Tonight! 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]
The Nick Perring Collection - Part 12
The Heathfield Branch
Clive Smith
The Moretonhampstead closed to passengers on 28th February 1959 and to goods on 6th April 1964 with the track from Bovey Tracey lifted in 1965. Bovey Tracey closed for goods on 6th July 1970 leaving Heathfield as the terminus for goods traffic. The last Royal Train to be stabled on the branch was 20/03/15. The last engineers train was 23/03/15. The last timber train from Teigngrace was on the 02/04/15. The very last train was the 'First Devon & Exeter Explorer' charity HST railtour to Heathfield with 43187 and 43188. The line has been mothballed since but suffered extensive flooding in December 2024 with the ballast washed away and the track left dangling - Devon rail line and cycle path damage not a quick fix - council
33010 at the oil sidings at Heathfield in November 1987. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
Access all areas if you worked for the S & T department as Nick did and this is a great shot of one of the goods loading facilities at Heathfield on the 25th February 2000 and a split box 37042 to boot to keep the recent theme going! Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
A beautiful sunny capture of 37042 by Nick further down the line at Teigngrace on the same day. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
A very clean 50026 hauls GWR small prairie 4555 off the Heathfield branch at Newton Abbot on the 30th July 1980. This was in connection with a BR Open Day 'Age Of The Train' event held at Newton Yard which was just around the corner from the station on the branch line. There was a bubblecar DMU running a shuttle service from the main station. In the yard were exhibition coaches, carriages from an HST, a replica 'Rocket' in steam, 37289 and 4555 was up from Paignton where it was temporarily working away from Buckfastleigh where it was then based. It is now based on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway. It's quite likely 4555 is being hauled back to Paignton by 50026. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
Many thanks Clive, another superb selection of photos from Nick.
Gold Cup Special
Steve Widdowson
A few pics of the Gold Cup Special, Paddington to Evesham with Northern Belle. 47812 leading & 57314 on rear.
From Evesham passengers are taken by road coach to Broadway on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Rly ( steam hauled to Cheltenham race course station ) all for £700.
From Evesham passengers are taken by road coach to Broadway on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Rly ( steam hauled to Cheltenham race course station ) all for £700.
47812 TnT 57314 at Evesham with 1Z25 0813 London Paddington to Evesham. 13.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
The carpets are rolled out as guests disembark from the Northern Belle at Evesham. 13.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
The carpets are rolled out as guests disembark from the Northern Belle at Evesham. 13.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
The carpets are rolled out as guests disembark from the Northern Belle at Evesham. 13.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
Road coaches at Evesham to Broadway for Cheltenham 'Northern Belle'. 13.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
57314 departs Evesham with the ECS working. 13.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
Many thanks Steve - a great continuation from Ian Thomas's article on Thursday.
Re: 37037
Bill Elston
37037 with 37203 at Exeter St. Davids. 27.03.1993, copyright Bill Elston.
37037 with 37668 on the silver bullets, leaving Riverside Yard. 03.02.1994, copyright Bill Elston.
37037 without metals sector markings in Riverside Yard. 02.08.1996, copyright Bill Elston.
Many thanks as always Bill.
Memories of the CDA's
Roger Geach
66202 passing Golant with the empty CDA's on 20.06.2007, with the tide in for a change! Copyright Roger Geach.
66202 with empty CDA's from Fowey passing St. Winnow church, seen from across the Fowey river. 27.06.2007, copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks Roger, great photos from the not-so-distant past.
Pinhoe Test Train
Jack Burchill
37607 heads 3Q07 2031 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. The train had to wait for a passenger service to pass from the other direction before it could leave. 12.03.2026, copyright Jack Burchill.
Not the greatest of pictures but 37425"Concrete Bob" waits on the other end of the train. 12.03.2026, copyright Jack Burchill.
37425 heads off east to complete a loop before returning back to Exeter Riverside N.Y. 12.03.2026, copyright Jack Burchill.
Many thanks Jack - well done for getting out in the poor weather.
More split boxes!
Paul Barlow
In response to the box head code 37's, here are a couple of photos of a Pathfinder tour to Chester in 1996, There was an open day at Crewe works on the same day.
37010 & 37042 with the 0620 Exeter to Chester “Crewe–Chester Flyer” wait at Weston-super-Mare – 17.08.1996 – copyright Paul Barlow
37010 & 37042 with the 0620 Exeter to Chester “Crewe–Chester Flyer” wait at Weston-super-Mare – 17.08.1996 – copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul - the good old days of railtours originating from the SW rather than only terminating here.