The scene today in St Austell & Bodmin
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
190829a 66162 in Blue Maritime livery named Intermodel Five passes throuth St Austell with sand from Burngullow. The train infront of this service was the 09.25 Penzance to Dundee which was held at Liskeard for 73 minutes after a passenger was taken ill and then cancelled on arrival at Plymouth. My train from St Austell to Bodmin Parkway being the 10.00 Penzance to Paddington was also severly delayed arriving at Plymouth nearly an hour late.Copyright Roger Winnen
190829b The Bodmin and Wenford fleet of diesels namely 08444 50042 Triumph 47306 The Sapper and 37142 stabled alongside the main line to Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen
190829c Bodmin General supporting the new canopy minus the glass at present looks very smart indeed. Copyright Roger Winnen
190829d We need money to build a second platform. Copyright Roger Winnen
190829e The 14.15from Boscarne Junction arrives at Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen
29th August 2014
Churston signal box register
Andrew Jones
Churston signal box register
Andrew Jones
Please find a photograph of the Churston signal box register for the 29th August 1914. This is significant for two reasons, obviously it is 105 years today that signalman Horsham manned the box from 05.15 am until being relieved at 15.15 pm by signalman Emmett.
Secondly the 29th August 1914 is exactly one month from the start of the 1st World War.
I am not an expert on this subject and hopefully someone at the Society can advise on the many entries.
The clock seems to be adjusted in the remarks column and I think it was 1 min fast, this is a regular adjustment which always takes place at 10am.
The Station Master F Hill has countersigned the book at 9.45am on the 31st August 1914.
Unusually we do know who F Hill was, checking on the internet I found that Chris Potts has written a history of Frank Hill the station master at Churston Station during this period, although I can only find at this stage an advert for a book called ‘Letters of Frank Hill, GWR Reliefman 1890s - Brixham Heritage MuseumBy: Edited by Chris Potts
Here is an extract, courtesy of Brixham Museum.
At Work on the GWR in the 1890s: Frank Hill, Reliefman at Newton Abbot is the latest work by Chris Potts for Brixham Heritage Museum. Chris has provided an excellent editorial of Mr. Hill’s letters, copied from a meticulously kept correspondence book loaned to the Museum by his granddaughter, Mrs Margaret French. They provide an interesting insight into the life of a GWR worker, who spent many years at stations and signal boxes on the Teign Valley line and across South Devon before promotion to Stationmaster at Churston.
Throughout his working life, which encompassed personal tragedy and fierce disputes with GWR managers, the hours were long and the variable work poorly paid – Mr. Hill wrote many letters on his own and colleagues’ behalf stating reasons for wage increases – although he was clearly skilled in many tasks that ‘oiled the wheels’ of a regional railway and Chris Potts’ expert commentary clearly illuminates the details. Launching at the annual Steam Fair, the book will be available through the Museum and is not to be missed!
The book is priced at £4.99.
Secondly the 29th August 1914 is exactly one month from the start of the 1st World War.
I am not an expert on this subject and hopefully someone at the Society can advise on the many entries.
The clock seems to be adjusted in the remarks column and I think it was 1 min fast, this is a regular adjustment which always takes place at 10am.
The Station Master F Hill has countersigned the book at 9.45am on the 31st August 1914.
Unusually we do know who F Hill was, checking on the internet I found that Chris Potts has written a history of Frank Hill the station master at Churston Station during this period, although I can only find at this stage an advert for a book called ‘Letters of Frank Hill, GWR Reliefman 1890s - Brixham Heritage MuseumBy: Edited by Chris Potts
Here is an extract, courtesy of Brixham Museum.
At Work on the GWR in the 1890s: Frank Hill, Reliefman at Newton Abbot is the latest work by Chris Potts for Brixham Heritage Museum. Chris has provided an excellent editorial of Mr. Hill’s letters, copied from a meticulously kept correspondence book loaned to the Museum by his granddaughter, Mrs Margaret French. They provide an interesting insight into the life of a GWR worker, who spent many years at stations and signal boxes on the Teign Valley line and across South Devon before promotion to Stationmaster at Churston.
Throughout his working life, which encompassed personal tragedy and fierce disputes with GWR managers, the hours were long and the variable work poorly paid – Mr. Hill wrote many letters on his own and colleagues’ behalf stating reasons for wage increases – although he was clearly skilled in many tasks that ‘oiled the wheels’ of a regional railway and Chris Potts’ expert commentary clearly illuminates the details. Launching at the annual Steam Fair, the book will be available through the Museum and is not to be missed!
The book is priced at £4.99.
The down trains page of Churston Signalbox register dated 29th August 1914. From the Andrew Jones Collection.
The up trains page of Churston Signalbox register dated 29th August 1914. From the Andrew Jones Collection.
There's a good crowd of passengers awaiting the 08.35 Kingswear to Cardiff headed by D855 Triumph on the 21st August 1971. Copyright Ron Kosys
Many thanks to you Andrew for your well researched article delivered at a crucial date.
Teignmouth and Churston
Clive Smith
Clive Smith
Hasn't been a great deal to point my camera at of late. Here is Colas 70813 passing through Teignmouth with the 05.53 Aberthaw - Moorswater cement train. This working seems to have two paths either late morning or much earlier when the Devon contributors are still asleep. This was taken at 11.00. From what started out a bright day, drizzle had just started and then the weather went downhill. Is summer over ?
Last week on the 22nd I was passing through Torbay and paused to take this photo at Churston .7820 Dinmore Manor rounds the corner into the station with the 12.15 Paignton - Kingswear. . 7820 is on loan from the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway. Although an attractive station, photos here are often encroached by the ugly but necessary structures that the railway have built to support their operations. With a bit of editing or a good lens a decent picture can be had.
Regards, Clive Smith Many thanks Clive
Last week on the 22nd I was passing through Torbay and paused to take this photo at Churston .7820 Dinmore Manor rounds the corner into the station with the 12.15 Paignton - Kingswear. . 7820 is on loan from the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway. Although an attractive station, photos here are often encroached by the ugly but necessary structures that the railway have built to support their operations. With a bit of editing or a good lens a decent picture can be had.
Regards, Clive Smith Many thanks Clive
Teignmouth - Cement. Copyright Clive Smith
Churston - Dinmore Grange. Copyright Clive Smith