2nd January 2023

A Happy New Year
Roger Salter

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2P05 0752 Penzance-Plymouth No. 43092 Cromwell’s Castle at Penzance New Year’ s Day 2020 Copyright Roger Salter

Thank you Roger.

New Years Day
Guy Vincent

Good afternoon Keith
                                       New Years Day for me meant a very early start followed by a morning trip to Weymouth and back.   The train was understandably very quiet going down but surprisingly busy on the return.    Here are a few photos of 1) the first GWR service to reach Dorset in 2023 making its booked stop next to the repurposed Italianate  GWR station building at Dorchester West.   With rumours of impending large scale ticket office closures still circulating maybe this is the type of use many more 'heritage' station buildings will be put to in the future?;   2) the deep cutting and northern portal of Evershot (or Holywell) tunnel which is now kept clear of vegetation all year round;  3) the now up and running Colas maintenance facility in the former wagon repair shed in Westbury down yard where two class 70s were receiving attention.  

Happy New Year and best regards

Guy Vincent.  

1) the first GWR service to reach Dorset in 2023 making its booked stop next to the repurposed Italianate GWR station building at Dorchester West. With rumours of impending large scale ticket office closures still circulating maybe this is the type of use many more 'heritage' station buildings will be put to in the future? 1st January 2023. Copyright Guy Vincent.

2) Dorchester Station building an external view of the repossed building. 1st January 2023. Copyright Guy Vincent.

3) the deep cutting and northern portal of Evershot (or Holywell) tunnel which is now kept clear of vegetation all year round. 1st January 2023. Copyright Guy Vincent.

4a) The now up and running Colas maintenance facility in the former wagon repair shed in Westbury down yard where two class 70s were receiving attention.

4b) The now up and running Colas maintenance facility in the former wagon repair shed in Westbury down yard where two class 70s were receiving attention. 1st January 2023. Copyright Guy Vincent.

From outside the fence.
St Blazey
Dennis Clarke

Hi Keith, Here are a couple of photos that I took from outside the fence at St Blazey depot on Thursday 22nd December. One shows CDA 375001 and another has a line of CDAs hiding behind the vegetation ! Regards, Dennis

St Blazey - outside the fence (1) 22nd December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.

St Blazey - outside the fence (2) 22nd December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.

St Blazey - outside the fence (3) 22nd December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.

St Blazey - outside the fence (2) 22nd December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.

Many thanks Dennis.
​

The Lauceston and Tavistock branch.
Michael L. Roach looks back.

THE END of 1962 – PART 19
Gallery (1)
When this series commenced I set myself a limit of four images per article, with an average of three. That left me with a number of scans that could not be used at the time. Here are the first batch.
MLR / 31 December 2022

5857 6430 is seen north of Marsh Mills with an ECS train heading to Tavistock where it will return with the 12.40pm Tavistock to Plymouth auto on 22 December 1962. It then worked the 2.10pm Plymouth to Tavistock. The well-known photographer Peter Gray captured the 2.10pm leaving Marsh Mills on the same day and the picture appears in his book Steam in Devon. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

5858 5568 is seen north of Marsh Mills with the 10.15am Launceston to Plymouth. The train is passing the remains of Cann Cottages. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

5892 4574 is at Plymouth Station after bringing in the 10.15am from Launceston. In the background is the new power box.. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

5900 View of the track about 200 yards north of Cann Viaduct on 28 December 1962. In the background is the rock outcrop that I stood on to take image 5899 published in Part 13. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Many thanks Michael, more to follow.
​