NINETEEN SIXTY TWO – PART 96
Defiance Platform, Saltash
Michael L. Roach
It was good to see Roger Winnen's record of the CRS boat trip down the River Tamar from Calstock which took place thirty years ago. The Southern Belle also made a side trip off the Tamar that day up the River Lynher to St. Germans Viaduct, Here the boat was travelling parallel to the Cornish main line, where the line could be seen crossing the 1908 viaducts at Forder, Notter and St. Germans. Before 1908, and doubling of the line from Saltash to St. Germans, the line was single and was located further south between the 1908 line and the bank of the River Lynher, with steeper gradients and more viaducts. There was little habitation along this length of railway and yet for some 25 years a halt or platform was provided above Wearde Quay, and one of the photos attached shows that it was well-used at certain times of the day.
HMS Defiance of 1861 (there have been several with that name) was the last wooden line-of-battle ship built for the Royal Navy. The ship was built at the Royal Navy Dockyard at Pembroke Dock between 1858 and 1862, and displaced 5,700 tons. It lasted until 1930, and the following year was sold for scrap and broken up in Millbay Docks, Plymouth. The ship never saw active service and in 1884 it became a school ship for naval trainees at Devonport. Shortly afterwards it was moored in the River Lynher at its confluence with the River Tamar. As well as classroom lessons the trainees would have learnt practical seamanship in small boats safely clear of the main shipping lanes. The nearest and easiest road access was on the south side of the river at Antony Passage. Above the north bank of the river passed the Great Western Railway's line from Paddington to Penzance, single line and still broad gauge in 1884.
In 1905 a single platform was built on the single line which had been converted to standard gauge in 1892. The location was approximately three quarters of a mile west of Saltash Station adjacent to a road overbridge; and the 150 feet long platform was built by the Royal Navy for the use of its officers and men. The public were also permitted to use the station accessing it by steps from the adjacent road bridge. The station opened on 1 March 1905 and was initially called Defiance Halte. Within a year or two the line from Saltash to St. Germans was being doubled but on a new alignment to the north of the existing alignment and this time the GWR provided two platforms 350 feet long, later lengthened to 400 feet. Further improvements were carried out over the years, including the provision of toilets, and facilities for dealing with parcels. Fourteen months after opening the station was renamed Defiance Platform – the significance of this change being that a booking office and clerk would have been provided for part of the day. The station closed on 27 October 1930.
The attached photos from the GWR Magazine for 1907 show just how busy the station could be at certain times. Most of the naval personnel would have been travelling east to Devonport or Plymouth and it is significant that on that eastbound platform there were no less than three pagoda waiting shelters. I doubt that any other platforms or halts could match that. The book Great Western Railway Halts Volume One includes a wonderful photo showing the proximity of the ship to the railway.
HMS Defiance of 1861 (there have been several with that name) was the last wooden line-of-battle ship built for the Royal Navy. The ship was built at the Royal Navy Dockyard at Pembroke Dock between 1858 and 1862, and displaced 5,700 tons. It lasted until 1930, and the following year was sold for scrap and broken up in Millbay Docks, Plymouth. The ship never saw active service and in 1884 it became a school ship for naval trainees at Devonport. Shortly afterwards it was moored in the River Lynher at its confluence with the River Tamar. As well as classroom lessons the trainees would have learnt practical seamanship in small boats safely clear of the main shipping lanes. The nearest and easiest road access was on the south side of the river at Antony Passage. Above the north bank of the river passed the Great Western Railway's line from Paddington to Penzance, single line and still broad gauge in 1884.
In 1905 a single platform was built on the single line which had been converted to standard gauge in 1892. The location was approximately three quarters of a mile west of Saltash Station adjacent to a road overbridge; and the 150 feet long platform was built by the Royal Navy for the use of its officers and men. The public were also permitted to use the station accessing it by steps from the adjacent road bridge. The station opened on 1 March 1905 and was initially called Defiance Halte. Within a year or two the line from Saltash to St. Germans was being doubled but on a new alignment to the north of the existing alignment and this time the GWR provided two platforms 350 feet long, later lengthened to 400 feet. Further improvements were carried out over the years, including the provision of toilets, and facilities for dealing with parcels. Fourteen months after opening the station was renamed Defiance Platform – the significance of this change being that a booking office and clerk would have been provided for part of the day. The station closed on 27 October 1930.
The attached photos from the GWR Magazine for 1907 show just how busy the station could be at certain times. Most of the naval personnel would have been travelling east to Devonport or Plymouth and it is significant that on that eastbound platform there were no less than three pagoda waiting shelters. I doubt that any other platforms or halts could match that. The book Great Western Railway Halts Volume One includes a wonderful photo showing the proximity of the ship to the railway.
The GWR report of Defiance Halt being moved to the new double line in April 1907
Sailors in abundance in October 1907
Many thanks as always Michael. If you haven't read Rogers report of the boat trip which Mike mentions, please scroll down and view the previous few days news articles.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
Par Signal Box - The next chapter
Craig Munday/Network Rail
The below text comes from a Network Rail press release, kindly shared with us by Craig Munday.
Future of Par signal box secured as a railway training facility
The future of Par signal box in Cornwall, one of the oldest signal boxes still standing, has been secured with an agreement to use it as a railway training facility.
A ceremony was held to hand over the keys to the signal box from Network Rail’s operations team to the maintenance team.
Built in 1879, Par signal box was finally closed on 4 March 2024 when a new digital signal system was launched in mid-Cornwall.
But the grade Grade II II-listed box will now continue to serve the railway for decades to come.
The box, which used to control trains on the Cornish mainline and Newquay branch line, will be used to help train new signallers, with skills gained in mechanical signalling equally valuable on a digital system.
Mechanical signalling is also still in use in West Cornwall, including on the Newquay branch line.
Par will add to Network Rail’s signal training centres in the West with other bases in Bristol, Exeter and Westbury.
Dan Collins, Network Rail infrastructure maintenance delivery manager, said:
“We’re so pleased to have the chance to take Par signal box into the next stage of its life.
“The box has served the railway for over more than a century and we’ll preserve its proud history and make sure it’s still here for future generations to enjoy.”
The future of Par signal box in Cornwall, one of the oldest signal boxes still standing, has been secured with an agreement to use it as a railway training facility.
A ceremony was held to hand over the keys to the signal box from Network Rail’s operations team to the maintenance team.
Built in 1879, Par signal box was finally closed on 4 March 2024 when a new digital signal system was launched in mid-Cornwall.
But the grade Grade II II-listed box will now continue to serve the railway for decades to come.
The box, which used to control trains on the Cornish mainline and Newquay branch line, will be used to help train new signallers, with skills gained in mechanical signalling equally valuable on a digital system.
Mechanical signalling is also still in use in West Cornwall, including on the Newquay branch line.
Par will add to Network Rail’s signal training centres in the West with other bases in Bristol, Exeter and Westbury.
Dan Collins, Network Rail infrastructure maintenance delivery manager, said:
“We’re so pleased to have the chance to take Par signal box into the next stage of its life.
“The box has served the railway for over more than a century and we’ll preserve its proud history and make sure it’s still here for future generations to enjoy.”
Paul Gardiner from Par S&T receives the box key from John Kelly. John was a regular Signalman at Par and fittingly presented the key. John still works with NR in Ops Risk. Copyright Network Rail.
A group of invited guests pose outside the box with the original sign returned for reattachment. Copyright Network Rail.
Thank you very much Craig, a fitting use for a special and historic structure.
Sir Kenneth Grange
Designer of the 'Intercity 125'
17.07.1929 - 22.07.2024
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Kenneth Grange yesterday, 22.07.2024.
Sir Kenneth was the designer of the iconic 'nose' of the Class 43 along with the early liveries which the class wore.
He also designed many more everyday objects, such as the Kodak Instamatic camera.
Roger has searched the archives for some of his earliest 'HST' images which are shown below.
Sir Kenneth was the designer of the iconic 'nose' of the Class 43 along with the early liveries which the class wore.
He also designed many more everyday objects, such as the Kodak Instamatic camera.
Roger has searched the archives for some of his earliest 'HST' images which are shown below.
27.11.1976 - a nearly-new Class 43 at Bristol Temple Meads in its original livery and trim. Copyright Roger Winnen.
09.10.1976 - The HST with its futuristic looks, designed by Sir Kenneth Grange, looks like a vehicle from another world when compared to the classic styling of the Peak it sits alongside. Copyright Roger Winnen.
09.10.1976 - The Prototype High Speed Train at Bristol Temple Meads. Without going into too much detail - other websites have this covered in great depth - Sir Kenneth was asked to design a livery for this locomotive. He instead pushed for a complete remodel of the nose and to loose the buffers, which gave us the well-known 'face' of the Class 43. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Luxulyan
Jon Hird
22.07.2024 - 12:49 - 150263 heads through Luxulyan with the delayed Penzance - Newquay service. Copyright Jon Hird.
22.07.2024 - 13:01 - 66025 heads the other way through Luxulyan with 16 JIA's full of China Clay for Fowey. The first train to Fowey for a week. Copyright Jon Hird.
Roaming the Newquay Branch
Roger Winnen
25.06.1978 - 50016 Barham passing a DMU at St Dennis Junction. Copyright Roger Winnen
25.06.1978 - Arrival at Newquay. Copyright Roger Winnen
25.06.1978 - 50050 Running around at Newquay. Copyright Roger Winnen
25.06.1978 - 47001 and three trains at Newquay. Copyright Roger Winnen