This Saturday - 14.03.2026
The CRS AGM & Members Evening
Join us this Saturday at the Redruth Methodist Church memorial hall for our AGM and members evening, where members will present a photographic show for attendees.
Commencing 1830. Members free, visitors welcome at £3 a head. Refreshments available.
For any further details, please contact Roger Winnen via [email protected]
The CRS AGM & Members Evening
Join us this Saturday at the Redruth Methodist Church memorial hall for our AGM and members evening, where members will present a photographic show for attendees.
Commencing 1830. Members free, visitors welcome at £3 a head. Refreshments available.
For any further details, please contact Roger Winnen via [email protected]
Cheltenham Gold Cup Trains
Ian Thomas
Race meetings are popular anywhere in Great Britain, and additional trains run to such events where possible. Doncaster, Newbury to name two, but where we are concerned, then Cheltenham Gold Cup week was always a busy one.
In recent years it has been all about HSTs and now Class 800s, but in the past it was locomotive-hauled additionals. In the glory days of the Great Western’s Cheltenham to Honeybourne route still in use, the trains disgorged their payload at the racecourse station (now of course the southern end of the GWRS).
Back in the 1960s it was steam at the start of the decade, then diesel hydraulics, Duffs and even Peaks. Hymeks and Westerns were frequent visitors. The racecourse station was last used in 1976 according to Wikipedia, Cheltenham Lansdowne station being the set-down point thereafter.
Hoovers appeared in the second half of the 1970s and into the 1980s. A big change came in 1983 when the big money spenders arrived en masse from London. It was the year that the V.S.O.E. was chartered and ran from London Victoria to Cheltenham, and has run pretty well most years since (except for foot & mouth in 2001 and COVID in 2021).
However, it goes to Evesham these days and the punters are coached into Toddington and then the GWRS to the course.
Weather conditions have been a mixed bag over the years, anything from warm spring sunshine to snow. Yes indeed, the Gold Cup day was snowed off in 1978 and delayed by a snowstorm in 1987 (see picture of VSOE at Standish). It was a near one in 1963 but the thaw arrived in time, and finally it was abandoned in March 1947 due to snow and a frozen course.
Gold Cup day was always traditionally held on the Thursday, but since it became a four-day event it has moved to Friday.
In recent years it has been all about HSTs and now Class 800s, but in the past it was locomotive-hauled additionals. In the glory days of the Great Western’s Cheltenham to Honeybourne route still in use, the trains disgorged their payload at the racecourse station (now of course the southern end of the GWRS).
Back in the 1960s it was steam at the start of the decade, then diesel hydraulics, Duffs and even Peaks. Hymeks and Westerns were frequent visitors. The racecourse station was last used in 1976 according to Wikipedia, Cheltenham Lansdowne station being the set-down point thereafter.
Hoovers appeared in the second half of the 1970s and into the 1980s. A big change came in 1983 when the big money spenders arrived en masse from London. It was the year that the V.S.O.E. was chartered and ran from London Victoria to Cheltenham, and has run pretty well most years since (except for foot & mouth in 2001 and COVID in 2021).
However, it goes to Evesham these days and the punters are coached into Toddington and then the GWRS to the course.
Weather conditions have been a mixed bag over the years, anything from warm spring sunshine to snow. Yes indeed, the Gold Cup day was snowed off in 1978 and delayed by a snowstorm in 1987 (see picture of VSOE at Standish). It was a near one in 1963 but the thaw arrived in time, and finally it was abandoned in March 1947 due to snow and a frozen course.
Gold Cup day was always traditionally held on the Thursday, but since it became a four-day event it has moved to Friday.
Please click any image below for an enlargement and caption
Many thanks for another superb article Ian, we appreciate the obvious time and effort you have put into this - thank you again.
Spring in the air
Craig Munday
Following the grimmest start possible to 2026, finally signs of Spring are abundant. I've grabbed 66116 working the clay run prior to changes in the pipeline. Although low tide, I caught the train bathed in a powder blue canvas on the causeway at Golant. 09.03.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
Some shots from the signalbox windows. 57604 approaches St. Erth with 1C50 on 13.03.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
Also on 13.02.2026, 175001 passes St. Erth with an up service from Penzance. Copyright Craig Munday.
Another view from a signalbox, Liskeard this time, 175009 and 175003 cross the viaduct with 5Z14 on 03.02.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
175007 and 175009 approach Chacewater with 5Z21 on 28.02.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
All is quiet at Goonbarrow/Rocks. 66116 rests in the sidings behind the signal box. 22.02.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
08752 also at rest at Rocks. 22.02.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks Craig, I think we're all glad the weather has finally changed for the better.
Daybreak at Penzance
Jon Hird
Sunrise over Mounts Bay, Penzance, where 37425 and 37607 were resting having worked down the previous night on a test train. 11.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Looking to the west, the moon is still in the sky. The Scillonian vessel is in the harbour. 11.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
 37607 wearing the bright orange Swietelsky livery at the west end of the train. The last time I saw this locomotive was in June 2024 when it was called upon to rescue the down clay empties after the DB class 66 failed at Dawlish Warren, quite a notable working at the time! 11.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird. |  37425 looking superb with a coat of 'weathering' over its retro Regional Railways livery. 11.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird. |
Later on, also at Penzance..
Mark Lynam
37425 and 37607 in the warm afternoon sun at Penzance. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
The luminous orange of 37607 popping in the sunshine. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
A study of work-worn 37425 at Penzance. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
175007 departs for Plymouth. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
175007 heading away past the signal box. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Night falls as 175009 arrives under the station roof with a training run from Plymouth. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Two GWR Hitachi units arrive to keep 175009 company. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
A parting shot of the test train, awaiting its 2230 departure. 11.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Mark, a lovely selection of photos showing off the terminus.
River Plym Bridge Works
Chris Bellett
A good friend of mine has said that I could pass on the attached photos of the River Plym bridge works undertaken in October 1981 and the works undertaken in 2026. Note the use of single line working by pilotman on the Up Line in 1981!
43138 single line working at Laira Junction, 11 Oct 1981. Copyright B Jones (with thanks to Chris Bellett).
43138 single line working at Laira Junction, 11 Oct 1981. Copyright B Jones (with thanks to Chris Bellett).
45119 on single line working at Marsh Mills, 11 Oct 1981. Copyright B. Jones (with thanks to Chris Bellett).
How the scene has changed over the 4 decades since these photos. Bridge repairs on 24.02.2026. Copyright B. Jones (with thanks to Chris Bellett).
Many thanks Chris, the Laira junction photos are great and it's fascinating to play spot the difference between the last 2.
More split-boxes on the WR
Neil Phillips
Herewith please find my contributions to the 'split-box Class 37s on the Western Region' collection, taken in the 1970s. These may be my only photos which qualify.
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet but 'Cornwall Galleries / St Blazey Depot and Par Docks' section includes images of restored green D6700 and blue 37101, the latter on the turntable.
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet but 'Cornwall Galleries / St Blazey Depot and Par Docks' section includes images of restored green D6700 and blue 37101, the latter on the turntable.
Class 37 6813 approaches Didcot North with an inter-regional working bound for the Southern Region on 8th September 1973. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Class 37 37059 passes Gloucester Horton Road depot light engine on 10th April 1976. Oval buffers on these locos always looked a little odd back then because they were only fitted to a few within the D675x - D677x batch (3705x - 3707x). I believe this Class 37 is still operational (DRS?) Copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks for digging these out for us Neil. 37059 does look a bit odd with the oval buffers and skirts.
37's on stone
Roger Geach
37213 and 37162 with the Theale to Merehead stone empties between Westbury and Fairwood junction. 05.08.1994, copyright Roger Geach.
Wow, a photo you can hear. Many thanks as always Roger.
Mainline Freight
Jon Hird
66116 leads 6 JIA's, loaded earlier in the day at Treviscoe, over St. Pinnock Viaduct en route to Exeter Riverside and Stoke on Trent. 11.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
The Many Guises Of 37037
Clive Smith
Split box headcode 37 on the South Devon Railway! It is still there, usually hidden away and has been inactive since 2013 with repairs having been seriously delayed with prioritising other locos and covid. However it was active as soon as it arrived at the railway in 2004. We look forward to seeing it very much active again in the not too distant future.
The South Devon Railway's Diesel Gala in 2004 featured 37 037's debut having just arrived four days previous on a low loader from Barrow Hill. This 37 was a doyen of the Scottish West Highland line for much of the 1980s and East Anglia in the late 70s. It even managed a year in France from 1999 to 2000. Looking extremely tatty, here it at Buckfastleigh as 37037 on the 13th June 2004. I think it is sporting trainload livery but it's pretty hard to tell. Copyright Clive Smith.
Three years on from the first photo and 37037 has been painted in large logo BR livery with Eastfield 'scotty dog' emblem. 37321 was the number it carried from 1985 to 1989 when it was transferred to Motherwell for dedicated use on the Ravenscraig steel traffic often to be found triple heading the heavy iron ore trains between Hunterston and Ravenscraig. A far cry from rural chuntering along the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes. This day was 7th April 2007 at Totnes. Not a gala but a running day for the loco. Copyright Clive Smith.
Now sporting its new BR as built all green livery and numbered D6737, the 'tractor' gets ready to depart from Buckfastleigh on the 26th April 2008 with a train for Totnes Littlehempston during the South Devon Railway's Diesel Gala. Copyright Clive Smith.
Another three years on and D6737 is now in 'weather beaten' green livery with full yellow ends replicating the late 1960s/early 1970s transitional liveries. Here it is at Buckfastleigh on the 5th November 2011 during the SDR's 'Gronk Aid' event. Copyright Clive Smith.
Early BR blue was the next livery to be applied with full yellow ends and the D prefix dropped but I'm not sure if it actually moved on the railway in this livery. This is out in the yard at Buckgastleigh on the 4th November 2016 during its maintenance period. The noises at the time from the Devon Diesel Society were promising that it would soon be running within a year or so but as mentioned , it has been somewhat sidelined. The three year visit of 37275 in 2015 gave enthusiasts a tractor fix but other than 37240 top and tailing D1015 on a railtour in 2025, it has now been a while since the Dart Valley has resounded to the distinctive English Electric sound on a regular basis. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive - let's hope for a return to service for 37037.
Split boxes no more!
Bill Elston
37031 at Exeter with split boxes, on its way to Laira for refurb. It's in the company of 37098. 03.02.1989, copyright Bill Elston.
A speedy turnaround at Laira, just 2 months later on 20.04.1989 37031 has emerged with centre headcode boxes. Copyright Bill Elston.
A bonus shot of 37040 in EW&S red at Exeter Central. 17.09.1999, copyright Bill Elston.
Great stuff Bill, I'm impressed how quickly Laira turned that around. Thanks very much.