March 31st 2026

31/3/2026

The Nick Perring Collection - Part 14
Par
Clive Smith

45068 was a bit of a rare peak referred to as an 'NB' (no boiler) peak although it did have a boiler which had been isolated thus removing any heating possibility. As a result its appearances on passenger were few and far between, confined to the summer months. On the 3rd August 1985 it had arrived on the 1V73 08.38 Manchester Piccadilly - Newquay. I'd been on this train since Bristol and took it through to Newquay. Fellow peak 'basher' Nick decided to bale off here at Par and captured the loco and lower quadrant semaphore signals that signal the Newquay branch off to St Blazey from platform 3. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

EWS 37670 passes through Par station on a sunny evening. Nick took this photo from Par signal box giving an elevated view. His photo is undated but likely 1999. Formerly 37182 and doyen of south Wales, this loco did have a previous spell in Cornwall when it was allocated twice to Laira between 1982-83 and a further spell into 1984. It then returned to Laira as 37670 between 1987 and 1994 before being nominally allocated to Cardiff after privatisation but outbased at St Blazey until 1999. The loco didn't make it to another life unfortunately although it looked like it would do. It was stored in 2010, withdrawn in 2011, sold to Harry Needle in 2012, moved from Kingsbury to Derby RTC in 2013, moved to Barrow Hill in 2015, allocated and moved to Europhoenix at Leicester in 2016 and then cut up in 2018. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

45109 rounds the curve at Par with the semaphore signalling the main down line to Penzance. This is the 1V81 09.17 Leeds - Penzance on the 3rd August 1985. Cornish Railways 37207 'William Cookworthy' is on the freight loop with a train consisting mainly of cable drums. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

Mainline liveried 37248 at Par with a Moorswater - St Blazey cement train on the 17th February 2000. 37248 was put into storage in 2003 then sold to preservation in 2005. It had a spell at Butterley at the Midland Railway before a move to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway at Toddington in 2009. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

Many thanks as always Clive, some great photos of Par as we'd like to remember it.

DBC in Cornwall - the penultimate day
Jon Hird, Mark Lynam, Tony Shore & Sam Sheldrick

Monday 30th March is set to be the penultimate day of DBC operations in Cornwall.

66168 was used to run the midday Goonbarrow - Fowey clay, the train (6G09) being made up of the now-usual 16 JIA wagons.

In a spot of lucky sunshine on an otherwise cloudy afternoon, 66168 drops down through the Luxulyan Valley and crosses Ponts Mill viaduct with 6G09. 30.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

66168 passes beneath the classic semaphores at Middleway. 30.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.

66168 powers up through Tywardreath with its 16 JIA's in tow. 30.03.2026, copyright Tony Shore.

66168 has run round its train in Lostwithiel Up Goods Loop and waits departure for Fowey. 30.03.2026, copyright Sam Sheldwick.

A lucky spot of sun illuminates 66168 and 6G09 as it passes Golant. 30.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.

It's now 1848 and 66168 is now at the head of 6G05, the Fowey - Goonbarrow empties. It's seen passing Golant in this lovely panoramic scene. 30.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.

A drone shot, but taken lower than Marks non-drone shot! 66168 on the Golant causeway with 6G05. 30.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

A bonus shot taken by my son Charlie (7) with my phone whilst I was busy with the drone! 30.03.2026 Copyright Jon (/Charlie) Hird.

6G05 arrives back at Lostwithiel from Fowe and runs up through the down platform into the Down Goods Loop. 30.03.2026, copyright Sam Sheldwick.

6G05 passing beneath the temporary footbridge at Lostwithiel. 30.03.2026, copyright Sam Sheldwick.

In the last of the days light, another Middleway shot as 6G05 heads up the Newquay branch to Goonbarrow. 30.03.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

Many thanks all, excellent coverage once again of the final days of DBC in Cornwall.

'Fresh out the box'
Roger Geach

I think we all know 66080 was the first class 66 to work in Cornwall.

However 66123 and 66124 arrived pretty much off the boat and set to work in Cornwall replacing the 37s.

Below is 66124 at Golant on 12.07.1999.

Factory-fresh 66124 passes Golant with clay for Fowey on 12.07.1999. Copyright Roger Geach.

Many thanks Roger. It really is a testament to the paint shop at General Motors that a number of these locos are still running round in their original coats of paint, some 27 years after entering service.

First 175/1 in GWR passenger service
Andrew Triggs

Reportedly the first Class 175/1 official passenger working for GWR into Cornwall today with 3 Car 175114, captured at Rospeath, Penzance and Marazion