The end of 1962
Michael L. Roach
Michael L. Roach
THE END of 1962 – PART 16
Yelverton on the Last Day of Passenger Services (2)
The last photograph shown yesterday of 6430 on the 12.40pm Tavistock to Plymouth was taken at 1.04pm with the train running just 9L. It had started to snow at Yelverton around 12.00 noon on 29 December 1962, light at first but gradually increasing in intensity. I saw three trains pass in the hour from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, all running a bit late, and the snow was now srarting to cover the rails in places. As I was writing this on the evening of 19 December 2022 I was also watching “Winter Walks” on BBC 4 through the Yorkshire Dales and the presenter stopped to recite a very famous poem titled Leisure by the Welsh Poet W.H. Davies (1871 – 1940) which made me think. The poem goes like this:
What is this life, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare ?
…....................................... (more)
A poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.
I had plenty of time to stand and stare on the afternoon of 29 December 1962. Ignoring the train that had brought me to Yelverton I saw 9 trains pass through the station in 277 minutes equalling one every half hour. Between trains I had plenty of time to strand and stare at the infrastructure of the station. The track was disappearing under the blanket of snow and only one track was in use. The Princetown track had long gone so there were two disused platforms. All the buildings remained although only the small downside booking office was in use for part of the day. The distinguishing feature of Yelverton Station was the octagonal station building on the island platfom which was made of timber and dated from 1885. It was closed when the loop was taken out of use but remained intact. It contained a large central booking hall; a booking office at the north (small) end with toilets at the other end for ladies and gentlemen. The building had an awning on the longest sides and luckily for me on such a day the footbridge also had a roof. There were plenty of places for me to shelter while waiting for the next train. With no signals to guide me and the trains getting later and later I had to select my next spot to take a photo and shelter close by and soak up my last views of a functioning station before going out into the snow at the last minute.
MLR / 19 December 2022
Yelverton on the Last Day of Passenger Services (2)
The last photograph shown yesterday of 6430 on the 12.40pm Tavistock to Plymouth was taken at 1.04pm with the train running just 9L. It had started to snow at Yelverton around 12.00 noon on 29 December 1962, light at first but gradually increasing in intensity. I saw three trains pass in the hour from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, all running a bit late, and the snow was now srarting to cover the rails in places. As I was writing this on the evening of 19 December 2022 I was also watching “Winter Walks” on BBC 4 through the Yorkshire Dales and the presenter stopped to recite a very famous poem titled Leisure by the Welsh Poet W.H. Davies (1871 – 1940) which made me think. The poem goes like this:
What is this life, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare ?
…....................................... (more)
A poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.
I had plenty of time to stand and stare on the afternoon of 29 December 1962. Ignoring the train that had brought me to Yelverton I saw 9 trains pass through the station in 277 minutes equalling one every half hour. Between trains I had plenty of time to strand and stare at the infrastructure of the station. The track was disappearing under the blanket of snow and only one track was in use. The Princetown track had long gone so there were two disused platforms. All the buildings remained although only the small downside booking office was in use for part of the day. The distinguishing feature of Yelverton Station was the octagonal station building on the island platfom which was made of timber and dated from 1885. It was closed when the loop was taken out of use but remained intact. It contained a large central booking hall; a booking office at the north (small) end with toilets at the other end for ladies and gentlemen. The building had an awning on the longest sides and luckily for me on such a day the footbridge also had a roof. There were plenty of places for me to shelter while waiting for the next train. With no signals to guide me and the trains getting later and later I had to select my next spot to take a photo and shelter close by and soak up my last views of a functioning station before going out into the snow at the last minute.
MLR / 19 December 2022
2751 I had walked some distance out of Yelverton Station to capture this view of 6400 taking three corridor coaches out to Tavistock on the 12.40pm off Plymouth. The loco would have had to run round at Tavistock. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
2755 5564 stands at Yelverton with the 12.40pm Launceston to Plymouth. Copyrright Michael L. Roach.
2758 View of Yelverton Station from the accomodation bridge. By now the porter has gone home and I have the station to myself. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
2761 6400 runs through the station non-stop with the 2.00pm ECS train from Tavistock to Millbay Note the stop board for freight trains. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks indeed - we admire your stamina staying put in such dreadful conditions.
Three days to go - the last trips of the
Hythe Ferry Tramway
Kevin P. Jenkin
Hythe Ferry Tramway
Kevin P. Jenkin
I don't think the CRS website has a nautical section, but this email is partially relevant with the connected Hythe Pier railway and just falls within the boundaries.
Hythe in Hampshire is a growing settlement on the opposite bank of Southampton Water / the River Test to Southampton itself, and is one of the gateways to the New Forest. It was a village in 1950 but is now an ever expanding place with a population of over 20,000.
There has been a ferry between Hythe and Southampton for over 400 years (as recorded on maps from 1575 and 1788), but on new year's eve 2022 the ferry will cease to run because of economic pressures. It has needed financial support in the recent past and the change in working arrangements are not in the ferry's favour. New Forest people enjoy the convenience of the car, but complain constantly of traffic jams on the A326 and the road network into the greater Southampton area. Covid also affected the way that people commute and work, reducing travel demand.
Southampton is clearly visible from Hythe (about 2.7km from land to land) but because of the distance to the channel, 600m of the journey is taken up by the Hythe pier, and the pier incorporates an electric railway. The pier (built in around 1880) seems to be safe (although in need of some TLC in places) as it was recently grade 2 listed, but without the Southampton ferry, the railway seems vulnerable. Volunteers and crowdfunding are keeping things going.
The 2 foot gauge pier railway with 250V third rail was built in around 1920 and the locomotives and stock are of a similar age.
The ferry was busy today - probably on the best weather day since the ferry closure was announced. Fingers are crossed on both sides of the water, but the local authorities who have bailed out the operation in the past have said they won't help because of decreasing budgets and increasing burdens.
If the Fawley branch is re-opened (momentum is growing) then this is likely to make the ferry less viable - a public transport irony.
Hundreds more photos are available!
Kevin
Hythe in Hampshire is a growing settlement on the opposite bank of Southampton Water / the River Test to Southampton itself, and is one of the gateways to the New Forest. It was a village in 1950 but is now an ever expanding place with a population of over 20,000.
There has been a ferry between Hythe and Southampton for over 400 years (as recorded on maps from 1575 and 1788), but on new year's eve 2022 the ferry will cease to run because of economic pressures. It has needed financial support in the recent past and the change in working arrangements are not in the ferry's favour. New Forest people enjoy the convenience of the car, but complain constantly of traffic jams on the A326 and the road network into the greater Southampton area. Covid also affected the way that people commute and work, reducing travel demand.
Southampton is clearly visible from Hythe (about 2.7km from land to land) but because of the distance to the channel, 600m of the journey is taken up by the Hythe pier, and the pier incorporates an electric railway. The pier (built in around 1880) seems to be safe (although in need of some TLC in places) as it was recently grade 2 listed, but without the Southampton ferry, the railway seems vulnerable. Volunteers and crowdfunding are keeping things going.
The 2 foot gauge pier railway with 250V third rail was built in around 1920 and the locomotives and stock are of a similar age.
The ferry was busy today - probably on the best weather day since the ferry closure was announced. Fingers are crossed on both sides of the water, but the local authorities who have bailed out the operation in the past have said they won't help because of decreasing budgets and increasing burdens.
If the Fawley branch is re-opened (momentum is growing) then this is likely to make the ferry less viable - a public transport irony.
Hundreds more photos are available!
Kevin
The tramway in operation on Thursday 29th December 2022. Copyright Kevin. P. Jenkin.
The connecting ferry in operation on Thursday 29th December 2022. Copyright Kevin. P. Jenkin.
Many thanks Kevin.
Many thanks to Andrew Jones for the footnote which follow - Hello Keith, thank you for posting my latest contributions on Hythe and Gunnislake.
History repeating itself 60 years apart as the latest series by Michael illustrates.
The pier is listed which may help retain the railway and infrastructure. I know the present owner has battled to keep it open, but without some form of subsidy it was an impossible task, especially as the maintenance was a major factor in the decision to close. So to some extent 2022 has been a very mixed bag for our mutual interest and I can't feel that positive, but who knows what 2023 will bring and I am sure we both have happy memories of a period less complicated....our very best wishes to yourself, Valerie and family and many more excellent articles from the much larger family at CRS.
History repeating itself 60 years apart as the latest series by Michael illustrates.
The pier is listed which may help retain the railway and infrastructure. I know the present owner has battled to keep it open, but without some form of subsidy it was an impossible task, especially as the maintenance was a major factor in the decision to close. So to some extent 2022 has been a very mixed bag for our mutual interest and I can't feel that positive, but who knows what 2023 will bring and I am sure we both have happy memories of a period less complicated....our very best wishes to yourself, Valerie and family and many more excellent articles from the much larger family at CRS.
Hythe Ferry
Reprieve
Kevin Jenkin
Reprieve
Kevin Jenkin
Stop Press IMPORTANT WEBSITE NOTE! From BBC News received at 08.30
There has been a temporary reprieve for the ferry. Please check out this link.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-64124160
There has been a temporary reprieve for the ferry. Please check out this link.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-64124160
Thanks Kevin, so fingers crossed.
Clay trains + HST
Bodmin Parkway
Dennis Clarke
Bodmin Parkway
Dennis Clarke
A few pictures from Bodmin Parkway today. They include a few of the clay train that ran on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Regards, Dennis
Clay train at Bodmin Parkway 29th December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
Clay train plus Casle Class at Bodmin Parkway 29th December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
Clay train at Bodmin Parkway. 29th December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
Looking immaculate - Clay train at Bodmin Parkway. 29th December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
An up Castle Class calls at Bodmin Parkway. 29th December 2022. Copyright Dennis Clarke.
Many thanks Dennis, clay hoods at Bodmin Parkway - like the old days, though they wouldn't have been as imacculate then - congratulations to the restoration team.