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Reunion of old friends - it's a small world!

30/9/2014

Nearly a year ago now an e-mail from David Tozer to the site asked if the Sid Sponheimer who was already a major contributor for some time was the Sid he had known 20 or so years ago? It came about that David and Sid were both in the Insurance business and had many conversations between Exeter and Plymouth in the course of business but had never met.
Luckily the opportunity for them to meet came about last Saturday 27th September 2014 when they both came on the CRS visit to the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.

Two of our very regular website contributors caught in front of the camera for a change. Sid Sponheimer on the left of our picture and David Tozer on the right. Both contemplating the scene at Woody Bay station and no doubt discussing old times. Copyright Trevor Tremethick.

Three for the price of one. Also enjoying the meeting is KJ. Copyright Roger Winnen. Note that the 'Attractions' are the gentlemen on the left of the picture!

Four for the price of one. Stepping back a little we now have another of our major website contributors in the picture as Trevor Tremethick gets ready to take Sid and David. Trevor, who was once a professional photographer for the police, said that he was more used to taking corpses than people, however, luckily there's lots of life left in these four oldish men !!! The joke was enjoyed by all. Copyright Roger Winnen

A CWR Train at Penzance and the departure of the Class 60 from Bodmin Parkway at 10.15hrs this morning 29th September, 2014

29/9/2014

Arriving from Westbury a CWR Train dropped its load west of Penwithers Jct during the night and then ran to Penzance for the run round before departing from the terminus at 07.07hrs.

At 10.15 this morning 56302 which took part in the Bodmin Diesel Gala on Saturday last, hauled the remaining Class 60 60096 (which had been in long term storage at St Blazey), and was an exhibit at Parkway during the weekend to Toton Depot, Nottingham for refurbishment.

140927a Dawn is breaking at 06.38 Monday morning as 66013 Stands in Platform 1 with an empty CWR train, awaiting departure to Westbury. Copyright Roger Winnen

140929b Viewed through a gap in the fence at 06.52 66013 stands at the signal, the length of the train almost to the buffer stops waiting to follow the 06.58 service to St Ives. Copyright Roger Winnen

140929c Departure at 07.07hrs 66013 is seen crossing the three tunnels at Chyandour, Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen

At Bodmin Parkway.

140929d 56302 and 60096 In the exchange sidings at Bodmin Parkway awaiting departure to the East Midlands. Copyright Roger Winnen

140929e The points have been pulled and 56302 together with 60096 gain the main line at Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Winnen

140929f Departure under a cloud of exhaust as 56302 pulls away from Bodmin Parkway Station hauling the last Class 60 which had remained, prior to the Gala, at St Blazey Depot. Copyright Roger Winnen

140929g A rear view of the pair departing under a cloud of smoke, notice the windows of the Class 60! It needs a window cleaner! Copyright Roger Winnen

The last Royal Duchy of 2014 heads wesr by Chris Harvey.

28/9/2014

28th September 2014 The last Royal Duchy from Bristol to Par is seen crossing Moorswater Viaduct on route to Par behind 34067 Tangmere. Copyright Chris Harvey

Apologies

28/9/2014

Apologies if in some places this weekends reports get slightly out of order - this is due to it being a 'bumper weekend' and naturally not all reports come in in chronological order.

Recollections from Sid Sponheimer

28/9/2014

At York Railfest 2004 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Lyd in black Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Lyd at Woody Bay 27th September 2014 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

In L & B model tent 27th September 2014 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

A snippet from Mike

28/9/2014

Readers might like to know that the last through passenger trains on the Lynton and Barnstaple ran 79 years ago today on Saturday 28 September 1935. However, we have to be extremely grateful for the hard working members of the L & B for not only a fantastic Gala but also for their efforts in steadily extending the line. Mike Roach

The Royal Duchy 28th September 2014 Mike Bojko & Phill Tremain

28/9/2014

0 Comments

Hello Keith
Thought I had better send you this one. Tangmere heading for Par this afternoon, just East of Lostwithiel. Regards Mike. Nice one Mike, Many thanks.

Also, arriving a little after Mikes picture but chronologically earlier we have this grand view of the last down Royal Duchy of the year at Respryn by Phil Tremain Many thanks Plill

34067 Tangmere on the down Royal Duchy near Respryn makes a fine sight as she emerge from the surroundings of the Glyn Valley Copyright Phil Tremain

140928a The down Royal Duchy makes its way towards Par. Copyright Mike Bojko

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Bodmin Diesel Gala Report from Roger Salter

28/9/2014

140927c 60096 in Bodmin Parkway sidings whilst 56302 arrives with the 0925 service from General. Copyright Roger Salter

140927d. Now its the turn of 33110 at Bodmin Autumn Diesel Gala with 60096 in siding.Copyright Roger Salter

140927e Bodmin Parkway - a lazy trail of smoke from 56302. Copyright Roger Salter

140927f. 47306 at Bodmin General Copyright Roger Salter

140927g. Side by side . 33142 & 37142 at General Copyright Roger Salter

140927h 37142 as train loco enters Colesloggett Halt with the 11.30 General-Parkway service. Copyright Roger Salter

140927i .47306 at the rear of the 1130 to Parkway enters Colesloggett Halt. Copyright Roger Salter

140927k. Check the cant!! The Pz-Plymouth service with only two cars & standing room only shows the angle at Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Salter

140927m. Re-positioning at Bodmin Parkway. Copyright Roger Salter

140927o. 56302 combined with 37142 double-head the 13.25 service to Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Salter

The Cornwall Railway Society visit to the Lynton & Barnstaple Steam Gala on Saturday 27th September, 2014

28/9/2014

After a week on frustration, learning that The Barnstaple Branch was closed on Saturday and Sunday my worries were unfounded as everything clicked into place with only a few minutes between connections. With departure from Penzance at 06.30hrs Exeter St David's was reached by 09.20hrs, crossing over the bridge to exit the station buses from Camborne depot in West Cornwall greeted us, as someone remarked what a motley collection of old double deckers, however they did the job. The journey to Barnstaple was timed at 88 minutes arriving by 10.57hrs, on arrival most of the party sprinted to the loos before catching the 21 Stagecoach service to Barnstaple Bus Station at 11.01hrs. Another change of bus occurred at the Bus Station with Filers Travel 310 service to Woody Bay, entertained on route by a Cornish Jethro born in Redruth Hospital, lived at St Columb Minor and emigrated across the border into Devon driving the Optaire Bus. Two contributors of the website Sid Sponheimer from the Caradon area and David Tozer from Exmouth Junction joined us on route where many a tale was told. The Steam Gala brought out many people to North Devon with trains fully loaded to Killington Lane, there were many other happenings during the Gala but time prevented us doing everything. Leaving the Gala behind we returned via Lynmouth the scene of the Great 1952 Disaster then returning direct to Barnstaple Station for the 16.50 double decker service to Exeter, connecting into the 18.46 Cross Country service to Penzance where the train arrived on time.

Many Thanks must go to The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway for a wonderful Gala and to the members who supported this trip.

140927a Arrival at Barnstaple Station our bus from Exeter St David's the 09.30 service, a Camborne based Double Decker which normally serve the routes of West Cornwall. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927b Lyd stands at Woody Bay Station, built in 2010 at the Boston Works of the Ffestiniog Railway. This engine drew the crown to the L & B Gala and was on a free loan from the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927bb A close up of the wreath carried on Lyd. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927bbb The attractive Nameplate of "Lyd" Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927bbbb No 190 Lyd stands alongside the station buildings at Woody Bay. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927c Lyd looking very smart as she awaits the arrival of the next train. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927cc This could be an accident waiting to happen, a runaway! Luck would have it, that these are two sidings, the main line is off to the right of this picture. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927ccc Giving Brake Van rides to the short siding next to the P.W Depot. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927d Running neck and neck into the station. Axe on the left and Lyd on the right. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

140927e A beautiful well proportioned engine of the type built for the line in 1898 by Messrs Manning, Wardle & Co, of Leeds. Copyright Trevor Tremethick

140927f You might have thought that this photo was from the beginning of the last century, you are wrong, the camera never lied years ago, but today anything can be created from the digital camera of today! Copyright Trevor Tremethick

140927ff The superb carriages of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927g A 4-4-0 Charles Wytock built by Bagnalls in 1946 for the Tongaat Sugar Estates, Natal. Copyright David Tozer

140927gg Photographed on shed by Sid Sponheimer is Charles Wytock a 4-4-0 Tank Engine. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927h Watering Lyd in the running shed at Woody Bay. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927hh Side by side at Woody Bay "Isaac" in motion and "Lyn" awaiting its turn on the next train. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927i Isaac climbing the bank from Killington Lane to Woody Bay. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927k The permanent way depot with two diesels plus an L & B truck etc. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927kk Looking up to the permanent way depot and diesels at Woody Bay. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

140927m Running around at Killington Lane the terminus at present. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927j Isaac entering Woody Bay with the permanent way department on the left. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927p Not forgetting the fine small scale locomotives on the adjacent running line. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927o What a fine site Lyd makes on the approach to Woody Bay. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927n What a spectacular finish to the engine, adorned with a wreath commemorating the line closure in 1935 Cameras erected to cover every movement. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927q Our return bus service at Lynmouth, the Filers Travel to Barnstaple Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927r This is Lynmouth scene of the great flood disaster of the 15th August, 1952 when 35 people lost their lives. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927s No visit to the Lynton & Barnstaple is complete without a photo of the Chelfham Viaduct standing 70 feet high over the Stoke Rivers valley. Copyright Roger Winnen

140927t Looking down from the Double Decker as we leave Barnstaple, the lines to lfracombe would have carried across to the lower left of this picture and to Bideford and Torrington lower corner right. Copyright Roger Winnen

Guarding against next winters storms A report by Tony Wright

28/9/2014

Near Dawlish Warren, alongside Langstone Rock - Engineers site for pumping concrete into pipe to waiting lorry on beach - 26th September 2014 Copyright Tony Wright

Dawlish Warren. This picture makes it particularly clear - a large pipe passes under the track through which pumped concrete is passed to a waiting truck on beach - 26th September 2014 Copyright Tony Wright

Here we see the concrete carrying truck used transporting concrete to sea crane which is repairing seawall. The digger with the bucket is being used to raise the pipe when required to deliver the concrete into the truck. - 26th September 2014 Copyright Tony Wright

A Class 150 passes the platform which is used to deliver the materials to the precise location required. The concrete delivery vehicle can only be used when the tide is sufficiently low to permit access along the beach. 26th September 2014 Copyright Tony Wright

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