Don't forget -Tomorrow - Saturday October 14th
Derek Huntriss
Presents another selection from his extensive travels
Meeting are held in the Wesley Memorial Hall Redruth at 18.30.
Click here for more details
Derek Huntriss
Presents another selection from his extensive travels
Meeting are held in the Wesley Memorial Hall Redruth at 18.30.
Click here for more details
S Devon Clayton
Clive Smith
Clive Smith
Apparently the Clayton arrived by lowloader last week according to SDR staff. Thought some of your diligent contributors may have sent a pic in by now.! Here's mine taken on my smartphone. Hope you can use it. D8568 will be out working on Sunday 15th October on the 'Drive A Train' Experience Day and then the SDR Diesel Gala in November.
Regards Clive Smith Ivybridge Thank you Clive
Welcome to Clive - a new contributor
Regards Clive Smith Ivybridge Thank you Clive
Welcome to Clive - a new contributor
The Clayton awaits its turn - seen here at Buckfastleigh. Copyright Clive Smith.
Memories are made of this
Alan Harris & Laurence Hansford
Alan Harris & Laurence Hansford
I was most interested to see Mr. Roy Hart's article on today's webpage concerning the failure of the turntable at Long Rock in 1956. As a lad then approaching 9 years of age, I remember wondering why there was a tank engine leading the Cornish Riviera Express and having no idea why until much later by which time they had all returned to their home depots.
The list of locos transferred to Penzance and Truro for this short time is particularly interesting. I have referred to my first Ian Allan Combined Volume dated Summer 1958 which was a much loved Christmas present from my parents. From Mr. Harts list of locos, I see that I managed to "cop" only two, 5102 and 5107. I'm sure that had I known the reason for their appearance in Cornwall, I would have spent more time at Redruth Station.
My sincere thanks to Mr. Hart for reviving this memory.
Kind Regards, Alan. Many thanks Alan Received on the 10th October
I have just read Roy Hart’s account of Penzance turntable being out of action during June 1956 and found it fascinating because I remember it well. I went to school in Penzance and pupils from St Ives travelled by Western National bus, 4 double-deckers being laid on in the morning. (You may be asking “why bus?” when there was a perfectly good train service. I asked the same question and was told that it cost Cornwall County Council less.)
While obviously I would have preferred to have gone by train, the bus did have its compensations: a grand-stand view from the top deck of the whole railway from Long Rock into Penzance. Needless to say my eyes were out on stalks for the whole of June as we went past the Engine Shed although it was a bit frustrating as one couldn’t really see what they were doing to the Turntable.
It was a bit different when it came to the engines. I remember the yard being filled with tank engines in place of the customary tender engines being prepared for their day’s work. I remember particularly seeing 41XXs and 51XXs but also a few 2-8-0Ts, presumably from St Blazey. I don’t know where the tender engines had gone but I am guessing that they were tucked up in bed in the shed, although I suppose they could have been sent “up country”.
I also remember seeing some trains double headed by pairs of the larger tanks but I do recall, on one occasion, seeing a 55XX paired with either a 41XX or a 51XX.
Of course it was only a couple of years before the very first Warship diesels appeared in the very same yard being readied for their work.
Cheers, Laurence Hansford Many thanks Laurence.
The list of locos transferred to Penzance and Truro for this short time is particularly interesting. I have referred to my first Ian Allan Combined Volume dated Summer 1958 which was a much loved Christmas present from my parents. From Mr. Harts list of locos, I see that I managed to "cop" only two, 5102 and 5107. I'm sure that had I known the reason for their appearance in Cornwall, I would have spent more time at Redruth Station.
My sincere thanks to Mr. Hart for reviving this memory.
Kind Regards, Alan. Many thanks Alan Received on the 10th October
I have just read Roy Hart’s account of Penzance turntable being out of action during June 1956 and found it fascinating because I remember it well. I went to school in Penzance and pupils from St Ives travelled by Western National bus, 4 double-deckers being laid on in the morning. (You may be asking “why bus?” when there was a perfectly good train service. I asked the same question and was told that it cost Cornwall County Council less.)
While obviously I would have preferred to have gone by train, the bus did have its compensations: a grand-stand view from the top deck of the whole railway from Long Rock into Penzance. Needless to say my eyes were out on stalks for the whole of June as we went past the Engine Shed although it was a bit frustrating as one couldn’t really see what they were doing to the Turntable.
It was a bit different when it came to the engines. I remember the yard being filled with tank engines in place of the customary tender engines being prepared for their day’s work. I remember particularly seeing 41XXs and 51XXs but also a few 2-8-0Ts, presumably from St Blazey. I don’t know where the tender engines had gone but I am guessing that they were tucked up in bed in the shed, although I suppose they could have been sent “up country”.
I also remember seeing some trains double headed by pairs of the larger tanks but I do recall, on one occasion, seeing a 55XX paired with either a 41XX or a 51XX.
Of course it was only a couple of years before the very first Warship diesels appeared in the very same yard being readied for their work.
Cheers, Laurence Hansford Many thanks Laurence.
Washford
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius