Items added on 29th March 2018. Most recent items come first.

The first revenue earning
2 + 4 HST runs today
Roger Winnen

The first 2 + 4 HST with air operated doors and cet etc began running early this morning on the 06.00 Penzance-Exeter St David's arr 09.16, returning on the 09.24 to Penzance arr 12.34. Departing Penzance 12.57 Newton Abbot arr 15.49. Newton Abbot dep 15.55 to Plymouth arr 16.38 and Plymouth dep 17.55 to Penzance arr 19.51 A similar timetable with an additional out and back run from Penzance to Plymouth at 20.18 is in the programme for tomorrow night.

180329a The 09.24 departs Hayle for Penzance just as the sun went behind a cloud. Copyright Roger Winnen

180329b The return working at 12.57 from Penzance is seen arriving at Camborne behind 43093 Old Oak Common Depot. Copyright Roger Winnen

180329c No slam doors on this set for the station staff to close and no windows to hang out as the last passengers enter the train. Copyright Roger Winnen

Todays Bradford Bonus at 07.07!
Bradford on Avon
Guy Vincent

Morning Keith,
 Part 1 at Bradford on Avon. The early bird gets the 'Syphon' rather than the worm. 37099 with an overnight slow-speed Ultrasonic Rail Test train pauses at Bradford-on-Avon during a booked pathing stop working 3Q60 2250 (Wednesday) Reading Triangle Sidings-Westbury via Cardiff.   The loco has only just returned to service following a spell out of traffic at Barrow Hill depot where it received a replacement power unit.
               Guy V   Many thanks Guy - very nice 'worm' pictures

37099 Bradford-on-Avon 3Q60 29th March 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent

9703 (37099) Bradford-on-Avon 3Q60 29th March 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent

Part 2 - At Westbury. 37099 with it's three coach ultrasonic test train stabled in the 'Patney Siding' adjacent to Westbury North Junction and the 1981-built panel signal box where roofing repairs seem to be underway.  A daytime trip from Westbury to Weymouth and return followed by a shorter spin-out to Thingley Junction and back via Melksham had just been concluded.     The loco was delivered into service from English Electric's Vulcan Foundry, Newton-Le-Willows, as long ago as December 1962. Withdrawal by BR took place in March 1996 and then, following almost twenty years in private/preserved ownership status, it returned to the main line with current owners Colas Railfreight at the end of 2016.    The loco worked over several of the country's heritage lines during it's time in preservation although it has yet to feature on any of the West Country branches.  Guy Vincent                Many thanks Again Guy

37099 on return from its days work. ex 3Q14 Westbury 29th March 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent

First Day of Operation 2018
Beer Heights Light Railway
Roger Aston

26th March 2018 0-4-2 Pixicato was the only engine in steam. Beer Heights Light Railway Copyright Roger Aston

East Somerset Railway Gala
Roger Aston

46447 draws into Cranmore station. East Somerset Railway 24th March 2018 Copyright Roger Aston

Also in steam was 0-4-0 Barclay Saddle tank 1719 24th March 2018 Copyright Roger Aston

46447 and 1917 carry out a parallel run 24th March 2018 Copyright Roger Aston

5637 handles a demonstration train. 24th March 2018 Copyright Roger Aston

Storm Emma!  its aftermath
at Dawlish in early March
Roger Salter

180305a 143621 Passes the gap in the railings at Dawlish with this section closed again to the public. Copyright Roger Salter

180305b Network Rail inspecting the damage at Dawlish Station. Copyright Roger Salter

180305c The large chunks of the seawall out at Teignmouth, the public clearly unaware of the closure. Copyright Roger Salter

180305e The force of the sea is evident at Dawlish as an HST heads west. Copyright Roger Salter

Redruth
Mike Hitchens

50033 Glorious at Redruth, possibly on the Penzance Waterloo service. Stands at the entrance to the 47 yd tunnel which dates from 1852 Courtesy the Mike Hitchens Collection

Northam
Ron Kosys

Emphasising how bad the availability of stock was in general before the introduction of the 159’s,
50027 crosses over to the bi-directional ‘up’ line at Northam for its passage through Southampton Tunnel and into Southampton station.
The stock is single TC 8017, and the train is 1L05, the 1000 Sundays Waterloo to Salisbury.
The timings of this train were so lax you could drive across Southampton to for a second shot at Millbrook!

50 027 Lion at Northam 2nd September 1990. Copyright Ron Kosys

Williton
John Cornelius

Copyright John Cornelius