Cornwall Railway Society
  • LATEST INPUT , NEWS & OLD PICTURES ETC.
  • INDOOR & OUTDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME
  • Submit your photos and news
  • CORNWALL RAILWAY SOCIETY GENERAL INFORMATION CONTACTS & WEBMASTERS MEMBERSHIP FORM ETC.
  • Railtour Calendar
  • CORNWALL GALLERIES
  • DEVON GALLERIES
  • North & East of TAUNTON & HONITON
  • ​Extracts from the diary of a lifetime enthusiast - Michael L. Roach
  • Features - 2025 Part 1
  • Features - 2024 Part 2
  • Features - 2024 Part 1
  • Cornwall Resignalling Programme 2024
  • FEATURES, MAIN INDEX & OUTDOOR EVENTS REPORTS.
  • Military and Industrial Tramways & Light Railways
  • Pleasure Tramways & Light Railways
  • RAILTOURS, AERIAL VIEWS ,MISCELLANEOUS
  • Railtours 2022 to July 2023
  • Railtours August 2023 onwards
  • CORNISH RAILWAYS WAR DIARY
  • LOCAL YOUTUBE
  • Historical Outdoor Events INDEX
  • ARCHITECTURE
  • INDEX TO ARTICLES WRITTEN BY COLIN BURGES
  • ARTICLES SECTION.
  • ENGINEERING PLANT DIARY
  • News reports Jan to Aug 2012
  • Links
  • MAPS, PHOTOS, AERIAL VIEWS
  • Official Documents available to the General Public
  • Public notices and posters collection

6th February 2022

6/2/2022

 
Programme Change  -
Due to unforseen events David Letcher will be unable to give his evening on Saturday 12th February however Roger Winnen has kindly agreed to step in with  his talk planned for April 9th  -
Next Saturday - The Cornwall Railway Society visit to Scotland ten years ago plus earlier pictures from 1975.
             This will be the pasty evening.
This will of course be at the Memorial Hall Redruth Methodist Church starting at 18.30. Directions to the Hall on our Indoor events programme.
Picture
Here at the Forth Bridge the party were joined by CRS member John Ball, seen here on the left. Also left to right we have Mike Hitchens, Tony Wright, Sue Wright and Tony Brokenshire. 28th June 2012 Copyright Roger Winnen.
Thank you Roger for stepping in at such short notice.
​

Lostwithiel
Andrew Vines

Dear Keith,
With Lostwithiel in the news at present, here are a couple of reminders of the old station which I took on 4th September 1973.  No. 1664 'George Jackson Churchward' makes a brisk arrival with a clay train, and after reversal in the 'up' loop, sets off for Carne Point.  Note the signalman climbing up the steps into his box after handing the token to the crew.
Best wishes
Andrew
Picture
Lostwithiel 1664 George Jackson Churchward runs into the station towards the up loop to reverse. 4th September 1973. Copyright Andrew Vines,
Picture
Lostwithiel 1664 George Jackson Churchward having run round makes for Fowey. 4th September 1973. Copyright Andrew Vines
Sadly, last week the sidings visible on the right hand side of this photograph were lifted in preparation for a new access to the down platform and footbridge - the footbridge will cross the main lines just beyond where the loco is. 
Many thanks Andrew.  What a charming station Lostwithiel was - captured in all its glory.
Par
Paul Barlow

Picture
50026 Indominable arrives at Par on the 11.23 Paddington to Newquay service. 30th August 1986. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul.
​

Some Gems from the
Dave Pagett Collection
Steve Widdowson

Hi Keith,
Some years ago, a good friend & local signalman Dave Pagett at Worcester passed away.
He left me in his will his railway photo collection, which is a lot of images. The other day in the box of his images I found disc which had over 1000 scanned images on.
I have attached some of the West Country images which I am sure you will find interesting. Unfortunately there are no dates, so any extra info will be most welcome if anyone knows more.
There will be more.
Regards Steve Widdowson 
Picture
45011 at Torquay ~ Copyright Late Dave Pagett # S Widdowson collection. Just on a point the picture of 45011, was taken when it was numbered 12 having dropped its D from D12, this will narrow down the date if anyone has any notes..... lets hope.. Sorry caption was a bit misleading.
A nice way to remember a good old friend - thank you Steve - we look forward to more.
​

Junction Jaunt to Coombe
Peter and Lyn Murnaghan
​Junction Jaunt to Coombe
The Looe branch line has seen passenger numbers grow in recent years, until ridership fell because of Covid-19. The trend can be seen in the annual figures published by the Office of Road and Rail, see summary. But there is one station on the branch that stubbornly remains poorly used. Coombe Junction Halt sees two trains per weekday in each direction, and regularly features within the lowest ten stations nationally.  With depressed passenger figures across the country because of Covid last year, perversely Coombe's position in the league table improved. But back in 2015, it was the second least used station in the country with only 26 passengers all year.
 
Before 1901, there was no link between the Looe branch, splendidly isolated in the valley, and the Great Western Railway main line, which passed over the Moorswater viaduct, 150 feet above. In that year, the sinuous link line was opened to connect the two lines, which benefitted trade in the town of Looe and gradually opened it up to tourism. May 2016 marked the 115th anniversary of this link line.
 
Local enthusiast, Peter Murnaghan, who lived in Liskeard, hit upon the idea of commemorating the anniversary and, at the same time, doing something to boost the fortunes of little Coombe Junction. With his friend, Brian Oldham of Liskeard Museum, a walk was organised from Liskeard station down to Coombe to catch one of the two trains back up the incline. The walk down is a mere 0.8 mile, but the train journey back to the starting point measures 2 miles.
 
The Junction Jaunt was advertised locally in Liskeard and the press and local TV were captivated by the story of this sad little station. On the day, Saturday 14th May 2016, the train crew on the single class 153 unit were forewarned that there might be a few extra passengers to accommodate on the 1052 trip. In the event, no fewer than 108 people gathered for the walk !
 
And sure enough, the crowd filled the platform at Coombe, when the 75 seater arrived with a good load already on board from Looe. The guard's ticket machine was unable to cope with the three figure transaction, so the merry band had to purchase their tickets retrospectively from the ticket office at Liskeard on arrival. But only after Peter had been assured that the ticket sales would be credited to Coombe Junction, rather than the main line station.
 
Despite the 'London rush hour' travelling conditions for the short ride, everybody had fun and were pleased to have quadrupled Coombe's annual trade in just one day. This one event propelled Coombe Junction Halt up to 18th position from the bottom of the league table for 2016/17!
 
Picture
The crowd of enthusiasts tired after their 0.8 mile walk makes its way onto the platform. 14th May 2016. Copyright Peter and Lyn Murnaghan.
Picture
The 10.52 to Liskeard approaches the station. 14th May 2016. Copyright Peter and Lyn Murnaghan.
Picture
Many still with an eye towards the TV cameraman being to board the train. 14th May 2016. Copyright Lyn and Peter Murnaghan.
Picture
Room for more inside - 14th May 2016. Copyright Lyn and Peter Murnaghan.
Picture
Lets try the other end! 14th May 2016, Copyright Peter and Lyn Murnaghan.
Picture
No spare seats - but a good profit. £153 for a 2 mile journey. 14th May 2016. Copyright Peter Murnnaghan
Picture
Tired after their long journey the passengers make their way home!! 14th May 2016. Copyright Peter and Lyn Murnaghan.
Picture
A wad of tickets - Copyright Peter and Lyn Murnaghan.
Picture
Junction Jaunt - Chuckle Brothers Brian Oldham on the left and Peter Murnghan. 14th May 2016. Copyright Lyn Murngahan
Many thanks Peter - an interesting and amusing story. The CRS once held the record with perhaps 20 passengers who visited Moorswater Dries before journeying on towards Looe.
​


Comments are closed.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011