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St Ives branch activity Roger Salter

22/9/2014

Hi Keith,
Great activity at St. Erth today.
Network Rail was working it appears during the night on the St.Ives Branch and according to Radio Cornwall ran over time and the first train of the day was cancelled.However when I got there at 10.50am as you see an empty train arrived and then took over 30mins before leaving empty again,meanwhile passengers were waiting in the forecourt for buses.
The great mounds of ballast show the scale of the intended work and the Stobart Track Vehicles are very interesting
Regards, Roger Many thanks Roger

140922a. Lorries bring tons of ballast for work on St.ives Branch and revamp of Hayle Viaduct.copyright Roger Salter

140922b Shifting hundreds of tons of gravel for forthcoming railtrack maintenance. St. Erth Yard. Copyright Roger Salter

140922d. Stobart Rail units at St.Erth. Copyright Roger Salter

140922c.150124 arrived from St Ives a four car unit empty awaits the road to return to the St Ives terminus. The time is 11.15 on the 22nd September 2-14 Copyright Roger Salter.

140922c After 30 mins delay driver,guard & network rail employee board empty train and enter St .Ives Branch. This was a test run for the Network Rail to judge the suitability of the track for a passenger service. The bus service was still being provided as a replacement. Copyright Roger Salter

Its Battle of Britain time in Cornwall this weekend as Tangmere hauls The Royal Duchy from Bristol to Par and return.

21/9/2014

140921 A fine photograph of 34067 Tangmere heading the down Royal Duchy on the Dawlish Sea Wall. Copyright Roger Marsh

140921a 34067 Battle of Britain class Tangmere arrives with the Royal Duchy from Bristol. Copyright Roger Winnen

140921b Mounting the turntable at St Blazey. Tangmere in a very nice condition. Copyright Roger Winnen

140921c Tangmere with its drain cocks open looks splendid on St Blazey Turntable. Copyright Roger Winnen

140921d With belching black smoke Tangmere awaits turning. She has been a workhorse in Cornwall this summer!. Copyright Roger Winnen

140921e Tangmere heads out of the Duchy with "The Royal Duchy" Copyright Roger Winnen

140921f Storming through Bodmin Parkway with Ray Churchill on the regulator Tangmere makes a fine sight. Copyright Roger Winnen

140921g A brilliant photograph of Tangmere pulling away from Exeter St David's Station, crossing Red Cow Crossing on route to Bristol Temple Meads. Copyright David Tozer

140921h Beware there is a train about! It took two reminders before the couple moved to a safer position on the platform however still sitting on the ground. Copyright Roger Winnen

Two Railtours this weekend Craig Munday

21/9/2014

Hi Keith Here as promised, are the pictures from the weekend.

Sat 20th Sept:
1Z47 ran from Eastleigh to Par via Parkandillack. The train ran ran to St Blazey for the stock to be watered. The train then headed back to Eastleigh from Par at 17.45. The train was due to be hauled down by D1015 Western Champion, but a class 67 was meant to substitute for the western. In the event 66152 was provided from Eastleigh, and 66080, the Cornwall clay loco was used at the other end from Plymouth.
The train was photographed at Parkandillack, Burngullow, St Blazey & High Street.

Sun 21st
The Royal Duchy railtour ran from Bristol Temple Meads to Par hauled by 34067 Tangmere. The loco was turned at St Blazey and returned to Bristol Temple Meads, also at 17.45.
The train is seen at Par, along with 1A90 among the bull rushes growing wild just west of the station!
Cheers Craig Many thanks Craig

The railtour stands at Parkandillack on Saturday 20th September 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

A most unusual shot of the railtour on the Parkandillack branch. Saturday 20th September 2014 Copyright Craig Munday.

The railtour returns to Burngullow Saturday 20th September 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

St Blazey Copyright Craig Munday

Sunday 21st at Par

A down HST calls at Par 21st September 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

34067 Tangmere stands at Par Copyright Craig Munday

In bright sunlight even Class 150's make a colouful scene at Par. 21st September 2014 Copyright Craig Munday

1AS90 stands alongside Tangmere at Par. A view through the Bull Rushes. Copyright Craig Munday

Important announcement for the Cornwall Railway Society trip to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway on Saturday 27th September, 2014

21/9/2014

It has been brought to my attention by friends of the website that the Saturday service from Exeter to Barnstaple is being replaced on this coming Saturday by a bus replacement service from Exeter St David's Station.

The train times from Penzance should remain the same Penzance 06.30 Camborne 06.51 Redruth 06.57 Truro 07.09 St Austell 07.25 Par 07.32 Bodmin Parkway 07.46 Liskeard 07.58 Plymouth 08.25 Exeter St David's arr 09.20 In the event of the Cross Country Train being cancelled passengers should catch the next available service being the 06.50 from Penzance to Paddington. On arrival at Exeter a bus replacement should be standing outside the station for the 09.30 departure to Barnstaple Junction Station arriving at 10.58. Depart from Stand B at 11.01 or 11.11 on service 21 to Barnstaple Bus Station arriving at Stand A at 11.07 or 11.17. Filers Travel depart Stand K at 11.20 or 12.20 for Woody Bay arriving at 11.59 0r 12.59. Return from Woody Bay dep 15.39 through to Barnstaple Railway Station arrive 16.21. Coach departs 16.50hrs to Exeter St Davids arr 18.23. Train service to Penzance depart Exeter 18.46 Plymouth 19.42 Liskeard 20.11 Bodmin Parkway 20.23 Par 20.35 St Austell 20.41 Truro 21.02 Redruth 21.13 Camborne 21.19 Penzance 21.42

For any further information contact Roger Winnen 0777 380 8074 or 01736 350048

News from Chris Osment of Rail West

21/9/2014

Keith, I happened to visit a few old stations in North Somerset on Thursday (18th Sep) and thought you might like some ‘current day’ pictures to add to your gallery.

1311 is Sandford & Banwell, looking towards Yatton. 1312 is the inside, taken thru’ the window. The station building is now a local heritage centre and small cafe – they have tables and chairs in the open wagons! The station site now forms part of a sheltered housing complex, which also incorporates the old goods shed, now converted.

1326 is Winscombe, looking towards Yatton, now part of their ‘Millenium Green’. The platform remains, with the outline of the former station building visible. regards Chris Osment Many thanks Chris for adding to our collection on the line.

A pristine Sandford and Banwell on the 18th September 2014 Copyright Chris Osment

Sandford and Banwell, an interior view taken through the window on the 18th September 2014 Copyright Chris Osment Smashing - a real credit!

Winscombe, looking towards Yatton, now part of their ‘Millenium Green’. The platform remains, with the outline of the former station buildings visible. Copyright Chris Osment

The 7th Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day by Roger Winnen

20/9/2014

This is the first occasion that I have been to Kingsbridge to witness the public transport on the buses as it was back in my school days over fifty years ago. It brought back many memories as public transport in those days connected most villages across the land. As the bus service was originally run by the railways, it was the railway yards that became the Bus Stations. On todays tours Loddiswell Station was open for the public to view the Station Buildings and visit the Gardens together with Tea & Refreshments available. Loddiswell Station was opened by kind permission of the owners Richard & Nikki Curzon, it is a beautifully Restored Station. Many Thanks

140920c One of the stars of today was this Dennis Mace of 1934 at one time it was converted into a mobile caravan. This was the type of small bus used to cover the Penzance Railway Station to Mousehole service in the early 1950s. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920d The pretty village of South Pool near Kingsbridge as a 1950 Bristol Omnibus Express Coach built by Bristol stops to give the driver a well deserved break. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920e I think that Llandudno Junction Station would be rather a long haul for this 1948 ACE Regal Bus originally with Crossville as it stands at Kingsbridge Quay. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920f A classic bus of 1933 rebodied in 1942 with a Bristol body which it carries to this day. This bus saw service in the Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Plymouth depots until 1957 and today it has been entered by Mr & Mrs Colin Billington of Loddiswell a great supporter of the bus preservation scene. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920g Loddiswell Station on the former Brent - Kingsbridge Branch with kind permission of the owners Richard & Nikki Curzon. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920h Under the canopy of this wonderfully restored station of Loddiswell. By kind permission of the owners. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920i Children playing on the lawn as folks drink there tea. By kind permission. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920j The replica Signal Box at Loddiswell. There was a siding at this station worked from a ground frame but never a box to control this movement. By kind permission of the owners. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920k The remains of a loading wharf in the lawn of Loddiswell. By kind permission of the owners. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920l The Station Approach. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920m The Single Deckers returns to pick up the party from the Station Approach. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920n The Railway Timtable showed bus connections from the Brent-Kingsbridge Branch to Salcombe. This 1962 Bristol SUL4A is departing Kingsbridge. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920p A period piece at the Quay DOD 518 of 1939 468 FTT of 1960 and a 2012 Double Decker of the First Group. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920q Time to depart home as the buses bring back the last travellers of the day. Copyright Roger Winnen

Parkandillack bound David Tozer

20/9/2014

Gentlemen, Heading to the Duchy today 66152 with the 1Z47 0608 Eastleigh – Par – Cornish Explorer. Regards Dave
Many thanks David

66152 passes Exeter With the railtour that is Parkandillack bound Copyright Davd Tozer N.B. Picture taken at 10,32 on the 20th September 2014

140920a 66080 With "The Royal Scot" Pathfinder Railtours from Parkindillack-Par to Eastleigh. Copyright Roger Winnen

140920b 66080 Awaiting a path from Plymouth to Exeter, Taunton and Westbury etc. The train follows the 18.25hrs Plymouth Crosscountry service to Birmingham. Copyright Roger Winnen

Sorry short notice - two railtours this weekend

19/9/2014

Sat 20th

Pathfinder tours

1Z47 06.08 Eastleigh to Parkandillack

Exeter SD 10.30 Newt Abbt 10.52   Plymouth 11.37 / 12.07
Liskd 12.38 / 12.41   Par 13.09 / 13.19 Burgullow 13.34 / 13.39
Parkandillack 14.09 / 14.24 Burgullow 14.54 /14.59   Par 15.16

Hauled by a class 67 loco to Plymouth - this loco then runs onto rear of train for a class 66 to haul the train forward to Parkandillack.
Stock then shunts across to St Blazey yard on arrival at Par

Then forms....

1Z48 17.20 Par to Eastleigh

Par 17.20   Liskeard 17.47 / 17.50 Plymouth 18.18 / 18.30
N Abbt 19.08   Exeter SD 19.27 Eastleigh 23.37

The light class 66 leaves Par at 10.13 bound for Plymouth, the empty stock times are 15.20 Par - St Blazey & 16.54 return from BZ

Sun 21st

1Z37 08.48 Bristol TM to Par Steam loco 34067 Tangmere

Taunton 09.43 / 09.46 Exeter SD 10.27/11.45 (water) N Abbot12.09
Plymouth 12.59 / 13.04   Liskeard 13.37 Par 14.07

14.30 ECS to Par up Through Siding & loco to St Blazey to turn
16.44 Loco Ex St Blazey to Par

1Z39 17.45 Par to Bristol TM

Liskeard 18.25 Plymouth 18.55 / 18.59 N Abbt 19.43
Exeter SD 20.15 / 20.41 (water)   Bristol TM 22.25

A Kernow long weekend Roger Geach

19/9/2014

An old friend long exiled to Retford but who has his roots in Liskeard Roger Geach couldn't resist a return to the homeland over the weekend of the steam. Here are five of his shots - some of these appear elsewhere in the railtour files. Glad you had 'wall to wall' sunshine Roger and many thanks.

34067 Tangmere St blazey turning sun 7th September 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

34046 Braunton and 5029 Nunney Castle with the 1z66 0902 Penzance to London Victoria crossing Forder viaduct on Monday 9th September 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

A view from the Treffry Aqueduct as 66176 1629 Goonbarrow Junction Carne Point cruises down Luxulyan valley 10th September 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

Later in the day having reversed at Lostwithiel 66176 with the 1629 Rocks (Goonbarrow) to Carne Point Golant Wed 10th September 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

Another day, another clay. 66102 Kernick (Treviscoe) 12.37 Wednesday 10th September 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

66102 again with the 1434 Parkandillack to St Blazey at Trewoon. An unusual location somewhat hemmed in by trees nowadays. Wednesday 10th September 2014 Copyright Roger Geach

FGW - Fact and figures.

19/9/2014

Hi Keith Some figures about First Great Western in the Western Morning News today, which may be of interest to your website readers.
FGW run 9500 trains per week, serving 276 stations.
Their trains run 70M miles per annum.
Their trains carry 99.5M passengers per annum.
(Doing the maths shows that every train carries an average of 200 passengers)
For comparison East Coast runs 976 trains per week, and carries 20M passengers per annum Mike Many thanks to Mike Roach for noticing and reporting the above.

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Gentlemen, Heading to the Duchy today 66152 with the 1Z47 0608 Eastleigh – Par – Cornish Explorer. Regards Dave Many thanks David

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Gentlemen, Heading to the Duchy today 66152 with the 1Z47 0608 Eastleigh – Par – Cornish Explorer. Regards Dave
Many thanks David