26th September 2019

Cromwells Castle
Roger Winnen

Cromwells Castle is back after 60 years shedded in the South West at Laira. 7031 carried the name Cromwells Castle and was a regular performer on the Cornish Main Line right up to the end of steam in Cornwall. 43092 Cromwells Castle has also ploughed up and down the Cornish Main Line and have lasted nearly three times longer than its namesake. Long may we see these refurbished H.S.Ts.

190926g Cromwells Castle at Plymouth forming the 17.55 service to Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen

190926h Cromwells Castle nameplate. Copyright Roger Winnen

 Newton Abbot
Roger Winnen

190926a 150233 Works the 13.39 Newton Abbot to Paignton seen passing the new Aldi Store built aftera fire destroyed the Victorian carriage shed. Copyright Roger Winnen

190926b The only remains of the former carriage shed is the stone wall to the left of the Aldi Store. In the background 68017 departs Newton Abbot with the 10.21 Eastleigh to Paignton via Salisbury, Westbury and Bristol Temple Meads. Copyright Roger Winnen

190926c 68017 Depsrted Eastleigh at 10.21 and ran via Salisbury, Westbury, Bristol Temple Meads. Tomorrow Friday she departs Paignton at 04.23 for Carlisle via Bristol, Cheltenham, Worcester, Kidderminster, Tame Bridge Parkway, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Chester , Preston to Carlisle arrival time 14.24. Copyright Roger Winnen

190926e A relic of Newton Abbots glory days situated outside of the Aldi Store. Copyright Roger Winnen

Creech St Michael
Bill Elston & Tony Hill

Creech St Michael 09.35 23rd September 2019 Copyright Bil Elston

The GBRF cl 66 pictured by Bill Elston at Creech on 23/9/19 was running LD for crew training/ route knowledge purposes from Cardiff Tidal Sdgs to Crediton and on to Okehampton and return, but got no further than the NR  boundary with the Aggregate Industries owned Dartmoor Railway; due allegedly to a lack of timely communication by the unjoined up 'Big Railway' organisations with the Dartmoor Rly CIC.
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It seems GBRF may be contracted to NR to work some Engineers trains in the planned Blockade between Crediton and Barnstaple with associated Bustitution, from Sat 26 Oct to Fri 8 Nov incl. This will see, as the main work, just over 2 miles of jointed track replaced with CWR on concrete sleepers in the Yeoford area.

Many thanks to Tony Hill who provided the above additional information. with respect to Bill Elston's picture and the Barnstaple branch.

St Austell Snow
Roger Winnen

St Austell Station with snow on the ground. A wonderful picture from the past, note the glorious 'Western', the semaphore signals, the sidings still in place, and the old footbridge - enjoy. It's the 1st March 1973. Copyright Roger Winnen