The Bodmin Railway
'Winter Warm Up'
Dennis Clarke, Clive Smith & Jon Hird
On Monday 29th December 2025, the Bodmin Railway held their annual 'Winter Warm Up' event.
The day featured Small Prarie 5552, Bagnall Saddle Tank 'Judy' and 47306 'The Sapper' all running trains along both lines, using both the railways rake of Mk1 coaches and a demonstration goods set. 'Judy' shuttled around Bodmin General with the 'Shark' brake van, providing rides within the station limits.
A great day which was well attended and enjoyed by all - congratulations to the Bodmin team for another grand day out.
The day featured Small Prarie 5552, Bagnall Saddle Tank 'Judy' and 47306 'The Sapper' all running trains along both lines, using both the railways rake of Mk1 coaches and a demonstration goods set. 'Judy' shuttled around Bodmin General with the 'Shark' brake van, providing rides within the station limits.
A great day which was well attended and enjoyed by all - congratulations to the Bodmin team for another grand day out.
From the brake van, 47306 runs round the 1205 Bodmin General - Boscarne Junction goods train. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
47306 arrives back at Bodmin General from Boscarne Junction. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
5552 arrives at Bodmin Parkway with the 1235 from Bodmin General. 29.12.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
5552 runs round the Mk.1's at Bodmin Parkway. 29.12.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
5552 runs round at Bodmin Parkway. Roger Winnen waits with his camera in the bottom left. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
Aboard the train with Christmas Decorations still up from the Santa Trains. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
Busy platforms at Bodmin General as 5552 stands alongside 'Judy'. 29.12.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
'Judy' at Bodmin General with the Shark Brake Van. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
47306 at Boscarne Junction running round the 1340 from Bodmin General. 29.12.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
47306 running round at Boscarne Junction.29.12.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
'Judy' shuttling around Bodmin General with the Shark. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
Behind 47306, 5552 prepares to depart with the 1355 Goods to Bodmin Parkway. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
5552 leads the 1355 demonstration goods train to Bodmin Parkway. It's about to pass beneath the A38 road bridge near Colesloggett Halt. 29.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
A fine show as 5552 leads the returning goods set past Charlie's Gate. 29.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Roger Winnen of this parish waiting for his train home at Bodmin Parkway. 29.12.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
At the end of the day, 08444 shunts 'Judy' into the platforms at Bodmin General. 'Judy' will be put onto a lorry today (30.12) ready for transporting to the South Devon Railway for their Winter Steam Gala this coming weekend. 29.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The Class 08 deposits 'Judy' in the Platform 2 headshunt. 29.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
'Judy' simmers as 5552 arrives from Bodmin Parkway with the final train of the day. 29.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Little and large at Bodmin General. 29.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
5552 pushes back ready to shunt the coaches away for the night, before retreating to the loco shed. 29.12.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Many thanks Dennis and Clive, a great record of the day.
Your next chance for a 'steam fix' here in the south west comes courtsey of the South Devon Railway, who are holding a Winter Steam Gala on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of January. The gala will feature the SDR home fleet, along with GWR winter resident 2-8-0 No.2807, Hunslet 5526 'Newstead' and visiting from Bodmin, Bagnall Saddle Tank 'Judy'.
For more details, timetables etc. please click here.
Your next chance for a 'steam fix' here in the south west comes courtsey of the South Devon Railway, who are holding a Winter Steam Gala on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of January. The gala will feature the SDR home fleet, along with GWR winter resident 2-8-0 No.2807, Hunslet 5526 'Newstead' and visiting from Bodmin, Bagnall Saddle Tank 'Judy'.
For more details, timetables etc. please click here.
The Oxford Explorer
Roger Geach
On the 27th May 1985 the Cornwall Railway Society ran the 'Oxford Explorer' Railtour from Penzance. 50030 is seen leading the working through Didcot. Copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks indeed Roger, a photograph I'm sure will bring back memories for many of our members. The CRS headboard still exists, well looked after by Keith.
Re: Goonbarrow Junction
Roy Hart
It was a great pleasure to see Craig's excellent pictures of the new interior of Goonbarrow box , particularly the splendid new brass leads on the levers.
The last new installation of such brasswork was at Long Rock, when the box was extended with a new frame in 1938. The new box at Penzance, opened just 3 months later, was fitted with lever leads of traffolyte (white, oblong plates, fixed to a casting and bolted to the lever). Traffolyte the became the standard, except for a year or two during world war two, when brass returned -presumably because of the availability of raw materials in wartime. Since then, most boxes have had a mixture of the two types as layout alterations took place.
A whole frame of gleaming brass returns a splash of Victorian splendour. The WSR did an equally lovely job in their 'new' box at Crowcombe.
Those responsible for the work at Goonbarrow deserve congratulation for their originality and drive.
Brasso is presumably now added to the budget!
The last new installation of such brasswork was at Long Rock, when the box was extended with a new frame in 1938. The new box at Penzance, opened just 3 months later, was fitted with lever leads of traffolyte (white, oblong plates, fixed to a casting and bolted to the lever). Traffolyte the became the standard, except for a year or two during world war two, when brass returned -presumably because of the availability of raw materials in wartime. Since then, most boxes have had a mixture of the two types as layout alterations took place.
A whole frame of gleaming brass returns a splash of Victorian splendour. The WSR did an equally lovely job in their 'new' box at Crowcombe.
Those responsible for the work at Goonbarrow deserve congratulation for their originality and drive.
Brasso is presumably now added to the budget!
Polished brass at Goonbarrow. 24.12.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks for your email Roy, very glad you enjoyed Craig's article. I agree that the work carried out in the box looks fantastic.
Route Learning & IET's
at Swindon
Colin Pidgeon & Ken Mumford
37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine' approaching the station with 0Z47 'Bristol (Kingsland Road) to Reading Triangle Sidings on route learning. According to Real Train Times it waited on the UML for some 25 minutes before continuing its journey east bearing an interesting livery. After reversing at Reading it returned west to Swindon where it should have reversed on the UML but did so alongside platform 3. Interesting in that RTT did originally show 1314 to 1324 for the afternoon reversal at Swindon but that reversal was done in 2 minutes. 29.12.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
3 photos are of GWR's latest named IET 802007 on
1A14 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington showing the names Joey &
Michael Morpurgo - the name of the Horse & Author of the book
'Warhorse'. 29.12.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon. (Click images for an enlargement).
1A14 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington showing the names Joey &
Michael Morpurgo - the name of the Horse & Author of the book
'Warhorse'. 29.12.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon. (Click images for an enlargement).
37425 arriving and awaiting the return east alongside platform 3. 29.12.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
My disappointing photos of 37425 departing caught me 'off guard!!' 29.12.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Many thanks Ken and Colin, well done for braving the cold.