10th May 2022

Cornwall alive with 47's
Craig Munday

A busy spell across the Duchy recently with three class 47s in action. This was accompanied by lovely sunshine on Saturday and Spring in ALL its glory. 
The Statesman tour operated with LSL class 47s in two tone green livery looked splendid on its various journeys on the mainline. A Peterborough to Penzance ran down on Friday evening and returned on Sunday morning. A mini-charter using the same train ran from Penzance to Oxford and return to make the most of the stock being in the Duchy. 
The Friday 6th evening working is seen at Dowgas near Coombe. 
The Saturday 7th charter pictured at Lanescot near Tywardreath.
Finally, despite a fine forecast, the pair are seen "in the collar" at Treesmill returning on the Sunday 8th working in murky cloud. 
In addition, the blue timetable on the B&W saw resident 47306 in action. The loco is seen working hard on the climb from Boscarne amid the lineside bluebells. 
Cheers, Craig 

'Cornish Explorer Statesman' Peterborough to Penzance 1Z50 47501 47805 seen at Dowgas, Combe. 6th May 2022. Copyright Craig Munday

Bodmin and Wenfords 47306 aongst the bluebells climbing hard from Boscarne. 7th May 2022 Copyright Craig Munday

'Dreaming Spires Statesman' heading for Oxford 1Z90 47805 47501 seen at Lanescot near Tywardreath. 7th May 2022. Copyright Craig Munday

Cornish Explorer Statesman returns to Peterborough. 1Z51 seen at Treesmill 8th May 2022. Copyright Craig Munday

Excellent pictures Craig for which many thanks.
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No claims bonus at risk?
Phil Hawke

 A photo (photographer unknown) of 4555  after a rather heavy shunt at the South Devon Railway gala last week.  The Churchward front end was notoriously weak hence the stay bars  fitted from smokebox to bufferbeam which were an afterthought on the original design.  A visit to Newton Abbot Works is required!  The Bodmin and Wenford had a similar incident with Swiftsure many years ago and I spent several weekends swinging a 14 lb  hammer to  sort that one out.
It just goes to show that steam  locos are heavy bits of equipment  and of course,  this sort of damage was very common in steam days.
Cheers Phil Hawke

A through the widow shot of 4555 having suffered from a rather heavy shunt on the South Devon Railway. week of 1st May 2022. Picture from Phillip Hawke unknown photographer.

Many thanks Phil for your report from somebody with experience of wielding a 14lb. hammer. How sad - looks quite a big job for the engineers.

Progress report on
St Blazey Turntable
Neil Phillips

I saw Peter Anthony’s request for an update on the restoration of St Blazey turntable. Since I live just up the road I have been monitoring ‘progress’ and things are happening, but slowly. The table itself is regularly moved, as I noted again this afternoon (Sunday 8th May 2022) while taking these photos. I usually call in on Sundays when out for some exercise but I’ll have to pay a few random mid-week visits to see if I can catch somebody ‘in the act’!
 The most noticeable change in recent weeks has been the clearance of vegetation from the west end and this has revealed the rails of a long-hidden road off the turntable – looking at the photo of 37101 (presumably taken in the early-mid 1980s) these may be the rails seen curving away beyond the turntable in the right distance, but impeded access, parked vehicles and other developments now make it difficult to be sure. Due to recent ivy growth over these rails once again making them hard to see I have included two views taken on 6th March. I wonder what last used them and when.....?
Best regards, Neil Phillips

St Blazey Turntable progress report 1. Sunday 8th May 2022 Copyright Neil Phillips.

St Blazey Turntable progress report 2. Sunday 8th May 2022 Copyright Neil Phillips.

St Blazey Turntable progress report 3. Sunday 8th May 2022 Copyright Neil Phillips.

St Blazey Turntable progress report 4. Sunday 8th May 2022 Copyright Neil Phillips.

St Blazey Turntable progress report 5. Sunday 8th May 2022 Copyright Neil Phillips.

Many thanks Neil, we look forward to further reports - keep taking the walks and photographs.
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Off our patch
Dennis Clarke

Dennis sent a couple in at Stoke on Trent - definitely off our patch but they are wagons from Imerys St Austell

I was up in the Stoke area today and took a few photos of 66088 working 6G71, 15:22 Cliffe Vale to Bescot china clay tanks, through Stoke-on-Trent. There was 18 wagons in the consist. Dennis.

Stoke on Trent. 66088. 9th May 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke

Imerys at Stoke on Trent. Copyright Denis Clarke.

Thanks Dennis - Okay for those who have a first class pass!
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