The end of 1962
Michael L. Roach
Michael L. Roach
THE END of 1962 – PART 8
Horrabridge Station
On Christmas Eve 1962 I made a short afternoon trip from Plymouth to Tavistock South and return; out on the 3.05pm to Launceston, returning on the 4.30pm auto. The temperature was around zero because a severe cold spell had started two days earlier. The water crane at Tavistock South was already frozen up so the loco of the 3.05pm took water at Horrabridge Station instead. In one way it was surprising that the water crane at Horrabridge was still working because the station was at a much higher elevation than Tavistock South and right on the edge of open moorland; but in another way not surprising because most of us will have seen and felt how cold air rolls down a hillside and and settles in the bottom of a valley which is where the site of Tavistock South was located right beside the River Tavy. Horrabridge was one of the original stations of the broad guage South Devon & Tavistock Railway (opened 1859) and for two years after the opening of the Princetown Branch in 1883 it was where passengers changed for the branch train to Princetown. Six minutes were allowed at Tavistock for taking water and our train left Horrabridge six minutes late.
MLR / 06 December 2022
Horrabridge Station
On Christmas Eve 1962 I made a short afternoon trip from Plymouth to Tavistock South and return; out on the 3.05pm to Launceston, returning on the 4.30pm auto. The temperature was around zero because a severe cold spell had started two days earlier. The water crane at Tavistock South was already frozen up so the loco of the 3.05pm took water at Horrabridge Station instead. In one way it was surprising that the water crane at Horrabridge was still working because the station was at a much higher elevation than Tavistock South and right on the edge of open moorland; but in another way not surprising because most of us will have seen and felt how cold air rolls down a hillside and and settles in the bottom of a valley which is where the site of Tavistock South was located right beside the River Tavy. Horrabridge was one of the original stations of the broad guage South Devon & Tavistock Railway (opened 1859) and for two years after the opening of the Princetown Branch in 1883 it was where passengers changed for the branch train to Princetown. Six minutes were allowed at Tavistock for taking water and our train left Horrabridge six minutes late.
MLR / 06 December 2022
5874 5569 takes water at Horrabridge Station on the afternoon of 24 December 1962 in freezing conditions. The water crane was situated just off the end of the platform and the loco had to stop twice but it gave me the opportunity to hop off and take photos. 24th December 1962. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
5875 The siding to the left led to the goods yard which always seemed busy right up to the last day. Note how the point rodding changes sides beneath the loco; and on the right, behind the ladder of the starting signal, is milepost 9 (from Tavistock Junction). Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks Mike - watch out for part 9 tomorrow.
Feathered spotter observes -
Truro
Dennis Clarke
Truro
Dennis Clarke
Hi Keith, I took this picture today at Truro station. The seagull is obviously interested in seeing HSTs before they come to an end next year. I wish all of you at the Cornish Railway Society a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023 and thanks for making it a really interesting website, Regards, Dennis
Footnote to Dennis, many thanks for the compliments re the website, however the compliments are really due to our faithful following of observers and reporters without whose contributions the website would be very much the poorer. Happy Christmas to you all. Keith and Roger.
Where would we be without Roger W?
Where would we be without Roger W?
Truro, seagull observes 43010. 21st December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke
Well observed - many thanks Dennis.
Five from Clive
SW Acitivity
Clive Smith
SW Acitivity
Clive Smith
Some action from around our region over the last few weeks.
(1) 43097 brings up the rear of the 2C67 08.00 Cardiff Central - Penzance at Keyham on the 4th November with 43198 on the front. This train is now a scheduled IET from 12th December.
(2) 43093 heads the 2U20 10.50 Penzance - Cardiff Central through Devonport station on the 4th November with 43042 on the rear. This train is still a scheduled 255 Castle class.
(3) 150221 departs from Dockyard Halt across St Levan Viaduct with the 10.28 Plymouth - Gunnislake. I had pitched up in Tamar Avenue to photo the 07.00 Gloucester - Truro which was due with 43040 and 088 and everything was looking good until 158959 trundled by after it had replaced the Castle 255 at Plymouth. To add to my misery the 09.30 Truro - Cardiff had 150238 substituting for the 255 Castle.
(4) 43170 in beautiful winter sun departs from Exeter St Davids on the 9th December after a crew change with the 5C73 12.24 Weston-Super-Mare to Plymouth ECS. The set with 43188 had started out as the 2C73 11.00 Cardiff - Penzance but was terminated at WSM due to a door problem.
(5) Fortuitous timing at Teignmouth on Saturday 10th December. On the up is the last scheduled 255 operated 2U16 08.52 Penzance - Cardiff Central with 43022 on the rear (43189 up front). On the down is 2C69 09.00 Cardiff- Penzance with 43010 (43004 on the rear). My photo was taken at 11.48. The 2U16 was due at 11.37 and the 2C69 at 11.41. Both were running late and I reckoned both might be at the platforms at the same time. Luckily my hunch was correct.
Regards, Clive Smith.
(1) 43097 brings up the rear of the 2C67 08.00 Cardiff Central - Penzance at Keyham on the 4th November with 43198 on the front. This train is now a scheduled IET from 12th December.
(2) 43093 heads the 2U20 10.50 Penzance - Cardiff Central through Devonport station on the 4th November with 43042 on the rear. This train is still a scheduled 255 Castle class.
(3) 150221 departs from Dockyard Halt across St Levan Viaduct with the 10.28 Plymouth - Gunnislake. I had pitched up in Tamar Avenue to photo the 07.00 Gloucester - Truro which was due with 43040 and 088 and everything was looking good until 158959 trundled by after it had replaced the Castle 255 at Plymouth. To add to my misery the 09.30 Truro - Cardiff had 150238 substituting for the 255 Castle.
(4) 43170 in beautiful winter sun departs from Exeter St Davids on the 9th December after a crew change with the 5C73 12.24 Weston-Super-Mare to Plymouth ECS. The set with 43188 had started out as the 2C73 11.00 Cardiff - Penzance but was terminated at WSM due to a door problem.
(5) Fortuitous timing at Teignmouth on Saturday 10th December. On the up is the last scheduled 255 operated 2U16 08.52 Penzance - Cardiff Central with 43022 on the rear (43189 up front). On the down is 2C69 09.00 Cardiff- Penzance with 43010 (43004 on the rear). My photo was taken at 11.48. The 2U16 was due at 11.37 and the 2C69 at 11.41. Both were running late and I reckoned both might be at the platforms at the same time. Luckily my hunch was correct.
Regards, Clive Smith.
Photo 1 . Keyham from an unusual angle. 20th December 2022, Copyright Clive Smith.
Photo 2 Devonport. 20th December 2022, Copyright Clive Smith
Photo 3 Dockyard Halt. 20th December 2022, Copyright Clive Smith
Photo 4. Exeter St Davids 9th December 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.
Photo 5. Teignmouth Saturday 10th December 2022. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks for your 'roundup' Clive.
Penzance
Steve Widdowson
Steve Widdowson
50016 & 50005 at Penzance { Shunting stock for sleeper } 1st July 1985. Copyright Stephen Widdowson.
Many thanks Stephen.
Exeter
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
A nice snowy scene. 33016 backing out with stock off 1110 Waterloo to Exeter. 10th January 1982. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul.
Dawlish Update
David Tozer
David Tozer
Gents,
An update on the work at Dawlish.
1 - The new footbridge at Dawlish.
2 - 150249 leaves Dawlish with the 0957 Exmouth to Paignton
3 - On going work at Kennaway Tunnel.
Dave Tozer
An update on the work at Dawlish.
1 - The new footbridge at Dawlish.
2 - 150249 leaves Dawlish with the 0957 Exmouth to Paignton
3 - On going work at Kennaway Tunnel.
Dave Tozer
New bridge at Dawlish 21st December 2022. Copyright David Tozer
150249 leaves Dawlish with the 09.57 Exmouth to Dawlish. 21st December 2022. Copyright David Tozer
On going work at Kennaway Tunnel. 21st December 2022. Copyright David Tozer.
Many thanks David.