Don't miss our next indoor meeting!
February 14th 2026
Sid Geake presents:
Penzance Station in Great Western days
Sid Geake presents:
Penzance Station in Great Western days
At the memorial hall, Redruth Methodist Church - TR15 2EG
Members - free - Guests welcome at £3.00 a head
We hope to see you there!
We hope to see you there!
For further information, please contact Roger Winnen via [email protected]
NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 90
The Demise of Western National
Michael L. Roach
I know the company has not been called Western National for some years, but to me it always will be WN. The company has been around all my life but not for much longer. When the last bus returns to the depot on Saturday 14 February the gates and garage doors will close for the last time squeezed out by a toxic mix of rising costs and diminishing revenue. It is not alone as lots of companies, large and small, are suffering the same fate in all sorts of businesses. I shall miss the company's colourful range of current bus liveries. Western National was formed in 1929 when the buses and routes of the Great Western Railway were merged with those of the National Bus Company to form the Western National Omnibus Company Limited. At the same time the Southern National and Eastern National Companies were also formed.
Since January 2020 First South West has operated no supported routes on behalf of Cornwall County Council which means that that for the six years from 2020 to 2026 it operated only commercial routes. The official announcement by First South West came in Mid-November 2025 that the operation would close down on 14 February 2026 as a result of competition, financial difficulties and falls in passenger numbers. A total of 15 services, using 85 buses, and up to 275 workers at 5 depots were involved in the closure. A sad end to an operation that had endured for 97 years under various names. My last trip on one of their buses was from Treliske Hospital to Truro Railway Station on route T1 or T2 at mid-day and the double-decker was full with passengers standing.
Since January 2020 First South West has operated no supported routes on behalf of Cornwall County Council which means that that for the six years from 2020 to 2026 it operated only commercial routes. The official announcement by First South West came in Mid-November 2025 that the operation would close down on 14 February 2026 as a result of competition, financial difficulties and falls in passenger numbers. A total of 15 services, using 85 buses, and up to 275 workers at 5 depots were involved in the closure. A sad end to an operation that had endured for 97 years under various names. My last trip on one of their buses was from Treliske Hospital to Truro Railway Station on route T1 or T2 at mid-day and the double-decker was full with passengers standing.
WK66CCE passes Wetherspoon's in Camborne on 18.07.2025. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
WK66CDE arrives at St. Erth transport interchange after turning at the roundabout on the left. The platforms of the railway station are on the right. The bus is on route 17 St. Ives to Penzance. 22.11.2025. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
WK66CCD is in the latest colour scheme as it passes Camborne Town Clock on route T1. 25.01.2026. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Camborne bus station on 03.02.2026. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
WK66CCF is seen leaving Camborne bus station 03.02.2026. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Shunting double deckers at Camborne. WK66CCV has just reversed out of one of the repair bays but the roller shutter doors have already been closed. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
WK18CGU in First Kernow colours is passing Lelant Garden Centre on route 17 St. Ives to Penzance. 06.02.2026. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
WK68BSY is leaving St. Erth Interchange on route T1 Truro to Penzance. Routes T1 and T2 are normally operated by double deckers. 06.02.2026. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Sad times, Mike. I'm sure many of us have our own Western National memories from years gone by. Thanks for the article.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
Diverted 6M50
Alan Peters
6M50 - the Colas Westbury to Bescot tripper service - usually runs via Oxford, but due to the Botley Road Bridge replacement on 04.02.2026 it was diverted via Bristol, where 70805 is seen at Bristol East Depot Goods Loop. Copyright Alan Peters.
Many thanks Alan - an unusual view. An interesting sky in the photograph, too.
February 1976
Part 10
Roger Winnen
DMUs on the 09.30 Penzance to Plymouth nearing Bodmin Parkway. 28.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Going away photo at Respryn. 28.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
D1037 at Respryn. 28.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
47267 on the 08.00 Bristol to Penzance at Respryn. 28.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A Peak approaches Respryn. 28.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Site of the original Respryn Station. 28.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Respryn Bridge. 28.02.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Grids at work
Guy Vincent
56045 & 56103 on the Westbury avoiding line with the 6V26 1034 Willesden - Merehead empty MBA boxes for loading. For most of the 1980s 56045 was out based at Westbury and worked trains to and from the Mendip quarries. 09.02.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy, always great to see the 56's in action.
Mondays Clay
Jon Hird
66098 is seen in some Cornish 'liquid sunshine' working the Goonbarrow - Fowey JIA's towards Middleway. The train was made up of 15 JIA's. 09.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Hoovers on tap!
Part 2
Ian Thomas
50020 at Paignton with the 1045 to Paddington, 1A43. 06.07.1985, copyright Ian Thomas.
50050 at Paignton with the 1145 to Paddington, 1A48. 06.07.1985, copyright Ian Thomas.
50027 arriving at Paignton with the 1025 ex Paddington, 1C29. 06.07.1985, copyright Ian Thomas.
Many thanks for another great batch of photos, Ian - much appreciated.