May 13th 2025

NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 43
Day Trip to Bude - 23.05.1964
Michael L. Roach

In steam days I made many rail trips where I was away for up to 18 hours, and sometimes even longer. I also made many day and half-day trips wholly by car where the objective was to photograph trains in the countryside between stations. In this I was inspired by the landscape photographs of expert photographers like Peter Gray, P.M. Alexander, J.F. Russell-Smith and later by Trevor Owen and I wanted to emulate them. I never had a formal bucket-list of places to visit, but there were places, particularly in Mid-Wales, where I waited years to get there and photograph a train in stunning scenery. It was not easy because these places were hundreds of miles from home, and some of the lines had just three passenger trains a day. Thirdly there were the hybrid trips where a day of car travel for lineside photography was interrupted by parking up at a railway station and taking a return trip along a line that was still steam worked. The 23 May 1964 was just such a day.
 
I headed north from Plymouth to the rail lines west of Okehampton. First stop was near Hatherleigh to capture the 10.38am Halwill to Torrington on film; this was the first of just two passenger trains a day over this part of the line. Because the train was booked to stop at Hatherleigh Station for several minutes I was able to  see it on both sides of Hatherleigh. The photographs will be shown later in the year. I then retreated several miles to the summit of the whole ex-Southern route from Plymouth to Exeter south of Meldon Junction for the only time ever at this location. The objective was the 11.10am Plymouth to Brighton through train which turned out to be hauled by 34009 Lyme Regis of Nine Elms Shed with eight coaches. Earlier in the year the engine off the up Brighton returned with the down Brighton from Exeter but whether it did that day I do not know.
 
I then turned my attention to having a train trip from Okehampton to Bude and back. I went out on the 1.18pm off Okehampton which took 61 minutes for the 31 miles; returning on the 3.11pm off Bude. By the time I got to Bude the rain had set in so after taking two photos of the train engine 31812 I had to abandon photography for the day. In view of this I have included some photos of Okehampton to Bude trains later in 1964.

34009 Lyme Regis approaches Meldon distant signal with the 11.10am Plymouth to Brighton through train at 12.01 on Saturday 23 May 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

31812 waits at Bude to take out the 3.11pm to Okehampton. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

As can be seen it was a very wet day at Bude, and this was my last photo of the day. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

2-6-4 tank 80041 stands at Okehampton waiting to take out the 1.40pm to Bude on Saturday 1 August 1964. At this time the Western Region were still using the 12-hour clock, until the timetable change in September 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

80041 returned from Bude on the 3.35pm Bude to Okehampton here seen at Halwill Junction at 4.13pm on 01.08.1964. The signal is off for the down ACE which would enter 3 minutes later running an hour late behind N-class 31859 with 8C. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

80036 is turned on the turntable at Okehampton before taking out the 12 10 to Bude on Saturday 24 October 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

80036 has arrived at Halwill Junction with the 12 10 from Okehampton on 24.10.1964. Although the original timetable had been issued to apply from 15 June 1964 to 13 June 1965 there had been so many changes in September 1964 that a 127-page Supplement was issued. The Supplement introduced the 24-hour clock to the Western Region and this was how the train times were written in the timetable, which commenced on 7 September 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

My ticket for parking the car at Okehampton Station on 23 May 1964. The two shilling charge allowed for parking any length of time on that one day. The car was a 1954 pea-green Ford Consul first registered in Birmingham. It only had a 3-speed gearbox. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

My ticket for parking the car at Okehampton Station on 23 May 1964. The two shilling charge allowed for parking any length of time on that one day. The car was a 1954 pea-green Ford Consul first registered in Birmingham. It only had a 3-speed gearbox. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Many thanks as always Mike. Our Bude Galleries are always popular, so I'm sure people will enjoy these.

For more of Michaels work, please click here.

---

This Saturday -
The CRS visit The Devon Railway Centre

The Devon Railway Centre - Bickleigh nr. Exeter.
​
'Devon Railway Centre is a popular Devon attraction which offers a fun filled, unique railway experience. Enjoy unlimited rides on two different railways, explore our huge model railway exhibition and delight in our Edwardian model village.'

Train departs Penzance 08.15 St Erth 08.23 Camborne 08.34 Redruth 08.40 Truro 08.54 St Austell 09.11 Par 09.19 Bodmin Parkway 09.31 Liskeard 09.44 and arr Exeter St Davids at 11.15. Bus to Bickleigh from a spot outside the Imperial Hotel, Exeter at 11.35 or 12.05.

Admission to the Devon Railway Centre £13.50 or £13.00 Sen Citizens - the Cornwall Railway Society will cover entry fees for paid-up members.

Return buses at 21 or 51 mins pass the hour.

Suggest alighting at Dawlish on the return home for Fish & Chips.
Dep Exeter St David's 16.05 Dawlish 16.29 to 17.41 Plymouth 18.38 Liskeard 19.15 Bodmin Parkway19.27 Par 19.38 St Austell 19.46 Truro 20.02 Redruth 20.14 Camborne 20.20 St Erth 20.32 Penzance 20.42.

Purchase a Cheap Return to Exeter St David's

** The Society have very kindly agreed to fund entry to the Devon Railway Centre for any paid-up members who wish to attend **

---

A Tornado is coming!
Tim Hughes

We at MPOWER Kernow have just had it confirmed that the locomotive expected to be turned at St Blazey on Sunday 25th May, is likely to be Tornado.

MPOWER will be serving refreshments beside the half roundhouse to help raise funds towards our Community Defibrillator. 

Timings tbc.

More info available here - https://www.railwaytouring.net/a1-tornado​
​

Many thanks for the great info, Tim. We hope your refreshment stand does very well. If you're visiting, please do spend some money to support Tim and his team!

We've updated our Railtour Calendar with the allocations.

---

The GBRF weedkiller arrives at Exeter
David Tozer

GBRF Class 66’s 66704 ‘Colchester Power Signal Box’ top and tails with 66747 ‘ Made in Sheffield ‘ with the 1038 3Q98 Cardiff Taff Vale Sidings to Exeter Riverside weed killing train.

66747 is one of three Class 66's imported from Holland by GBRF.

They are scheduled to work the following trips in the coming days:-
​
Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2245 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 13/05/2025

Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2310 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 14/05/2025

Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2248 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 15/05/2025

Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2338 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 16/05/2025

Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2325 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 18/05/2025

Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2307 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 19/05/2025

Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2254 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 20/05/2025
​
Realtime Trains | 3Q98 2021 Exeter Riverside N.Y. to Exeter Riverside N.Y. | 21/05/2025

66704 with the weedkiller passing Stoke Canon. 12.05.2025, copyright David Tozer.

66747 on the rear of the weedkiller. 12.05.2025, copyright David Tozer.

Thanks very much both for the photos and the 'gen', Dave.

---

A few more of D1015
Mark Lynam

D1015 at Laira Junction working 1Z77 0727 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

About 25 minutes later 37240 passes Laira Junction working 0Z77 1058 Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

37240 at Plymouth working and early running 5Z79 1505 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Plymouth. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

D1015 on the rear with some clag. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

D1015 + 37240 sitting in Plymouth station alongside 43093. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

D1015 comes off the mainline and onto the rails of the South Devon Railway at Totnes Riverside working 1Z79 1556 Plymouth to Buckfastleigh. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

37240 on the rear. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

I waited around for the return at Totnes as well, sadly the light faded as cloud started to come in. D1015 on the rear of the tour passing Totnes Riverside, as it heads back towards the mainline and to Totnes station. 1Z80 1800 Buckfastleigh to Birmingham New Street. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

D1015 crosses the River Dart on its way back to Birmingham taken from the South Devon Railway's pedestrian bridge across the river. 10.05.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.

Many thanks Mark - some more great photos of 'Champion'.

All our photographs of this tour can now be found in our features page:
​​​D1015 on 'The South Devon Explorer' (10.05.2025)