Items added on the 31st May, 2015 Those added most recently come first

Bodmin Changes
Bodmin and Wenford Railway

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
We have had to move the English Electric Diesel Day from this Sat 4th June.  In it's place this Saturday 4th we will be running a 'Diesel Day' on the Red Timetable.

Congrats to Adam Lewis
New South Devon Signalman.

From Charles Fennamore to Mike Roach.  .Just a quick one from yesterday, showing our new platform starting signal, with some protection around it as per usual H & S requirements. Adam Lewis, who I was about to pass out for the box is standing by the signal. Adam works for GW trains on the platform at North Road, and is one of our enthusiastic younger bods.

Picture and comment above from Charles Fennamore. His Copyright.

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Making the most of a Glorious
May Bank Holiday Monday
South Devon Mixed Traffic Gala
Roger Winnen
With glorious weather during the weekend, I made a visit to the South Devon Railway where 6412, 1369, 3205 D6975 and 55000 were in action for the Mixed Traffic Gala. There is always plenty to see at these special events which is well worth a visit!

160530a The token being handed in from the 09.25 Buckfastleigh to Totnes on arrival at Ashburton Junction Signal Box,Totnes. Copyright Roger Winnen

160530b 6975 Departs Staverton with the 10.00 Buckfastleigh-Totnes service. Copyright Roger Winnen

160530c 3205 Nears Nappers Halt with the 11.00 service from Buckfastleigh to Totnes. Copyright Roger Winnen

160530d 55000 on the 11.42 service from Staverton to Totnes seen passing Nappers Halt. Copyright Roger Winnen

160530e After crossing the Staverton Road at Nappers Crossing the Single Bubble Car heads for Totnes. Copyright Roger Winnen

160530f A Tranquil seen as 3205 approaches Nappers Halt on the 12.00 noon from Totnes. Copyright Roger Winnen

160530g Diesel and Steam meet at Buckfastleigh. Copyright Roger Winnen

Attacked on the R.A.B
Lewis Slee

We are most grateful to Lewis Slee who has sent in four more pictures from his family albums.

Star Class 4038 Queen Berengaria Built January 1911 Outside steampipes fitted August 1932 and withdrawn April 1952 Pre 1932 Copyright the late Michael Slee

One of the two gentlemen in this picture is Lewis Slee's father who fortunately survived the unique experience of being machine gunned by the Luftwaffe whilst crossing the Royal Albert bridge during world war two. Dad recalled that he and his fireman were taking a train across the Royal Albert Bridge and could see a raid taking place on the dockyard further down the river. As they watched one of the fighters broke off and flew straight towards the bridge. On seeing this they did exactly what they had been told not to do. That is is to stop the loco, jump out, and clamber beneath it for protection. According to him the aircraft only machine gunned the loco  and they heard bullets ricocheting off the bridge and boiler. After the attack aircraft turned went back to rejoin its colleagues on the raid on the dockyard.

The late Michael Slee picked a quiet moment to photograph the scene at the top of Hemmerdon bank, not a train in sight. It could almost be today, but note the telephone wires and also the signal wire. Copyright Michael Slee

Steam and power as a King climbs the last few yards to the summit at Hemerdon. Copyright the late Michael Slee.

What was probably a 'box camera' with its slow shutter speed couldn't stop the train. However, here is a rare picture taken from inside the fence of a double headed train with a Grange or Hall as the pilot starting the decent down the bank. Copyright the Late Michael Slee.

Remembering 'Motorail'
John Cornelius

Here is one of those 'track level' photographs, taken by John Cornelius, of a scene now long gone as a class 47 stands with the motorail service at St Austell. John, at the time, was B.R. staff and could as such get to this 'privileged position' and may thanks to him for so doing,

1678 became 47 534 and eventually ended its days in June 1995 when it was scrapped. Copyright john Cornelius