A 'new' old photograph
of Bodmin Road
Andrew Vines
I wonder if the attached picture from my collection showing the old 'down' side station building at Bodmin Road may be a suitable addition to your Gallery pages, as there is not currently a good view of this building in the relevant section? The old Cornwall Railway timber structures were of course replaced by 'Clasp' system buildings, which no doubt have developed their own 'period' identity, but to me they always sat rather uncomfortably in these idyllic surroundings. The picture appears to be taken in the Spring of 1969, shortly before replacement, but I would be interested to know if anyone has a record of the exact date of demolition and reconstruction of these buildings?
Best wishes,
Andrew

Bodmin Road station was rebuilt in 1970. The old buildings of 1887 were cleared away (except for the footbridge) and were replaced by new buildings described by BR at the time as 'to inter-city standard'. The new structures were of the CLASP system -prefabricated buildings able to be assembled in any configuration.
In reality they were cheap, shoddy and ugly.
Within a very short time, rust, vermin, doors and windows that did not fit etc.,etc put an end to them and they were mercifully demolished, replaced by the present buildings, which are not particularly distinguished, but are at least solid and blend with the landscape.
Roy
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'Ark Royal' at Respryn
Roger Geach
7 shots passed onto me several years back (now part of my own collection) by well known Railman, the late John Williams, who many of the CRS will fondly remember. These photos are also dedicated to his memory, Johnny having passed away in 2020
All the Best
Andrew
1970's variety pack
By Roger Winnen
Part 1
'Hydraulic matters'
Roger Geach Guy Vincent & Karl Hewlett
1) Photo 5. Unidentified Western at Crabtree, Plymouth on 29th April 1971. Close examination seems to confirm this loco to be D1002 Western Explorer.
2) Photo 7. D1045 passing Menheniot on 8th September 1973. D1045 had just received a full repaint at Laira and returned to service on Thursday 6th September after a long period in store. The loco suffered from electrical issues over a long period and was withdrawn from service on 16th December 1974. Exactly two years after Mike took this photo D1045 had been reduced to a pile of scrap at Swindon works alongside sister loco D1044 Western Duchess.
3) Photo 9. D1028 leaving Camborne on Sunday 7th March 1976. On this day 'Western Hussar' worked 1A49 1205 Penzance - Paddington as far as Plymouth. After a spell at Laira it then worked the 1A09 1530 Penzance - Paddington from Plymouth throughout, before returning on the 1B83 2349 Paddington - Penzance sleeper train as far as Plymouth.
Thanks again to Mike for all the work he has produced over several years, recording in great detail the workings and operation of British Railways during periods of great change.
Guy V
More brilliant pictures again.
Ref 1047, 7B33 was the 1400 Exeter Riverside - Truro freight, a regular train Monday to Friday, often up the backside of the 1130 Paddington - Penzance down rivo in Cornwall!
1045 on the 08.09.1973 - I also photographed this, it was the 1056 Paddington - Penzance.
The western at Crabtree, Plymouth on 29.40.1971 looks like 1002.
All good stuff from a very interesting time.
Cheers,
Roger Geach
Spotted another abnormality!!
Noticed that D1045 'Western Viscount' on 1B39 passing Menheniot station, Saturday 8th September 1973, has an odd windscreen wiper on the secondmans side only in Michael's shot. Instead of the blade being attached at rainstrip level it is at the bottom of the window, another experimental wiper test? From images I've seen it has this modification from as early as 14th August 1966, when in ex-works condition D1045 hauled 1X01 Royal Train through Cornwall.
A new shot has come to light of it on 1XO1 at Plymouth station. Rather than Bernard Mill's excellent shot at Saltash, a going away shot. I can just see the tip of the blade, again on the secondmans side, which seems to be in a different position than normal. This suggests that it had a modification on both ends at some point and certainly at one end until withdrawal, so it seems the rotary windscreen wipered Westerns D1006 and D1039 weren't the only ones to have odd wipers.
Regards
Karl Hewlett - Friends Of Penmere.