Blog Archives

21st March 2024

21/3/2024

Hemerdon Loop Removal
Alan Peters

After the re-signalling in Cornwall, it is now Devon's turn for re-signalling work between Tavistock Junction and Totnes which is being upgraded, whilst there is great sadness over the loss of the semaphores in Cornwall I doubt if Hemerdon Loop will be missed. With the demise of freight in the West Country the loop has now been plain lined although at 52 SLU Hemerdon Loop was longer than Plymouth station. Just one engineering train was in the possession being 6C25 from Westbury top and tailed Colas Rail class 70's.

Colas Rail 70803 on the London end of 6C25 at Venton on 19/03/24, 70806 was on the Country end of the top and tail formation. Copyright Driver Alan Peters

From 70803 looking back towards Plymouth, the connection to Hemerdon Loop has been removed and plain lined on 19/03/24. Copyright Driver Alan Peters

With work complete the train making its way to Totnes to exit the possession, 70803 is seen at Ivybridge with 70806 on the rear, for a crew change on 19/03/24. Copyright Driver Alan Peters

Many thanks for providing a record of this work Alan, it's very much appreciated.

5552 at The Bodmin Railway
Jon Hird

The Bodmin Railway have now re-opened for the 2024 season. Please click here for their timetable and operating dates.

5552 works the 14:05 service from Boscarne Junction to Bodmin General on 20.03.2024, approaching Crabtree Lane overbridge. Copyright Jon Hird.

20/3/2024

An invitation to visit the GWR 'Night Riviera'
Tomorrow!

From GWR:

You're welcome aboard our internationally renowned Night Riviera Sleeper train!

We're excited to be holding an open day for you to come and have a look inside our Night Riviera.

So if you've always wondered what to expect, make sure you come along to Penzance station this Thursday (21.03.2024) between 10:30 and 13:30.

The down 'Night Riviera' at Trerulefoot on 22.05.2023 with 57605. Copyright Jon Hird.

The Exmoor Belle Railtour
Organised by the R.C.T.S. and The Plymouth Railway Circle
Saturday 3rd October 1970
Roger Winnen

The Last Day of the Branch to Ilfracombe

701003b The Exmoor Belle at Barnstaple Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003c Barnstaple Junction. to the left lines to Bideford and Torrington and to the right the Ilfracombe Line Copyright Roger Winnen

701003d A DMU arrives from Ilfracombe. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003e Ilfracombe from the station. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003ee Ilfracombe Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003f Passengers from the Exmoor Belle on the platform at Ilfracombe. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003f Ilfracombe Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003g DMU at Mortehoe and Woolacombe. Copyright Roger Winnen

701005q Brnstaple Town Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

701005s The Bridge across the River Taw at Barnstaple. Copyright Roger Winnen

701005r The Exmoor Belle at Bideford. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003i Torrington with milk tankers. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003k The milk with D6338 and the Exmooor Belle at Torrington. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003j Exmoor Belle at Torrington. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003l Near to Meath. Copyright Roger Winnen

701003m Yarde Halt. Copyright Roger Winnen

701005n Petrockstow. Copyright Roger Winnen

701005o Near the end of the line at Meeth. Copyright Roger Winnen

Swindon - 18.03.2024
Ken Mumford

6C03 [Northolt Sidings to Severnside] hauled by 66077 pollutes the station as ti accelerates out of Swindon East Loop with a train of domestic and industrial waste. Copyright Ken Mumford.

0M47 [Eastleigh East Yard to Kineton MOD] - light loco [66710] 4 EARLY. Copyright Ken Mumford.

A quick dash - one of many - to platform 4 to photograph 1L17 [Cardiff to Paddington] with emu units 387146 and 387149. Station announcer said that this train was standard class only and no refreshments BUT Real Train Times said otherwise!!! Copyright Ken Mumford.

66127 shunts 6B52 from Swindon Stores [where it arrived 82 EARLY] then slowly pushed it into the Cockleberry Sidings just east of the station. Then caught me out by departing 6 EARLY 1410 hidden by an IET in platform 4. The working was from Swindon Stores [via Cockleberry Sidings] to Llanwrn Exchange Siding a few miles east of Newport (Gwent). Copyright Ken Mumford.

66127 continuing its slow shunt as a Cheltnehnm 5-car IET crosses from the Down Main to enter platform 3 were its pantagraph will be lowered and this train will continue up the Gloucester branch under diesel power. Copyright Ken Mumford.

59203 - was this 4L33 Wentloog to London Gateway?? Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks Ken - looks like another interesting visit!

March 19th 2024

19/3/2024

Branch-to-branch
Jon Hird

I had a rare weekday day off today (Monday 18.03.2024) with the children at school and my partner at work. At a bit of a loose end, I decided to try some shots I'd had in mind for a while but hadn't had time to get to. A lot of walking today, but some new locations in the bag!

66109 crossing Middleway with 6G09 (Goonbarrow - Fowey loaded clay). The St. Blazey semaphores are still alive and well. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

The last of 16 JIAs as the train approaches St. Blazey and Middleway crossing. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

The train has been and run round at Lostwithiel and arrived at this location just East of Golant at almost the same time as I did. St. Winnow church is on the opposite side of the river, caught in a very lucky spot of sun, the only time I saw it all day. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

A hike through the woods at Fowey got me in place to set the drone off to get some photos of the shunting operation. Here the first JIA's have been unloaded and 66101 has pulled the train forward to shunt the empties over to the other road, this has to be done as the JIA's do not fit on the transverser. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

4 empty JIA's are on the second road and 66101 is pushing back the other 12 into the shed. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

Taken from a boat? Or a low-flying drone? 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

Fowey docks from 120m above sea level. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

The last 3 CDA's 'in the wild'. These 3 wagons were used as barrier wagons at Fowey and were prototypes, being converted from HAA hopper wagons. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

Another view of the 3 redundant barrier wagons awaiting their fate at the entrance to Carne Point. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

A GWR boundary marker in the woodland above Carne Point. 18.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

Returning stone empties at Rewe
David Tozer

Roger,
Freightliner Class 59/2 59205 with the 1244 6C28 Exeter Riverside Hanson to Westbury Tarmac stone empties at Rewe running to schedule. This locomotive will seen thirty years of service next year.
Dave

Many Thanks David

Two Freights at Salisbury
Michael Adams

Hello Roger, I hope you are well and thanks to you and the team for posting the news and pictures.

Here are two pictures taken at Salisbury by Michael Adams on 8 November 1983.
Firstly we see 47 226 on a stone train and then 47076 on tankers,probably from Fawley.
Thanks, Copyright Michael Adams

Many Thanks Michael

Exeter West Box
Dennis Clarke

Hi Roger, Keith,

I was at Crewe today (18.03.2024) and went to the Crewe Heritage Centre. Although it was closed, I managed to take a few photos through the fence of Exeter West Signalbox. It is a magnificent structure and I believe that it is used to demonstrate the manual signalling systems to the public when open.

I have added a link that explains more about the box and it being rebuilt at Crewe in the 1990s. (Please click here).

Kind Regards,
Dennis

Exeter West Box reconstructed at the Crewe Heritage Centre. 18.03.2024, copyright Dennis Clarke.

Many thanks Dennis, a real survivor and a piece of local heritage. Thank you for sharing it with us.

18/3/2024

Visiting a superb example of a Great Western Coach dating back to the 1870-1880s at Ashton nr Helston
By kind permission of Glen Winfield and thanks to Ken Babbage
Roger Winnen

240317a Details of the coach 306 now 106 was built aroun 1870-1880. After 40-50 years these coached were sold off for a princely sum of £10

240317b Elizabeth Richards purchased this coach in 1931 Once this coach was on situ the remaining part of the house was constructed around it. Copyright Roger Winnen

240317c This coach has been beautifully restored by the owners over the years. Copyright Roger Winnen

240317d Michael Portillo on his great railway journeys visited this coach on his rail travels in the South West. Copyright Roger Winnen

240317e Here we see an LMS notice in the coach. The LMS railway was formed at the Grouping of the railways in 1922 so this notice is false in many respects. Many thanks to Roy Hart.. Copyright Roger Winnen

240317f Another part of the coach decorated up for the children. Copyright Roger Winnen

240317g Looking into the end of the third class carriage. Copyright Roger Winnen

240317h Chasing the train in the painting.. Copyright Roger Winnen

240317i The lounge outside of the coach as we take our leave thanks to Mr Glen Winfield

Cravens DMU
Paul Barlow

Hello Keith

Another DMU picture from 1995. Bishops Lydeard. Cravens DMU was working the 1200 shuttle to Norton Fitzwarren . This unit was a resident at the WSR for a only a short time.

Kind regards

Paul

Cravens DMU Bishops Lydeard 6 May 1995. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul, an interesting photograph. Does anybody know what became of the DMU?

Par Signal Box - a brief history of
Roy Hart

Par was the last box on Network Rail to have signalled broad gauge trains.

The box opened in 1879 when the Cornwall Minerals Railway (by then controlled, but not owned by the GWR) opened a new double track link from St Blazey to Par. The CMR was, of course, standard gauge, while the GW main line was broad gauge from Exeter to Truro.

As opened, Par box was 19 feet in length (a glance at the back of the building today reveals the brick flue of the longgone stove: this was at the centre of the original structure). As opened, the box would have had a frame of about 20 levers, controlling very basic signalling on both standard and broad gauge.

The main line layout (i.e.the broad gauge) was very basic: just a refuge siding at either end of the station and a crossover road midway along the platforms. The platforms were much shorter then and the box was free-standing, some way from the platform.

At the eastern end was a broad gauge siding which curled behind the platform to terminate in the goods shed. The goods shed also had a standard gauge track to facilitate transfer of goods.

With the conversion of the gauge in 1 892, the basic layout at Par was unaltered, but signalling was new and much more elaborate: this required a new lever frame of about 40 levers. This meant that the box needed to be extended at the western end to a total length of 38 feet.
With the track layout unchanged from the past, operations could be very difficult. There was no direct connection between the down main and the branch, for example and down trains had to perform a reverse shunt in order to reach St Blazey. At the west end there was no link at all.

All of this was finally resolved in 1913 when the layout was comprehensively remodeled. There were now compound crossovers at both ends of the station, linking branch to main. The box also acquired its third (and last) frame, of 57 levers, equipped with 3-bar tappet interlocking.

The second world war brought further change: in the run-up to D-Day vast amounts of materials were shifted to westcountry ports and rail facilities expanded to cater for it. At Par the down refuge siding was extended eastwards to form a goods loop and 'calling-on/ arms were added to three of the up branch and main signals to ease the combination of trains from branch and main for the journey east. The new goods loop was even provided with a water column, for wartime freights were often trapped in such loops for hours at a time.

The frame was relocked in 1943 with 5-bar tappet locking, full track circuiting was installed, together with an illuminated diagram (it survives, though much-altered, in the box today). The end of steam brought inevitable changes including the loss of local freight. The old goods yard was cleared and replaced by a short-lived container freight scheme.

In 1974 the layout was remodelled and simplified, losing no fewer than five compounds and diamond crossovers.

The most significant change in the postwar era was in 1986, when Burngullow box was abolished and the line from there to Probus singled, controlled by a miniature panel at Par. This act of breathtaking corporate folly had to be put right when double line was reinstated (at vast expense) 1 5 years later.

Par signal box closed in 2024 after 145 years of service - not a bad innings!

The structure is listed grade Il by English Heritage.

Copyright Roy Hart 2024

Many thanks for sharing this interesting and insightful article with us, Roy. It will also be added to the Par section of the website in due course.

17/3/2024

CDA's roll again
Jon Hird

Yesterday (16.03.2024) was an important day for Cornish rail heritage. Over at the Bodmin Railway, a training and gauging run using the recently obtained CDA wagons was undertaken. As the CDA's are air braked, some of the crew needed training as the vast majority of the railways stock is vacuum braked.

This is believed to have been the first time that the CDA's have travelled down the Boscarne branch (wagons have been on display at Bodmin General previously, so the ground to Parkway has already been broken). Of course, had Wenford Dries remained open to rail traffic and the tight spots between Dunmere and Wenford widened to allow their passage, the CDA's may well have been regular travellers over this route.

It was great to hear the hiss of air and the thud of the small 4-wheeled wagons on the jointed track once again, a very well done to both the Bodmin Railway and to the National Wagon Preservation Group (NWPG) for giving the wagons a home and preserving another chapter of Cornish railway history for future generations to experience and enjoy.

The 'clay country mizzle' has followed the veteran clay carriers to Bodmin! 47306 is coupled to the rake of 8 CDA's at Bodmin General on 16.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

A view from above as the Bodmin Railway staff wind shut the sheets which cover the tops of the CDA's (These are left open as water pools on them and stretches them and breaks the rubber ties which hold them to the rollers). 16.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

The railway staff and volunteers admire the scene as the CDA's break new ground, arriving at Boscarne Junction. 16.03.2024m copyright Jon Hird.

A view from the other side at Boscarne Junction. 16.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

Running round at Boscarne Junction. 16.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

Trainee driver/secondman James Goodhall speaks to Operations coordinator Mat Simpson whilst the 47 runs round the wagons. 16.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

How's this for a sight? 47306 opens up as it leads the CDA's up the hill to Bodmin General, near Crabtree Lane. 16.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

A final view of the train disappearing around the curve. 16.03.2024, copyright Jon Hird.

It is hoped that these wagons will play a starring role at some events at the railway. Please keep updated by visiting the Bodmin Railways website (click here) and the website of the National Wagon Preservation Group (click here)

Around Ponsandane
& Long Rock
October 1974
Roger Winnen

740930c D1064 Western Regent at Long Rock Shed. 30th September 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

741012a A Western passing what is left of Long Rock Signal Box. 12th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

741012b Class 50 together with a Class 47 City of Truro at Long Rock. 12th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

741013a Ponsandane Signal Box nearing its end. 13th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

741013c Ponsandane Signal Box nearing its end. 13th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

741013b Ponsandane Signal Box nearing its end. Copyright Roger Winnen

741027cLong Rock Shed. 27th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

741027d Park Royal Inspection unit at Long Rock. 27th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

741027e 47239 and a Class 52 Western at Long Rock. 27th October 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen

Units of yesteryears
Paul Barlow

Hello Keith

A couple from 2017 of now disappeared units types.

Kind regards

Paul

A 153 unit and 143619 have just left Exeter central on the 0700 Paignton to Exmouth 11 August 2017. Copyright Paul Barlow.

143618 on 0751 Exmouth to Barnstaple arrives at Exeter Central while 143612 departs on 0711 Paignton to Exmouth 11 August 2017. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul - modern history!

The Royal Scot
Ken Mumford

Friends,
I ventured out this morning to see 46100 'Royal Scot' passing under the Oaksey Road road bridge with1Z46 [Northampton to Worcester].
Diesel - Northampton to Hanwell Bridge Loop, then steam via Didcot and Swindon and the Gloucester branch to Worcester (Shrub Hill). This excursion returned via Moreton-in-Marsh and Oxford to Hanwell Bridge Loop where steam gave way to diesel. for the continuation of the journey to Northampton.

Details of the bridge from which I took the next SEVEN photos! Copyright Ken Mumford.

46100 'Royal Scot' Copyright Ken Mumford

D1935 (47805) 'Roger Hoskins MA' bringing up the rear not powered! Copyright Ken Mumford.

1G11 [an IET with 'LOCKJAW' both ends] passed under the bridge first. According to Real Train Times it overtook the steam special at Challow. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks for sharing your fantastic photographs with us, Ken!

March 16th, 2024

16/3/2024

NINETEEN SIXTY TWO – PART 75
The Life of Small Prairie 5568 (2)
Michael L. Roach

In Part 68 on 5 February we looked at the life of Laira's small prairie 5568 which was fitted with auto-gear so that the engine could push-and-pull trains to save running around its train at each end of every journey, and it could stay permanently coupled to the coach or coaches for the whole of the working day. The engine was at Laira from 7 October 1961 until withdrawn on 14 January 1963 two weeks after the Plymouth to Tavistock South and Launceston Branch had closed. The engine was sold to Cashmores at Newport nine months later and cut up.

BR built autocoach W230 is propelled into Bickleigh by 5568 on the ECS train from Tavistock South to Plymouth Millbay on 15 September 1962. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

The 12.40pm SO Launceston to Plymouth coasts into Yelverton behind 5568 on 24 November 1962. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

ditto leaves. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

The 10.15am Launceston to Plymouth on 22 December 1962 behind 5568. The train is passing the rubble of the demolished Cann Cottages just north of Marsh Mills Station and a long way from Cann Viaduct and Cann Quarry. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

5568 rests inside a smokey Laira roundhouse on Boxing Day 1962. 5568 is on the right next to the tender engine. The other tank engines visible are 6430, 5569 and 6400 all used on trains to Tavistock South. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Many thanks Michael
For more of Michaels work, please click here.

Swindon - 12.03.2024 - Part 2
Ken Mumford

6B33 [Theale Puma to Robeston Sidings] with tis usual locomotive. Real Train Times gives it passing Swindon East Loop 6 EARLY then passing platform 4 12 EARLY - I THINK that it overtook a freight that was in Swindon East Loop - the driver of 66105 certainly had that oil tanker train on the move as he accelerated quite quickly the length of platform 4 - was he told to get a move on? Copyright Ken Mumford.

60 055 'Thomas Barnado' the regular loco on this train [Appleford Sidings to Tytherington] was in Swindon East Loop from 1448 to 1548 and eventually passed along platform 4 14 LATE. BUT accelerated quite quickly!! Copyright Ken Mumford.

Looking a little care-worn was this westbound IET in platform 4. Copyright Ken Mumford.

D1015 passed along platform 1 some 36 EARLY - was it meant to be held in Swindon East Loop? Copyright Ken Mumford.

14.03.2024 at Kemble

3Q64 Cardiff (Taff Vale Sidings) to Cardiff (Taff Vale Sidings) passing Kemble 7 LATE heading for Swindon where it reversed. Copyright Ken Mumford.

3Q85 returning up the Gloucester branch passing Purton Common Foot Crossing about 5 LATE. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks Ken - a great variety!

March 15th 2024

15/3/2024

Swindon - 12.03.24
Ken Mumford

66520 approaches Swindon station on the UML with 4L23 [Wentloog to London Gateway] 20 LATE at 1221 meeting 1C12 [Paddington to Bristol [Temple Meads] ON TIME in platform 4. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Coming in from the Gloucester branch was [1Q15] the NMT with 'MARK CARNE CBE' [silver letters on a black background] as the [then] leading power car. It should have gone to Swindon (Cockleberry Sidgins) where it would have reversed BUT - because of problems with a bridge being bashed [between Reading and Paddington it seems] PLUS signalling problem somewhere PLUS some train crews being delayed because of problems [these??] - it stayed in platform 1 until ti was time to head back up the Gloucester branch. Copyright Ken Mumford.

The other end of the NMT [named John Armitt -silver letters on a red background]. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Driver gets into the [now] leading cab of the NMT. Copyright Ken Mumford.

The nose of this IET in platform 3 seems not to have been shut fully!! Copyright Ken Mumford.

What would BRUNEL have to say about the state of his station?? Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks Ken

A day in Devon
Jon Hird

Double FGW HST's at Newton Abbot. 12.09.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

A pair of Class 153s head west near Teignmouth. 12.09.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

A FGW HST set wearing both new and old liveries heads east. 12.09.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

Another HST heading west. 12.09.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

Over to Dawlish and another HST with a mixture of liveries heads west. 12.09.2004. copyright Jon Hird.

I guess this was the main attraction of the day. A Freightliner (ex-Virgin) class 47 hauls a Midland Mainline liveried HST set to Laira. 12.09.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

14th March 2024

14/3/2024

Around the Clay Country today
Roger Winnen

240313a Harry Needle 37607on test train at Penzance on overnight run from Exeter St David's. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313b Harry Needle 37607on test train at Penzance on overnight run from Exeter St David's. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313c The new signalling in operation at Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313d Remains of the semaphores at Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313e Remnants of the past at Truro. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313f Are these signals going to a good home. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313g Signals at Par. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313h The new signal controlling both the Newquay and mainline connections. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313i The armless bracket signal post still standing on the approach to Par Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313j New and old combined or is it! Copyright Roger Winnen

240313k 2 Class 150 Units pass the armless signal. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313l Par Signal Box with no sign of bells or levers being pulled. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313m Legends of the Great Western at Par. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313n Lostwithiel Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313o Lostwithiel looks bare with only a couple signals around. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313p Signals lying around at Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313q The Goonbarrow to Fowey clay approches Lostwithiel. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313r What happen was! Class 150 units arrived from Plymouth at the same time. Copyright Roger Winnen

240313s The Clay departs Loswithiel for Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen

Mid Cornwall re-signalling
Martin Duff

Hello admins,

Better late than never - but it’s a train!

Our new workstation was signed in to use at 04.31 on Monday morning.

The possession was given up and once the person in charge told the new neighbours at Liskeard, Roskear and St. Blazey we formally opened up.

The first train to land was 1A73, Penzance - Paddington at 05.41 when it passed Roskear.

For now, a few opening views of the workstation.

The new team is enjoying the challenge and handling it well. On Monday lunchtime the clay from Goonbarrow to Fowey arrived, ran round and left for the docks in just 6 minutes.

Slick working heralding a new era for Cornish Railways.

In the night just gone we had the first class 37 on the re-signalled patch, colas 37607 went to Newquay leaving Par just after 3 o’clock with driver Dave Pond up front. The train is now ‘down Penzance - doubtless Roger Winnen and Andrew Triggs will cover that one!

More soon. Cheers for now,

Martin D

An impressive display showing the Cornish Mainline and its associated signalling/trackwork. Copyright Martin Duff.

Details of the new signalling station in Exeter Power Box. Copyright Martin Duff.

Details of the new signalling station in Exeter Power Box. The Lostwithiel Crossing CCTV feed is visible. Copyright Martin Duff.

'Where the magic happens'! Details of the new signalling station in Exeter Power Box. Copyright Martin Duff.

Another view of the Exeter workstation which now controls the trains through mid-cornwall. Copyright Martin Duff.

Martin, many thanks as always for sharing with us your privileged views of the new workstation, it looks very neat and tidy. Congratulations to yourself and your colleagues upon a seamless transition into this new way of working.

(You also hit the nail on the head about Roger covering the 37/test train at Penzance, see above!!)

Classic traction in West Cornwall
Jonathan Harbage

Dear sir,

It was good to see a real engine at Penzance today. 37607. And here’s the engine that dropped me off at Truro. 43187 The Welshman on the 13/03/24.

I wonder if they will make one of the HST sets a unique one.

Best wishes
Jonathan Harbage

Harry Needle's 37607 on hire to Colas Rail at Penzance, 13.03.2024. Copyright Jonathan Harbage.

Many thanks Jonathan, a nice day out with some of BR's finest workhorses!

March 13th 2024

13/3/2024

Open Train Times - Live Signalling Website
Cornwall Upgrade

From Open Train Times: "We've just released our update Exeter map, covering Network Rail's re-signalled routes from Liskeard to Truro and Falmouth. Further updates are coming this weekend too."

Please click here to visit - well worth a look, a very useful website.

'I only went to see one train, but..'
Ken Mumford

6C48 Appleford Sidings to Whatley Quarry.- was headed by 59203 and stayed in Swindon East Loop from 1338 to 1446. It had passed Highworth Junction 28 EARLY and as a result of its long stay in the East Loop was 2 LATE passing Wootton Bassett Junction. Copyright Ken Mumford

2Q08 Derby to Bristol (Kingsland Road) via Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Kettering, Bedford, St. Albans, Hendon, Acton Wells, West Ealing Loop, Slough, Reading, Didcot and after Swindon [passed 3 EARLY[ via Chippenham and Bath! Copyright Ken Mumford.

6Z23 Appleford Sidings to Tytherington 60055 was in Swindon East Loop from 1450 to 1531 and passed Swindon platform 4 2 EARLY. Copyright Ken Mumford.

I tried to get a closer photo BUT this train departed before I was able to get near it. It had a design but I wanted to get a better shot but alas I didn't. The station announcer stated that this train MIGHT be delayed between Stonehouse and Gloucester because of a points failure between those two stations. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks Ken - plenty of interest!

New Crossing Gates at Truro
Mick House

Looking towards the station with 150 221 on an up train. Copyright Mick House.

From the steps of the signalbox. Copyright Mick House.

Many thanks Mick - more images in the resignalling section - click here and expand the Truro segment.

One last trip with 47813
Jon Hird

In 2004, the FGW fleet of Class 47's was starting to decrease as the 57/6's were introduced and their reliability improved. On 29.05.2004, 47813 was called upon to cover a diagram from Paddington - Penzance in place of a HST. The following day it worked back, and I took a trip behind it from Penzance - Exeter.

The loco was due to go off-lease imminently and had already had its 'First' branding removed.

This loco remains on mainline duties today with West Coast Railways.

47813 comes off depot at Long Rock with the FGW loco hauled day coaches. 30.05.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

After running around, the train set back into Penzance. 30.05.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

A quick rush to the front for a photo at Plymouth. 30.05.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

With a puff of exhaust smoke and that distinctive rasp of the Sulzer engine, 47813 departed East. 30.05.2004, copyright Jon Hird.

13/3/2024

The Forest Railway at Dobwalls Nr Liskeard
Roger Winnen

This railway opened in 1970 by Mr Southern and closed in 2006 when much of the railway was sold and transported to Australia
This line was laid to 7.25 inches and contained a large collection of motive power.
These photographs were taken on 26th August 1974