A 'celeb' on The Beds
Steve Clark, Jon Hird, Jason Snow,
Mick House, Andrew Triggs &
Roger Salter
Owning to the continued unavailability of GWR's own fleet of class 57/6s, the company have now hired-in 57311 from railtour operator Locomotive Services Limited.
The loco was put to work on Friday night, working the down 'Night Riviera' sleeper from Paddington - Penzance, with 57603 on the rear. It's understood that 57603 is due to go on exam at Long Rock, so we can expect 57311 to work tonights (09.03.2025) 'up' sleeper back to Paddington.
The loco was put to work on Friday night, working the down 'Night Riviera' sleeper from Paddington - Penzance, with 57603 on the rear. It's understood that 57603 is due to go on exam at Long Rock, so we can expect 57311 to work tonights (09.03.2025) 'up' sleeper back to Paddington.
An early alarm call on my day off but well worth rising early to capture 57311 at St. Austell, heading West with 1C50. 08.03.2025, copyright Steve Clark.
57311 passes Wheal Busy footcrossing, Scorrier with just a hint of colour from the sun rising behind the clouds. 08.03.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
A quick run down the A30 saw me ahead of the train at Hayle, where the train calls to set down passengers. The gentleman and his young son at the end of the platform were taking some photographs. Below the drone is the formation of the long-gone wharves branch. 08.03.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
57311 crosses Hayle Viaduct on its way to Penzance. The misaligned/subsided piers are very apparent from this angle. 08.03.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
57311 drops off passengers from the night riviera sleeper train at St.Erth. 08.03.20205, copyright Jason Snow.
57311 approaches Penzance in the full splendour of the Cornish weather. 08.03.2025, copyright Mick House.
Arriving in the pouring rain at Platform 4, running 10 late at 08.03. 08.03.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
57311 in Penzance platform 4. 08.03.2025, copyright Mick House.
57311 at Journey's end at Penzance. 08.03.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
57311 at Journey's end at Penzance. 08.03.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Old School proper nameplate 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' on LSL 57311. 08.03.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
57311 The Institution of Mechanical Engineers as Long Rock Depot after working the down Night Riviera.. Copyright Roger Salter
The Nameplate
57311 Looking very smart at Long Rock. Copyright Roger Salter
Many thanks, all - hopefully we'll see some night shots of this going back to London!
A crossover question - answered
Martin Duff
From yesterday - Jonathan Harbage has raised the question as to whether this is the first loco to use the new crossover on Truro Viaduct and to travel 'wrong line' into the station - does anybody know if this is the case?”
The class 69 on Friday - no, it’s not the first.
Back in the autumn last year one evening (14th October i think) I was on the workstation in Exeter and the RHTT was running early.
I regulated it to Truro up platform 3 over the new crossover for 1V60 to pass which was following close behind.
As the RHTT was due to treat the down line over Carvedras viaduct, when 1V60 had arrived, and the driver changed ends we ran the RHTT back to the down line (toward the shunt limit at Moresk) on the down line and it then continued on its way.
Later that same week on the Friday night I ran empty Sprinter 5C15 this way so I could get the Falmouth unit in (signal overlap at the west end of the down platform) without delaying 2C87 behind it.
The flexibility of the new signalling arrangements is superb.
As it’s now bidirectional over the up between the crossovers, in modern terms this is no longer “wrong line”.
I’d have to check but I don’t think what I did with the RHTT was the first running of a locomotive this way - we may have done it with the down sleeper one morning, not sure.
Cheers,
Martin D
The class 69 on Friday - no, it’s not the first.
Back in the autumn last year one evening (14th October i think) I was on the workstation in Exeter and the RHTT was running early.
I regulated it to Truro up platform 3 over the new crossover for 1V60 to pass which was following close behind.
As the RHTT was due to treat the down line over Carvedras viaduct, when 1V60 had arrived, and the driver changed ends we ran the RHTT back to the down line (toward the shunt limit at Moresk) on the down line and it then continued on its way.
Later that same week on the Friday night I ran empty Sprinter 5C15 this way so I could get the Falmouth unit in (signal overlap at the west end of the down platform) without delaying 2C87 behind it.
The flexibility of the new signalling arrangements is superb.
As it’s now bidirectional over the up between the crossovers, in modern terms this is no longer “wrong line”.
I’d have to check but I don’t think what I did with the RHTT was the first running of a locomotive this way - we may have done it with the down sleeper one morning, not sure.
Cheers,
Martin D
Many thanks, Martin - a great insight of what goes on behind the scenes, nice to read that the new signalling flexibility is working well.
'Rogues' Gallery!'
Mick House
A motley bunch of reprobates await the arrival of 69005 at Truro on 07.03.2025. Can you spot any familiar faces? Copyright Mick House.
Many thanks, Mick - great to see some of the faces from behind the lenses for a change!
Freight at Swindon
Ken Mumford
66004 [carrying an interesting livery] with 6W02 Thingley Junction to Hinksey Sidings. 08.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
6Z12 Margam to Eastleigh Arlington - a light load headed by 66206 - arrived about 7LATE and departed 17 LATE. Rtt said that this was a Mechanical and Electrical Engineers train of 400 tons, Both freight trains were subject to 60 m-p-h. 08.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
The remains of an area of Swindon station known as the MILK BANK. I must find out more!! 08.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
'Penzance Railway Station and My Working Life with BR'
Dear Cornwall Railway Society,
On Tuesday 11 March at 7pm there will be a talk on 'Penzance Railway Station and My Working Life with BR' given by Mr Leslie Richards. Mr Richards began working at Penzance Station in the 1950s and worked for BR for his entire working life, gradually gaining greater responsibility in the posts he held. This should be a fascintating talk with many insights and anecdotes from a long working life.
The talk will take place at Cornish Heritage in Penzance which is in the former Penzance publlc library building, 62, Morrab Road. Entrance is by donation (suggested £3-£5).
We have attached a poster and would appreciate it if you would circulate this to your members or to people who would enjoy hearing about these recollections.
Kind regards
Jane Howells
Cornish Heritage in Penzance
On Tuesday 11 March at 7pm there will be a talk on 'Penzance Railway Station and My Working Life with BR' given by Mr Leslie Richards. Mr Richards began working at Penzance Station in the 1950s and worked for BR for his entire working life, gradually gaining greater responsibility in the posts he held. This should be a fascintating talk with many insights and anecdotes from a long working life.
The talk will take place at Cornish Heritage in Penzance which is in the former Penzance publlc library building, 62, Morrab Road. Entrance is by donation (suggested £3-£5).
We have attached a poster and would appreciate it if you would circulate this to your members or to people who would enjoy hearing about these recollections.
Kind regards
Jane Howells
Cornish Heritage in Penzance
Thanks, Jane - worth a visit for those in the area, I'm sure!