Cornwall Railway Society
China Clay Rambler Saturday 28th April 1990
This is a small selection of photographs taken on the Fowy Branch all the Clay Lines were covered during the day
China Clay Rambler Saturday 28th April 1990
This is a small selection of photographs taken on the Fowy Branch all the Clay Lines were covered during the day
1 Its Saturday 28th April 1990 The Cornwall Railway Society China Clay Rambler sits in the Fowey Branch Platform at Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen
2 Our railtour was the last passenger train to use this platform. A lunch stop was made at Lostwithiel together with a raffle which took place on the platform. Copyright Roger Winnen
3 A group photo taken before departure includes our President Walter Jullian Roger Winnen Steve Horne who liased with BR Keith Jenkin Peter Butt
4 Our 5 car DMU photographed from the former clay sidings. Copyright Roger Winnen
5 Leaving Lostwithiel we pass Coulson Park on route to Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen
6 Skirting the River Fowey on route to Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen
St Winnow Church is seen across the other side of the estuary Copyright Roger Winnen
8 Arrival at Fowey showing the dockside clay loading facilities. Copyright Roger Winnen
9 Arrival at Fowey showing the dockside clay loading facilities. Copyright Roger Winnen
10 The CDA wagons now a thing of the past can be viewed in the distance. Copyright Roger Winnen
11 The railtour participants having a stroll alongside the waters edge at Fowey Docks. Copyright Roger Winnen
12 Here we see about 10 CDA wagons at Fowey, 34 years later 10 in number have been purchased for preservation mainly at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Copyright Roger Winnen
13 Here we see passengers alighting from the train at Golant using the ladders that were hired for the day. Copyright Valerie Jenkin
14 Our Railtour photographed from the waters edge at Golant. Copyright Roger Winnen
15 Our Railtour photographed from the waters edge at Golant. Copyright Roger Winnen
16 Departure from Golant. Copyright Keith Jenkin
17 Taken high above Golant as our railtour departs. Copyright Trevor Hawke
Finishing Touches at Par & Lostwithiel
Jon Hird
Looking East at Lostwithiel past the former signal box. The starter signal on the platform has gone but instead we have two huge poles bearing CCTV cameras, which are pointing at the crossing. 10.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
New 'up' signals at Par. Last week I was quite happy to see an old favourite shot from here was once again possible due to the growth being cut back, now instead of bushes we have a signal in the way! Easy come, easy go! 10.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
More images available in the resignalling section - click here.
Truro Signal Box
A Brief History
Roy Hart
The old GWR inherited a rather mean little station at Truro: it was of wooden construction with an overall roof. The whole thing was very cramped. On the north side was a small wooden engine shed (today's car park). The land west of this consisted of a great spread of market gardens. The simple layout of the old station was controlled by two small signal boxes - Truro IA/ and 1 B', supplied by Saxby and Farmer in the 1870s.
In 1897 the Great Western contracted Carkeek of Redruth to construct a new station in modern style and on a much grander scale.
The new station had four platforms plus a new marshalling yard and engine shed.
The new layout was controlled by two new signal boxes -East and West, each with a frame of 45 levers, interlocked with the double twist' system (standard for the period).
The layout hardly changed for 70 years and operationally, was set out as follows (going from south to north):
1 . The branch bay (controlled by West box and signalled for departures only).
2. The down main.
3. The branch platform (for Falmouth and Perranporth traffic, but also usable as an additional up main (which it is today).
4. The up main (the outer face of the island).
5. A through carriage line.
6. Through up and down goods lines, avoiding the station.
2,3 and 4 were operated by Absolute block, while the carriage line and the goods lines were operated by the permissive block system, which permitted more than one engine or train to be in the section at one time.
The number of lines between the two boxes meant that each had an impressive display of block instruments and bells each of which had a different tone, except for the carriage line, which had 'gongs' -a conventional wooden case with tapper, but surmounted by a horizontal metal coil, producing a sound once heard, never forgotten.
The East box was situated between the running lines with the frame facing the down main.
When East box opened, on 5th March 1899, Carvedras viaduct was still the old, wooden single track structure, so the layout was temporary, pending the completion of the new viaduct on a new alignment. This meant that the through goods lines did not open until the bridge work was finished in 1904.
A new, neighboring box opened in 1904, at Truro Cattle Pens. This box served a simple siding connected to the up line at the London end and the down main at the station end.
The box opened just for market day and was switched out for the remaining six days of the week.
In 1925, Cattle Pens box was abolished and replaced by a 3lever ground frame. New signalling was provided to enable engines to propel wagons to Cattle Pens 'wrong way' on the down main. The structure of Cattle Pens box was used as a store and mess room by PW staff for another 50 years. By the late 1960s much of the layout at Truro was redundant: the engine shed closed in 1965, while passenger services to Perranporth had gone in 1963. The railway was actively discouraging single-wagon freight traffic, so there was some justification for rationalisation.
A plan was drawn up for a simplified layout, controlled by East box, while Penryn, Penwithers Junction and Truro West would close. The work took place in stages in the closing weeks of 1 971. The former engine shed and carriage siding ('garden sidings) area was given over for industrial use, which required a new level crossing.
The old lever frame of 1899 was worn out and was replaced by a new frame of 51 levers, fixed at the back of the box. The frame came second hand from Bristol East Depot, which had opened in 1960 with a 90 lever frame (the balance went to Hungerford, on the Berks and Hants, where the box had been demolished by a derailed goods train.).
Truro goods yard continued to shrink, leaving only three sidings today, mostly for departmental use.
Truro box got its last blaze of glory in more recent years, when it gained control of a new crossing loop at Penryn. The box closed in its 125th year of service.
In 1897 the Great Western contracted Carkeek of Redruth to construct a new station in modern style and on a much grander scale.
The new station had four platforms plus a new marshalling yard and engine shed.
The new layout was controlled by two new signal boxes -East and West, each with a frame of 45 levers, interlocked with the double twist' system (standard for the period).
The layout hardly changed for 70 years and operationally, was set out as follows (going from south to north):
1 . The branch bay (controlled by West box and signalled for departures only).
2. The down main.
3. The branch platform (for Falmouth and Perranporth traffic, but also usable as an additional up main (which it is today).
4. The up main (the outer face of the island).
5. A through carriage line.
6. Through up and down goods lines, avoiding the station.
2,3 and 4 were operated by Absolute block, while the carriage line and the goods lines were operated by the permissive block system, which permitted more than one engine or train to be in the section at one time.
The number of lines between the two boxes meant that each had an impressive display of block instruments and bells each of which had a different tone, except for the carriage line, which had 'gongs' -a conventional wooden case with tapper, but surmounted by a horizontal metal coil, producing a sound once heard, never forgotten.
The East box was situated between the running lines with the frame facing the down main.
When East box opened, on 5th March 1899, Carvedras viaduct was still the old, wooden single track structure, so the layout was temporary, pending the completion of the new viaduct on a new alignment. This meant that the through goods lines did not open until the bridge work was finished in 1904.
A new, neighboring box opened in 1904, at Truro Cattle Pens. This box served a simple siding connected to the up line at the London end and the down main at the station end.
The box opened just for market day and was switched out for the remaining six days of the week.
In 1925, Cattle Pens box was abolished and replaced by a 3lever ground frame. New signalling was provided to enable engines to propel wagons to Cattle Pens 'wrong way' on the down main. The structure of Cattle Pens box was used as a store and mess room by PW staff for another 50 years. By the late 1960s much of the layout at Truro was redundant: the engine shed closed in 1965, while passenger services to Perranporth had gone in 1963. The railway was actively discouraging single-wagon freight traffic, so there was some justification for rationalisation.
A plan was drawn up for a simplified layout, controlled by East box, while Penryn, Penwithers Junction and Truro West would close. The work took place in stages in the closing weeks of 1 971. The former engine shed and carriage siding ('garden sidings) area was given over for industrial use, which required a new level crossing.
The old lever frame of 1899 was worn out and was replaced by a new frame of 51 levers, fixed at the back of the box. The frame came second hand from Bristol East Depot, which had opened in 1960 with a 90 lever frame (the balance went to Hungerford, on the Berks and Hants, where the box had been demolished by a derailed goods train.).
Truro goods yard continued to shrink, leaving only three sidings today, mostly for departmental use.
Truro box got its last blaze of glory in more recent years, when it gained control of a new crossing loop at Penryn. The box closed in its 125th year of service.
Many thanks Roy for this most interesting account. It will be added to the Truro section too for prosperity.
Roy has hinted at similar articles to follow for Par and Lostwithiel - something to look out for!
Roy has hinted at similar articles to follow for Par and Lostwithiel - something to look out for!
Re: Michael Roach's article on grounded Coach Bodies
Andrew & Diane Jones
Dear Admin, following on from the many excellent articles by Michael L Roach, there was mention of grounded vintage railway coaches and the possibility of a list of current sites.
Although I am no authority on this subject, a grade 11 listed Victorian coach body survives at Retire, known as Swindon Villa, please see attached photograph courtesy of Google earth....(extract courtesy british listed buidings.) At Retire nr Withiel, Bodmin. Railway carriage, now house. Brought on site circa 1935, and said to be a late C19 carriage from the Swindon works.
The carriage has a corrugated iron roof with gable ends set over the curved carriage roof, but otherwise all window and door openings are intact with all the original remain and there are no new openings. There are doors and ventilators. Internally the windows retain straps for raising and lowering, with original hinges and locks to the doors. There is a small single storey addition to the rear of the carriage, which has protected the rear. All internal partitions remain. Said to have been originally painted brown and cream. Probably a GWR carriage, with 6 or 8 wheels and a bogey at each end.
There are a number of converted railway vehicles on the Internet in Cornwall and over the coming weeks I will send more info.
Very best wishes Andrew and Diane
Although I am no authority on this subject, a grade 11 listed Victorian coach body survives at Retire, known as Swindon Villa, please see attached photograph courtesy of Google earth....(extract courtesy british listed buidings.) At Retire nr Withiel, Bodmin. Railway carriage, now house. Brought on site circa 1935, and said to be a late C19 carriage from the Swindon works.
The carriage has a corrugated iron roof with gable ends set over the curved carriage roof, but otherwise all window and door openings are intact with all the original remain and there are no new openings. There are doors and ventilators. Internally the windows retain straps for raising and lowering, with original hinges and locks to the doors. There is a small single storey addition to the rear of the carriage, which has protected the rear. All internal partitions remain. Said to have been originally painted brown and cream. Probably a GWR carriage, with 6 or 8 wheels and a bogey at each end.
There are a number of converted railway vehicles on the Internet in Cornwall and over the coming weeks I will send more info.
Very best wishes Andrew and Diane
Grounded coach body now in use as a residential structure, near Withiel, Bodmin. Copyright Google Earth/Andrew & Diane Jones.
Many thanks for this nice follow-on from Michaels recent article. I wonder if we have started something - does anybody know of any other grounded coaches in our region?
5552 climbing the hill
Jon Hird
Bodmin Railways small Prarie 5552 gets stuck into the bank from Bodmin Parkway with the 15:20 service to Bodmin General. 10.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.