Items added on 31st December 2016 Those added most recently come first

With hours to go, and so say all of us.

The Bodmin & Wenford Winter Steam Up!
New Years Eve 2016
Roger Winnen

Three engines this year took place in the Winter Steam Up on New Years Eve 31st December, 2016, these being 4247 4612 and 6435. Ten departures left Bodmin General between 10.00-16.00 hrs for Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction with good timekeeping throughout the day.
A mixture of Passenger and Goods trains were run to delight the railway enthusiasts and the general public alike with quite large numbers travelling, and afterwards adjourning to the station 'Steamers Buffet'. 

161231c Action at Bodmin General with 6435 filling up at the water tank and 4612 approaching from the junction of the two lines at the commencement of the winter steam up! Copyright Roger Winnen

161231d 4612 Shunts the freight into position at Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

161231e 4612 Pounding away from Bodmin Parkway with the freight including livestock. Copyright Roger Winnen

161231f 4247 Celebrating its 100th Birthday working the freight from Boscarne. Copyright Roger Winnen

161231g The last departure for 2016. 4247 Departs Bodmin Parkway on the 16.40 to Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

Princetown Posts
David Hibberd

​Hi Keith,
Whilst walking on Dartmoor yesterday and walking the former entrance road to Princetown station noticed on the grass verge not one but two former GWR Boundary Posts set in the grass . Having walked this way before  I had not noticed them before and I don,t know if they are in their original positions (which seems unlikely as they are very close together).
Photos attached also of the former branch trackbed out of Princetown on our walk out into the moors.
Best wishes and a Happy New Year.
Dave Hibberd  Thanks for these David - hope you had a nice fresh walk.

Boundary Marker at Princetown 30th December 2016. Copyright Dave Hibberd

Boundary Marker at Princetown 30th December 2016. (These boots were made for walking!!! ) Copyright Dave Hibberd

Boundary Marker at Princetown 30th December 2016. Copyright Dave Hibberd

The way ahead down the Princetown branch. 30th December 2016. Copyright Dave Hibberd

That's the style, after the initial climb its downhill almost all the way to Yelverton!! 30th December 2016 Copyright Dave Hibberd

Trunk Call!
​Mick West

161231a The refurbishment of the Footbridge at Bodmin Parkway is taking place. New glazed window units are being installed together with various other features. Copyright Roger Winnen

161231b A view from the other side of the footbridge looking east. Much of the timber which was rotten in places is also being replaced together with a repaint of the bridge. In summer time there has been in the past a colony of insects and flies congregating in the upper walkway, hopefully this problem may be solved. Copyright Roger Winnen

​The forest exposed at Chyandour/Ponsandane and Wherrytown  after the storms of February 2014 has never completely disappeared ...winter storm Angus stripped the sand off again substantially at Ponsandane only about 200 yards from the railway.    The attached view with HST over the Chyandour bridge is of a large oak stump riddled by marine worm holes, taken in May 2014 but visible again today at the current low tides.    The view with the local rolling stock with shunter, in sidings over the Ponsandane stream bridge was taken today, 30th December 2016 , and is of a large trunk or bough eroded to a U-section by 4000 years of sand abrasion, unknown species, embedded in the peat bed.   Best wishes for 2017 to you all (and of course, Roger Winnen)...Mick West
Many thanks Mick - apologies for the humorous heading!

Chyandour with an HST in May 2014 Copyright Mick West

The scene on Friday 30th December 2016 Copyright Mick West

Millbay Approach
Andy Miller

Looking north along the approach lines to Millbay. The former Belmont Diesel Depot to the left and Harwell St Carriage shed to the right. Central Park, which is north of Plymouth Station can be seen to the centre right. All of the railway seen here has been obliterated. Copyright Andy Miller

Many thanks to Andy Miller for this rare view of some complicated trackwork. the bridge in the foreground is over King Street.

An interlude at
Avoncliffe
Graham Mann

A very  quiet pleasant spot to stop a while, there's the trains, the river Avon and the Kennet and Avon Crossing the the valley on an impressive aquaduct.  For those in need a waterside pub, a good place to celebrate New Years day!

Avoncliffe Halt from track level by Graham Mann

The Kennet and Avon Canal, coming from the Bath direction, first crosses the aquaduct and makes a left hand bend around the pub before heading on to Bradford on Avon and eventually Reading. Copyright Graham Mann

The Kennet and Avon canal is a broad canal able to take the larger craft - here we one such vessel en route to Bath. Copyright Graham Mann.

Back now to trackside, a view across the river Avon showing the weir at the end of which are the mill buildings. Graham Mann.

Back to the job in hand - a rail view through Avoncliffe Aquaduct. Note the double arches to support the weight of the canal. Copyright Graham Mann

N.B. Graham Mann is the Network Rail Operations Manager - many thanks to him for the above pictures.