More rain, anyone?
Craig Munday
Well, a few days off to look forward too after a fascinating few weeks in the far South West. It's Craig 3 - storms 3! Having shared duties with staff across all three named storms, it's been ahem eye opening. We will certainly remember these times, the same as Feb 2014 and the infamous March Beast Of the East some years ago when we got a deluge of snow.
I covered the dark hours recently, so photos at a premium. Penzance featured a lot with TC failures leading from salt on the tracks.
08836 snuck into Penzance and I observed it alone (not surprisingly) on the night of Chandra. The torrential rain blown sideways by the SE winds.
Here are some photos, including working by Pilot at PZ1. Marazion during Ingrid.
I covered the dark hours recently, so photos at a premium. Penzance featured a lot with TC failures leading from salt on the tracks.
08836 snuck into Penzance and I observed it alone (not surprisingly) on the night of Chandra. The torrential rain blown sideways by the SE winds.
Here are some photos, including working by Pilot at PZ1. Marazion during Ingrid.
Pilot working at Penzance as a GWR Hitachi unit passes signal PZ1. 24.01.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
08836 'on the blocks' at Penzance after bringing in the empty coaching stock for the up sleeper. 26.01.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
08836 'on the blocks' at Penzance after bringing in the empty coaching stock for the up sleeper. 26.01.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks as ever Craig. Summer will soon be with us!
WESTERNS AT LARGE - 1976
Part 6
Ian Thomas
D1056 at Carne Point, Fowey, with the Railway Pictorial Publications Railtours 'Western China Clay' tour on 04.12.1976. D1023 was on the opposite end of the train. Copyright Ian Thomas.
Many thanks Ian - a bit of a 'legendary' tour - I'm sure many readers can claim to have been there too!
A good 'cop' at Westbury
Guy Vincent
Loco 69016 'British Transport Police', sporting their unique livery and decals pauses at Westbury whilst returning to Eastleigh from Taunton Fairwater today.
69016 was formerly 'Grid' 56097. It was built at Doncaster and entered service at Tinsley in September 1981.
Withdrawn by EWS in May 1999 it was one of a handful of 56s sent to Wigan CRDC where it was partially stripped for spares to keep other locos in traffic. It was the first 56 to enter preservation when it was bought along with the remains of 56080 and both moved to Cardiff Cathays in April 2002 where restoration was undertaken with further work carried out at Brush Loughborough and at Ruddington, Great Central Railway (North) from 2004. The loco carried Trainload Coal triple grey livery during its time in preservation. After several years of on-off use 56097 was sold to GB Railfreight and in November 2022 moved to Longport to become the final class 69 conversion, entering traffic in mid 2025 and featuring at the Rail 200 'greatest gathering' at Derby.
69016 was formerly 'Grid' 56097. It was built at Doncaster and entered service at Tinsley in September 1981.
Withdrawn by EWS in May 1999 it was one of a handful of 56s sent to Wigan CRDC where it was partially stripped for spares to keep other locos in traffic. It was the first 56 to enter preservation when it was bought along with the remains of 56080 and both moved to Cardiff Cathays in April 2002 where restoration was undertaken with further work carried out at Brush Loughborough and at Ruddington, Great Central Railway (North) from 2004. The loco carried Trainload Coal triple grey livery during its time in preservation. After several years of on-off use 56097 was sold to GB Railfreight and in November 2022 moved to Longport to become the final class 69 conversion, entering traffic in mid 2025 and featuring at the Rail 200 'greatest gathering' at Derby.
69016 at Westbury on 29.01.2026. All above images copyright Guy Vincent. Please click an image for an enlargement/caption.
Great photos and an interesting bit of history to go with them - many thanks, Guy.
'Bulwark' at Plymouth
Michael Adams
(With thanks to Michael Forward)
Here is another evocative picture of a class 50 from Michael Adams,this time 50041 'Bulwark' at Plymouth on 18 June 1987 with the 10.27 Penzance to Glasgow/Edinburgh. This loco was scrapped just over four years later at Old Oak depot. Copyright Michael Adams.
A great picture from Michael A, many thanks to Michael Forward for sending it over.
Van Trains
Part 6
Roger Geach
47476 passing Bolitho, Liskeard with the 1338 Penzance - Leeds vans. 22.07.1991, copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks for another great photo of a Van Train, Roger.