Cornwall Railway Society
  • LATEST INPUT , NEWS & OLD PICTURES ETC.
  • INDOOR & OUTDOOR MEETINGS PROGRAMME
  • Submit your photos and news
  • CORNWALL RAILWAY SOCIETY GENERAL INFORMATION CONTACTS & WEBMASTERS MEMBERSHIP FORM ETC.
  • Railtour Calendar
  • CORNWALL GALLERIES
  • DEVON GALLERIES
  • North & East of TAUNTON & HONITON
  • ​Extracts from the diary of a lifetime enthusiast - Michael L. Roach
  • Features - 2025 Part 1
  • Features - 2024 Part 2
  • Features - 2024 Part 1
  • Cornwall Resignalling Programme 2024
  • FEATURES, MAIN INDEX & OUTDOOR EVENTS REPORTS.
  • Military and Industrial Tramways & Light Railways
  • Pleasure Tramways & Light Railways
  • RAILTOURS, AERIAL VIEWS ,MISCELLANEOUS
  • Railtours 2022 to July 2023
  • Railtours August 2023 onwards
  • CORNISH RAILWAYS WAR DIARY
  • LOCAL YOUTUBE
  • Historical Outdoor Events INDEX
  • ARCHITECTURE
  • INDEX TO ARTICLES WRITTEN BY COLIN BURGES
  • ARTICLES SECTION.
  • ENGINEERING PLANT DIARY
  • News reports Jan to Aug 2012
  • Links
  • MAPS, PHOTOS, AERIAL VIEWS
  • Official Documents available to the General Public
  • Public notices and posters collection

Items added on the 12th May 2016                                                                                    Those added most recently come first 

12/5/2016

 
Falmouth branch - a true tale
From Perranwell
Finally another S & T story which I can confirm is true as I heard it from several people including Frank and Terry Cox himself. The Staff instrument was being replaced at Perranwell - Penryn in 1962. I have attached original copy of this instruction sent to Mr Coates at St Blazey S & T depot. Terry Cox had not long tansfered to S & T St Blazey from Plymouth and one of his first jobs was to 'hump' the old Staff Instrument down those long stairs ! Mr Coates gave him and another lad the instructions to, 'get on with it lads'. Terry and this other lad started to argue on who was going first 'underneath' the Instrument when getting the heavy Instrument down the stairs. Mr Coates heard then arguing and went over to see what all the fuss was all about. Mr Coates was a very big strong bloke and listened to their mumblings on 'who was going first'. Terry told me that Mr Coates said that 'in his day you had to do it on your own'. Terry did not believe his story as those Staff Instruments were made of Cast Iron and weighed quite a bit ! He then (Joke-in-ly) told Mr Coates to, 'show us then how it's done. That's near impossible to do on your own'. Before anything else was said and there in front of everyone on the job, Mr Coates grabbed the Instrument, bent his back then balanced the instrument in the middle holding it with one hand to stop it slipping off, then took it down those stairs on his own! Terry was shocked as was the rest of the gang and was relieved when Mr Coates got to the bottom and let it 'slip' off his back on the ground ! 'There, he said. That's how it's done'........ Julian H
Picture
The instruction for work at Perranwell.. From the julian Hanwell Collection.
Yeovil Railway Centre
More about the coach
​Morning Keith, I was interested in Mike Bojko's pic of the coach at Yeovil Junction. May 8th 
I have been a member at Yeovil Railway Centre  for over 20 years. It was the middle coach of a dmu set, No 59515, at the WSR.
It was purchased by one of our members in 2013.The first pic is  of it shortly after arrival at Yeovil.
It was modified for our use by our members, the carriage connctions at each end were removed and blanked off and with windows fitted at each end. The toilets in the centre of the coach were removed to make way
for wheel chair access and a wider door fitted. A cab has been fitted at the leading end and a vacuum brake fitted for the trailer driver[brakeman] to control stopping the train at the end of the out ward runs.
Its first public appearance was on the 2013 Santa specials then in undercoat grey livery. Since then it has been painted in a light green livery of our choosing and not representing any particular railway livery. It is normally used on the busier days, on other occasions the 'GWR' brakevan only is used. I thought this may be of interest.  cheers JOHN C
                                                                                     Many thanks John 

Picture
Copyright John Cornelius
Picture
Copyright John Cornelius
Picture
Copyright John Cornelius
Yeovil Railway Centre
More info. John Cornelius
 In response to my various questions John Cornelius has very kindly supplied the following information.
​History The South West Main Steam Co was formed in 1993 to preserve the turntable at the junction for future steam railtour locos that required turning. Of course things have moved on a lot since then, from erecting a 15000 gall water tank, recovered from Morlands at Glastonbury in 1994 and building a two road locomotive shed in 1997-1998,plus a myriad of other things over the years. Our greatest coup to date was the signing of a new lease which included the south chord and two small fields. The former Transfer shed is our visitor centre and refreshment area. We have five locos on site, two steam, 'Lord Fisher' and 'Pectin'[which is having its ten year overhaul], and three diesels, Ruston 4wd 'River Yeo', two 0-4-0 Fowlers 'Cockney Rebel' and 'Sam',plus several goods vehicles. A temperory platform was constructed of scaffolding at the east end for special events. Trains normally run on 1st & 3rd Sundays March to October,any other as required plus our
Santa Specials at Christmas.
The future There is talk of south west trains reusing platform 3 again and reinstating the footbridge and possibly the south chord so Weymouth trains could use the junction station. But this is only hearsay at present.
 So Keith,this is a quick preamble of the 'Yeovil Railway Centre' as we are better known.
I hope this is of interest cheers   JOHN C. 
                                                                                  Many thanks John
Just by Chance
David Tozer

Hi Keith,
By pure chance I was on the 1425 to Minehead from Bishops Lydeard today, courtesy of a coach trip with friends. Managed to take these off my video footage. Hampshire unit 1118 left Williton behind 66552 'Maltby Raider'.
Bit surprised that the Booking Office at Bishops Lydeard would not accept cash for tickets, payment by credit card only. Is cash being phased out!. I had to purchase my ticket on the train.
Best I could do, Dave 
                     Your best is just the ticket for us, many thanks to you David
Picture
66552 Mailtby Raider 11th May 2016 Copyright David Tozer
Picture
1118 leaving Williton 11th May 2016 Copyright David Tozer
Tiverton Parkway - 30 today
Mike Roach

Picture
Tiverton Parkway looking towards Taunton. 1st November 2014 Copyright Roger Winnen
Picture
Tiverton Parkway, looking towards Exeter. 1st November 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Happy Birthday
It was 30 years ago that Tiverton Parkway Station opened on 12 May 1986. The previous station for the area, Tiverton Junction, closed the previous day on 11 May 1986. The distance between the two locations is 1 mile 62 chains. The platforms of Tiverton Junction can still be seen alongside the goods loops. Passenger numbers for Parkway have climbed every year recently and were 447,000 for 2014/15 the latest year for which figures are available. The car park is often completely full, and the station can surely be declared a major success story.
                                                      Many thanks for this reminder Mike.
Closed 30 years ago yesterday was Tiverton Junction
Picture
Seen from an up, non stop train is Tiverton Junction down side yard looking quite busy with engineering trains on the 9th November 1974 Copyright Roger Winnen
Picture
Tiverton Junction in the July 1961 as 6813 Eastbury Grange rushes through on a down train. Copyright Mike Roach Note the Hemyock branch coning in on the right has access to either side of the down island platform.
Sampford Peverall Halt which closed 52 years ago was located on the site of Tiverton Parkway.
Picture
Sampford Peverell Halt seen here in June 1965. The Halt had closed along with many of the small stations on the main line and the Hemyock branch on 5th October 1964. No time had been wasted as can be seen, access to the down loop had been removed - the point being substitued by plain track. This picture is taken from the pedestrian access off the road bridge. Nowadays Tiverton Parkway station down platform commences in the foreground, however one would be faced with a walk of nigh on half a mile to get from this location to the platform. Looking across at the up side yard one can see that the current car park occupies almost the footprint of the old yard. Copyright Mike Roach
Picture
Another of Mikes wonderful black and white pictures taken from the down platform in June 1965. The current down platform of Tiverton Parkway occupies the trackbed of the down loop. In retrospect what a shame that the four track arrangement wasn't kept here for use twenty one years hence? Copyright Mike Roach.

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011