The final DB Cargo 'Clayliner'
Bill Elston, Paul Barlow, Craig Munday, Jon Hird, Andrew Triggs & Neil Phillips
The final DB Cargo operated train of empty JIA's returning from Stoke on Trent ran on Saturday 28.03.2026. Locomotive 66163 led a rake of 19 JIA wagons between Westbury and Goonbarrow.
The train had an interesting journey to Cornwall, leaving Westbury early it made up some impressive time by omitting various pathing stops, until it reached Totnes where it was held for a Crosscountry Service to pass. From there it ran to time into Cornwall, being looped again (as booked) at Lostwithiel, eventually arriving at Goonbarrow 3 minutes early.
DB are due to run Monday and Tuesdays 'internal' clay from Goonbarrow to Fowey, before their locomotive returns light to Westbury and the baton is handed to GBRf.
The train had an interesting journey to Cornwall, leaving Westbury early it made up some impressive time by omitting various pathing stops, until it reached Totnes where it was held for a Crosscountry Service to pass. From there it ran to time into Cornwall, being looped again (as booked) at Lostwithiel, eventually arriving at Goonbarrow 3 minutes early.
DB are due to run Monday and Tuesdays 'internal' clay from Goonbarrow to Fowey, before their locomotive returns light to Westbury and the baton is handed to GBRf.
The final (probably) DB operated empty clay empties 6V76 ran today from Westbury to Goonbarrow, and is seen passing Bathpool running 12 early with 19 on. Photo taken with Galaxy phone camera. 28.03.2026, copyright Bill Elston.
DB liveried 66168 passes Exwick flood channel on the 1035 Westbury to Goonbarrow. 28.03.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
Looking down on the wonderful St. Pinnock Viaduct as 66168 continues on its journey to the west. 28.03.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
66176 chases a patch of warm sunshine across the meadow at Respryn as it slows ahead of entering Lostwithiel Down Goods Loop. 28.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
66168 slowing to stop at Lostwithiel Down Goods loop with 6V76 10.35 Westbury Down T.C-Goonbarrow Junction DBC load 19 JIA's, viewed from A390 Road overbridge. 28.03.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Beneath laden skies, 6V76 pauses in Lostwithiel Down Goods Loop. 28.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Viewed from Lostwithiel Footbridge 66168 awaits the road west with 6V76. 28.03.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Having restarted 6V76 from Lostwithiel Down Goods Loop, 66168 passes through the Station, running 4 early at 15.10. 28.03.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
66168 clears Middleway Crossing with the final DB Cargo-hauled Saturday 6V76 china clay empty JIA wagons from Cliffe Vale to Goonbarrow via Westbury. 28.03.2026, copyright Neil Phillips.
DBC still has some Class 66s in the original EWS dark red/yellow livery the locomotives carried when they first took over the china clay work on 9th January 1999, so Tuesday 31st March 2026 marks the end of just over 26 years of red Class 66s on the clays. GBRf's '66' fleet sports varied liveries including BR green ('Evening Star'), Large Logo blue and Railfreight Construction, but whether we will see these in Cornwall may depend on which pool the 'clay' locos are drawn from - and then there are the even more varied Class 69s, one of which (69005) has already been to Fowey........we shall see! 28.03.2026, copyright Neil Phillips.
66168 is now out of sight but these wagons do make for an impressive sight, especially in an area bereft of any other revenue-earning freight! 28.03.2026, copyright Neil Phillips.
Nearly the end of the line, both for 6V76 and DBC in the far west. 66163 approaches the overbridge at Lavrean, with journeys end Goonbarrow just around the corner. 28.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Many thanks all, a great photographic tribute to DBC here in Cornwall. Hopefully the timings for this service remain similar to this under GBRf - it's been great for we enthusiasts having a Saturday freight at a sociable hour!
Rail200 'Inspiration' at Bristol
Craig Munday
A week away saw me on board the Rail 200 train at Bristol. A less than spick and span 66718 was on the Country end of the train in the dock. The two days I was there saw a large amount of visitors who enjoyed the experience greatly. The train is due to be at Newquay in April after a week on the WSR.
This experience allowed a ringside seat onto the current railway scene through the busy gateway to the west Temple station. It is now sadly very monotonous with a steady stream of Hitachi IET, Cross Country Voyagers, and unit classes 158/165/166. It is a far cry from a locomotive filled visit of yesteryear with Bath Road bustling with loco swaps.
One vast improvement however is the renovated train shed. The trains now glisten under the overall roof, and the tracks are remarkably clean nowadays with toilet retention tanks preventing disgusting discharge onto the infrastructure.
This experience allowed a ringside seat onto the current railway scene through the busy gateway to the west Temple station. It is now sadly very monotonous with a steady stream of Hitachi IET, Cross Country Voyagers, and unit classes 158/165/166. It is a far cry from a locomotive filled visit of yesteryear with Bath Road bustling with loco swaps.
One vast improvement however is the renovated train shed. The trains now glisten under the overall roof, and the tracks are remarkably clean nowadays with toilet retention tanks preventing disgusting discharge onto the infrastructure.
66718 attached to the Rail200 exhibition train stock at Bristol Temple Meads. 25.03.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
Crosscountry and GWR services beneath the renovated roof of the train shed at Bristol Temple Meads. 25.03.2026, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks Craig. It does look lovely and bright beneath the roof there at BTM nowadays, a great improvement.
WSR 50th Anniversary
John Simons
This weekend the West Somerset Railway celebrates its 50th anniversary for the re-opening of the line.
To celebrate this the railway recreated the first service From Minehead to Blue Anchor using the exact same engine,Bagnall 0-6-0ST 2996 Victor.
To celebrate this the railway recreated the first service From Minehead to Blue Anchor using the exact same engine,Bagnall 0-6-0ST 2996 Victor.
Victor seen arriving on re-enactment of 1st service at Blue Anchor. 28.03.2026, copyright John Simons.
Victor on a return service to Minehead. 28.03.2026, copyright John Simons.
Displayed at Minehead & awaiting overhaul, Pannier 6435(Ex Bodmin Rly) renumbered 6412 and named "Flockton Flyer" after the childrens tv series made on the wsr a couple years after the line re-opened. 28.03.2026, copyright John Simons.
Many thanks John. 50 years of preservation in Somerset - well done to the WSR.
Reflecting on the clay
Ian Thomas
Thought this might be appreciated now that DB Cargo are finishing on the clays. Two pictures thus.. Firstly, 66101 passing Haresfield, (just north of Standish Junction) with 6V73, the 14.20 Cliffe Vale-St Blazey empties. on 21.06.2024. You only got about a 6-8 week window of daylight for this train as it passed through mid evening. Copyright Ian Thomas.
Secondly, a picture of the empty clays from 33 years ago. It always ran on a Saturday morning in the first half of the 1990s passing around mid morning... perfect, with a handful of locomotive hauled summer Saturday trains with various liveried duffs turning up including RES and VIRGIN. The train is seen passing the former Coaley Junction station site and the trackbed of the Dursley branchline is seen in the photo. In those days it started from Bescot on Saturday morning at 08.22. It probably ran from Staffordshire the previous day or overnight as a different train. Copyright Ian Thomas.
Many thanks Ian, great photos and notes. I love the mixed wagons behind the 37's.
175 in the Valley
Craig Munday
175001 crosses St. Pinnock viaduct with a GWR crew training working, 5Z23 on 18.03.2026. Copyright Craig Munday.
That red and white really is a refreshing change from the green, many thanks Craig.
Welsh Weed Killer
Michael Forward
In response to J.Taylor's picture of 3Q98 at Cardiff ,here is my shot of the train at Cardiff on 24 March 2026,waiting for signals to go into Canton sidings ,after an hour early arrival back from Gloucester at 15.45.(66791 at the front). Copyright Michael Forward.
Many thanks as always Michael.