Blog Archives

Items added on 11th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

11/1/2018

Penzance today
Martin Scane

Happy New Year to you all. A lovely day today. We took a stroll from Marazion to Newlyn and back. I thought the 57 looked very smart in the sun at the head of the Night Riviera stock at Longrock. Regards Martin Scane. Many thanks Martin.

Pendennis Castle awaits duty. 11th January 2018 Copyright Martin Scane

Looe today
Nick Dyke

Same time, same place - As yesterday morning. On a winters morning, 153 318 awaiting departure on the 09.29 to Lisleard 11th January 2018 Copyright Nick Dyke (GWR Driver). (Thanks Nick)

Exmouth Junction
David Tozer

A break in the weather, so a quick visit to Exmouth Junction to catch the 0548 1Q23 Reading (Triangle Sidings) - Salisbury - Exeter and back to Salisbury. 11th January 2018 Copyright David Tozer. A video camera image.

Misty Liskeard
Lynn Murnaghan

Yesterday was a beautifully misty morning, so Mrs M and I went out for a jaunt down to St Ives. Whilst waiting for our down train, the 0820 HST up to Paddington was due, running a few minutes late. We both photographed the train arriving and departing Liskeard station. I have to admit that Lynn's pictures were far batter than mine, so here they are, courtesy of the good lady herself ! What a difference though, facing west and facing east at that moment in time. It's hard to credit that it's the same train.
Best wishes, Peter Murnaghan. Well done Lynn and thanks

Approaching up HST in the mist. 10th January 2018 Copyright Lynn Murnaghan

Far more striking is the HST departing over Liskeard Viaduct. 10th January 2018. Copyright Lynn Murnaghan.

31 at Laira.
By Alan Peters

Green class 31 on Laira depot!
DCR 31601 is seen on the fuel point after working barrier vehicles from Washwood Heath the previous day and returned light engine on 3/10/12, the loco appeared at the Severn Valley Diesel gala a few days later.
By Alan Peters.
Many Thanks Alan.

31 601 on the fuel point at Laira depot. Copyright Alan Peters.

The BRE Leyland Railbus leaves Bristol Temple Meads on a Severn Beach service. Michael Forward

830416a The BRE Leyland Railbus RDB 977020 leaving Bristol Temple Meads on a morning service to Severn Beach, behind stands 55023 which worked services later. Copyright Michael Forward

Penzance
Mike Hitchens

47618 Fair Rosamund at Penzance, named October 1984-September 1989 This engine started life as D1609 then 47030, 47618 and 47836. Copyright Mike Hitchens Collection

Somerton
John Cornelius

Items added on 10th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

10/1/2018

253001 rides again
Bernard Bates

Find attached file of 43002 leading the 11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth at Exminster with 43003 on the back, the original 253001; today, Wednesday 10th January 2018.
Bernard Bates Many thanks Bernard

253001 rides again. Exminster 10th January 2018 Copyright Bernard Bates

Misty January morning at Looe
Nick Dyke

153369 awaiting departure from Looe with 2L76 0929 service to Liskeard via Coombe Halt on a misty winter's morning January 10th 2018. Copyright Nick Dyke GWR Driver

Penzance
Mike Hitchens

47573 'The London Standard' in Network SE Livery named from June 1986 to January 1992 seen at Penzance. Copyright the Mike Hitchens Collection

Liskeard
Ron Kosys

A picture to really enjoy - so full of interest. 1057 Western Chieftain arrives at Liskeard with the 1105 Penzance to Paddington, The date is 11th July 1971. Beautifully framed by the bridge the Western rolls in whilst on the down platform another service waits the 'right away'. Now take a look at the up goods yard we see the goods shed and all three sidings in use. Clay wagons occupy the left hand road and a DMU stands in the middle road (What was that doing there, maybe the Looe branch unit stabled there while the branch was out of action for some reason - or else waiting to take up a local service to Plymouth). There appear to be two or three coal wagons to the far right. All fascinating, if only one could go back in time and enjoy this once more. Copyright Ron Kosys Additional comment by Roger Geach :- The dmu was waiting to follow 1057 to Plymouth and would work a stopping all stations service . In my 1971 wtt it was a 1310 Liskeard to Plymouth service. hope this helps. It does, thank you. Roger

The same up train with Western Chieftain at the head awaits departure for Paddington. Look at the state of the Western, the outside cleaned almost back to bare metal, note in the foreground the pointwork leading to the down sidings which were off to the right. Copyright Ron Kosys.. ADDITIONAL comment from Neil Phillips :- I have just seen Ron Kosys’ superb photos of D1057 at Liskeard on 11th July 1971 looking somewhat past its best! This was a last opportunity to photograph a Western with small yellow warning panels as by then the other 73 class members were all in blue with full yellow ends. D1057 would make its way to Swindon Works for a well-earned overhaul the following month and when outshopped in early January 1972 the entire Western fleet was in the same livery for the first time. I have checked my own records for summer 1971 and I last saw it in this ‘livery’ on 29th May when it headed the up 1A48 through Truro - I don’t recall it looking this run down but it must have been. Turning the clock back over 4 years, D1057 was the first loco I ever saw in BR Blue, exiting the tunnel into Redruth station as a down light engine in April 1967. It was of course gleaming in the spring sunshine……..what a difference 4 years and umpteen trips through the Laira washing plant made! Regards, Neil Phillips

Radstock
John Cornelius

Items added on 9th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

9/1/2018

Don't forget on
Saturday 13th January 2018 at 18.30
Brian Aston's sound and light show
A dazzling action show of Steam and Diesel in amazing locations.
Not to be missed.
Note:- £5 admission charge for non members to this special event.

St Austell's Footbridge to go?

Although it has been closed for sometime since the new footbridge and lifts were brought into use news that the old footbridge has to go was greeted with some horror, County Councillors included. It would seem that Network Rail want to remove it and pass it on for further use on some preserved line - maybe the Bala Lake railway. The structure is certainly in need of care and attention with paint peeling off - some weeks ago in a storm, a section of the roof blew off.

St Austell. A Coal train roars up the bank and passes under the footbridge. The date is the 9th July 1996 Copyright Julian Stephens

Teignmouth
Mike Bojko

I saw a picture on the website of this unit at Severn Beach photographed by Guy Vincent in August 2015. It just so happens that I had a spare hour today at Teignmouth. Look what came along. Regards Mike Bojko

Teignmouth 153325 9th January 2018 Copyright Mike Bojko

Paignton
Ron Kosys
Two smashing photographs - can you spot the difference?

Paignton As 7827 heads away towards Goodrington and Kingswear. The diamond on ths signal post indicates that the section is protected by track circuits. 24th June 1989 Copyright Ron Kosys

Paignton. A few weeks later as 4555 heads away towards Goodrington and Kingswear. 6th August 1989 Copyright Ron Kosys

Spot the difference - the signal arm is missing!!

Boscarne Junction
Andrew Jones

In this 1978 photograph we have now entered the joint section serving Wenfordbridge and Bodmin North, closed some 12 years earlier. The rails are shining and freight was daily with record tonnages being reported at the time.
The 'Stop Lamp' post can be seen to the left of the photograph, although already souvenir hunters had removed the top.
One can see just how long the siding was on the right and it was always well used.
In the December 2017 photograph the only railway infrastructure left is the Stop Lamp' post. This once busy junction now hosts the camel trail and the ‘new exchange’ platform on the left is for horse riders.
Moving on up the line we pass a foot crossing, which although not dedicated as a public footpath was popular with locals as a short cut from the nearby village of Nanstallon to the Borough Arms pub at Dunmere.
The path passed behind Boscarne Junction signal box and crossing keepers house, ran adjacent the sidings on a high embankment gradually returning to rail level at a point 20 yards north of this photograph as shown in the next 1978 photograph.
This footpath must have been quite important at one time, as it has it own very substantial bridge parallel to the railway bridge which both tower well above the river Camel and are extremely impressive from river level, although almost impossible to photograph without the use of a boat even in winter. I had a go and have included a recent photograph for reference, the bridge is well worth a look at and is one of two crossing the Camel within a short distance, the other being the bridge carrying the Bodmin to Wadebridge railway.
The December 2017 photograph shows the footbridge complete with modern railings and is still well used although no longer protected from the railway, the kissing gates were removed on conversion to the Camel Trail and all the original cast iron signs have disappeared.

WENFORD BRIDGE COMPARISONS 012 Boscarne Junction and Dunmere Junction 1905 25 inch OS map. Marked up map showing footpath and other points of interest. Reproduced by kind permission of the National Library of Scotland.

WENFORD BRIDGE COMPARISONS 007 Boscarne Junction 1978 Boscarne Junction 'Stop Lamp' post Copyright Andrew Jones.

WENFORD BRIDGE COMPARISONS 008 Boscarne Junction 27th December 2017. Note Stop Lamp post. Copyright Andrew Jones

WENFORD BRIDGE COMPARISONS 009 The footpath bridge in 1978. Copyright Andrew Jones

WENFORD BRIDGE COMPARISONS 010 Boscarne Junction Pedesrain Bridge 27th Dec 2017 Copyright Andrew Jones

WENFORD BRIDGE COMPARISONS 011 Boscarne Junction Pedestrian and Railway Bridge 27th December 2017 Copyright Andrew Jones

Bishops Lydeard
John Cornelius

Items added on 8th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

8/1/2018

Chasing the HST's
5th - 7th January 2018
Andrew Triggs

A few shots from over the weekend, as our faithful HST's are nearing the end of their frontline duties with the Great Western Railway as we know it!

180105a 43105 Leading the 1A80 12.03 Paddington Penzance at Cowley Bridge, Exeter. Copyright Andrew Triggs

180105b 43185 Great Western departing Exeter St David's. Photographed from Red Cow Crossing. Copyright Andrew Triggs

180106a A differant angle at Marazion as the 1Z94 heads eastwards to Plymouth. In the foreground lie cut granite blocks probably from the demolished waiting room on the upside platform at Marazion. Copyright Andrew Triggs

180107a The going away shot of 2E68 passing the former Marazion Station in glorious sunshine. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Chyandour Penzance
Mike Hitchens

47474 Sir Roland Hill together with another Res 47 stabled in the long siding at Chyandour Penzance. Mike Hitchens collection copyright

Severn Beach
Ron Kosys

Severn Beach comparison 1 Severn Beach station on the 16th August 1972. The station building here was curiously at right angles to the platform, The platform lighting looks a bit temporary to say the least, and the running in board has apparently been wrenched from its mounting posts leaving the site quite dangerous - no H & S in those days! Note that the metals to Pilning are still in situ although those over the crossing have been removed or tarred over. Ron, who was on a railrover, reports that he was the only passenger on this Bristol bound service back to Avonmouth. Copyright Ron Kosys

Quite rightly Guy Vincent has sent us three pictures to compare with Ron's super 1972 image showing Severn Beach in recent times. The land beyond the station towards Pilning has been built on and the sidings area next to the former island platform has been fenced off, it is overgrown with a few pieces of track still evident. On my last visit, 23rd December 2017, the single line into the station had been replaced the previous weekend. Brand-new concrete sleepers, welded rails and fresh ballast now instead of worn-out 1950s wooden sleepers sitting in mud! Traction-wise class 150 and 158 sets have recently been superseded in the main by class 166 units although 153s used to make occasional appearances as on 21st August 2015 when 153325 worked the 0716 to Temple Meads following an earlier failure. Many thanks Guy

Severn Beach comparison 2 21st August 2015 153325 on the 2K05 0716 SVB-BTM Copyright Guy Vincent

Severn Beach comparison 3 166202 Severn Beach 23rd December 2017 Copyright Guy Vincent

Severn Beach comparison 4 166202 23rd December 2017 Copyright Copyright Guy Vincent

Test Train
Karl Hewlett

After the booked run of the last test train to our area (due to run just before Christmas), was changed to Weymouth almost at the last minute, a second attempt has now appeared to run this week. Usual class 37 and test stock times are:

Tuesday 16 January Exeter Riverside NYD to Penzance via Falmouth Docks

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H33267/2018/01/16/advanced

Wednesday 17th January Penzance to Exeter Riverside NYD via Newquay and Looe

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H33273/2018/01/17/advanced

Running in a Q path so worth checking before deciding to see it.
Thanks Karl - I guess that somebody will be at Falmouth at 04.00 to see it!

Chard Junction
John Cornelius

Milk factory very much in use also the goods shed still standing. Copyright John Cornelius

Items added on 7th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

7/1/2018

Taunton and its Semaphores in March 1983
Michael Forward

830326a Taunton West Box and the associated gantry with a Penzance to Paddington HST approaching. Copyright Michael Forward

830326b Taken from the footbridge we see a Class 47 on an inter regional service from Paignton. Copyright Michael Forward

Exploring the
Devizes branch
Guy Vincent

I strongly recommend looking on Google Earth as you can follow the entire Devizes branch from Holt Junction to Patney & Chirton with ease, even through Devizes where some sections have been built on. It is also possible to pick out the original profile of Devizes Castle and the associated earthworks. I started my search by picking on 'Avon Road Devizes' and going from there. You can get some good magnification and pick out today's landmarks that lead to the line when out searching. Footpaths show up especially well. Following the route on Google Earth there are a few photographs along the route depicting ‘Old railway bridge soon to be demolished’ and also close by ‘Another old railway bridge soon to be demolished’ – worth taking a look at.

Attached is a Google Earth image for reference, North is top and West to the left of the shot. Brabazon Way is at Bowerhill to the south of Melksham, this is approximately the boundary of the former RAF Camp that was located there from 1940 to 1965. The camp site is now the Bowerhill Industrial estate with a large housing development close by. The Devizes branch ran along the route Brabazon Way now takes and in the hedge close to where I parked my silver Metro my wife found a 1882 GWR boundary post. I've since found several more of these posts with the same date along the route the line took and I believe that this was when the line was re-surveyed. At the time of my exploration in 2010 there were many abandoned relics of the line evident including rusty track fittings and sections of old rail that had been used for fencing. I came across a concrete GWR stile where a public footpath used to cross the line and there were many old wooden sleepers that had been used as fence posts, these had been torn out and piled up ready for disposal following work on the new Knorr Bremse factory.

The Google Earth view - as Guy says it is well worth your while getting into Google Earth yourself and following the line - you'll find the above location easily.

Brabazon Way, Bowerhill. Copyright Guy Vincent

The GWR Boundary post spotted by Mrs. Vincent. Copyright Guy Vincent

Redundant GWR Fencing, Bowerhill, Knorr Bremse site. Copyright Guy Vincent

A lineside style at Brabazon Way, Bowerhill, Melksham. Copyright Guy Burges.

To see the main Devizes section please click here.

Buckfastleigh
Ron Kosys

1638 at Buckfastleigh on the 5th June 1977 Copyright Ron Kosys

Were you there?
Redruth
Alan Harris

Attached is a scan of a flyer that I have for Cornwall's Rugby match played at Redruth on 23rd October 1954. The late Kenneth Polmear's book "Rugby in the Duchy 1884-1959" tells me that Cornwall won the match by 3 points ( 1 try - only 3 points in those days) to Nil.
The stadium at Redruth used to give a good panorama of passing trains at Drump Lane - about 600 yards away - so if the match was a bit boring!!! Thanks Alan for this reminder of sporting days and trains, glad we won.

Dawlish
John Cornelius

Items added on 6th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

6/1/2018

Craig's Cornwall
Craig Munday

Hi Keith, A quiet start to 2018. A flurry of weekend activity on 6th as St Blazey was a staging point for some of the engineering trains for the South Brent site. This brought Colas locos 66850 & 70s 70815 / 816 to the yard on a bitterly cold Saturday morning. 66187 was employed shunting the clay cripples which provided additional workings.
There are further weekend engineers moves to look out for.
On 5th GWRs 57604 worked up to Par from Long Rock on a test run and is seen at Par.

All the best , Craig.
Hi Craig, Nice to hear from you at the start of 2018. Many thanks.

Par 57604 on test run from Long Rock. 5th January 2017 Copyright Craig Munday

Makes one shiver!! A chilly morning at St Blazey - the nice warm box alongside 66850 70815 . 6th January 2017. Copyright Craig Munday

St Blazey 66850 70815 Picture (1) 6th December 2018 Copyright Craig Munday

St Blazey 66850 70815 Picture (2) 6th December 2018 Copyright Craig Munday

St Blazey 66850 70815 Picture (3) 6th December 2018 Copyright Craig Munday

Cycling the S & D in Dorset
Colin Burges

Almost certainly one of the fittest amongst our numbers Colin takes his bike from Templecombe to the river Stour. To join him on his photographic safari click here, and scroll down.

Colin says - Because I shall have forgotten by the new year, may I suggest including a link to the evocative Flanders & Swann song with my S. & D. piece? Blandford comes very early, followed by Midsomer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OHD2uCpfU

The song was written in July, 1963, when St. Ives was on the closure list, hence

No one departs and no one arrives
From Selby to Goole, from St Erth to St Ives
They've all passed out of our lives.
Fortunately St Ives is still on the network!

Templecombe signalbox on the 19th August 2017. Note S & D station names no longer with us. Copyright Colin Burges

Shaftesbury, the Town on the Hill, it says on the sign as you approach it. And they're not joking! Here I am climbing Gold Hill. 19th August 2017 Copyright Colin Burges

Long Rock
Mike Hitchens

47474 Sir Roland Hill at Long Rock. This engine was named in May 1990. Mike Hitchens collection copyright

Buckfastleigh
Ron Kosys

1450 stands at Buckfastleigh 5th June 1977 Copyright Ron Kosys

Buckfastleigh
Andrew Jones

Buckfastleigh looking towards Ashburton in 1969 long before the A38. Note the signalling still in situ, also note the cars nearby - vintage stuff. Copyright Andrew Jones

Dunster to Minehead
John Cornelius

Items added on 5th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

5/1/2018

Railgrinder en route
to Crediton
Andrew Triggs

50008 'Thunderer' approaching Cowley Bridge Junction. 5th January Copyright Andrew Triggs

St David's, 50008 running light away to the East, having deposited the Railgrinder at platform 6. 5th January 2018. Copyright Andrew Triggs

St Davids. 50008 running back into platform 6, having passed the listed former Goods shed. Copyright Andrew Triggs

St Davids. The rear 2 sections of the immaculate Railgrinder at platform 6. 5th January 2018. Copyright Andrew Triggs.

50008 awaiting the road for Okehampton on platform 6. 5th January 2018 Copyright Andrew Triggs.

Minutes later todays entertainment at
Credition
David Tozer

50 008 ' Thunderer' with the 0800 4Z03 0800 Derby (RTC) - Okehampton with the latest and possibly the longest of the new Loram Rail Grinders. Some interesting adornments on the sides of the vehicles.
Many thanks David

50008 'Thunderer' pauses at Crediton today 5th January 2018 Copyright David Tozer

A very large machine - the latest Rail Grinder leaves Crediton and heads for Okehampton. Crediton 5th January 2018 Copyright David Tozer

Colas Rail Freight 66850 'David Maidment OBE' at St Blazey.
By Alan Peters.

Colas Rail Freight 66850 'David Maidment OBE' pictured in a brief moment of sunshine at St Blazey on 4th January 2018 after working 6T27 from Westbury for out stabling in connection with engineering work at South Brent over the forthcoming weekend - Many thanks Alan.

66850 in the sunshine at St Blazey. Copyright Alan Peters.

Penzance
Mike Hitchens

45137 once D56 The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment stands in the loading banks at Penzance Station. Early 70's - both locomotive and the covered loading bank all long gone. From the Mike Hitchens collection. Copyright.

Exeter Central
David Tozer

A Christmas card scene captured by David Tozer. 25224 passes through Exeter Central with coal wagons on the 17th February 1978. Note the up goods yard is in use and also, by the covered footbridge the signal is at off for an up train. Copyright David Tozer

Buckfastleigh
Andrew Jones

In July 1969, my friend and I decided to buy a cheap day return from St Austell to Totnes, with the aim of visiting the then, embryonic South Devon Railway.
Most trains at this time stopped at Totnes, the journey was fairly uneventful with the typical acceleration past Laira and Marsh Mills, however all was not well with our ‘Western’, things started to deteriorate halfway up Hemerdon Bank and it was touch and go if we were going to reach the summit, which was reached at walking pace with more exhaust than a steam engine! We continued at much reduced speed to Wrangaton and Marley tunnels, with great relief descending Rattery Bank at a fine pace. The days of reliable HST’s were still a long way off.
I recently took the train to London and Hemerdon just doesn’t appear to exist with no drop in speed whatsoever!
The HST design proves that over engineering on the railways pays off, with an installed power output of 4,500 hp (both power cars) on a nine coach formation, they are conservatively rated and this has proven over their lifetime, to be possibly, one of BR’s most successful designs.
To put this in perspective, the ‘Indian Pacific’ passenger train which runs over 4,000 kilometres across Australia, and is approx half a mile long only has one locomotive with a power output of 4,000hp.
Back to my photograph….
In 1969 Staverton Bridge was the nearest station to Totnes and we had underestimated the long walk from Totnes Station along, even in those days, a fairly dangerous road. We made it eventually and were rewarded with the enchanting Staverton Bridge Station and GWR 6435 awaiting our outward trip to Buckfastleigh.
On the return trip I took this photograph.
Here we have GWR 0-6-0PT 64XX number 6435 awaiting return departure in July 1969 from Buckfastleigh, towards Staverton . This locomotive was built in Swindon in 1934, one of a batch of 40, fitted for push/pull designed by Collett, used on generally light passenger work, weighing in at 45tons 12cwt.
She was purchased in working order from BR in October 1965, being utilised on many of the early SDR diagrams.
6435 now resides at the Bodmin and Wadebridge railway.
Ron Kosys photographs have been excellent and we are very fortunate that he documented this long lost period, hopefully that my photograph will complement the collection. Many thanks Andrew.

6435 ready to depart Buckfastleigh in 1969 Copyright Andrew Jones

Churston
John Cornelius

Items added on 4th January 2018 Those added most recently come first

4/1/2018

Exeter '78
David Tozer

Exeter St Davids 17th February 1978. We hope this scene of 40 years ago won't be repeated this year but you never know. Copyright David tozer

Buckfastleigh
Ron Kosys

Buckfastleigh 1369 5th June 1977 Copyright Ron Kosys

Goodrington
John Cornelius

Items added on 3rd January 2018 Those added most recently come first

3/1/2018

Last train on the S & D !!
Geoffrey Matthews

.
The following courtesy Six Bells Junction records, what would we do without them?
2nd January 1966 R.C.T.S. (London Branch)
Somerset & Dorset Rail Tour
Locos Used35011 'General Steam Navigation', 34015 'Exmouth' & 31639, 48309, 41307, 41283 & 82019Route :
Loco(s)Route
35011 (2)London Waterloo - Clapham Junction - Hampton Court Jn - Woking - Basingstoke - Winchester - Eastleigh - Southampton - Bournemouth Central - Broadstone
31639 + 34015Broadstone - Evercreech Junction - Masbury - Radstock - Bath Green Park
48309Bath Green Park - Mangotsfield - Bristol Temple Meads - Weston-Super-Mare - Highbridge (West) (3)
41307 & 41283Highbridge (S&D) - Glastonbury - Templecombe
35011Templecombe - Salisbury - Basingstoke - Woking - Hampton Court Jn - Clapham Junction - London Waterloo
Notes :
(1) This tour was intended to run on the day following the public closure of the Somerset & Dorset line. However last minute difficulties with the substitute bus service caused postponement of the closure. The tour was limited to ten coaches, though demand for tickets far exceeded the train capacity.
(2) On leaving Waterloo station the train was assisted in the rear by 82019.
(3) Passengers detrained and had to make their own way between stations whilst the train shunted.
Sources : David Hills & Robin Lush

Geoffrey Matthews writes :- Sorry I haven't been in touch for a while but I've preoccupied with other commitments between August and December, so some things have had to been put on hold
for awhile.

So please find attached 5 photos that I took on a RCTS railtour on the S&D on January 2nd 1966.

Hope these will be of use to you and also wish all of you 'Happy New Year'

Cheers Geoff Matthews
My apologies to you Geoffrey for your pictures being being a day late - I'm afraid that they arrived after I'd closed down on the 2nd. Many thanks for your irreplaceable pictures and for the detailed captions.

Photo 1 - Merchant Navy 35011 'General Steam Navigation' at Broadstone Junction while uncoupling from train. this then followed the train up to Templecombe light engine to take us back to Waterloo in the evening. Yes I no these were officially banned on the S&D but the rules seemed to bent around this time as other Merchant Navy's ran between Broadstone and Templecombe on railtours in 1965 and 1966, 2 actually hauled trains. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 2 - 31639 and 34015 'Exmouth' backs onto train for the journey to Bath. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 3 31639 and 34015 'Exmouth' at Evercreech Junction both taking water, which involved moving the train forward as only one water column. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 4 34015 'Exmouth' moves up to take its water at Evercreech Junction. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 5 - 48309 at Bristol Temple Meads station, one of the 3 8F's fitted with Steam Heat, this hauled the train from Bath To Highbridge. 2nd January 1966. Copyright Geoffrey Matthews.

Meldon Signs
Andrew Jones

Dear Keith, Stormy January nights really lend themselves to trawling and scanning old slides. I came across this one labelled early 70’s. It was taken when one track was still in place on Meldon Viaduct and there also existed a roadway on the other formation for Dam construction traffic. Meldon Quarry at this time was still supplying railway ballast and the warning was very real, although I note restricted to only twice a day and for approx 30mins in the morning and 1 hour at mid day.

Best wishes Andrew Many thanks Andrew - keep up the good work!
However, I thought I'd seen that before, well that wording. Looking back though our Plymouth - Okehampton Gallery I see identical wording on a sign photographed by Mike Roach. Now is this on a notice board at a different location, or has somebody replaced a 'tatty' notice , and adjusted the timing - isn't the 24 hour clock so much simpler??!! Has anybody else noticed it??

Blasting sign - Copyright Mike Roach. February 1970

Penzance
Mike Hitchens

45130 once D117 stands in Plat 3 at Penzance. This engine was built in September 1961 and withdrawn in June 1992. Copyright Mike Hitchens

Buckfastleigh
Ron Kosys

DVR No.1 busy at Buckfastleigh on the 5th June 1977 Copyright Ron Kosys.

Paignton
John Cornelius

Items added on 2nd January 2018 Those added most recently come first

2/1/2018

Penzance
Mike Hitchens

Network South East class 47s at Penzance. These photographs would date from 1986 onwards. Copyright Mike Hitchens collection

Note:- We are most grateful to Mike Hitchens who passed to us a collection of, Cyril's, his late father's slides - the first of these above. Mike is not quite sure from where these originated. These have been scanned by Roger Salter and captioned by Roger Winnen- they are too good to miss.

Buckfastleigh
Ron Kosys

80064 on display at Buckfastleigh on the 5th June 1977 Copyright Ron Kosys

Goodrington
John Cornelius

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31 at Laira.
By Alan Peters

Colas Rail Freight 66850 'David Maidment OBE' at St Blazey.
By Alan Peters.