Something for the weekend..?
Please visit Penmere station for their 100th anniversary gala, this Saturday.
For more information, please click here.
For more information, please click here.
A mystery shunter
Steve Widdowson
Can anyone shine any light on this loco. It has a plate on 5200. Don't think it is there anymore. It was in a field somewhere around Padstow & St Agnes. I remember it was there for years but only took this attached picture on 31.07.1994.
All information will be most welcome. Is it still around today ?
All information will be most welcome. Is it still around today ?
A shunter at St. Agnes in 1994. Copyright Steve Widdowson.
Thanks Steve. This shunter would appear to be that which is outside the former St. Agnes station. It's still in place, as shown in the below photo from Dennis Clarke last October.
The Planet 0-4-0 shunter which has acted as a 'gate guardian' since 1987 for the industrial estate which has been built in the old station site. The shunter came from Devonport Dockyard. 14.10.2024, copyright Dennis Clarke.
The shunter came from Devonport Dockyard, but before being 'stuffed and mounted' at St. Agnes, it was part of a failed preservation site at Lanteague on the former Newquay - Chacewater branch between Goonhavern and Sheperds.
The 'Planet' at Lanteague 1 Zelah on the 16th May 1985, Copyright Alan Harris.
More photos of the Lanteague site are available here (scroll down).
Further info from Paul Burkhalter
Good morning,
To add to the comments; This loco’s career in Devonport Dockyard came to an end on 4 June 1982 when a runaway wagon crashed into it in the Exchange Sidings. The loco was written off as a result.
Cheers,
Paul Burkhalter
To add to the comments; This loco’s career in Devonport Dockyard came to an end on 4 June 1982 when a runaway wagon crashed into it in the Exchange Sidings. The loco was written off as a result.
Cheers,
Paul Burkhalter
Many thanks for that, Paul.
Bodmin Diesels
Chris Bellett
A bit slow off the blocks today but attached are some photos for the website if you wish. Saturday 19 July, was a non-public running day at Bodmin with a Drivers Experience Course using the Class 47 and some competency training for the Class 121 'Bubble Car' drivers. In the afternoon the CDA wagons were taken out for a few trips.
Class 121 'Bubble Car' 121020 at Bodmin General for crew training. 19.07.2025, copyright Chris Bellett.
47306 runs around the CDA wagons on a driver experience course. The use of 'modern' air braked wagons on one of these experiences must be quite unique? 19.07.2025, copyright Chris Bellett.
47306 complete with 'Happy Birthday' headboard backing onto the rake of 6 CDA's. 19.07.2025, copyright Chris Bellett.
47306 and 121020 together at Bodmin General. 19.07.2025, copyright Chris Bellett.
The view from the door of the signalbox. 19.07.2025, copyright Chris Bellett.
Many thanks, Chris - always great to see anything out of the ordinary happening at Bodmin.
For a chance to see the CDA's and many other clay-transporting contraptions for yourself, don't miss the 'China Clay Gala' this weekend - the 26th & 27th July.
For more info, please click here.
For more info, please click here.
More of 47306 'through the ages'
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
In BR Blue livery, 47306 is seen at the head of a freight service in 1990. Copyright Phil Smith.
A decade later, in August 2000, 47306 is seen at the Old Oak Common open day in a freshly applied Railfreight Distribution livery. It was selected to be a part of the EWS 'heritage fleet' and was placed on display at numerous events around this time, before being abandoned at St. Blazey for a number of years following the depot family and friends day and having attended the Bodmin & Wenford Railway diesel gala. Copyright Phil Smith.
Many thanks as always, Phil.
Re: Class 175's To Newquay
Karl Hewlett
Regarding Neil Phillip's message about the use of class 175's to Newquay and The Mid Cornwall Metro system, the answer to his question is the Metros will be diagrammed for class 150/2's unless anything goes wrong with one.
The potential use of 175 on the Newquay branch, 'if' they were to go there, would be on other services. A hypothetical example is from Plymouth and return, this is made easier here as Laira crew currently being trained on them also have route knowledge to Newquay from working run-to-the-sun GWR diagrams. Granted it would become tighter to run additional services after the introduction of the Metro as well, not forgetting that 'DB Cargo' will also need paths to Goonbarrow, but the loop now in place is manageable.
My response was to a previous message posted 'would we eventually see 175 on Cornish branchlines', well the answer to that is what I said, highly unlikely but not impossible. Station dwell time is a key issue with end door units, a reason why class 158's are not common on branch diagrams. An example, the Falmouth branch, where you have at least four stops in quick succession, a lot of people will train/detrain at these. With services running on tight timings, central door units such as 150 are preferred because people can get on and off quickly without biting into the schedule too much and, would incur less penalty fines TOC's get for late running.
You will eventually see less class 150's on the mainline diagrams and displaced to branchlines with the arrival of class 175 and 158 migrating south, but nothing is set in stone yet except the Exeter to Penzance diagrams.
The potential use of 175 on the Newquay branch, 'if' they were to go there, would be on other services. A hypothetical example is from Plymouth and return, this is made easier here as Laira crew currently being trained on them also have route knowledge to Newquay from working run-to-the-sun GWR diagrams. Granted it would become tighter to run additional services after the introduction of the Metro as well, not forgetting that 'DB Cargo' will also need paths to Goonbarrow, but the loop now in place is manageable.
My response was to a previous message posted 'would we eventually see 175 on Cornish branchlines', well the answer to that is what I said, highly unlikely but not impossible. Station dwell time is a key issue with end door units, a reason why class 158's are not common on branch diagrams. An example, the Falmouth branch, where you have at least four stops in quick succession, a lot of people will train/detrain at these. With services running on tight timings, central door units such as 150 are preferred because people can get on and off quickly without biting into the schedule too much and, would incur less penalty fines TOC's get for late running.
You will eventually see less class 150's on the mainline diagrams and displaced to branchlines with the arrival of class 175 and 158 migrating south, but nothing is set in stone yet except the Exeter to Penzance diagrams.
Steam in the landscape
Paul Barlow
A shot from a new location for me near Tiverton Parkway whilst cycling along the Grand Western canal. 5029 Nunney Castle 0518 Crewe to Kingswear 1Z50 viewed from the Grand Western canal near Tiverton Parkway. 19.07.2025, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks, Paul - looks a lovely spot.