The Nick Perring Collection - Part 3
Clive Smith
As we may be suffering HST withdrawal symptoms here are some of Nick's photos showing these iconic trains, some not necessarily in the best of health.
The first ever appearance of a production class 253 High Speed Train at Plymouth on 10th April 1977. This was a Sunday ADEX 08.20 Paddington - Plymouth head code 1X80 with set 253021 consisting of power cars 43042 and 43043. The latter was scrapped at Sims in Newport in 2023 after finishing its career with East Midlands Trains. 43042 on the other hand was part of last weekend's Castle Class HST Grand Finale at Plymouth on the rear of the set on the through line. It looks as if it will be off to pastures new if it is in the batch that has been sold. If it goes to Mexico we won't see it again but if it goes to West Coast Railways, who knows. A new life on charter trains or a source of spare parts? Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
46001 is on the 1V78 summer Saturday 08.36 Leeds - Paignton at Exeter St Davids on the 9th August 1980. . 253007 is formed of 43014 and 'spare' 43120. 43014 ended up on the Network Rail Measurement Train. 43120 aka 43320 ended up on GNER/LNER and then EMR being stored at Ely then exported to Mexico where it is numbered FIT 3013. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
50018 drags an HST up the old through road at Newton Abbot on the 09.03 Penzance - Paddington on the 19th May 1981. The classic Newton Abbot for those old enough to remember it. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
The lower quadrant signal on the down road at Dainton Tunnel is pegged as 253031 emerges from the tunnel in late 1981. Likely to be either 43131 and/or 43132 with possibly A. N Other if one of those two was off the formation. There was some shuffling around of those power cars around this time so the detail may not be correct. (Thanks Kevin Daniel). There is no information on Nick's slide but it was processed in November 1981. Any photo from this end of the tunnel is now impossible due the sheer amount of vegetation growth. Nick took this fabulous photo from Dainton Tunnel Signal Box known as The 'Plywood Wonder' which was removed with the MAS signalling in 1987.Following closure on 02/05/87 the box was not destroyed but instead carefully dismantled and removed to Westbury in Wiltshire where it is used by West Wilts Youth Sailing Club as a club recreational facility and store. Until the woodwork was repainted a nearly a decade ago the outline of the original name board was clearly visible. (Source : Guy Vincent). Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
45128 & 43191 at Exeter St Davids on the 31st December 1982. Thanks to Paul Barlow for identifying that 45128 was assisting the HST on the 1V95 14.32 Newcastle - Plymouth. The peak had earlier been seen on a stopper from Paignton to Exeter so the assumption is that this split headcode panel peak was around on Exeter stabling point. 43191 ended up with Great Western and managed to last until the end of 2019 even working makeshift 2+4 sets in its blue livery. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
Many thanks Clive - and Nick - a great selection of photographs.
Mystery Western
Guy Vincent
D1058 Western Nobleman is the loco starting up at Long Rock on 28th December 1975. It had worked the 1B89 00.25 Paddington - Penzance (arr.07.50), possibly from Plymouth only, and then covered the 1A75 1350 Penzance-Paddington as far as Plymouth. D1058 was again pictured by Roger passing Redruth the following day heading the 2B10 0842 Plymouth-Penzance.
The speeding milk train at Gwinear Road is, I fear, going to be rather a challenge!
Seasonal greetings and best wishes to all, especially Roger for his constant supply of ‘Hydraulic heaven’ and to the CRS production team.
The speeding milk train at Gwinear Road is, I fear, going to be rather a challenge!
Seasonal greetings and best wishes to all, especially Roger for his constant supply of ‘Hydraulic heaven’ and to the CRS production team.
A previously unidentified Western bursts into life at Long Rock Depot - now we know it as D1058 thanks to Guy. 28.12.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
Many thanks as always for your excellent Western-identifying skills, Guy. Merry Christmas to you too.
Re: What's in the Wagons
(And pipe trains too!)
David Mitchell & Steve Sherwood
David Mitchell writes:
Further to comments, including Martin Duff's yesterday, I am aware of the following:-
Further to comments, including Martin Duff's yesterday, I am aware of the following:-
- March 1989 - 5 trains from Leith to Newton Abbot for a new gas main in Torbay.
- From September to November 1996, trains ran carrying pipes from Stanton Ironworks (Toton) to Tavistock Junction for South West Water. There were at least 7 trains - mix of Classes 60 & 37.
- August to October 1997; 7 trains noted to St Blazey (pairs of 37s) for SWW; there were probably more but unfortunately most arrived overnight and appear to have been rarely recorded or photographed.
- 30/4 to 17/5/2001; 13 trains (all Class 66 hauled) of gas pipes from Hartlepool to St Blazey for a gas pipeline over Goss Moor. These were 26 wagons long and arrived in Exeter Riverside late afternoon where they were split; the second portion was occasionally added to the down 'Enterprise' service. Snap attached as requested - 66236 on 3/5/2001.
66236 passes Cowley Bridge Junction with a long train of pipes for construction work on The Goss Moor. 03.05.2001, copyright David Mitchell.
And from Steve Sherwood:
Thank you as always for your time in maintaining the website, it truly is a treasure to me, and keeps me connected with home when I am so far away.
So, another thrilling mystery, not least due in part to the responses so far. I would like to offer some observations of my own and a couple of suggestions:
Observations: The wagons are sitting on rails that appear very rusty closest to the bridge from where the photo was taken. I'm not sure whether we are looking towards Helston or the main line in this view...I'm guessing the former...but it suggests that the wagons have either sat in this place for some time, or they are the first stock to use the sidings in some time. Given its 1962, I was thinking that most of the freight would have been transferred to road by this time, and the yard was beginning to see less frequent movement of wagons.
It was at this point, thinking about the freight on this railway, that the suggestions came to mind: The pipes could be associated with the local Farming or Dairy Industry; A very brief search of farming history I the area suggests that there were/are plenty of dairy farms around the area. I would therefore guess that these pipes are parts of apparatus for ushering cows, or even milking them, that is either in the process of being upgraded, or sold to another farm somewhere else. Like Richard, I saw the four poles that appear to have markings on them, and these could be where hinges or other associated machinery (perhaps milking pumps) may be mounted. The second variation of my suggestions is that these poles are part of the gateways and fencing once would encounter at a cattle market, but they seem too long for that, and I am not 100% sure but it appears that they might be made of aluminum, which would support my original suggestion.
So, there is my tuppence: something to do with cows and the dairy/milking industry.
Please keep the mysteries coming, and thank you once again for continuing to connect us all with them!
Many thanks to you both, David and Steve. Some interesting observations from Steve and a great photo from David.
Thursdays Clay
Clive Smith
In appalling weather and low light conditions, Maritime Blue liveried 66051, running over half an hour late, passes Palace Lane Bridge in Ivybridge with the 6M53 11.46 Parkandillack - Cliffe Vale JIA clays. If the 66 had been red I wouldn't have bothered but it could be a long time before we see another blue liveried 'shed' down west again so I braved the elements. Plus I'd been having photography withdrawal symptoms since last Saturday. 18.12.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive - the only 'modern day' photo in todays 'News/Latest Input' - a sign of the times?
Stranger at Stenson
Steve Clark
I was on a day out at Stenson Junction and a freight which I had never seen there before came off the Stoke line. It was of course the 6V70 Cliffe Vale to St. Blazey China Clay empties, which on this day were diverted to Derby to run round as there was Engineering work on its booked route.
I got 2 bites of the cherry and I enclose both images.
Note the single JIA in the formation along with 9 Tiger Rail PBA's. Thanks go to Keith Barrow for the wagon type I.D.
I got 2 bites of the cherry and I enclose both images.
Note the single JIA in the formation along with 9 Tiger Rail PBA's. Thanks go to Keith Barrow for the wagon type I.D.
A photograph from the early 2000's of 66212 leading the Cliffe Vale - St. Blazey empties through Stenson Junction. Copyright Steve Clark.
After running round, the train heads for Cornwall. Copyright Steve Clark.
Many thanks Steve. Always feels a little strange seeing a JIA 'out in the wild', with us being so used to seeing them trundling around on the branch lines nowadays. Interesting photographs.
50 years ago in the westcountry
Part 4
Roger Winnen
A Western at Rospeath. 30.12.1975, copyright Roger Winnen
A Western on the Cornishman at Marazion Marsh. 30.12.1975, copyright Roger Winnen
St. Ives on 30th December 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen
St. Ives on 30th December 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen
St. Ives on 30th December 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen
St. Ives on 30th December 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen