Blog Archives

Christmas Work RW

25/12/2011

Roger, strolling out towards Long Rock on Christmas morning noted an unfortunate gang who had been out overnight relaying the track which connects the shed with the terminus. He noted that the track was second hand, some of the sleepers marked 'Cardiff' on the ends.
The actual section effected is that between Ponsandane level crossing and just before the washing plant The track here was formerly double line but singled to provide one bi-directional line exclusively to the shed and one bi-directional line serving the main line - this change was carried out in 1974. Rail grinding was taking place as this message is put on the web - 09.30.

Heathfield branch re-opens

7/12/2011

It was reported this evening on local TV news that the 4 mile branch between Newton Abbot and Heathfield - closed to passengers 2 March 1959 will be used to transport timber to north Wales. Kronspan which manufacture chipboard products will use it to transport its products from Teignbridge to its HQ near Wrexham. The firm together with Network Rail, Devon County Council and Corlas Railfrieght are responsible for the re-opening.

Late night trains to Falmouth and St Ives RW

7/12/2011

Last night - or was it this morning a Network Rail test train of Four coaches top and tailed by 37602 and 37606 arr Pz at 23.05 and then departed at 23.20 for St Ives arr approx midnight departed 00.14 to Pz. From whence it departed at 01.12

Twenty four hours earlier it had made a similar journey along the Falmouth branch. Quite what the residents nearby the stations or branches must have made of the 'throaty roar' of two 37's at that unseemly hour is not known!

Main line stopped

3/12/2011

At 05.45 yesterday morning (2 Dec 2011) a car crashed into the parapet wall of a road bridge carrying Plym Bridge Road bridge over the main line. Network Rail closed the line until 08.15. It was stated that whilst to main line has been reopened that the road will stay closed until repairs have been carried out. The car driver sustained minor injuries.

November report KJ

2/12/2011

On 27 Nov 2011 the 'Class 142 Farewell Railtour' operated to Alphington, Heathfield, Meldon, Barnstaple and Plymouth. See article in Recent News photographs section.

On 30 Nov 2011 at Exeter Class 142 001 and 142 030 were noted sitting in the depot area with engines running, presumably ready for their transfer up north. I later travelled on to Westbury and then to Bath. The usual class 158 3 car formations were replaced in both directions by 2 x 150 sets. The 13.10 train to Bath was full and the 15.36 return to Westbury was grossly overloaded - passengers jammed against the doors. There is obviously need to re-introduce locomotive and coach formations on this very busy route.

Also on 30 Nov 2011 56 302 and 47 375 headed a train of 14 tanks away from Burngullow for Barrow. There were many photogaraphers observed on route.

Finally a serious signal failure in the St Austell area resulted in busses repal