The Bodmin Railway Clay Gala
This weekend, we'll have an extra special celebration of our Cornish China Clay heritage with rarely seen wagons working, and out on display! Enjoy this special chance to experience a china clay wagon ride, see shunting displays, the classic Beattie Well Tank, and lots more.
On Saturday we'll also be offering a limited number of 'Driver for a Tenner' opportunities.
Join us as we recreate scenes of yesteryear that famously shaped our history.
Fun for all ages and kids for a quid tickets available!
For more info, click here.
On Saturday we'll also be offering a limited number of 'Driver for a Tenner' opportunities.
Join us as we recreate scenes of yesteryear that famously shaped our history.
Fun for all ages and kids for a quid tickets available!
For more info, click here.
Moorswater Clearance
Craig Munday
There have been a lot of comments regarding the clearance at Moorswater. The line between Coombe no 2 ground frame and Moorswater is still Network Rail infrastructure, though no revenue earning traffic sadly uses the line.
The recent clearance of the line got enthusiasts wondering if new traffic was inbound. Not quite. The work is to allow the paddock area to be the hub of the Looe line vegetation clearance programme. Ecologically the line has unique features which the team must rigidly follow. Customarily, when trees, branches and bushes are cleared, the nearby chipper simply blasts the chippings back onto the embankment. The tidal river prevents this, as it would not be practical to have the programmes logs and chippings float down the river to join the sea (eventually). The risk of the waste product affecting the environment could cause all manner of dangers to animal, river and plant life.
Therefore, logistically (no pun intended) the team have had to ensure that ALL cuttings and chippings are brought back to Moorswater for disposal. The chippings tip is huge, and logs and branches are carefully stockpiled ready for removal. A myriad of road / rail plant is being utilized, and many of them are pictured. A squadron of them trickle out of Moorswater towing trailers each night after the engineer tales possession of the line to work. They must be safely back in the compound, off the rail prior to handback.
The recent clearance of the line got enthusiasts wondering if new traffic was inbound. Not quite. The work is to allow the paddock area to be the hub of the Looe line vegetation clearance programme. Ecologically the line has unique features which the team must rigidly follow. Customarily, when trees, branches and bushes are cleared, the nearby chipper simply blasts the chippings back onto the embankment. The tidal river prevents this, as it would not be practical to have the programmes logs and chippings float down the river to join the sea (eventually). The risk of the waste product affecting the environment could cause all manner of dangers to animal, river and plant life.
Therefore, logistically (no pun intended) the team have had to ensure that ALL cuttings and chippings are brought back to Moorswater for disposal. The chippings tip is huge, and logs and branches are carefully stockpiled ready for removal. A myriad of road / rail plant is being utilized, and many of them are pictured. A squadron of them trickle out of Moorswater towing trailers each night after the engineer tales possession of the line to work. They must be safely back in the compound, off the rail prior to handback.
Looking towards Moorswater viaduct from the compound, with a road/rail vehicle trailer off the tracks in the foreground. July 2025, copyright Craig Munday.
The huge pile of wood chippings resulting from vegetation clearance along the Looe branch. July 2025, copyright Craig Munday.
Road Rail Vehicles at rest during the day in the Moorswater compound. July 2025, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks, Craig - a perfect explaination of what's happening. Good to see the branch receiving some attention, even if no trains are in the pipeline.
Bedminster Station
Clive Smith
After two steam trains at Taunton, a visit to the Bristol Harbour Railway, a few beers in Southville and a walk past the multitude of vibrant street art murals in Bedminster, it was time to catch the 18.54 direct IET from Bedminster station to Ivybridge. In keeping with the colourful streets of this Bristol suburb, the station was equally eye catchingl with a mural of nearby Windmill Hill and Victoria Park. This was chosen by local residents from three by artist Bill Guilding.Two smaller paintings on the adjacent station entrance wall are of a broadcast from this station by the young John Betjeman in 1936, and the station itself at that time. The station underpass was also brightened and transformed with artwork in January of this year. Sadly GWR trains continue in their boring, drab, dull livery which will be ten years old later this year and very tired. I suggest GWR should give the Bedminster street mural artists a free reign on their trains for what's left of the franchise and brighten up the network. Wishful thinking ?
A mural of a GWR steam loco at Bedminster Station. 19.07.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
More murals at Bedminster, featuring more up-to-date (but still not quite up-to-date!) traction. 19.07.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
Historic photographs on display. 19.07.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
The departure board showing on on-time service to Plymouth. 19.07.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
A GWR Turbo calls at Bedminster. 19.07.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks, Clive - not a station we see many photos of.
47306 in peril
Neil Phillips
Here is my contribution to the 47306 photo gallery!
On the rather dull morning of Saturday 3rd August 1974 I had travelled to Reading from Blackwater on the Redhill line behind Class 33 33028 and upon arrival the first loco I noted was 47306 bearing the headcode 1A18, although as things turned out it was probably 1M18 and heading for Birmingham New Street. My intended destination was Didcot and 47444 took me there where D7026 and 31294 were noted in the sidings (as was D7022 wearing a fresh coat of blue paint, courtesy of Old Oak Common depot). D7026 was later seen from the footbridge over the line at Didcot North shunting ballast wagons. After spending a couple of hours or so on this bridge I made my way back to Didcot station where small shunter PWM653 was spotted in the sidings but by then D7026 and 31294 had moved on to Reading. I followed them back there behind 47061 to spend a little more time there before heading back to Blackwater, and this was when 47306 reappeared on train 1V58 and was promptly declared a failure in the platform! D7026 was summoned to drag the future Cornish preservation star away to Reading depot, and 31294 replaced it for the run into Paddington (six months earlier this had been the only Class 31 to carry a TOPS number while still in green livery, and for just two weeks - as 5827 it had also worked 1V76 0830 Liverpool - Penzance to the end of the line on 29th June 1973).
I had noted 47306 at Reading during late afternoon the previous day, also on a Class 1 passenger service (I didn't manage to get the full headcode) so this Crewe-allocated freight-only Class 47 was enjoying some summer weekend activity on the WR main line out of Paddington!
I confess that having 47306 just 10 miles up the road does slightly 'ruffle my feathers' because during my loco-spotting career I managed to see 509 of the 512 Class 47s built - D1671 and D1734 were scrapped before I started and the only one to escape me was D1788/47307........close but no cigar, as they say! I know it visited Cornwall on 18th January 1985 because Clive Smith photographed it on an up freight working at Plymouth North Road in the snow (I just had to save that image Clive!) - but I was 200 miles away at the time.....
On the rather dull morning of Saturday 3rd August 1974 I had travelled to Reading from Blackwater on the Redhill line behind Class 33 33028 and upon arrival the first loco I noted was 47306 bearing the headcode 1A18, although as things turned out it was probably 1M18 and heading for Birmingham New Street. My intended destination was Didcot and 47444 took me there where D7026 and 31294 were noted in the sidings (as was D7022 wearing a fresh coat of blue paint, courtesy of Old Oak Common depot). D7026 was later seen from the footbridge over the line at Didcot North shunting ballast wagons. After spending a couple of hours or so on this bridge I made my way back to Didcot station where small shunter PWM653 was spotted in the sidings but by then D7026 and 31294 had moved on to Reading. I followed them back there behind 47061 to spend a little more time there before heading back to Blackwater, and this was when 47306 reappeared on train 1V58 and was promptly declared a failure in the platform! D7026 was summoned to drag the future Cornish preservation star away to Reading depot, and 31294 replaced it for the run into Paddington (six months earlier this had been the only Class 31 to carry a TOPS number while still in green livery, and for just two weeks - as 5827 it had also worked 1V76 0830 Liverpool - Penzance to the end of the line on 29th June 1973).
I had noted 47306 at Reading during late afternoon the previous day, also on a Class 1 passenger service (I didn't manage to get the full headcode) so this Crewe-allocated freight-only Class 47 was enjoying some summer weekend activity on the WR main line out of Paddington!
I confess that having 47306 just 10 miles up the road does slightly 'ruffle my feathers' because during my loco-spotting career I managed to see 509 of the 512 Class 47s built - D1671 and D1734 were scrapped before I started and the only one to escape me was D1788/47307........close but no cigar, as they say! I know it visited Cornwall on 18th January 1985 because Clive Smith photographed it on an up freight working at Plymouth North Road in the snow (I just had to save that image Clive!) - but I was 200 miles away at the time.....
D7026 + 47306 at Reading on 03.08.1974. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks, Neil - a lucky catch for you.
Hydraulics head home
Guy Vincent, Colin Pidgeon, Ken Mumford & Steve Widdowson
D1015, 46045 and D821 passing through platform 3 at Swindon today (22nd) returning from the Mid-Hants Railway to the Severn Valley Railway as 0Z52 0822 Alton - Kidderminster. A wonderful sight at a much-changed Swindon station, now dominated by the various types of grey metalwork needed for the 21st century railway to operate. Both the hydraulics were of course built in the former Great Western Railway works just a stones throw away. 22.07.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Warship D821 back on home turf at Swindon. 22.07.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
The convoy arriving at Swindon. 22.07.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Departing Swindon. 22.07.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
D1015 passes Purton Common Foot Crossing. 22.07.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
The going-away shot from Purton. 22.07.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
D821 with 46045 on the rear with D1015 hauling the convoy past Besford Bridge Worcs - 0Z52 0822 Alton - Kidderminster SVR. 22.07.2025, copyright Steve Widdowson.
Strange seeing a 'Warship' back out on the big railway - many thanks all.
Please visit Penmere station for their 100th anniversary gala, this Saturday.
For more information, please click here.
For more information, please click here.