Blog Archives

David Tozer goes to Swanage today (25th October 2015)

25/10/2015

Hi Keith,
A brief, but enjoyable visit to Swanage. My first attempt at 31806 was somewhat difficult!!!!
Enjoy Dave Many thanks David.

The caption reads 31806 emerges. 25th October 2015 Copyright David Tozer We guess it's from the right!!!

Ah yes, here it is - 31806 25th October 2015 Copyright David Tozer

Devon Belle Observation Car, returning to Swanage, by the signal. 25th October 2015 Copyright David Tozer

Swanage MPD 25th October 2015 Copyright David Tozer

The Sunday Railhead Treatment Train to Falmouth photographs by Roger Aston and Roger Winnen

25/10/2015

151025f Photographed from Platform 3 at Truro the RHTT awaits departure for Falmouth. Copyright Roger Aston

151025a The RHTT held at Truro prior to its journey to Falmouth. This follows the passenger train, the 13.08 to Falmouth Docks. Copyright Roger Winnen

151025b Viewed through the windows of the 13.08 to Falmouth the RHTT awaits our arrival at Penryn before departing down the branch. Copyright Roger Winnen

151025c 66138 seen arriving at Falmouth Docks. Copyright Roger Winnen

151025d 66138 Nearly up to the buffer stops in Falmouth Docks Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

151025e The RHTT Departure from Falmouth Docks at 13.58 for St Blazey. Copyright Roger Winnen

Get behind the scenes - special offer to CRS on the B & W

24/10/2015

From Derek Buttivant. I have attached the B&W poster advertising the 21 November Modellers' Day. There is a special price of £20 for CRS members who need to identify themselves as such when putting their names down for the day. Also, I see there is no specific mention of the visit to the big shed at Bodmin Parkway and that might be worth adding since that is the place most inaccessible to visitors. (The contents of that shed vary but there are several locos - diesel mainly - and wagons and coaches awaiting restoration plus some of the more precious items of rolling stock normally kept there). Regards Derek

Marvellous pictures at Marazion in the 60's - From Malcolm Taylor

24/10/2015

I have just discovered your website, and wondered if the attached might be of interest. I took the B&W shots on Marazion Station in 1960 or 1961, all on the same morning, and they depict the following (if memory serves me correctly):

D600 - 10am Cornish Riviera
D6313/7 - 10:10am to ???
D6312/x - 10:30am Cornishman

The color shot was taken in August 1961 by my grandfather, Hugh Parrish, and depicts my sister, myself and, more importantly, "Scotty," who was a porter at Marazion station. He also did 'odd jobs' at the B&B that we stayed in - perhaps some of your older readers remember him?
I spent many happy hours on Marazion station, trainspotting, during our summer holidays and have no idea what possessed me to photograph only these three diesels - not a 'Castle' in sight!
If any of your readers can provide additional, or correcting, details, I'd appreciate hearing about them.
Regards, Malcolm Taylor
Tulsa, OK, USA
(mailto:[email protected]) - and we'd like to know as well. Many thanks indeed to you Malcolm - your pictures are treasures indeed.
N.B. Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. As of July 2013 the population was 398,121 Wilkipedia

D600 Active at Marazion on the up Cornish Riviera Express. 10.00 from Penzance to Paddington which called at St Erth, Gwinear Road, Truro, Par, Plymouth and Paddington in the Summer Timetable of 1958. Copyright Malcolm Taylor

Here we see D6313 and D6317 on the 10.05 from Penzance, 10.09 from Marazion to Manchester London Road arriving at 9.59p.m. Copyright Malcolm Taylor

Here we see D6312 ( the engine which hauled the last passenger train on the Helston Branch on 5th November,1962 ) plus a class mate heads The Cornishman through Marazion, this being the 10.30 Penzance to Birmingham Snow Hill via Stratford upon Avon and Wolverhampton arriving at 7.03p.m. Copyright Malcolm Taylor

A treasured holiday snap taken at Marazion in August 1961 On the right hand side is Malcolm Taylor, centre his sister and on the left hand side is 'Scotty' the porter - does anybody know him - see above. Copyright the late Hugh Parrish, from the Malcolm Taylor collection

Autumn falls at St Germans Craig Munday

23/10/2015

Hi Keith
As part of my Railway "Autumn-watch" I was at St Germans inspecting the rail head today. By chance, an unusual light loco move passed by St Blazey bound, with Steve "Rambo" Cannon driving. Steve had taken 66076 with 6C53 up to Exeter earlier on that Friday morning, and this was the resulting returning light loco move. It contrasts nicely with the wind fall on the platform, including leaves and bright green horse chestnut cases.
Cheers for now, Craig Many thanks Craig

What an interesting shot this makes at low level, smashing picture. St Germans 23rd October 2015 Copyright Craig Munday.

A near miss at Newham Kath Jones

23/10/2015

Good morning Keith

My grandfather, Frederick George (known as Joe) Barron
worked at Newham until he retired in March 1963. I think his title was
Head Checker.
Station master was Ron Tonkin and Gramp's colleague was Joey Sweet.
The cats in charge of the grain and cattle food store were Sabrina and Liberace!!
It was a dark drizzly morning in, I think, November 1961 when Gramp fell in front of the train. The train pulled by a high fronted diesel engine had come down with a load of coal for the gasworks. As Gramp stepped forward to change the points, he slipped on a sleeper and fell in front of the train. Luckily he kept his legs between the rails and somehow the
train stopped before it reached the points.
We lived in St Austell and the police came to tell my Mum that her Dad had had an accident. By the time we got to Truro, (they lived in Rosewin Row), Gramp was already home having been checked over at the Infirmary. He had no fractures or serious injuries!! He looked like liver he was so bruised from head to toe. He recovered and returned to work to finish as expected when he was 65.
I am surprised that this incident doesn’t seem to appear on the accident lists available on-line.
Kath Jones, Roche Many thanks for your note and photographs Kath, now Granpa will go down in history!

George Barrow smartly dressed in his uniform, note the sharp creases and polished shoes. Picture dates from 1945. Copy owned by Kath Jones

This one of George Barron presumably taken on his retirement in 1961 - undoubtedly at Newham - a pity no trains or rails in sight! Picture from Kath Jones

Cornwall Railway Society Banner

23/10/2015

Under the leadership and hard work by Christine Simmonds the Cornwall Railway Societies Bookstall provides a very valuable part of our income. We also very much appreciate the support received by those who regularly assist at the bookstand - Mick House, Mike Hitchens, Ian & Rosemerry McKey, Roger Winnen, Nigel Tregoning, Ian Cavill, Tony Goulding, Tony & Sue Wright and many others.
However it was thought that our Sales Table could do with a banner proudly announcing our presence at the numerous events attended. The result is this very fine banner designed by Simon Parkinson (Magazine Editor) and organised by Rosemary McKey (CRS Secretary)

And here it is - the banner with Rosemary McKey on the left of the picture and Christine Simmonds on the on the right. This picture taken in Christine's lounge - the venue for our committee meetings, again much appreciated. Picture by Ian McKey (Treasurer) Copyright

The Rail Vac moves today from Lostwithiel Clay Sidings to Burngullow by Roger Winnen

22/10/2015

Today saw the Rail Vac moved from Lostwithiel Clay Sidings by Colas Rail 66847 from Westbury to Burngullow. Some notable railway enthusiast were present to witness the event. It is rumoured that the yard at Lostwithiel will be lifted by the end of the year, so this could be the final engine to depart from these once used busy sidings

151022a Arrival at Loswithiel on the 10.46 Penzance to Plymouth we see the Colas 66 in the Station Yard. Copyright Roger Winnen.

151022a 66847 Returns to Lostwithiel to haul the Rail Vac the 11 miles to Methrose Siding at Burngullow. Copyright Roger Winnen

151022b 66847 Leaves Lostwithiel Clay Sidings! Is this the end of these sidings as rumours suggest that by the end of this year, these sidings will be lifted and the connection removed. Copyright Roger Winnen

151022c Heading away to join the main line to Burngullow. 66847 and the Rail Vac. Copyright Roger Winnen

151022d Resting in Methrose Siding, Burngullow which was photographed from the 12.06 Paddington-Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen

More photographs taken today will appear in the features pages July-December 2015

Leslie Curnow on a visit to Plymouth Station 22nd October, 2015.

22/10/2015

151022n Leslie Curnow captures 66847 heading west on the through line bound for Lostwithiel to relocate the vac to Burngullow. Copyright Leslie Curnow.

151022o Truly a Great Western seat at Plymouth Station in the livery of the company, chocolate and cream. Copyright Leslie Curnow.

A Mixed Bag of photographs from Michael Forward

20/10/2015

151020a A pair of Class 22s at Penzance D6329 looks new when photographed in platform 3 at the station. This engine was built in June, 1960 by the North British Locomotive Co at Glasgow. Copyright Michael Forward

151020b 25206 running around its parcel train at Truro on 20th June, 1979. Copyright Michael Forward

151020c The annual holiday was normally at Torquay, so a day was spent at Dawlish on the Sea Wall where D820 Grenville was photographed on 25th September, 1968 bearing the headcode 1006 which was a through working from the Southern Region. Copyright Michael Forward

151020d Brand new at Newton Abbot in 1963. These units were the last to be built at Swindon. Inter City units in two and four car formations riding on the Swindon B4 Bogies and powered by BUT Leyland Albion engines. Copyright Michael Forward

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