Locos in the west - 14.02.26
Joe Birchall, Mark Lynam, Jon Hird, Andrew Triggs & Clive Smith
Saturday 14th of Feb brought with it both some sunshine, and a selection of locomotive-hauled trains in the west - a win on both counts for railway enthusiasts!
57301 pulls into Truro at the head of the down sleeper, 1C50. 14.02.2026, copyright Joe Birchall.
Just a few hours later 57301 was on the move again, but with a lighter load behind it this time. It is seen approaching Brea with a single mk3 sleeper coach in tow, running as 5Z77, the 1020 Long Rock - Laira. 14.02.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Further east, 57301 / 5Z77 crosses East Largin viaduct. 14.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Up to Somerset now where we see Freightliner 66565 (with 66616 on the rear) working 6Y42 09.31 Westbury Down T.C-Exeter St Davids approaching and clearing Charlton Road overbridge, running 18 early at 10.02. 14.02.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
66616 on the rear. 14.02.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Still in original EWS colours, DBC 66116 approaches working 6V76 10.35 Westbury Down T.C-Goonbarrow Junction DBC load 16 JIAs. 14.02.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Possibly the last down empty JIAs until 14/03 due to the Marsh Mills blockade. Some were hoping for a DB red 66 but it was an old EWS liveried 66116 that showed up on the 6V76 10.35 Westbury - Goonbarrow Junction empty clay JIAs seen here rounding the corner into Teignmouth station in glorious sunshine. At last ! This blockade can't be good for the clay industry traffic to the Potteries. 14.02.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
66116 passes Restormel with its rake of empty JIA wagons. 14.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
6V76 was held for a few minutes at Par for the Newquay unit to clear Goonbarrow, meaning it was JUST possible to get ahead of it for a second photo at Luxulyan - I could hear the train approaching as soon as I opened my car door. 14.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Some more road miles back over to the Glynn Valley. 57301 returns from Laira with a mk3 sleeper coach as 5Z97. It's seen crossing St. Pinnock viaduct. The locomotive at least has been around the triangle, as the same cab is leading the down working as was the up. 14.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
57301 continues west, passing Truro on its way back to Long Rock. 14.02.2026, copyright Joe Birchall.
Many thanks all - a good day to be out and about with the camera.
'Just about the end'
Roger Geach
The winter of January and February 1977 were depressing, not as wet as recent times, but dreary dull weather, plus the fact we were after the last Westerns which had reduced in number now and were thus scattered all over the place. One of the trains they still turned up on at times was the Leeds to Penzance 1V71.
The Paddington - Penzance day time services were all now ETH stock, or at least they were supposed to be.
On Saturday 12 Feb 1977, 1048 worked from Plymouth to Penzance on the Leeds to Penzance service, from Plymouth.
It returned on the 1800 Penzance to Bristol service.
This was the last time I rode behind a Western in Cornwall.
1048 is seen below at Plymouth at 2030 hrs.
The Paddington - Penzance day time services were all now ETH stock, or at least they were supposed to be.
On Saturday 12 Feb 1977, 1048 worked from Plymouth to Penzance on the Leeds to Penzance service, from Plymouth.
It returned on the 1800 Penzance to Bristol service.
This was the last time I rode behind a Western in Cornwall.
1048 is seen below at Plymouth at 2030 hrs.
1048 at Plymouth with the 1800 Penzance - Bristol on Sat 12.02.1977. Copyright Roger Geach (Original photographer the late Tony Gale).
Many thanks as always Roger. A nice write up and a cracking photo from Tony. Much appreciated.
Units in the sun
Andrew Triggs & Clive Smith
802106 'Paddington in Peru' working 1A77 08.55 Paignton-London Paddington heads eastwards at Charlton Road Overbridge. 14.02.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Double Voyagers with 220022 & 220018 speed westwards away from Cogload working 1V44 06.11 Leeds-Plymouth. 14.02.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
802108 approaches working 1C06 London Paddington-Taunton , with Voyagers 220031 & 220024 held at the Signal at Cogload in the distance, with 1V46 06.15 York-Plymouth. 14.02.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Further west now, to Teignmouth. Up close and personal with the 2T18 13.05 Exeter St Davids - Paignton with 150263 and 150261 as it speeds along the sea wall. Not sure what the mph speed it was doing but up this close it was really shifting. 14.02.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
A different take on Parsons Tunnel. 165103 disappears into the blackness with the 2F20 13.20 Paignton - Exeter St Davids. 14.02.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive and Andrew - nice sunny photos, great stuff.
Last weeks Plym Valley trip
Roger Winnen
From the train window on the way up. Denise with an engineers train at Bodmin Parkway. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
47306 parked at the worksite at Bodmin Parkway. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
142023 and 43063 at Marsh Mills, Plym Valley Railway. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
142023 at Plym Bridge in the rain. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
The end of the line, at Plym Bridge. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
142023 arriving back at Marsh Mills, passing Sentinel 10077. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
142023 and 43063 in some sunshine at Marsh Mills. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
Photographers seek shelter in the BR brake van. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
An Intercity lineup at Marsh Mills. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
142023 wearing the CRS headboard. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
The Skipper heads off on another trip to Plym Bridge. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.
Ex-GWR 143618 in the yard at Marsh Mills. 08.02.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.