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Nocturnal action at Par Craig Munday

22/5/2013

Hi Keith
A nocturnal bit of action at Par station sees Freightliner 66596 run around the LWRT (Long Welded Rail Train) running as 6Y98. The train was dropping rail between Lostwithiel & LIskeard, but run around at Par - it was a tight fit too between the signals!!
Cheers Craig Many thanks Craig

Par LWRT 23.57 21May13 Copyright Criag Munday

New Look Penzance station Roger Salter takes a look

21/5/2013

Many thanks to Roger Salter for taking these early morning views of Penzance station at about 06.40 on Saturday 18th May 2013 - this was before he boarded the 06.50 train for Newton Abbot. The CRS exploring Devon trip. Penzance station possessed a forest of scaffolding - see earlier pictures until just before the Queens visit to Cornwall. The refurbished station is revealed in Roger's pictures.

Penzance station - a view over the wall 0635 18th May 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Penzance - the sun gives a good view of the extremely smart station from the threshold at about 06.40 on the 18th May 2013. Copyright Roger Salter

Penzance roof - are these floral decorations an intended feature? 06.40 18th May 2013 Copyright Roger Salter.

Exploring Devon May 18th 2013 Christine Simmonds

21/5/2013

Saturday May 18th dawned bright and clear for the Society’s trip round Devon rails. Our train was FGW 06.50 from Penzance where Roger and two other members started, picking up other members at stations en route. We were a party of fifteen eventually. Our first change was at Newton Abbot where we caught the 09.41 to Paignton.
Torbay looked lovely in the sunshine, with a very calm sea. Some people chose to catch the next train back to Newton Abbot, while others stayed to look round the South Devon Railway station and admire Lydham Manor gleaming in the sunlight, waiting to take out the 10.30am first train of the day. The train was already filling up. Returning to Exeter on the 10.23, we had some anxious moments as we were held up at Newton Abbot to allow an express train to go in front of us. We only had 11 minutes at Exeter before the Barnstaple train left, and this time was being whittled down by the minute! A call was put through to Roger, who had gone ahead, telling him we were late and hoping he would lay down in front of the Barnstaple train ‘til we got there! We got to Exeter with just two minutes to spare. A quick sprint over the bridge and we were on the train. (Which in the end left three minutes late!) It was a very pleasant run up to Barnstaple, the countryside was at its very best in the May sunshine. The same could not be said for the track – like James Bond’s cocktails we were shaken not stirred; it really is very bumpy. We were held up again at Eggesford because the train we were crossing was delayed. This meant that the eight minute wait at Barnstaple was reduced to about three minutes, so not much time for photographs. Our return train then took us all the way down to Exmouth where we had a 34 minute break to look around the town, or find an ice cream.
Leaving Exmouth at 14.53 we returned to Exeter (on the way collecting three young Marines at Lympstone Commando, one of whom was clutching an ironing board!). At Exeter Central we detrained and crossed the foot bridge to catch the 15.30 South West Trains Exeter-Waterloo service to Axminster, the furthest point our Devon Rover will take us. Arriving at Axminster at 16.06 we had an hour to explore the town and have afternoon tea. (Some members found a very good cafe). Axminster is a very old town with some interesting historical buildings. Axminster station is well kept, clean and tidy; pleasant to sit there in the hot afternoon sun waiting for the 17.03 back to Exeter. At Exeter only three members elected to go on to Tiverton Parkway to say they had covered all the Devon Rover area. The rest of us, by now being quite tired, caught the Cross Country 17.47 back to Cornwall. We had all had an extremely pleasant day out and at £6.25 for the Cornwall ticket and only £6.60 for the Devon Rover, quite a bargain. Our thanks to Roger for great timetable organisation, (most of the trains were on time) and for organising the weather!

Axminster it's 15.26 and here is the train from Waterloo. Notice the new platform on the left - this view taken from the new footbridge 18May13 Copyright Roger Winnen

Some of the happy CRS party on their way to Barnstaple. The author of the report above is the lady in the centre. 18May13 Copyright Roger Winnen

Oil empties pass Carn Brea

17/5/2013

At 09.36 the weekly up oil empties pass the site of Carn Brea station on Friday 17th May 13. The station closed 2nd January 1961. With the proposed housing developments in the area the station might have seen some patronage in the years to come. Copyright K. Jenkin

Royal Train visits Cornwall

17/5/2013

On Friday 17th May 2013 the Queen & Duke of Edinburgh travelled to St Ives via 2 royal trains. The main train & a service train on the branch with 150265 getting royal approval. 66201 was the surprise loco on the front going down after a fault on one of the class 67's

It's 09.06 and we're on Treleigh Bridge. The Royal train has just passed over Shallow Adit level crossing. The big surprise is 66201 - the leading locomotive. Copyright Roger Salter

Again at Treleigh Bridge, the two 67's 006 and 026 bring up the rear of the train. 09.07 17th May 2013 Copyright Craig Munday.

At the site of Carn Brea station as the Royal train approaches on its way to St Erth. 09.13 - 17th May 2013 copyright. K. Jenkin. Whilst it is doubted if the Queen was terribly interested the old Network Rail yard can be seen to the left and the new yard to right! There will be a new road on the left hand side. Copyright K. Jenkin

The Royal train stopped in the down platform at St Erth for some time before continuing west so that the train cleared the crossover - the train was then able to come in on the up platform to allow her majesty to simply cross the platform to the waiting class 150. 17th May 2013. Copyright Roger Winnen

This is the view taken through the fence on the up platform looking across at the Royal train as it moved out towards the crossover at approximately a quarter to ten. Once the train was safely past the crossover the 67's drew it forward into the up platform. 17th May 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

In this picture by Craig Munday the Royal train has come to a halt in the up platform thus allowing her Majesty to walk across to the waiting 150 265. This departed at 10.18 for St Ives. The Royal train departed St Erth ECS at 10.25. Copyright Craig Munday

It's about 10.25 and Roger is on the side of the train the Queen would have been sitting - the sea side. (She doesn't appear to be waving!!). 17th May 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Meantime Roger Salter views the front of the 2 x class 150 train 150 265 and 150234. The Queen was in set 150265. This is the first time Royalty has patronised this scenic line and also probably the first time in a Class 150. We hope she enjoyed the view. 17th May 2013 Copyright Roger Salter.

We hope the Queen is enjoying the view as her train climbs the bank towards Hawkes Point and Carbis Bay. 17th May 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

The empty coaching stock of the Royal train leaves St Erth passing the disused down sidings, in the background can be seen St Erth Signalbox. 17th May 2013. Copyright Craig Munday

A final view of the ECS as it heads towards Coach Lane Bridge Redruth on its way up country. Copyright K. Jenkin.

New Carn Brea Yard Peter Jenkin

13/5/2013

Cycling around today, 13th May 2013, I chanced to come across some work at the Old Carn Brea station site.

In the morning I noticed clearance work in progress to the south side of the main line - this is shown in the first and second pictures.

I returned later in the afternoon and enquired what was going on and was told that due to the loss of the old Carn Brea yard site, where a new road is to be constructed, that a replacement yard for Network Rail was being prepared on railway land for future use. As can be seen from the third picture considerable progress had been made.

Start of work - morning of 13th May 13. Copyright Peter Jenkin

Another view of site clearance work in progress - the old Carn Brea Yard is on the opposite side of the main line. Copyright Peter Jenkin

By the afternoon the clearance work had been completed - a nice view of Carn Brea in the background. Copyright Peter Jenkin

Cornish Riviera Express (Statesman) - 11 May 2013

11/5/2013

The down train having crossed Barncoose embankment (Redruth) continues on for Penzance - it's 12.22 11May13 Copyright K. Jenkin

For more pictures see the diesel railtours section

Steam at Okehampton Tony Hill

10/5/2013

The Steam Dreams charter train shown below left St Davids Right Time, but arrived Okhampton about 12 late It departed 0928 8 late ( having been too tightly timed Crediton and Okehampton)

Pictured en route between Sampford Courtenay & Okehampton. Also at Okehampton. The steam hauled train loaded to 13 coaches with a class 66 on the rear which drew the train back to St Davids. The EMU coach on the right of the Okehampton picture is the propelling/generator vehicle with some of the 'Polar Express' stock currently stabled with 47375 in the Down platform.

Other news :- The US bosses of the DR have now decided not to start their Dining trains until 2014 ..so ther will be no other than Exeeter/Okehampton Summer Sunday FGW DMU's and 'Polar Express' trains in Nov & Dec. There are currently no other planned trains on the line.....except a tiny possibility of an Okehampton/Meldon Quarry Sat & Sun DEMU shuttles still to be decided ..if the Americans feel viable & worthwhile to run...don't hold your breath!
Cheers Tony

Steam Dreams charter train pictured between Sampford Courtenay and Okehampton on 10th May 2013. Copyright Tony Hill

The Steam Dreams charter train standing at the up platform at Okehampton 10th May 2013. Copyright Tony Hill

Scaffolding being dismantled

10/5/2013

It is reported that the massive scaffolding which has been in place for some time in connection with the major refurbishment of Penzance station roof is being removed.

Royal Train visit to Cornwall

9/5/2013

It is understood that the Queen will be visiting Cornwall on Friday 17th May 2013 and that she will be travelling from St Erth to St Ives by train. We can only presume that she will travel on a normal service train surely the first time on a class 150 and almost certainly the first time the St Ives Branch has had the privilege of Royal Patronage. I am sure that we all wish her Highness a very pleasant day.

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