Blog Archives

Rest days at Long Rock Roger Winnen

27/12/2013

Hello Keith, A few photos of Long Rock Depot on Boxing Day morning. Christmas & Boxing day together with Sundays are virtually the only days in the year when you can get these photographs of the sidings filled with trains in sunlight. During weekdays these sidings are empty after the 08.44 departure to Paddington. All the best, Roger

P.S. As can be seen Roger Salter also popped along for a picture of the beasts at rest.

Boxing Day at Long Rock Depot. 26th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

A gathering of five HST's plus a just hidden Voyager Four of the HST's are receiving power from 'shore lines'. 26th December 2013 Copyright Roger Salter

Also at Long Rock was a Voyager behind these and the sleeper behind the shed. 26th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Stormy 23rd December 2013 Roger Winnen

27/12/2013

We are most grateful to our 'all weather reporter' Roger Winnen who sent in the following dramatic pictures. KJ back on duty on the 26th!!

Hello Keith,
I hope you have had a good Christmas as once you see this Christmas will have come and gone. A few photos of the storm at Penzance on Monday. The signalling was knocked out resulting in pilotman working between Penzance and Marazion. After that episode I returned home soaked once more. All the best, Roger

The 08.44 departs Penzance for London with pilotman working in the wake of a storm on 23rd December 2013. Copyright Roger Winnen

The overnight sleeper arrives at the terminus lashed by the ferocity of the storm. 23rd December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

The angry sea as the sleeper arrives at Penzance. 23rd December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

With pilotman working the sleeper arrives at the terminus. The pilotman can be seen sitting on the righthand side of the cab. (left hand side in this picture). 23rd December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

WW2 on the Royal Albert Bridge by Peter Bragg President CRS

27/12/2013

A very interesting reply to my query concerning the Royal Albert Bridge modifications to allow road traffic across it.

Keith, I was 12 years old in 1942 having lived through the Plymouth Blitz the previous year, all manner of emergency
plans existed and gateways for road traffic were prepared.
I do not think they were used. Part of the bridge was planked
at this time. Maurice lived nearer (but is of course much
younger than me) although he had older friends.
Later in the 50s my father was signalman at both Saltash &
Royal Albert Boxes. During this period King Lever operation
was introduced, 12 trains an hour was thought to be the best
achievable periodicity, difficult to achieve with token working.
Trespass late at night by pedestrians often occurred, lads
including myself returning from girl friend expeditions. A blind
eye was used on these occasions, being on the dark bridge when
a Hall or a Grange flogged past as one sheltered in a hide was an unforgettable experience. (Was she worth it?). I too am
interested in the roadway history, no one has mentioned the ex-
plosive boxes installed for destruction if operation Sea Lion looked like succeeding. Peter.

Many thanks to Peter for his very interesting reply - I wonder where the explosive boxes were placed?

Problems with the railhead A report from Derek Buttivant

22/12/2013

The 2013 autumn weather was both drier and milder than usual, so leaves remained on trees even after the normal period of operation of the rail head treatment train. When the weather changed to wet and windy at the beginning of December, the combination of major leaf-fall and wet but greasy rails resulted in many incidents of trains sliding, despite sanding and wheel-slip prevention devices. This is a serious problem because it can result in failing to stop at station platforms or signals as well as physical damage to wheels. FGW drivers have been trained, using the Yeoford-Okehampton line, in how to cope with such conditions but it can still be difficult, especially when it is dark, for drivers to identify where a slipping problem is likely to occur. Over-cautious driving results in extended point-to-point journey times and hence can build into substantial delays, so it is a fine balancing act to maintain safety while trying to keep to the timetable.

Normally, at weekends, depots such as Exeter, expect to have a number of dmus undergoing routine maintenance but when units experience serious sliding the consequent wheel flats require the wheels to be changed at the first opportunity. Normally the depots are able to release spare units at weekends to strengthen trains in order to cope with surges in demand such as sporting events or Christmas shopping but clearly this cannot happen when so much extra work needs to be undertaken. On weekday mornings, every available vehicle is needed to cope with commuter traffic and the depots must give priority to getting units back in service for Monday morning.

Very many thanks to Derek for that very comprehensive report - now we understand the problems which FGW have to cope with and are doing their very best to overcome. Well done FGW.

CLAY LINES A CD Collection of 235 images taken by Maurice Dart

22/12/2013

Maurice Dart has just produced a CD of some of his large collection of images taken by himself. The areas covered can be seen in the copy of the CD cover shown below.

Details of the cost and where it may be purchased will be given after Christmas.

An appeal is answered. Walking the Royal Albert Bridge

21/12/2013

A few days ago I asked if anybody had any pictures of the walk across the Royal Albert Bridge on 29th April 1984 organised by the Cornwall Railways Manager Rusty Eplett. It is with many thanks to Derek Buttivant that we have this record of this very rare event.

A puff of smoke as the two x 3 coach train starts to move to cross the Royal Albert Bridge, it will wait for the passengers at St Budeaux Ferry Road. Gathering on the down platform a crowd watches as the plaque commemorating this event is unveiled. Another group forms on the up platform ready for the signal to start the crossing. 29th August 1984. Copyright Derek Buttivant. N.B. This picture would now be impossible for several reasons one being that the footbridge from which is was taken no longer exists.

Ready, steady, go and the procession of young and old across the famous bridge on foot is in progress. The leaders have already left the land spans and are on onto the first main span. 29th April 1984 Copyright Derek Buttivant.

On this next picture we are already well onto the west most span and heading to the centre point. Doesn't the bridge seem narrow from this aspect? Can anybody confirm that at one time during WW2 that the laying of a 'linear level crossing' across the length of the bridge to make a roadway for road vehicles was contemplated? 29th April 1984 Copyright Derek Buttivant.

At the centre point, on the pier which supports the inner ends of the east and west spans stands a gathering of officials evidenced by their chains of office. However, the much respected Rusty Eplett, Manager of Cornwall Railways who organised this event stands to the fore smart in his suit wearing his Cornwall Railways tie. 29th April 1984 Copyright Derek Buttivant

As our train had gone on to stop at St Budeaux Ferry Road, we had hoped that perhaps the walk would continue on to the halt crossing over Bow String Bridge. However this was not to be, we were shepherded off BR property by means of the Royal Albert bridge signalbox access path. 29th April 1984 Copyright Derek Buttivant

If anybody else has photographs of this unique event we'd be pleased to show them. In the meantime many thanks to Derek Buttivant.

Greetings and thanks from afar Brian Willis

21/12/2013

Hello Keith,
I had to comment on Roger’s pictures at Mutley Tunnel and Laira – my home turf! What changes have been made over the years having left it when steam was changing over to diesel, but which seems like yesterday to me. I also would like to thank all those who take such lovely photos of Cornwall, trains and county and to everyone involved with this site for giving so much pleasure. Worth the price of admission!
Happy Christmas.
Brian Willis, Gig Harbor, WA USA.

Brian is a member of the Cornwall Railway Society, we're pleased to know our site keeps him in contact.

Roger takes a walk at Plymouth

21/12/2013

With a few hours to spare in between his commitments with Breage Band Roger took a trip to Plymouth and found some new views, amazing isn't it?

Many thanks for giving us pleasure throughout the year Roger.

The 06.00 Leeds to Plymouth passes the 10.00 Penzance-Paddington on the app to Mutley Tunnel - an unusual view from east of the tunnel. 20th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Now turning to follow the HST Roger catches the Cross Country train entering Mutley Tunnel. It's 12.07 on the 20th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Now a walk down to Laira bridge - the following photographs were all taken within the space of eight minutes.

Action at Laira depot as an 08 moves to haul stock. It's 12.57 20th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

A surprise and a lucky catch was a shot of 66161 heading a freight from St Blazey passing Laira Junction. It's 13.03 on Friday 20th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

08641 shunts coaches at Laira Depot. It's 13.05 20th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen

Mother nature washes carriages at Penzance. Roger Winnen

21/12/2013

What a dramatic picture!! Rough seas at Penzance with the arrival of the 13.53 from Plymouth. 19th December 2013 Copyright Roger Winnen.

First class accomodation possibly reduced on FGW

20/12/2013

From BBC 1 teletext.
1st Class users of FGW may find that they have fewer seats to chose from. The train operator confirmed it is in talks with the Department of Transport concerning reducing the 1st class seating on some services. The facts given were that no 1st class carriages were regularly more than 70% full. A standard class carriage seats 80 which is 32 more than 1st class coaches.

<<Previous

Forward>>

Latest News & Features

Archives