat must be booked prior to our arrival in Plymouth on Saturday morning, so please inform me on route. For those returning by train, it leaves Calstock at 15.56 for Plymouth. A service of frequent trains leave Plymouth at 17.26 17.42 17.52 18.55 Purchase an Off Peak Day Return to Gunnislake These photographs were taken yesterday 14th July, 2016, on a route refresher run, the CRS last walked this route 22 years ago when we hired a pleasure craft to take us down the Tamar and up the Lynher and Tidy returning us to Plymouth. Bankers at Dainton Summit From the Mike Morant Collection Thorney & Kingsbury Halt John Cornelius Mnny Thanks John
Thorney and Kingsbury Halt John Cornelius John Cornelius writes reminding us that Thorney and Kingsbury Halt has not been featured on the CRS website previously, and, as you will see in the coming days makes amends for this omission in grand style. Thank you very much indeed John. Thorney is a very small collection of houses, barely a hamlet and lies about a quarter of a mile to the south west whilst Kingsbury, a larger collection of properties, which is a further mile away along Thorney Road boasts St Marys Church. Looking at 'Google Street view' one can see that the Milk Factory buildings albeit put to some different commercial use still lie to the south west of a steel bridge which carries Thorney Road over the former rail route. Thorney Halt, along with the sidings, closed 15th June 1964. Thorney was also the name of a station on the Peterborough - Wisbech line. Barnstaple Shed 2
Mike Morant Scrap Sid Sponheimer There is no suggestion by the title that we should 'scrap' Sid - he's too useful for that! Thanks for the picture Sid, an interesting one especially when compared to the one of 'County of Cardigan' on the News Page of yesterday and in the text. Afternoon Keith, Reference MMs latest addition, you mention that 1008 was scrapped at Cashmore's Newport and as proof here is a photo taken in August 1964 at Cashmore's. Sid. Back to Curry Rivel John Cornelius A quite remarkable picture taken by John Cornelius from just to the west of Curry Rivel Signalbox. Here we have, two for the price of one, two locos as a prairie waits in the up loop. The double track bearing off to the left are the metals of the Yeovil branch which was double track as far as Langport West. There was a further loop line which can just be seen beyond the metals of the Yeovil branch. Barnstaple shed 1 Mike Morant Many thanks to Roger Winnen for this extra info. These engines at Barnstaple are Drummond M7 Class built from 1897 an 0-4-4 wheel arrangement. In BR days these engines had a 30 added to the number. There was a number of these engines listed in the 300xx series and others in the 306xx series. Plymouth Friary had 30035 30036 and 30037 in the late 1950s. If I remember correctly there is a photo of an M7 on the Turnchapel Branch.
Exeter earlier today David Tozer My apologies for being late getting this on site - been working hard elsewhere. Keith. Morning Keith, A rather early visit to Exeter St David's. 43004/43041 with the 0505 Penzance - London (Paddington). This was then followed with GBRF Class 66's 66746/743 with the 0435 1Z79 Gloucester - Bath Spa via Newton Abbot - The Royal Scotsman. Rather strangely it was routed via platform 1 at St David's even though the more usual route through platform 5 was clear. Must confess this move caught several of us out. Both Class 66's have an interesting history. 66743 worked for DRS and was numbered 66407 it then moved on the Colas Rail becoming 66842. 66746 also worked for DRS numbered 66410 and then also it moved to Colas Rail as 66845. Then both were transferred to the GBRF fleet. Dave Many thanks Dave - sorry its late. The Cornwall Railway Society Visits the Weymouth Quay Branch During its 12 day tour of the South Wales and Southern England Using a 8 in 15 day Freedom of the South West Railrover and a 4 in 8 day South Wales Flexi Pass a large area was covered from 28th June through to 9th July, 2016 160707d CAUTION BE AWARE OF RAILWAY TRACKS The Weymouth Harbour Tramway was built in the 1860s to provide a link from the Railway Station to the Harbour, and originally followed the line of Commercial Road. This loop was contructed in 1938/9 by the Great Western Railway to provide a gentler curve for the trains to traverse. Roger Winnen A full report will be shown in the Features Page of the complete 12 day visit to South Wales and the Southern Counties of England within the next few weeks. Roger Winnen Langport West -Flooded 4 John Cornelius Tomorrow we return to Curry Rivel. A Cornish Gem From Mike Morant 1008 County of Cardigan stands at Gwinear Road (Change for Helston) in July 1962, station staff wait the 'right away'. Further back on the right stands one of the branch trains with a class 63 loco - this will have to run round its train before setting off for Helston once more. The station at Gwinear had just over two years to go, it closed on the 5th October 1964 however as the Helston branch closed to passengers on the 5th November 1962 it would have served little purpose after closure of the branch, the village of Gwinear being quite remote from the station would have generated few passengers. As for the County of Cardigan, it had been built just after WW2 in December 1945 and lasted 18 years to December 1963. It was scrapped at Cashmores, Newport. Courtesy the Mike Morant Collection 160709_W_BR_1008_Gwinear_Road_7-62 |
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