Fatal Accident at Falmouth
Mike Truscott
Mike Truscott
Mike Truscott is urgently seeking information concerning a fatal accident which occurred at Falmouth on the 13th January 1964 . A goods train ran away and just before crashing the loco crew jumped off. However very unfortunately the driver hit the bridge wall and fell back sustaining serious injuries. Mike has the press report but please if you can supply any further information please contact him via the CRS website.
Last week of Route Learning
Exmouth Junction
David Tozer
Exmouth Junction
David Tozer
What is I guess the final week of route learning for DBS. 66103 passes Exmouth Junction with the 0729 Westbury -Exeter Riverside. Chaos will no doubt reign next week with GWR diversions. Regards Dave
Many thanks David We sincerely hope that what you predict won't happen.
Many thanks David We sincerely hope that what you predict won't happen.
66103 seen at Exmouth Junction on Route Learning on the 11th February 2019 Copyright David Tozer
Exeter
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
Seeing the excellent pictures on the site two days ago of the long lamented semaphore signalling around Exeter City Basin prompted me to scratch around for this old favourite, a colour print taken in the summer of 1984.
45069 awaiting departure from platform 5 at Exeter St Davids on the SO 1S84 1024 Paignton-Glasgow Central on 21st July 1984, the last full year of 'classic' railway activities at this station. 45069 lasted a further two years before withdrawal from service in July 1986 and was scrapped by Vic Berry at Leicester towards the end of 1988. Many a happy summer Saturday was spent between 1983 and 1986 riding behind a variety of locomotive types on a 'Devon Explorer' 1 day ticket. I even managed a class 58 (58002) pulling a failed HST on September 1st! (Pictures anyone?)
City Basin was a location of interest as when passing on any train, especially during the summer months, there was always a distinctive aroma of hot tar/bitumen in the air. Much less unpleasant than the odour one always noticed when passing the former British Cellophane factory at Bridgwater!
Guy Vincent A bit of nostalgia there Guy, Many thanks.
45069 awaiting departure from platform 5 at Exeter St Davids on the SO 1S84 1024 Paignton-Glasgow Central on 21st July 1984, the last full year of 'classic' railway activities at this station. 45069 lasted a further two years before withdrawal from service in July 1986 and was scrapped by Vic Berry at Leicester towards the end of 1988. Many a happy summer Saturday was spent between 1983 and 1986 riding behind a variety of locomotive types on a 'Devon Explorer' 1 day ticket. I even managed a class 58 (58002) pulling a failed HST on September 1st! (Pictures anyone?)
City Basin was a location of interest as when passing on any train, especially during the summer months, there was always a distinctive aroma of hot tar/bitumen in the air. Much less unpleasant than the odour one always noticed when passing the former British Cellophane factory at Bridgwater!
Guy Vincent A bit of nostalgia there Guy, Many thanks.
Exeter St Davids with 45069 on the 1S84 10.24 Paignton to Glasgow Central 21st July 1984 Copyright Guy Vincent
A cautionary tale
Brian Pibworth
Brian Pibworth
I normally visit the annual Gartell Railway Model Exhibition at Templecombe in early February and enjoy doing so by public transport. This weekend I was disappointed to find an engineer's blockade in place between Yeovil Jnc. and Salisbury on the chosen Saturday, so no trains and I didn't fancy the roundabout drive. However when overnight rain cleared to a bright day on Sunday (10th February 2019) I realised that there was the prospect of an unusual trip in a South Western Railway class 159 DMU down the branch from Yeovil Junction to Yeovil Pen Mill (rumoured to be where they park the Royal Train, but given the steep gradient, I have my doubts). From there we would go express on the GWR line to Westbury then reverse and regain the LSWR mainline at Salisbury via Warminster. I had promised myself a trip to Westbury but connections are complicated, so this presented a rare opportunity to travel direct.
Time was passing fast and a quick look at Trainline showed an off peak Senior return at £21 from Axminster. This seemed a bit steep compared to my usual Supa Doopa Saver to Exeter at £6, but it was quite a long way, into Great Western territory and a foreign county to boot. To mitigate the expense I searched for the same ticket from Crewkerne which is equidistant from my home in Chard, but closer to the destination. That was better and the price dropped to £16.70, possibly because the station is in Somerset although it doesn't qualify for the Heart of Wessex Railcard.
Off I went, by car, having to divert for flooded roads and arrived at Crewkerne Station to find the booking office closed. Never mind, the machine was operating and I soon had my ticket - Crewkerne to Westbury £16.70. The train was on time and the journey interesting with the prize at the end of half a dozen freight locos and GW ICE etc all in full view from the platform and 50 min before my return train ( much more at https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbipx) . It wasn't until I was half way home that the germ of an idea penetrated my addled brain and I called up Trainline on my phone and discovered that the ticket price had been calculated as if I was travelling via Salisbury - quite a long distance and warranting the high fee. Had I thought things through, I realised I should have booked direct to Salisbury at £10.55 but would have been diverted for engineering works via Westbury, the destination I wanted all along
I'm sure the charming lady at Crewkerne would have flagged this up had her office been open but it just goes to show that online ticketing is very logical and has no conscience.
With kind regards, Brian. Many thanks indeed Brian - glad you had a challenging and interesting journey.
Time was passing fast and a quick look at Trainline showed an off peak Senior return at £21 from Axminster. This seemed a bit steep compared to my usual Supa Doopa Saver to Exeter at £6, but it was quite a long way, into Great Western territory and a foreign county to boot. To mitigate the expense I searched for the same ticket from Crewkerne which is equidistant from my home in Chard, but closer to the destination. That was better and the price dropped to £16.70, possibly because the station is in Somerset although it doesn't qualify for the Heart of Wessex Railcard.
Off I went, by car, having to divert for flooded roads and arrived at Crewkerne Station to find the booking office closed. Never mind, the machine was operating and I soon had my ticket - Crewkerne to Westbury £16.70. The train was on time and the journey interesting with the prize at the end of half a dozen freight locos and GW ICE etc all in full view from the platform and 50 min before my return train ( much more at https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbipx) . It wasn't until I was half way home that the germ of an idea penetrated my addled brain and I called up Trainline on my phone and discovered that the ticket price had been calculated as if I was travelling via Salisbury - quite a long distance and warranting the high fee. Had I thought things through, I realised I should have booked direct to Salisbury at £10.55 but would have been diverted for engineering works via Westbury, the destination I wanted all along
I'm sure the charming lady at Crewkerne would have flagged this up had her office been open but it just goes to show that online ticketing is very logical and has no conscience.
With kind regards, Brian. Many thanks indeed Brian - glad you had a challenging and interesting journey.
The picture shows my train, the 1L48 1157 Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo, arriving at Crewkerne on Sunday 10th February 2019. Incidentally I am told that the two RSJs to the right of the LSWR cast iron post were replacements following the Merchant Navy 35020 "Bibby Line" accident here in 1953. The loco broke a axle and dislodged the nearside break gear which flailed through the canopy. No one was injured but the whole Merchant Navy fleet was withdrawn for inspection leading to a temporary loco shortage and interesting "loans" from other regions. Copyright Brian Pibworth. N.B Doesn't the South West Trains livery make this a very attractive picture.