Weekend Sunshine
Craig Munday
Some fine light across the Duchy this weekend. I grabbed a couple of shots of 66098 arriving back at Goonbarrow on Sat 17th. 17.01.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
66098 shunts at Burngullow, seen alongside Imerys hire-in 08752. 17.01.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
150261 looked dwarfed by the lovely Hellenbeagle engine house, the blockwork shining in the sunshine. The GWR class 150/2 fleet is now plugging the gap left by the withdrawal of the Castle sets in December. One wonders how quickly the class 175s will enter service? 18.01.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks Craig, lovely light. Back to normal booked January conditions this week!
Re: Guy's Mystery Photo
Yesterday, we showed you a picture from Guy Vincent and asked if anybody knew where it had been taken. We received a number of responses as shown below - thanks to all who emailed in.
Shunting at a mystery location in this photograph from Guy Vincent.
Mick House writes:
Looking at the image from Google maps I think it is definitely Waterford southern Ireland, judging by the Tower and the type of Buildings.
Looking at the image from Google maps I think it is definitely Waterford southern Ireland, judging by the Tower and the type of Buildings.
Waterford, Southern Ireland. A Google Earth screenshot from Mick House.
Neil Phillips writes:
Regarding Guy Vincent's mystery photo, this is some distance from Devon! At first glance for some reason I thought Ireland, then noticed the tank wagon apparently marked 'C.I.E.' and 'FUEL OIL', and then the CIE logo just in view on the side of the open wagon, far left. The Irish gauge of 5' 3" is difficult to judge from the viewing angle but the track the tank wagon is standing on looks so. This could be Dublin looking across the River Liffy - although it looks earlier than the 1950s the quantity of motor vehicles of 1950s appearance on the opposite side of the river may confirm Guy's estimated date. Ireland's railways were dieselised earlier than Great Britain's so this photo could have been somebody recording an antiquated Irish steam loco on one of its last workings. By the 1950s the loco would probably have been an 0-6-0 - perhaps the number 187 will be helpful to an Irish steam loco expert (which I am not!)
Roy Hart writes:
The picture was taken at an Irish port. Locomotive 187 was a J15 class engine, built for the Great Southern & Western Railway by Sharp Stewart in 1879. Two other members of the class are preserved.
Roger Vinten writes:
I don’t think that it’s Bideford or anywhere in Devon . I don’t even think that it’s in Britain !
Maybe Cork City or Dublin, Loco GS&WR class 101. Loco 186 has been preserved.
John Root writes:
A bit out of your area - it's Waterford in Ireland!
Karl Hewlett writes:
To add to what Neil Phillips and Roy Hart have sent, the 0-6-0 locomotive in Guy Vincent's image I believe is a 101 Class, later J15 locomotive built for GS&WR and ran later with the GSR and CIÉ. The other clue to the location is the tank wagon which has CIE painted on its side, the image is thus taken somewhere between 1945 and 1962 when this loco was withdrawn. The location is quite tricky, I've looked at a number of waterside locations that were served by the GS&WR, the only one that seems plausible is Waterford the loco was noted working around there in the 1950's.
And finally Shaun Brown writes:
Hi there, with reference to Guy Vincent's photograph, with the C.I.É. on the tank wagon it looks to be Ireland so the locomotive could be a non-superheated 0-6-0 GS&WR Class 101 of which 111 were built between 1866 and 1903. Two have been preserved, non-superheated 184 built in 1880 , withdrawn in 1963 and superheated 187 built in 1879, withdrawn in 1964. I have no idea of the location but there are far more knowledgeable members of the CRS than me so hopefully someone will know.
Regarding Guy Vincent's mystery photo, this is some distance from Devon! At first glance for some reason I thought Ireland, then noticed the tank wagon apparently marked 'C.I.E.' and 'FUEL OIL', and then the CIE logo just in view on the side of the open wagon, far left. The Irish gauge of 5' 3" is difficult to judge from the viewing angle but the track the tank wagon is standing on looks so. This could be Dublin looking across the River Liffy - although it looks earlier than the 1950s the quantity of motor vehicles of 1950s appearance on the opposite side of the river may confirm Guy's estimated date. Ireland's railways were dieselised earlier than Great Britain's so this photo could have been somebody recording an antiquated Irish steam loco on one of its last workings. By the 1950s the loco would probably have been an 0-6-0 - perhaps the number 187 will be helpful to an Irish steam loco expert (which I am not!)
Roy Hart writes:
The picture was taken at an Irish port. Locomotive 187 was a J15 class engine, built for the Great Southern & Western Railway by Sharp Stewart in 1879. Two other members of the class are preserved.
Roger Vinten writes:
I don’t think that it’s Bideford or anywhere in Devon . I don’t even think that it’s in Britain !
Maybe Cork City or Dublin, Loco GS&WR class 101. Loco 186 has been preserved.
John Root writes:
A bit out of your area - it's Waterford in Ireland!
Karl Hewlett writes:
To add to what Neil Phillips and Roy Hart have sent, the 0-6-0 locomotive in Guy Vincent's image I believe is a 101 Class, later J15 locomotive built for GS&WR and ran later with the GSR and CIÉ. The other clue to the location is the tank wagon which has CIE painted on its side, the image is thus taken somewhere between 1945 and 1962 when this loco was withdrawn. The location is quite tricky, I've looked at a number of waterside locations that were served by the GS&WR, the only one that seems plausible is Waterford the loco was noted working around there in the 1950's.
And finally Shaun Brown writes:
Hi there, with reference to Guy Vincent's photograph, with the C.I.É. on the tank wagon it looks to be Ireland so the locomotive could be a non-superheated 0-6-0 GS&WR Class 101 of which 111 were built between 1866 and 1903. Two have been preserved, non-superheated 184 built in 1880 , withdrawn in 1963 and superheated 187 built in 1879, withdrawn in 1964. I have no idea of the location but there are far more knowledgeable members of the CRS than me so hopefully someone will know.
Many thanks all - a long way from our patch! Waterford it is - well done to everyone.
Axminster Bank Slip
Alan Peters
A bank slip occurred on the 'Down Exeter' near Axminster West Junction on the Southern Mainline following Storm Goretti which required emergency repairs to stabalise the embankment over the weekend of 17th and 18th January 2026, the boulders were brought in by train for the repairs and completed works can be seen in the picture.
Repair work to the embankment near Axminster. 18.01.2026, copyright Alan Peters.
Repair work to the embankment near Axminster. 18.01.2026, copyright Alan Peters.
Emergency repairs to the Southern Mainline near Axminster near completion on Sunday 18th January 2026 carried out by M Group and Sonic Rail Services. Copyright Alan Peters.
A very dirty Colas Rail Freight 66850 'David Maidment OBE' is seen with 6C07 Bescot to Axminster carrying some of the large boulders required for the embankment works on 18/01/26. Copyright Alan Peters.
With 2 x Colas Rail Freight trains on site, these were reformed as one top and tail train with 66848 leading, pictured at Axminster station awaiting departure to Westbury via Yeovil as 6C06 with 66850 on the rear, 19/01/26. Copyright Alan Peters.
Many thanks Alan - well done to you and the team upon a quick fix.
Class 56's
Michael Forward
The Colas fleet of class 56s is currently stood down so here is a reminder of happier times last year when 56051 did some departmental work from Eastleigh (the 56 is still in Eastleigh east yard). Here it is on 13 August 2025 with a light load for Hoo Junction, North Kent. Copyright Michael Forward.
Going back over 40 years we see 56001 at Reading with empty wagons from Acton to Westbury on 26 April 1985. Copyright Michael Forward.
Many thanks Michael.
Postal Memories
Paul Barlow
47722 waits at Exeter with the 1558 Willesden to Plymouth. 28.08.1999, copyright Paul Barlow.
47749 'Atlantic College' waits at Exeter St. Davids with the 1558 Willesden to Plymouth on 11 August 1999. This loco was originally 47076 'City of Truro'. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Great photos Paul, many thanks.
The unlucky 31241
Neil Phillips
Clive Smith/Nick Perring's photo of 31241 with a severe case of the droops looked familiar - I checked my records and sure enough I noted this locomotive on Swindon Stabling Point in this state on 16th March 1982, so it must have taken a long time to reach its appointment with the torch. This Class 31 was also involved in the fatal collision 50 years ago on the 3rd of this month which ended the career of Class 52 D1055 'Western Advocate'. Gale force winds across the country that night had knocked out signalling and communications in the Worcester area and time interval working was in force. The driver of 31241 hauling a single BR GUV had stopped at a signal to report in and had just begun to move off when D1055, travelling light engine, struck the rear of the parcels van at around 45 mph, the impact claiming the lives of both crew members.
31241 & 37299 with 31421 out of sight hauling the convoy at Newton Abbot in December 1981 on route from Laira to Exeter. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
Many thanks Neil, a sad tale. A wonder that the 31 lingered on in this state for such a long time following the accident.
Karl Hewlett also writes regarding the above:
Regarding the late Nick Perrings image supplied by Clive Smith of crash damaged 31241, this has been in the CRS as a question, so I have dug out the link:
https://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc/december-21st-2024
Regarding the late Nick Perrings image supplied by Clive Smith of crash damaged 31241, this has been in the CRS as a question, so I have dug out the link:
https://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc/december-21st-2024
Many thanks Karl - I thought I'd read the story of 31241 before.