Blog Archives

Creditons new footbridge & a visitor Report from David Tozer

22/8/2015

Hi Keith, We had a visitor from Reading Depot today,150002, which usually plies its trade in the Reading area. The unit spent most of the day on the Exmouth Branch. However it did do a trip to Barnstaple and Paignton. I guess the reason was to provide extra units to strengthen services in connection with Dawlish Air Day.
I caught up with it at Crediton working the 1143 2F27 Barnstaple – Exmouth.
The footbridge has now been reinstated and tastefully painted in LSWR livery, although not yet open to the public, as the steps are fully enclosed.
Regards, Dave Many thanks David.

150002 arrives Crediton 22nd August 2015 Copyright David Tozer

The reinstated footbridge at Crediton, looking a very nice job. It's only when one considers the cost of the refurbishment of this bridge, and all the rest of the maintenance of the railway one realises the expense involved. 22nd August 2015 Copyright David Tozer

Happy 70th Birthday Roger.

22/8/2015

Happy Birthday Roger, I would like to echo Keith’s words and just add that if it was not for members like Roger the Cornwall Railway Society its website and everything that goes on behind the scenes would not be here today.
Have a Great day Roger regards Mick.

Roger ponders at the steps of Truro Station footbridge, No escape that way maybe I shall stay and take some more photos. Photo by Mick House.

HAPPY 70th to ROGER

22/8/2015

We don’t normally celebrate human anniversaries but just for once we make an exception.

Today is Roger Winnen’s 70th Birthday – nobody who knows of the Cornwall Railway Society will not have heard of Roger. He is a very committed commitee member having served on the CRS committee for 38 years and also served on the PRC committee before that. He was, from an early age, a well known member of the Penzance ‘Wall Gang’ – a group who surveyed the comings and goings at Penzance from the wall overlooking that station. His general knowledge of railways is second to none.

As you will all know Roger has played a very active part on the CRS, always willing to turn a hand to help out. He produces our annual quiz – ‘Winnens Winning Ways’, a major feature in our indoor programme for many years. .

It is, however, during the longer days in the Spring, Summer and Autumn that Roger really comes to the fore, once playing a leading role in the organisation of charter trains and more recently in dreaming up ideas for our excursions by road and rail all of which are planned meticulously with contingency arrangements should things go awry.

A more recent facet of the Railway Societies activities have been week long explorations of all parts of the National Railway system. Roger has spent many hours on these working out the very complicated arrangements of bus and train travel. Roger is also present at almost all of the CRS bookstall events – always there to help out.

Last and by no means least have been Rogers contributions as a fellow operator of our website - he is a major contributor with regular news updates and pictures.

So, Roger, we all wish you a Very Happy Birthday indeed and hope that we will have the pleasure of your company for many years to come. Quite what the Cornwall Railway Society would do without Roger is anybody’s guess.

Keith Jenkin

On one of the society rambles, Roger (centre) rests at Shaugh Bridge Platform on the Tavistock line. 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

It's rare to catch Roger in front of the camera but here he is at Bere Ferrers station. The picture, by Roger Salter is entitled 'The Cornwall Railway Society permanent way gang'. 30th August 2014 Copyright Roger Salter

Having organised a visit to Yelverton station, now a very private Nature Reserve Roger thanks our host Lady Kitson - 30th August 2014 Copyright Roger Salter

Two beauties from 1958. From the Mike Morant Collection

21/8/2015

Hello Keith,
Several weeks ago you did a feature on the Brixham branch and I meant to send the attached image of 1452 but got sidetracked I'm afraid. Anyway, better late than never. Both the attached images were taken by yours truly in August 1958. 1452 is, of course, in charge of the Brixham branch train at Churston whilst the double-header is a down Plymouth service at Newton Abbot. Best regards, Mike M. Many thanks to Mike - very pleased to show them here and add them to the collections.

Churston. What a lovely summer scene captured by Mike Morant as 1452 waits to do the run to Brixham. This view can, thankfully, almost be repeated, but not the run to Bixham! August 1958 1452

Another August 1958 scene as a Castle now boosted with power of 4925 Eynesham Hall as a pilot loco waits with a train over the banks to Plymouth.. A lovely shot which includes the steam shed in the distance with steam raising in progress. Newton Abbot Shed closed in 1970 although continued to serve as a coach servicing and refueling point until 1981. This photograph by Mike Morant

Progress report on the A4. John Brodribb

21/8/2015

On Thursday, 20 August 2015, 21:01, John Brodribb wrote
Dear colleague
Work continues on 4-6-2 No 60009 Union of South Africa in the SDRE workshops. The centre driving wheels have been removed using the wheel drop, and are currently standing in front of the locomotive. This has been moved slightly, so that the shed doors can be closed. Today's photo is attached; the people are SDRT museum volunteers on an official visit. Access to the workshop is not normally possible without permission from Rob le Chevalier. Best wishes John Brodribb. Many thanks for the update John. Well done to the South Devon Railway Engneers.

The A4 stands in the workshop at Buckfastleigh on the 20th August 2015. Copyright John Brodribb

Craigs Current Collection - a fascinating miscellany.

20/8/2015

Hi Keith
A mixed bag of recent weather, but some super sunshine on certain days. Many thanks Craig.

A wander on the Parkandillack branch during a recent inspection. This show the wharf below the "main" line which runs over the top. The former sidings track bed is still visible. The Power Station was to the right in this shot. August 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Higher up in the Drinnick plant, 66078 with 6P24 looks almost model like as it runs over the road from Nanpean and passes the small cottages perched above. (Taken on Imerys / Network Rail property). August 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Gover viaduct : 6P24 was soon out on the main line, and I had a sweat on as I could also hear 1C77 roaring west. The trains passed each other with classic timing! August 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Earlier in the week, I took a quick snap from the Old Key House near Lelant of a St Erth bound service. August 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

66078 shunts the CDAs at Treviscoe - August 2015. Copyright Craig Munday

Trenowth: Another sleeper train situation, as 57605 got into trouble west bound at Newton Abbot. 2 x power cars and a trailer were sent up from Laira to pull the failed train back to the depot. Later 57602 ran light from Old Oak Common to haul the stock west to Penzance for the overnight train on 18th Aug. The ensemble is seen at Trenowth amid fields of ripening grain. Taken with farmer's permission. August 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Many thanks for this bumper collection Craig.

About the A4 - the unfortunate failure. A note from John Brodribb

19/8/2015

We are most grateful to John who has kindly agreed to the publishing of his report and photographs.

Dear colleague

You will probably heard already that ex-LNER Pacific locomotive No 60009 Union of South Africa is in the SDRE workshops at Buckfastleigh. It arrived on the evening of Sunday 16 August under its own steam, having failed at Newton Abbot whilst on a railtour to Par. It travelled down the branch under its own power, with its support coach, and was shunted into the workshops on Monday 17 August. The photos show the story so far, with the loco and coach arriving at Totnes (courtesy John Keohane); arriving at Buckfastleigh on Sunday - watched by passengers on the Fish'n'Chip special - and in the loop platform on Monday.

Driver Mark Ireland and Fireman Rob Oaten had turned up at Buckfastleigh for their footplate turn on Monday and thought that all their prayers had been answered - they had Union of South Africa as their locomotive for the day. They did get to shunt it into the workshops using 6412, where work started almost immediately. On Tuesday 18 August 60009 and workshop staff were exceptionally fortunate to receive a visit from Peter Townend, renowned as Shedmaster at King's Cross for many years, and who knows more about the LNER Pacifics than anyone.

Work is proceeding well: watch this space for updates.
Best wishes, John Brodribb Many thanks John.

60009 arrives at Totnes 16th August 2015 Copyright John Keohane

Buckfastleigh 60009 Union of South Africa arrives 16th August 2015 Copyright John Brodribb

That famous nameplate - 60009 Union of South Africa 16th August 2015 Copyright John Brodribb

Buckfastleigh 6412 shunting 60009 Union of South Africa 17th August 2015 Copyright John Brodribb

60009 Union of South Africa in the workshop at Buckfastleigh 17th August 2015 Copyright John Bodribb

In the workshop at Buckfastleigh Peter Townend & Richard Elliott 60009 Union of South Africa 17th August 2015 Copyright John Brodribb

Remembering the Past! Riding the Thumper Unit at Okehampton, a report by Roger Salter and photographs by the two Rogers

19/8/2015

DEMU 1118 was one of the first batch 0f eighteen units to be built at Eastleigh, the underframes were built at Ashford Works. It entered service on 16th September 1957 and was designed for use on the Portsmouth/Southampton and Alton services, further units were also built for the Hastings and Berkshire services.

English Electric produced the engines, 4 cylinder supercharged, RK engines designed for traction as opposed to marine use.
The two car units consisted of a Driving Motor Brake, standard open carriage which carried the engine, a driving cab and a guards compartment. The second carriage was a Driver Trailer composite, a driving cab and first and second class compartments. The combined length was 133 feet 3.5 inches weighing 88 tons seating 13 first and 114 second class passengers. In August 1959 because of the volume of traffic a centre coach was introduced into these sets.. By 1986 with the introduction of the TOPS system these units became class 205 and she became 205018.

The DMBSO unit 1118 in preservation has been coupled with the DTC unit 1129, both units were in the fatal Cowden rail crash of 15th October, 1994. Their respected front units were so badly damaged that they were cut up and the remaining units joined together. They were withdrawn from service in August 2004.

1118 Thumper Unit undergoing a full refurbishment at Williton on the West Somerset Railway in 2014. Copyright Roger Salter

150815v Thumper Unit 1118 Enters Okehampton on the 10.47 service to Bow. Copyright Roger Salter.

150815w The engine compartment showing the English Electric 600 b.h.p. 4 cyl engine. By courtesy of Rachael Wilson, Guard. Copyright Roger Salter

150815zb Passing the station buildings at North Tawton. The track passing through this station was raised many years ago after the cessation of regular passenger trains when a new bridge was installed. Copyright Roger Winnen

150815zc A welcome greeted us at Bow Station. The owners of the station were handing out complimentary drinks and biscuits. Copyright Roger Winnen

150815zd A very low platform exist at Bow Station, passengers are advised not to alight. However by kind permission of the train staff I was helped up and down by Rachael of the Dartmoor Railway. Many Thanks Rachael. Copyright Roger Winnen

More photographs in Features Pages July to December 2015

Photographs of Hall Class engines taken at Penzance by Michael Forward in late 1950s or early 1960s

19/8/2015

5934 Kneller Hall at Ponsandane, Penzance notice the conical Great Western Water column behind the engine. 5934 Kneller Hall was allocated to Penzance in the mid 1950s and moving to Bristol St Phillips by 1960 for a number of years. The cleanliness of the engine would suggest that this engine was then allocated to Bristol St Philips Marsh as they had a shortage of engine cleaners. Copyright Michael Forward

6938 Corndean Hall photographed on the Eastern Green leaving Penzance. This engine built in July, 1942 and named in 1946 spent many years at Newton Abbot and Plymouth before being drafted away in 1962 to 81D Reading, with the arrival of the diesels in the Westcountry. Copyright Michael Fordward

Does anybody recognise this location please???

19/8/2015

This picture was amongst a batch of pictures given to us - we know where all of them are apart, that is, from this one. A standard tank is hauling a service on a double track main line. There is an upper quadrant signal in sight. There is a crossover under the train - but where is it - we don't know. Could it be the S & D?

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