37057 Barbara Arbon works the 22.32 Penzance to Exeter Riverside
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
241218a 37057 Barbara Arbon stabled in Penzance this morning. Copyright Roger Winnen
241218b 37057 To work the 22.32 Penzance to Exeter Riverside via Parkandillack & Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen P.S. It is also reported that the train went to St Ives last evening.
241218c 47057 To work the 22.32 Penzance to Exeter Riverside via Parkandillack & Fowey. Copyright Roger Winnen
NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 20
The Traditional Railway
Michael L. Roach
In the summer of 2015, we went to the Welsh Marches for a holiday staying in a small village between Leominster and Ludlow, and just 3 miles from the site of the former Woofferton Station closed on and from 31 July 1961. Woofferton was on the Welsh Marches line – an important north to south route from Manchester, Crewe and Shrewsbury to Newport, Cardiff and Bristol along the Welsh border. The line is important for freight as well as passengers and in steam days carried passenger trains from Liverpool and Manchester to Paignton, Plymouth and Penzance; meaning it was then known as the north-and-west route. Woofferton was the junction for a single line heading east through Tenbury Wells and Bewdley to Kidderminster. Woofferton is located in the extreme south of Shropshire almost on the boundary with Herefordshire and not far from Worcestershire. Although the station, and most of its buildings, are long gone Woofferton has an up goods loop and retains a mechanical signal box dating back to 1875 and semaphore signals, one of a number of mechanical boxes working ABS along the line. The line was built by the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway in 1853 and was taken over jointly by the GWR and the LNWR, confirmed by an Act of Parliament in 1871. Much more of the complicated early history to be found on Wikipedia.
The Welsh Marches railway line retains one of the longest lengths of absolute block signalling in the whole of England and Wales. Branch trains left Woofferton heading nearly north but immediately turned through sixty degrees and headed east, but many trains only travelled five miles to Tenbury Wells where they terminated and returned to Woofferton. There were often, but not always, connections at Tenbury into trains which went on to Kidderminster (24 miles), or Hartlebury and Worcester. Woofferton box is just one of many signal boxes along the line worth photographing. The box is unusually square and much wider than a GWR box would be.
We had been to the Welsh Marches before and what I liked about the area was the very pleasant countryside and the proximity to Wales. The railway line was a bonus because it reminded me of how many railways were in the 1950s and 1960s before they were improved and lost so much of their character. The Welsh Marches line retains a bygone atmosphere with its historic signal boxes, semaphore signals and some original Victorian station buildings of brick and stone. The other things that enhance the whole experience are the freight trains, loco-hauled passenger trains and some manually operated level crossing gates; and no overhead electric wiring. Since I was there in 2015 most of the semaphore distant signals have been replaced by colour lights but what remains is a traditional railway from an era that disappeared from most of the railway network decades ago. There are very few lines in England Wales where all these features come together over many miles to give a traditional railway looking much as it would have done sixty years ago. Catch the traditional railway while you can.
There are many views of the semaphore signals at Woofferton, and many other locations, on the website: roscalen.com/signals. On the way home from Shropshire we stopped at Tintern Railway Station and Taunton Deane Service Area and saw at least one GWR railway coach at both locations!
The Welsh Marches railway line retains one of the longest lengths of absolute block signalling in the whole of England and Wales. Branch trains left Woofferton heading nearly north but immediately turned through sixty degrees and headed east, but many trains only travelled five miles to Tenbury Wells where they terminated and returned to Woofferton. There were often, but not always, connections at Tenbury into trains which went on to Kidderminster (24 miles), or Hartlebury and Worcester. Woofferton box is just one of many signal boxes along the line worth photographing. The box is unusually square and much wider than a GWR box would be.
We had been to the Welsh Marches before and what I liked about the area was the very pleasant countryside and the proximity to Wales. The railway line was a bonus because it reminded me of how many railways were in the 1950s and 1960s before they were improved and lost so much of their character. The Welsh Marches line retains a bygone atmosphere with its historic signal boxes, semaphore signals and some original Victorian station buildings of brick and stone. The other things that enhance the whole experience are the freight trains, loco-hauled passenger trains and some manually operated level crossing gates; and no overhead electric wiring. Since I was there in 2015 most of the semaphore distant signals have been replaced by colour lights but what remains is a traditional railway from an era that disappeared from most of the railway network decades ago. There are very few lines in England Wales where all these features come together over many miles to give a traditional railway looking much as it would have done sixty years ago. Catch the traditional railway while you can.
There are many views of the semaphore signals at Woofferton, and many other locations, on the website: roscalen.com/signals. On the way home from Shropshire we stopped at Tintern Railway Station and Taunton Deane Service Area and saw at least one GWR railway coach at both locations!
Looking north along the up goods loop which is just north of Woofferton Box. The bridge carries the A49 road across the railway. Until 1961 there was a down goods loop on the right hand side, when it became a siding which lasted until 1985. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The log train from Baglan Bay passes the loop. This is very useful for looping such 60mph freight trains to allow the 90mph passenger trains to overtake. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The outside of Leominster Station built by the Shrewsbury & Hereford Railway in 1853. The station has one train per hour in each direction and sees around 240,000 passengers per annum boarding or alighting. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A pair of 175s (175 104 and 111) head north through Leominster Station. These are the dmus that are coming to Devon and Cornwall next year. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
60085 approaches Woofferton with the 15.24 Baglan Bay to Chirk log train on 23 July 2015. It is only in summer that the train can be photographed here in daylight. The train now runs an hour later. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The log train passes Woofferton Signal Box. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Woofferton Signal Box built circa 1875. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
66616 is just south of Woofferton with the 13.30 Tunstead to Westbury loaded cement train on the evening of Sunday 26 July 2015. The train still runs on an as required basis. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
These 4-wheel cement wagons are all now out-of-use? Copyright Michael L. Roach.
At Taunton Deane on Saturday 25 July 2015 is HST first-class coach 41169 which seated 47 passengers. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Alley's 15-litre MAN had the registration T900AHH and is currently taxed. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Tackling Treverrin
Jon Hird
With the finishing line of the tortuous climb from Par in sight, 66131 is about to be swallowed up by the Western Portal of Treverrin Tunnel whilst working 6G09 (Goonbarrow - Fowey). I was stood at the gate to the field, and could hear the train for a good few minutes before it appeared. By the time it got to me it was travelling at walking pace, with the 2-stroke GM diesel engine screaming away. A real spectacle - if only it had been a '37'!. 17.12.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
'Castles' at Laira
Roger Winnen
16.12.2024 - Laira Depot rather empty in the afternoons, apart from these two power cars. Copyright Roger Winnen
16.12.2024 - 43092 Cromwells Castle. Copyright Roger Winnen
16.12.2024 - 43198 'Driver Stan Martin' on the depot. Copyright Roger Winnen
More on Looe
Richard Doney
Our thanks to Richard who has sent the following link to an O/S map of the Looe area as of 1881, showing the route the railway took to the quay:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101438996
Many thanks, Richard.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101438996
Many thanks, Richard.