The last of the heatwave?
Craig Munday
Some recent pictures including the much anticipated 66718 on the clay circuit. It is pictured on arrival at Rocks, Goonbarrow on 15.08.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
66718 again seen working the Carne Point trip at Lostwithiel on 17.08.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
66718 leading 6G05 past the now-disused St. Blazey Yard on 17.08.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
The Newquay Bardmasters event over, a steady stream of passengers with suitcases boarded 802012 on 15.08.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
The 150 in plat 2 made an interesting comparison at Newquay. 15.08.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
The only class 175 in service over the weekend, 175003 was allocated to the Newquay line on 15.08.2026 and crosses 150266 at Goonbarrow. Copyright Craig Munday.
Inspection unit 153379 trundles through Lostwithiel on 17.08.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
With the ground still bone dry, and a severe fire risk, the B&W employed diesel traction of late including the bubble car and trusty 47306. The latter is seen rounding Quarry Curve on 16.08.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
The young crew of Mat Simpson and Patrick Hooper had a great day on the Brush Type 4. Good to see the railway future proofing their team for the long term. 16.08.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks Craig - a bit of everything, and all in sunshine too!
Query re:
Relief Station Masters at Camelford Station c.1940
I don't know if you can help but I am carrying out some family history and I am trying to place an ancester by the name of Richard Loams Pengelley (possibly Pengelly) (born 1891) who was a Relief Station Master and On Clerk (as recorded in the 1939 census in Exmouth). It is possible he was based at Camelford Station at some point in 1940, or at a station close by.
I was wondering if there was any way I could verify that through local station visitor books, staff movement registers etc? Any help or advice you can offer would be gratefully received. Thank you.
I was wondering if there was any way I could verify that through local station visitor books, staff movement registers etc? Any help or advice you can offer would be gratefully received. Thank you.
We'd be very grateful if any readers or members are able to assist with this email query we've received. If you have any insight please drop us an email - [email protected] - many thanks.
The Gartell Railway
John Barrowdale
Words from Ken Mumford:
John Barrowdale went to the Gartell Railway near Templecombe last
Friday on a special open day just for Lynton & Barnstaple Volunteers.
Never before and sadly because of dry conditions a diesel was used on
the service train. A loco was in steam but only ran in the station
area. The owner is closing it soon and there are no public operating
days now, just arrangements for invited parties. Lovely little system
and a signalling operation that would put many standard gauge lines to shame.
John Barrowdale went to the Gartell Railway near Templecombe last
Friday on a special open day just for Lynton & Barnstaple Volunteers.
Never before and sadly because of dry conditions a diesel was used on
the service train. A loco was in steam but only ran in the station
area. The owner is closing it soon and there are no public operating
days now, just arrangements for invited parties. Lovely little system
and a signalling operation that would put many standard gauge lines to shame.
No 9 0-4-0 Jean at Common Lane. 14.08.2026, copyright John Barrowdale.
No 6 Mr G & No 8 Faith at Common Lane shed (both 0-4-2Ts). 14.08.2026, copyright John Barrowdale.
No 1 Amanda at Tower View looking north, Templecombe station a mile away. 14.08.2026, copyright John Barrowdale.
No 1 at Pines way Jct (Just look at the signalling and the ref to the S & DJR on whose trackbed this part of the railway is laid. 14.08.2026, copyright John Barrowdale.
No 9 again, this was in steam. 14.08.2026, copyright John Barrowdale.
No 1 at Park Lane, looking south, next stop Blandford Forum? 14.08.2026, copyright John Barrowdale.
Further notes on these photographs from Chris Osment:
Visit to Gartell photos. Final photo caption "No 1 at Park Lane, looking south, next stop Blandford Forum?"
Not so :-) Actually looking north towards Templecombe at Tower Lane (the northern Terminus). See my photo below from some years ago.
Visit to Gartell photos. Final photo caption "No 1 at Park Lane, looking south, next stop Blandford Forum?"
Not so :-) Actually looking north towards Templecombe at Tower Lane (the northern Terminus). See my photo below from some years ago.
The Gartell Railway, copyright Chris Osment.
Just for comparison, this photo taken on same date is a view looking northwards from the extreme end of the line at the real Park Lane (the southern terminus). Copyright Chris Osment.
Many thanks to John and to Ken Mumford for sending these in, and thanks to Chris for the additional information.
The pictures in the above article arrived in an illogical order, so perhaps I've not matched the captions to the images correctly, rather than the author being incorrect.
The pictures in the above article arrived in an illogical order, so perhaps I've not matched the captions to the images correctly, rather than the author being incorrect.
A recent selection
Steve Clark
I expect the Inbox will be overwhelmed with images of this celebrity loco whilst its in Cornwall. I set out to grab this at Par but it was going across St. Blazey Gate crossing as I got to the area, so I headed to Lostwithiel and found some breaks in the cloud as well! 66718 arrives at Lostwithiel with the midday Goonbarrow - Fowey JIA's. 18.08.2026, copyright Steve Clark.
66718 runs round its train. It only arrived 5 mins ago! 18.08.2026, copyright Steve Clark.
Just 12 minutes after arriving from Goonbarrow, 66718 departs Lostwithiel again, having run round, heading now for Fowey. 18.08.2026, copyright Steve Clark.
A 150 nearly fits this frame, just needs some gardening done and it will!! 150238 heads for Par with 2N13, the 13.25 off Newquay. 18.08.2026, copyright Steve Clark.
I made a 3 night visit to Dorset over the weekend and the only thing decent was the Dorset Coast Express. Luckily it produced 57313 'Scarborough Castle' leading back to Waterloo as 1Z95 from Weymouth as it passes Poole Park boating lake. 13.08.2026, copyright Steve Clark.
Many thanks to you Steve. Yes - lots of pics of 66718 in the inbox this week - and some people in the hobby will, predictably, pout and berate those of us who made an effort 'just because of the colour' - but in the same way, some enthusiasts frowned at their peers for photographing Hydraulics when steam ended... 50's when the Westerns ended.. HST's when the 50's ended... Even if an event right now doesn't seem massively exciting to some people, in just a few years time any railway photo will hold a value, as nothing ever stays the same.
Tuesdays Trains
Mark Lynam
An early start for Mark, Falmouth docks at 6am to see 153379 working a Par - Par via Falmouth and the new Goss Moor Loop test train. 18.08.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
153379 awaits departure from Falmouth Docks for Goss Moor. 18.08.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
At a far more sociable hour, 66718 arrives at Lostwithiel with the Fowey clay. 153379 awaits departure from Falmouth Docks for Goss Moor. 18.08.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
66718 crossing the Golant Causeway en route to Fowey. 153379 awaits departure from Falmouth Docks for Goss Moor. 18.08.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Mark, nice shots as always.
August 1976
Part 19
Roger Winnen
Lymington Town Station. 03.08.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Train to the Pier. 03.08.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Wogret Junction for the Lymington Branch. 03.08.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A note from Steve Clark about the above image(s):
Thoroughly enjoying Rogers 1976 stuff from Southampton, Winchester, Bournemouth and Lymington which of course is my old stamping ground. One error I spotted was the divergence of the Lymington Line was captioned as Worgret Jn. This is the divergence of the Swanage branch just West of Wareham, the Lymington line disappears at Lymington Jn. Looking forward to more of Rogers stuff.
Thoroughly enjoying Rogers 1976 stuff from Southampton, Winchester, Bournemouth and Lymington which of course is my old stamping ground. One error I spotted was the divergence of the Lymington Line was captioned as Worgret Jn. This is the divergence of the Swanage branch just West of Wareham, the Lymington line disappears at Lymington Jn. Looking forward to more of Rogers stuff.
Many thanks, Steve.