March 6th 2026

6/3/2026

The Nick Perring Collection - Part 11
Exeter St. Davids
Clive Smith

Nick worked for the S & T department based at Newton Abbot so had track access for some good vantage points for photographs. Here are some of his photos in and around Exeter St Davids.

Starting with a split box headcode 37 here is 37024 again. Not content with a very rare passenger appearance the previous weekend on a York - Plymouth relief train, 37024 decided it would pay a second visit to the west country on the 27th July 1985, this time going all the way to Penzance. The loco makes a splendid sight and noise departing Exeter St Davids on the 1V32 10.30 York - Penzance relief . A very large on board contingent bellow their approval of the tractor thrash. Trouser belts were branded from the very front window to give the 37 a good whipping on route. The loco was allocated to Tinsley depot at the time and is still going strong as 37714 on the Great Central Railway. I am guessing Nick took this picture stood near the new panel box that had recently been switched in following the end of the semaphore signals and boxes. I'm likely one of the window hangers as I was on this from Taunton to Plymouth. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

Railfreight liveried 31158 approaches the flood relief bridge at Exeter St Davids with the 2C50 18.35 Paignton - Exeter St Davids on the 25th July 1985. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

3rd September 1982 and 33101 waits on the through road before heading up the 'Southern' with a stone train, the 7O70 11.20 Meldon Quarry to Salisbury, with 46018 the banking loco on the rear to get the train up the 1 in 37 incline to Exeter Central. Robin Coles is the driver. The white window surrounds was a Bournemouth Depot job and were relatively short lived as any loco with them that went into Eastleigh Works would invariably come back out in yellow. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

Split box domino headcode 45061 on the stabling point on the 1st January 1981 . It wasn't to be a happy new year for 45061 as it was withdrawn in August that year. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

A super trackside shot by Nick of 47825 crossing the flood relief bridge after leaving Exeter St Davids with the 1V35 06.04 Derby - Plymouth on the 11th October 1995. This loco was converted to 57601 in 2001. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

No date for this final photo but likely December 1980 or January 1981. A super night shot at Exeter St Davids of 46048 on a train with platform 1 full of BRUTES and mailbags. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).

Many thanks Clive - another lovely batch from Nicks archives.

Paignton Interlude
Paul Barlow

A very smart 47851 waits time at Paignton with the 1300 Paignton-Manchester. 26.08.2000, copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul - happy days.

Avon Valley Railway - 60 years since closure
Simon Hickman

An event is to be held at the Avon Valley Railway this Sunday, 8th March.

It marks 60 years since the closure of the Bristol-Bath via Mangotsfield line, which closed alongside the Somerset & Dorset on March 7th 1966.

To commemorate, the AVR have organised an immersive living history day with re-enactors playing the role of local protest groups, and a visit from Dr Beeching himself. There will also be displays of period-appropriate vehicles. Full details here: THE PEOPLE AND THEIR PROTEST - Avon Valley Railway

Protestors at the AVR! Copyright Simon Hickman/Avon Valley Railway.

It's Dr. Beeching! Would anybody like to have a word with him? Copyright Simon Hickman/Avon Valley Railway.

Re-enactors at the AVR. Copyright Simon Hickman/Avon Valley Railway.

A Penzance-allocated brake van. Copyright Simon Hickman/Avon Valley Railway.

Many thanks Simon - an interesting theme for an event, hope it proves successful for you and the team.

Re: Rogers mystery Welsh signal box
Guy Vincent

Roger’s mystery signal box posted on Tuesday has had me literally turning out bookcases, scouring the internet and, finally, clawing at the walls trying to identify it. I eventually hit gold today when I discovered it to be Radyr Quarry (Junction). The BR era plate ‘RQ’ can be seen in Roger’s photo but is hard to fully decipher. There is an excellent and comprehensive Flickr album by Rob Daniels featuring the box that makes for excellent reading / viewing. Rob has covered a number of South Wales ‘boxes in similar detail and I thoroughly recommend these to anyone interested in traditional railway signalling. The box closed in May 1998 and was immediately demolished.

I also discovered on Rob Daniels’ feature on Abercynon that in August 1977 Stormstown Junction ‘box suddenly started to collapse and subside due, presumably, to being in poor condition and was demolished by November the same year.

Here's a link to Rob's photo (click here)