This weekend - 'Wasson'?
This weekend is packed full of railway interest here in the far west, take your pick from:
- Railtours
45118 to Kingswear on Saturday or steam to Par on Sunday - check out the details in our railtour calendar. - The Friends of Penmere Platform 100th Anniversary Gala (Saturday)
Attractions and fun for all the family at Penmere - Click here. - Tarka Valley Railway's 100th Anniversary Gala (Saturday + Sunday)
Tarka Valley Railway's celebration of the 100th anniversary of the opening in 1925 of the North Devon and Cornwall Jn Light Railway from Torrington to Halwill Jn, including passenger trips in their cl. 143 Pacer unit - Click here. - The Bodmin Railway Clay Gala (Saturday + Sunday)
All manner of clay carrying contraptions from over the years are out to play on the Bodmin Railway - Click here. - Bideford Railway Heritage Centre Running Day (Sunday)
Open day with cab rides in their industrial diesel loco - click here.
Have a great weekend, and if you take any photos, don't forget to send them in!
50 years ago today
'In the smoke'
Roger Winnen
A class 50 at Paddington. 25.07.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
Steve Widdowson writes ref the above image:
The class 50 at Paddington with headcode 1A55 is 50050, it's the only 50 with missing hand rails under the windscreen (above the tail lights).
The class 50 at Paddington with headcode 1A55 is 50050, it's the only 50 with missing hand rails under the windscreen (above the tail lights).
Thanks, Steve
D1030 Western Musketeer at Paddington. 25.07.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
Intercity Units at Paddington. 25.07.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
Prototype HST at Paddington. 25.07.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
Prototype HST at Paddington. 25.07.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
Prototype HST at Paddington. 25.07.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
50050 At Paddington. 25.07.1975, copyright Roger Winnen.
An early start
Jon Hird
GWR hire-in 57301 departs Par with the down 'sleeper' 1C50 on 24.07.2025. Copyright Jon Hird.
DB Cargo 66003 running with just two wagons in an unusual early path heads down the gradient towards Milltown with 6G09 (0645 Goonbarrow - Fowey). 24.07.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
After a speedy run round at Lostwithiel, at 0735 the train collects the staff/token to access the Fowey branch at Coulsons Park. 24.07.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The waters of the Fowey are perfectly still, not even a ripple. 66003 heads down the branch to Fowey with its short train in tow. 24.07.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Later in the day, I made a quick visit to Par Harbour for an over-the-fence shot of 66003. 6 additional wagons had been collected at Fowey and all 8 were taken over to Par Harbour for loading, leaving Fowey shortly before 1000. The train later departed Par Harbour for Cliffe Vale (with a run round at St. Blazey). 24.07.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Pulling forwards towards the mainline bridge to shunt the wagons in the harbour. 24.07.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Bodmin 'Parkway'
Andrew & Diane Jones
What's in a name? I often ask myself, so sitting in my car unable to park holding a valid ticket to Plymouth, I realised that trying to board a train at Bodmin Parkway was a good deal more complicated then first thought.
However please see below photograph of an official GWR sign which someone had kindly thought up for such an event.
It states" If car park is full alternative parking is available at Liskeard Station"
Well by road Liskeard Station is 10.2 miles or optimistically 18 mins.
This obviously didn't help my booked seat and ticket so reluctantly I scrapped using the train and had to drive to my important meeting.
Even if the car park at Liskeard had been viable there was no certainty of space and by now i was not in the best state of mind.
Apparently in 2003, a 500k rail partnership passenger scheme helped make improvements at Parkway, which mainly covered putting a hard surface down and extending capacity to approx 90 cars, although beware when running an Internet search, APCOA's link can not be found and often Bodmin General enters the search criteria giving misleading results.
In terms of other suitable sites it might be best to park somewhere in Bodmin and take the bus or taxi or get someone to drop you off, because walking is not a safe option down the main road and a lengthy detour via Lanhydrock, although well meaning is not really viable unless you are in training for the Duke of Edinburgh Award!
You might ask if alternative parking was an option in Lostwithiel, certainty much closer although the town is unfortunately now one big car park due to lack of railway parking investment.
Railway Parkways are an important part of an integrated public transport system, without them railway growth is heavily restricted and certainly at Roche Station, due to its proximity to the A30 ,it would be an asset for Newquay with plenty of land available adjacent the existing station.
Okehampton is about to get a Parkway and in reality, without it would prove difficult to cope with more cars at the existing site.
So calling a Station with very limited facilities a Parkway is often stretching reality and given that Bodmin Parkway is meant to provide coverage for the whole of North Cornwall perhaps it would be more accurate to reinstate the name Bodmin Road.
On a brighter note, I wonder if the mystery photograph of 5521 was at Norchard on the Forest of Dean railway, but not sure about the turntable.
However please see below photograph of an official GWR sign which someone had kindly thought up for such an event.
It states" If car park is full alternative parking is available at Liskeard Station"
Well by road Liskeard Station is 10.2 miles or optimistically 18 mins.
This obviously didn't help my booked seat and ticket so reluctantly I scrapped using the train and had to drive to my important meeting.
Even if the car park at Liskeard had been viable there was no certainty of space and by now i was not in the best state of mind.
Apparently in 2003, a 500k rail partnership passenger scheme helped make improvements at Parkway, which mainly covered putting a hard surface down and extending capacity to approx 90 cars, although beware when running an Internet search, APCOA's link can not be found and often Bodmin General enters the search criteria giving misleading results.
In terms of other suitable sites it might be best to park somewhere in Bodmin and take the bus or taxi or get someone to drop you off, because walking is not a safe option down the main road and a lengthy detour via Lanhydrock, although well meaning is not really viable unless you are in training for the Duke of Edinburgh Award!
You might ask if alternative parking was an option in Lostwithiel, certainty much closer although the town is unfortunately now one big car park due to lack of railway parking investment.
Railway Parkways are an important part of an integrated public transport system, without them railway growth is heavily restricted and certainly at Roche Station, due to its proximity to the A30 ,it would be an asset for Newquay with plenty of land available adjacent the existing station.
Okehampton is about to get a Parkway and in reality, without it would prove difficult to cope with more cars at the existing site.
So calling a Station with very limited facilities a Parkway is often stretching reality and given that Bodmin Parkway is meant to provide coverage for the whole of North Cornwall perhaps it would be more accurate to reinstate the name Bodmin Road.
On a brighter note, I wonder if the mystery photograph of 5521 was at Norchard on the Forest of Dean railway, but not sure about the turntable.
That sign always gets me, Andrew - I never know whether to laugh or despair! Many thanks for the thoughts which I'm sure are shared by many. Thanks also for the suggestion about the mystery photograph.
Do they know something we don't...?!
Snowploughs in July
Guy Vincent
Yet again the railway managed to spring a surprise in high summer with the unexpected movement of two of the four snowploughs from Taunton Fairwater yard. 37116 and 37405 ran light from Shrewsbury (Coleham) to Fairwater yard on 23rd and were due to depart this morning as 7Z41 0827 Fairwater-Wolverton Centre Sidings. However, due to issues coupling in the yard departure was delayed until after midday with the unusual combination finally heading away from Taunton station at around 1255pm. Being a class 7 speed was restricted to 45mph throughout meaning pathing had to be immediately behind one of the hourly fast Paddington bound services. Although originally scheduled to pass through Westbury station the train was sent via the avoiding line where we (safely) saw it pass the reportedly soon to be closed Penleigh Park foot crossing at 1352.
This qualifies as the most unusual working of 2025 to date and is the first time I have seen snowploughs at Westbury, certainly not something you would expect in July!
Note the peepholes each side of the plough through which the driver has forward vision.
No idea whether the ploughs, numbered ZZA ADB965217 and ZZA ADB965240 will be returning to Fairwater. The pair only arrived there on 16th January this year as 7Z47 1347 (15th) Eastriggs MOD [Cumbria] - Fairwater, delivered by 47832 and 57601. Two further ploughs, ADB965223 (south facing) and ADB965235, (facing north), have been at Taunton for several years now.
This qualifies as the most unusual working of 2025 to date and is the first time I have seen snowploughs at Westbury, certainly not something you would expect in July!
Note the peepholes each side of the plough through which the driver has forward vision.
No idea whether the ploughs, numbered ZZA ADB965217 and ZZA ADB965240 will be returning to Fairwater. The pair only arrived there on 16th January this year as 7Z47 1347 (15th) Eastriggs MOD [Cumbria] - Fairwater, delivered by 47832 and 57601. Two further ploughs, ADB965223 (south facing) and ADB965235, (facing north), have been at Taunton for several years now.
37116 and 37405 sandwiched by snowploughs pass Penleigh Park foot crossing working to Wolverton from Taunton Fairwater yard on 24.07.2025. Copyright Guy Vincent.
37116 and 37405 sandwiched by snowploughs pass Penleigh Park foot crossing working to Wolverton from Taunton Fairwater yard on 24.07.2025. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy - as you rightly say, a very strange sight in the west, let alone in July!