PLYM VALLEY RAILWAY & Marsh Mills Clay works

The Plym Valley Railway Sunday 3rd April 2022

Yesterday I visited the Plym Valley Railway which held its first running day of the season. I was made most welcome by the Station Staff and Ben Warren the Driver of the Cornish Skipper who filled me in with some local news. It was a most enjoyable day, however passengers were lacking in numbers.
Congratulations to the Plym Valley Railway for all your efforts in rebuilding the railway from nothing.
Roger Winnen

220403a Our driver of the day Ben Warren on route to Beverley Ccorrection Plym Bridge Platform. Copyright Roger Winnen

220403b Our Cornish Skipper unit stands at Plym Bridge Platform awaiting its passengers. Copyright Roger Winnen

220403c The Great Western Pagoda at Plym Bridge Platform. Copyright Roger Winnen

220403d We are now at Blackpool South a station that I remember well when staying in Blackpool before the end of steam Copyright Roger Winnen

220403e There is no chance of running away towards the buffer stops at Plym Bridge Platform. Copyright Roger Winnen

220403f Photographed from the cycle way which follows the line to Clearbrook and beyond. Copyright Roger Winnen

220403g Back at Marsh Mills towards the end of the day. Copyright Roger Winnen

Plym Valley Railway

Ben Warren wrote in - Dear Cornwall Railway Society

I always enjoy reading your website and the vast amount of pictures you have on there which has always help with modeling China Clay trains. I notice in your Devon Galley you don't have any pictures on there of the Plym Valley Railway.

I am a volunteer at the PVR and also known down there for photographing when I'm not Driving or firing and was wondering if you'd be interested in some pictures for that page?

I'll attach a few and if you'd like to use then please feel free.

The pictures are of Port of Par Judy which was on hire to use back in 2017 for our North Pole Express trains and was a brilliant loco to fire.
Next is Merlin which was again hired in for a short while for our North Pole trains in 2016 and easter 2017
Moving on to our resident loco now, Andrew Barclay 705 which is a sweet engine to drive and fire and passing my drivers exam on it, I have a soft spot for the engine.
Lastly we have hired in diesel River annan.

Kind regards, Ben Warren 16th February 2022

Ben Warren Collection 1 Merlin climbing into the cutting during Easter 2017 (C) Ben Warren

Ben Warren Collection 2 Port of Par Judy climbing away from Lee Moor Crossing 2017 (C) Ben Warren

Ben Warren Collection 3 River Annan during a running day 2021 (C) Ben Warren

Ben Warren Collection 4 Andrew Barclay 705 descending K2 into Marsh Mills (C) Ben Warren

Many thanks to you Ben.

Plym Valley Railway - early history.

34007 Wadebridge arr Ply 1981 Copyright Clive Smith

Danny Le Rew breaks bottle on arrival. 34007 Wadebridge arr Ply 1981 Copyright Clive Smith

Marsh Mills Clay Dries

Marsh Mills
Craig Munday writes - I was looking through some recent pictures from 2009 and found some of a Marsh Mills clay working from Tavy Jn. The loco was 09101 and the Driver was Dennis Barnes. Here are a selection of the 09 shunting a mixture of CDAs and Nacco wagons on the penultimate run to Marsh Mills.

One of the pictures from Maurice Dart's CD - this is on sale from the Wheal Martyn Museum - see details following references on the Home page. Copyright Maurice Dart

Our thanks now to Roger Smith who has provided the following excellent selection of a class 08 run light engine from Tavistock Junction and return from Marsh Mills Driers with a loaded train on the 2nd August 1987.

The 08 leaves Tavistock Junction and heads for Marsh Mills. 2nd August 1987 Copyright Roger Smith

Having passed over the Marsh Mills level crossing it heads towards the Marsh Mills Driers and store the roof of this complex is visible in the distance. 2nd August 1987, Copyright Roger Smith.

Here the loaded train returns down the steep bank and heads for Tavistock Junction Yard. Copyright Roger Smith

Passing the site of Marsh Mills station. 2nd August 1987 Copyright Roger Smith

One of the shunters hitches a lift on the back of the train. 2nd August 1987. Copyright Roger Smith

The train is now arriving back at Tavistock Junction Yard. The line which served Marsh Mills Drier was originally part of the branch from Tavistock Junction to Tavistock and Launceston. However rationalisation took place and the connection for Marsh Mills was re-routed to an extended siding at TJ yard. 2nd August 1987 Copyright Roger Smith

Tavistock Junction yard, a view with the Marsh Mills line running across the foreground in a sharp curve to form an end on connection with one of the yard sidings. 2nd August 1987. Copyright Roger Smith

'Going round the bend' with David Stannard
(Marsh Mills area)

In case they are useful to you for the Devon gallery, I enclose 7 photographs taken around Tavistock Junction Yard and the 90 degree curve round towards Marsh Mills on 30/06/00 (shunter 08798) and 2 photographs taken at Marsh Mills dries on 27/06/07 (shunter 09013).

Brings back happy memories. With best wishes, David

Of interest from David Stannard.
Whilst in the loft I came across the letter I received from the Senior Supervisor at Marsh Mills Dryers in response to my enquiry as to whether clay was still being shipped from there in the summer of 2007. In a most informative letter (which included a kind invitation for an escorted tour) he states:

We normally ship 24 CDAs each Wednesday which is around 700t of material to our storage facility at Fowey. The first string of 16 CDAs usually arrives at around 08:30 hrs and is typically on site for around a couple of hours for loading before being returned to Tavistock Junction Yard. The second string of 8 CDAs are then brought up a bit later to complete the loading.
In addition to this we normally ship between 2 and 5 Nacco wagons and 1 Cargowaggon on Fridays for onward movement to our Cliffe Vale depot at Stoke-on-Trent.

Interestingly he refers to the CDAs as 'Cornwall and Devon Air braked' which I don't think that I had heard before (and do not know if it is correct as I am not aware of such a rationale behind the designations of other wagon fleets).

'TAV JN YARD 1 09013 6th July 2007 Copyright David Stannard

TAV JN YARD 2 08798 30th June 2000 Copyright David Stannard

On now to Marsh Mills.

Readers will find it interesting to look at the branch from above using 'Google Earth' and to compare then and now views using the 'clock' along the top of the depicted view. One can go back as far as 2002 and see the branch as it was when in operational use and compare it with recent views and also take a look at the very near by Plym Valley Railway.

Many thanks to David Stannard who made two trip to the area - in 2000 and 2007. An interesting byway, now, of course closed.

Recent happenings on the Marsh Mills line - Ben Warren

Whilst down there on the 28th February 2022 I noticed the ECC clay line next to us has been really cut back. So I’ve took some pictures of a view you don’t often see of the China Clay branch. Only mobile pictures I’m afraid as I didn’t have my camera. The pictures are taken from the Plym Valley Railway Platform 2 of work in progress down towards the level crossing. Don’t know how long it will be now until that part gets taken up too now.
I'm sure you know that the Lostwithiel yard was taken up recently. We’ve been very fortunate to been donated some points and buffer stops that will help us massively.

Kind regards, Ben Warren.

Marsh Mills track 1 Viewed from plat 2 Plym Valley Rly. 28th February Copyright Ben Warren

Marsh Mills track 2 Viewed from plat 2 Plym Valley Rly. 28th February Copyright Ben Warren

Marsh Mills track 3 Viewed from plat 2 Plym Valley Rly. 28th February Copyright Ben Warren

Marsh Mills track 4 Viewed from plat 2 Plym Valley Rly. 28th February Copyright Ben Warren

Thanks Ben - is this work for track recovery or for re-use of this line one wonders?

220403h The former rails to Imerys Dries at Marsh Mills Copyright Roger Winnen

220403i The former rails to Lee Moor Dries. Copyright Roger Winnen