1st July 2020

The Daylight Sleeper at Silverton
David Tozer

57605 Totnes Castle tailed by 57603 Tintagel Castle hauls the empty stock daytime sleeper on 1st July 2020 from Long Rock to Reading Copyright David Tozer

Many Thanks David

Falmouth Dock Railway
Lt. Phil Boak. R.N.

Lt. Philip Boak on board HMS Echo. Copyright.

Philip Boak has written a very comprehensive article on the railways of Falmouth Docks.  To see his article please click here.

Falmouth 1988
Trevor Tremethick

​Barbara and I did a family visit to Falmouth from Kent back in April of 1988 and we had a look at the old station. I think the scene is much changed these days.  Best wishes to all Trevor

Photo 1 - Falmouth Station 3rd April 1988. Copyright Trevor Tremethick Photo 1 shows the view from the loading docks and I think there were railings that prevented me from going back any further. People who visit Falmouth now, and never knew the station in its heyday, could be forgiven for not realising how big it actually was. I vaguely remember the overall roof, which I think was taken down around 1957.

Photo 2 - Falmouth Station Dock Workers Entrance 3rd April 1988. Copyright Trevor Tremethick. Photo 2 was taken from Pendennis Rise, which runs into Castle Drive and overlooks the Docks. The station was on the lower level (the grassy bit) and you can clearly see the steps and gate which gave the dock workers access to Falmouth railway station at the end of their working day. My father, who was an electrician in the docks here, told me that a policeman (presumably a member of the Docks Constabulary) was stationed on the gate at such times and would unlock it to let the dock workers through. In Photo 2, you can also see, distantly, the yellow Sentinel diesel that replaced the steam engines. It is standing beside No. 4 Dock.

Photo 3 - Falmouth Station lines to Docks 3rd April 1988. Copyright Trevor Tremethick. Photo 3 is a view from the end of what used to be the arrival platform, looking way out to the site of the signal box and the loco siding, which had a water column. This view shows the lines down to the Docks for transfer of goods to and from BR.

Photo 4 - M55003 on 15.34 to Truro at Falmouth 4th April 1988. Copyright Trevor Tremethick. I went back the next day and took Photo 4. The number of the single unit was M55003 and, as you can see, she still sports the 'West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive' logo. A far cry from the impressive station buildings and the enormous goods shed with the Scammell lorries waiting outside with their maroon 'British Railways' containers. Official vandalism par excellence.

Many Thanks Trevor - and lest we forget a couple of pictures from the late Patrick English of the station before it got to the state you have shown it in.

Falmouth station exterior 1966. Copyright late Patrick English

Falmouth station 1966 Copyright late Patrick English.

The above two pictures from the very much respected Patrick English, a keen photographer and modeler.  You will find many more of Patrick's photographs in our Falmouth branch section.

- and now last weekend on the
Falmouth Branch
Mark Lynam

On Sunday  158766 was running services on the Falmouth branch so I took the opportunity to get a few shots, although there was alot of cloud around it cleared in time for when the train passed me.

158766 Heading away from Perran Tunnel 2T74 09.20 Falmouth Docks to Truro. Taken from Trewedna Lane, Perranwell 28th June 2020 Copyright Mark Lynam

158766 at Perranwell working the 2T76 10.26 Falmouth Docks to Truro. 28th June 2020 Copyright Mark Lynam

158766 Pulling away from Perranwell working 2T78 Falmouth Docks to Truro.l 28th June 2020. Copyright Mark Lynam

And finally 158766 at Falmouth Docks working the 2T96 22.33 to Truro. The last service of the day. 28th June 2020 Mark Lynam

Many thanks Mark for your coverage in a green and pleasant land.