The Lappa Valley Railway
Andrew Triggs
Andrew Triggs
160808f TSO S4039 now a carriage cafe car at East Wheal Rose. Copyright Andrew Triggs
160808g N0 2 Muffin being turned at Benny Mill. Copyright Andrew Triggs
160808h Muffin departs East Wheal Rose for Benny Mill .Copyright Andrew Triggs
160808i Ni 1 Ruby about to exchange the token for the single line to East Wheal Rose. Copyright Andrew Triggs
Many Thanks Andrew
Wadebridge Puzzle
John Ball
John Ball
Wadebridge 8th August 2016 Copyright John Ball.
Hi, Keith
This was taken early in August 1965. It wasn't a timetabled train, and I believe the stock was generally used on school trains at the time. As it was in the school holiday (and I can't remember who got out of it), I was and remain puzzled. It came in from the Padstow direction but I can't remember what happened to it after arriving at Wadebridge. I do remember it being fairly late afternoon
If anyone else can cast any light on it, I'd be glad to hear.
Regards, John.
Many thanks John for your photo and query - we'll see what comes of it.
This was taken early in August 1965. It wasn't a timetabled train, and I believe the stock was generally used on school trains at the time. As it was in the school holiday (and I can't remember who got out of it), I was and remain puzzled. It came in from the Padstow direction but I can't remember what happened to it after arriving at Wadebridge. I do remember it being fairly late afternoon
If anyone else can cast any light on it, I'd be glad to hear.
Regards, John.
Many thanks John for your photo and query - we'll see what comes of it.
And here's a reply from Karl Hewlett for which many thanks -
Dear Keith.
Can partially help my colleague at Penmere John Balls request with his photo taken at Wadebridge in August 1965. The loco is one of the North British class 22 hydraulics (known as baby warships or baby sad eyes amongst other names both are pretty explanatory), a blow up of the image has identified it as D6306.
One of the most common ways to try and identify the working is by looking at the headcode, which in John's image is 9B88. This is where it gets interesting, the Western Region (WR), four digit character headcode introduced in summer 1960 and updated again on the 18th June 1962, works from left to right so to start off 9: class of train 1 being an express, 2 being ordinary passenger, 6's onwards generally freight e.t.c. B: in which area this train/loco is going to/from. 88: is the actual reporting number of the service. According to the headcode the train is a class 9 working, a mineral and empty wagon freight train including untimetabled local trip workings and pilot engine workings, B which is Bristol district (later for West of England but not until the 70's). The service 88 is trying its hardest to allude me, however from my searches there would seem to be a lot of WTT class 9 freight, mineral and trip workings with headcodes very close to 9B88 trundling around the Bristol and Wiltshire area in the 60's, which tallies in with D6306's headcode.
So unless someone else knows more, that's as far as I managed to gleam. I wouldn't go too much on the reporting number as I believe this to be wrong, not a totally uncommon to see incorrect headcode. It could be anything from the headcode blind/s slipping a common occurrence (although it does look neat and tidy in John's image), to a lazy driver simply not altering it from a previous working! It is certainly not right for a passenger service. One thing I did notice, the third coach, one of the doors is open so presumably taking on passengers, could it be an additional untimetabled working to/from Bodmin being summer, or an excursion? The plot thickens!
Regards
Karl (Friends of Penmere).
Dear Keith.
Can partially help my colleague at Penmere John Balls request with his photo taken at Wadebridge in August 1965. The loco is one of the North British class 22 hydraulics (known as baby warships or baby sad eyes amongst other names both are pretty explanatory), a blow up of the image has identified it as D6306.
One of the most common ways to try and identify the working is by looking at the headcode, which in John's image is 9B88. This is where it gets interesting, the Western Region (WR), four digit character headcode introduced in summer 1960 and updated again on the 18th June 1962, works from left to right so to start off 9: class of train 1 being an express, 2 being ordinary passenger, 6's onwards generally freight e.t.c. B: in which area this train/loco is going to/from. 88: is the actual reporting number of the service. According to the headcode the train is a class 9 working, a mineral and empty wagon freight train including untimetabled local trip workings and pilot engine workings, B which is Bristol district (later for West of England but not until the 70's). The service 88 is trying its hardest to allude me, however from my searches there would seem to be a lot of WTT class 9 freight, mineral and trip workings with headcodes very close to 9B88 trundling around the Bristol and Wiltshire area in the 60's, which tallies in with D6306's headcode.
So unless someone else knows more, that's as far as I managed to gleam. I wouldn't go too much on the reporting number as I believe this to be wrong, not a totally uncommon to see incorrect headcode. It could be anything from the headcode blind/s slipping a common occurrence (although it does look neat and tidy in John's image), to a lazy driver simply not altering it from a previous working! It is certainly not right for a passenger service. One thing I did notice, the third coach, one of the doors is open so presumably taking on passengers, could it be an additional untimetabled working to/from Bodmin being summer, or an excursion? The plot thickens!
Regards
Karl (Friends of Penmere).
Rare visitor-Truro Sidings
Kyle Greet
Kyle Greet
Hi Keith,
As a result of the fire in St Erth, XC Voyager 220031 spent the night in the sidings at Truro. I believe it worked the 1M49 to Manchester Picadilly about an hour after I took this photo.
Noted in the evening but not photographed was 43172 'Harry Patch' on the 1C84 from Paddington.
Additionally, I'm sure there was a specially marked Class 43 on the tail of a down service that passed by the train I was on near Par at about 10am, if anyone has any information?????????
Cheers,
Kyle Many thanks Kyle
As a result of the fire in St Erth, XC Voyager 220031 spent the night in the sidings at Truro. I believe it worked the 1M49 to Manchester Picadilly about an hour after I took this photo.
Noted in the evening but not photographed was 43172 'Harry Patch' on the 1C84 from Paddington.
Additionally, I'm sure there was a specially marked Class 43 on the tail of a down service that passed by the train I was on near Par at about 10am, if anyone has any information?????????
Cheers,
Kyle Many thanks Kyle
The rare visitor in Truro Sidingstaken on the morning of 9th August 2016. Copyright Kyle Greet
Somerton
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Somerton long after the station had closed to passengers, however the 'up side' building shorn of its awning can still be seen behind this engineering train. Copyright John Cornelius
Exmouth Juct. Shed
Mike Morant
Mike Morant
S_BR_34015_GWRA130729_slide6D18 January 8th, 1966 saw the final act of Bulleid original West Country pacifics in charge of departures from Exeter Central when no. 34015 Exmouth was the chosen motive power for the Exeter Flyer rail tour which was hauled by 34015 from Salisbury to Exeter and return. This shot was taken at Exmouth Junction mpd where servicing took place but the sad fact of the matter is that the tour wasn't the "flyer" that it was intended to be as the Salisbury - Exeter - Salisbury legs both lagged behind schedule and it wasn't (allegedly) the loco's fault.
[Mike Morant collection
[Mike Morant collection