You can click on any recent photograph in the 'news' section below to view an enlargement!
Winter Sunshine
Craig Munday
The traction in the County may be uninspiring lately, but the skies make up for it!
A weekend in Wiltshire saw -3 degrees on the car gauge, so popped over to Thingley Jn to capture 800307 woking 1A16 Exeter to Paddington sweeping by on diesel power, ready to put the pan up between Chippenham and Wottton Bassett. 11.01.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
A truly psychedelic sky on Monday accompanied first light, and 57605 made a dramatic photo under it. 13.01.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
The box is also seen under the eerie conditions. 13.01.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
I have a new zoom lens and this is being used to capture the final winter workings of the Castle sets in the Duchy. The sets in action yesterday were particularly grubby so backlit shots were rather pleasing catching the grime. 2P16 powers past Roskear Jn box. 14.01.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks, Craig - great skies
HST Sunset
Neil Phillips
Hello Roger, Keith and Jon,
My first photo of the year! I was in the vicinity of Par station and intercepted 2C29 15.47 Plymouth - Penzance which departed Par 4 minutes late at 16.42. We don't get many cloudless sunsets like this nowadays so I thought it was worth capturing. The following down train is also an HST duty, 2C31 due off Par at 17.04 but the light was fading rapidly so I left that one for the forthcoming lighter evenings.....
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
My first photo of the year! I was in the vicinity of Par station and intercepted 2C29 15.47 Plymouth - Penzance which departed Par 4 minutes late at 16.42. We don't get many cloudless sunsets like this nowadays so I thought it was worth capturing. The following down train is also an HST duty, 2C31 due off Par at 17.04 but the light was fading rapidly so I left that one for the forthcoming lighter evenings.....
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
43198 heads 2C29 15.47 Plymouth - Penzance into the sunset at Par with 43097 bringing up the rear. 15th January 2025, copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks indeed, Neil - a wonderful photograph. Great to see the chimneys at Par harbour steaming away in the background too.
Swindon Scenes
Ken Mumford & Colin Pidgeon
47727 on 5Q87 Eastleigh TRSMD to Long Marston with 701050 passing Swindon. 14.01.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
47727 on 5Q87 Eastleigh TRSMD to Long Marston with 701050. This is the second time that 701050 has been taken to Long Marston. The first time was in 26th April 2023. The train is seen passing Stratton Loop. 14.01.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
66128 on 6C03 Northolt to Severnside waste train passes Swindon. 14.01.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
60055 on 6Z52 Tytherington Quarry to Appleford Sidings passing Swindon. 14.01.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
60055 passes beneath Stratton Green bridge. 14.01.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Many thanks to you both, Ken and Colin
More Classic Traction in the valleys
Paul Barlow
37408 at Rhymney with the 1215 to Cardiff Central 12 March 2005. Copyright Paul Barlow.
37411 works the 1315 Rhymney to Cardiff arrives at Ystrad Yynach 12 March 2005. Copyright Paul Barlow.
37411 works the 1315 Rhymney to Cardiff stopping at Caerphilly 12 March 2005. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks as ever, Paul
The mystery 'Warship'
Karl Hewlett
The blue Warship on 1V75 heading down through St Germans station on Saturday 14th June, 1969 is D825 'Intrepid' and the other I think (as the nameplate is blurred), D807 'Caradoc'. Hope this helps.
Michael Roach's photograph from 14.01.2025 (click here) showing a passing of two warships on 14.06.1969. We now know them as D825 and D807 thanks to Karl. Photograph copyright Michael L. Roach
Many thanks, Karl - mystery solved
More 'Warship' comments
Andrew Vines
Some lovely reminders of the 'golden age' of the Hydraulic era by Michael Roach in his recent submission, and I look forward to any more that Michael has from the same era. With thanks to fellow enthusiast Steve Harrod for corroboration, the passing Warships at Menheniot look like 825 Intrepid on 1V75, and 807 Caradoc on the up milk. 1V75 was the 09.07(SO) Manchester Picc.-Penzance.
The Warship approaching Hackney is an NBL variant and appears to be 856 Trojan, rather than 866.
The picture of D836 crossing the RAB is likely to be 7C57 Ponsandane-Tavistock Jn freight.
The Warship approaching Hackney is an NBL variant and appears to be 856 Trojan, rather than 866.
The picture of D836 crossing the RAB is likely to be 7C57 Ponsandane-Tavistock Jn freight.
Michael Roach's photograph originall posted on 14.01.2025 (click here) showing a warship crossing the Royal Albert Bridge. Andrew suggests that it may be working 7C57, the Ponsandane - Tavistock Junction freight. Photograph copyright Michael L. Roach
Many thanks Andrew - your ID on the passing 'Warships' corroborates Karl's thoughts above.
We'll have more hydraulic photos on the website tomorrow, stay tuned!
We'll have more hydraulic photos on the website tomorrow, stay tuned!
Riding the rails in January
By Roger Winnen
(Part 3)
13.01.2025 - The station buildings at Saltash. Copyright Roger Winnen
13.01.2025 - The station buildings viewed from the road overbridge at Saltash. Copyright Roger Winnen
13.01.2025 - A Castle Class coming off The Royal Albert Bridge. Copyright Roger Winnen
13.01.2025 - The grime is still there with another working to West Cornwall. Copyright Roger Winnen
13.01.2025 - A very 'colourful' Class 150 departs Plymouth on the 13.09 to Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
13.01.2025 - Class 150 departs Plymouth on the 13.09 to Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
Cockwood HST
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
An unusual angle from Phil, showing a First Great Western HST passing Cockwood in 2001 with a family of swans in the foreground. Copyright Phil Smith.
Many thanks, Phil - a stunning shot.
Coombe Castles
Jon Hird
Running late due to brake problems, 43189 and 43187 cross Coombe viaduct (near St. Stephens) with the 12:50 Penzance - Plymouth. 15.01.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Just a few minutes later came 43097 and 43198 with the 13:15 Penzance to Plymouth. Both trains sweeping through the countryside beneath a cloudless blue sky - bliss! 15.01.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
DR79263 & DR79273
Rail-grinders at Truro
Mick House
Two photos of Harsco Track Technologies RGH-20C Switch and Crossing Rail Grinders DR 79263 &a DR79273 basking in the winter sunlight at Truro Yard having worked this week at Liskard and Penzance. They have both just been serviced by Harsco engineer and fuelled (by road tanker). They are both heading for Plymouth tonight (15/01/2025) at 22.35 via Largin Junction.
Rail grinders DR79263 & DR79273 at rest in Truro yard. 15.01.2025, copyright Mick House.
Rail grinders DR79263 & DR79273 at rest in Truro yard. 15.01.2025, copyright Mick House.
Many thanks, Mick