Par The MPV returning after spraying over night Fri 26th Craig Munday
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John writes :- Hot news this week is that Network Rail has received no objection to lifting Falmouth Loop and Docks Connection and recovering the two Ground Frames during the 2013/14 financial year. No doubt your local sources will be able to find out the dates when published. In 2011, this connection was placed out of use for two years, but no traffic has materialised. A far cry from the 1970s when dock land was reserved for a Freightliner Terminal; land which on my last visit has never been built on.
Secondly, NR has published a proposal to lift Goonbarrow Up Refuge Siding. This allegedly is not used, but it will of course constrain some flexibility available during perturbation. This 08 on route to Penzance for an early holiday - seen on the A30 approaching Hayle. Many thanks Mike.  08 on route to Penzance seen approaching Hayle. 11.34 18Apl13 Copyright Mike Boyko  Replacement Depot Shunter Recently arrived from Laira by road (see above) at Long Rock. Picture at 07.21 27Apl13 Copyright Roger Salter Craig kindly sent in this picture taken at St Blazey The vehicle is called an MPV or Multi purpose vehicle. The idea was that these cab ended double flat vehicles with engines underneath could be used for short haul freight by EWS. They are a bit like a Thunderbird and any type of merchandise can be hauled around. Hereford cider traffic was railed this way years ago. By and large nowadays they are used for infrastructure purposes like RHTT trains and to spray the weedkiller as is happening this week. They aren't common in Cornwall, I'd rather see the class 20s back with the Fisons train personally! 
St Blazey Shed 21Apl13 Copyright Craig Munday.
Sat 20th Apl
0Z83 Exeter Riverside – St Blazey – light loco class 47/57 Exeter 15.38 N Abbt 15.59 Plym 16.41/16.48 Liskeard 17.13 Par 17.37/17.39 1Z83 16.52 Exeter Sd to Par Steam Charter N Abbt 17.17 Plym 18.12/18.16 Liskd 18.47 Par 19.11 Sun 21st Apl 5Z85 08.29 St Blazey to Newquay Class 47/47 leading – steam on rear Goonb 08.47/08.49 St Columb 09.11 Newq 09.38 1Z85 09.40 Newquay to Cardiff Central Goonbarrow 10.30/10.35 St Blazey 10.54/10.56 Par 11.02/11.32 Liskeard 12.07 Plym 12.39/13.28 Fri 26th Apl 1Z11 09.43 Victoria to Truro VSOE set Exeter SD 15.23/ 15.25 N Abbt 15.45 Plym 16.30/16.35 Lisk 17.02 Par 17.26/17.31 Truro 17.58 Light loco move back to BZ 20.32 Ex Truro Fri & 06.05 Sat morning Sat 27th Apl 5Z62 08.00 Truro to Plymouth (empty stock) via Penzance Camborne 08.25 St Erth 08.37 Penzance 08.53/09.31 Camborne 09.48 Truro 10.01 Par 10.27 Lisk 10.47 Ply 11.12 On Thursday 11 April the Teigngrace log train, which in fact loads up at Teignbridge by the level crossing not Teigngrace old halt, ran. 56105 was in charge and was sitting with the very long loaded train outside Newton Abbot for some while, coming into Platform 3 (the up platform, the one nearest the town) at 15.08. After running round she headed the train up to the north. It was still there at 15.22 when I had to go. I understand that she left at 15.26.
A hugely successful Charter train ran faultlessly, crewed by Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association volunteers on 12/4/13 on the Dartmoor Railway with 190 passengers (the max. that could be seated in the 3 coach train - formed; 47375, MkII TSO 5920, ex EMU TSO S70508 and DBSO S61743) which was hauled by 47375 at 1030 from Okehampton to Coleford Jn, reversed then propelled to Meldon and finally hauled back to Okehampton, was organised by Tony Hill for the Dartmoor Society. There is a further report on this train by John Ball at the foot of the photographs The train, after some doubt, received 'specific permission' to run from the remote mother outfit, IOWA Pacific Holdings of Chicago, following their (increasingly unpopular) recent edict that no Heritage trains are to run in 2013 on the Dartmoor and Weardale Railways run by their British American Railway Services subsidiary. They plan to now only promote luxury 'themed' lunch, tea and dining trains running up to 4 times a week from June until October and 'Polar Express' trains in November & December, on both these lines. Those with their feet on the ground are sceptical that these train will prove viable; certainly on the Dartmoor Railway. It is possible, subject to satisfactory negotiations, that the DRSA may take on the running of Heritage services between Okehampton and Meldon.  Dartmoor Explorer at Meldon Quarry platform. 47375 ready to haul the train back to Okehampton 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hill.  A general view of part of the extensive sidings area at Meldon Quarry- 'mothballed' since July 2011. 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hil  DBSO S61743 leads the train en route to Meldon Quarry 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hill  At the end of the days operations 47635 brings to train into the former down platform at Okehampton. 12Apl13 Copyright Tony Hil Friday 12 April
I went on the Dartmoor Railway special, and can add little to the report from Tony Hill. Both the buffet and the model railway shop at Okehampton were doing good business, but the buffet at Meldon has closed for the time being at least because the regular heritage train was needed to bring in staff and supplies. Another class 47 was in the sidings at Meldon and I saw one coach of the Thumper unit there, as well as an 08. Let's hope that something can be salvaged from this situation. I fear for the future of the line, as there has not been any stone traffic for years and it seems to me that much of the plant at Meldon has been dismantled. it is to be hoped that the dmu service from Exeter will run again this summer on Sundays. I picked up a copy of the Dartmoor National Park newsletter, which ominously made no mention of the Dartmoor public transport network apart from an item on the Haytor Hoppa from Newton Abbot to Widecombe and that part of the Moor. Report by John Ball A collection of pictures taken by Roger Salter at the Bodmin & Wenford Spring Gala 2013.  Bodmin Gen an interesting shot of ancient & modern 1501,1369, 30120 50042 (D442) TRIUMPH ,08444 12Apl 13 Copyright Roger Salter  1368 & 4247 Near Quarry curve ,Bodmin. 12Apl13  1501 Nearing the outskirts of Bodmin from Boscarne 12Apl13 Copyright Roger Salter  Little and Large 1369 and 4247 await to depart Bodmin Parkway with the 10.27 service to Bodmin General on 14th April,2013 Copyright Roger Winnen  1501 double heads with 6435 on the 14.27 Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General on Saturday 13th April,2013 Copyright Roger Winnen With great appreciation to John Roberts who has sent us details of three websites which merit detailed examination. Many thanks John 1. The latest station usage statistics for 2011-12 are now available. In summary, there was 10% growth in 2012 and passenger numbers have roughly doubled since privatisation.
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.11135 2. Southwest councils have published a report advocating weather resilience, capacity enhancements and electrification of the West of England Main Lines. http://www.avocetline.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-South-West-Spine-Final-v-3-13.pdf 3. You may also be interested in improvements to the A30 Loggans Moor and A38 Carkeel Roundabouts in 2014-15. http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/press-releases/7m-to-reduce-road-congestion-and-boost-south-west-economy Note the trees alongside the line have been cut down in preparation for the new Kingskerswell Bypass 
The 08.59 London Waterloo to Penzance passes the former Aller Junction after leaving Newton Abbot on Saturday 30th March,2013 Copyright Roger Winnen
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