A unique opportunity!
Get up-close with 'Tornado'
at St. Blazey Turntable
With thanks to MPower Kernow.
With many thanks to the team at MPower Kernow, we are pleased to be able to offer one lucky individual an exclusive opportunity to visit an area of St. Blazey T&RSD during the turning of 60163 'Tornado' on Sunday 25th May 2025.
You will be able to visit a safe area within the confines of St. Blazey yard, off-limits to the public, and you'll have an up-close, front row seat for the turning of the magnificent 4-6-2 locomotive on St. Blazeys historic turntable. There will be many opportunities to capture photographs which are normally impossible.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the workshops of MPower and to meet some of the workforce, where you'll see the work which is going on behind-the-scenes to turn the site into an engineering facility.
MPower Kernow are currently raising funds to purchase a community defibrillator.
If you'd like a chance to visit, please email: [email protected] with a donation amount, no matter how big or small, you'd be willing to offer. Please include your contact telephone number.
The 'bidder' with the highest donation offer will be contacted on Wednesday 21st May at 13:00, and they will be given 6 hours to make a payment via bank transfer. If no payment is received, we will in turn move onto the second highest bidder, and so on.
The winner will need to become a member of the Cornwall Railway Society if they are not already (£10.00 annually). They will need safety boots, a hard hat and high vis vest (although we can help with the latter two). Visitors must be over 18 and must be able to walk unassisted over uneven terrain/ballast. The visit will start at 13:00 on 25.05.2025, with the locomotive turning expected to commence at around 14:00.
We are very grateful to the team at MPower for allowing us to offer this exciting opportunity to our members and readers, and we hope that we can make a generous contribution to their fundraiser.
You can find out more about MPower Kernow via their website - click here.
You will be able to visit a safe area within the confines of St. Blazey yard, off-limits to the public, and you'll have an up-close, front row seat for the turning of the magnificent 4-6-2 locomotive on St. Blazeys historic turntable. There will be many opportunities to capture photographs which are normally impossible.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the workshops of MPower and to meet some of the workforce, where you'll see the work which is going on behind-the-scenes to turn the site into an engineering facility.
MPower Kernow are currently raising funds to purchase a community defibrillator.
If you'd like a chance to visit, please email: [email protected] with a donation amount, no matter how big or small, you'd be willing to offer. Please include your contact telephone number.
The 'bidder' with the highest donation offer will be contacted on Wednesday 21st May at 13:00, and they will be given 6 hours to make a payment via bank transfer. If no payment is received, we will in turn move onto the second highest bidder, and so on.
The winner will need to become a member of the Cornwall Railway Society if they are not already (£10.00 annually). They will need safety boots, a hard hat and high vis vest (although we can help with the latter two). Visitors must be over 18 and must be able to walk unassisted over uneven terrain/ballast. The visit will start at 13:00 on 25.05.2025, with the locomotive turning expected to commence at around 14:00.
We are very grateful to the team at MPower for allowing us to offer this exciting opportunity to our members and readers, and we hope that we can make a generous contribution to their fundraiser.
You can find out more about MPower Kernow via their website - click here.
The MPower team after having turned 'Black Five' 44871 on the St. Blazey turntable. You could visit the facilities at MPower Kernow on the 25th May. Copyright Jon Hird.
The times for Tornado's cornish excursion on May 25th are now available in our Railtour Calendar section - with special thanks to Karl Hewlett for bringing them to our attention!
The 'Fowey Rattler'
Jon Hird
On test/crew familiarisation training, visiting 14xx locomotive 1450 crosses the River Fowey at Bodmin Parkway on its way back to Bodmin General. The locomotive is wearing 'The Fowey Rattler' headboard, a nod to the nickname of the service provided by class mates and an autocoach for many years between Lostwithiel and Fowey. 15.05.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The Bodmin Spring Steam Gala starts today (16.05) and runs until Sunday. For more info, please click here.
High Speed Sunset
Clive Smith
43093 brings up the rear of the 2E26 18.15 Penzance - Exeter St Davids with 43187 on the front as it crosses the Royal Albert Bridge on Wednesday 14th May. This was taken at 20.00 at Saltash. The 2E26 will be HST for just two more evenings. Next week it will be extended to Birmingham and be a Voyager. To get the sun this far around for a decent shot it needs to be midsummer but time was something I didn't have so the second week of May before the timetable change it had to be. 14.05.2025, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks, Clive - well done for getting it whilst you still can.
Swietelsky 'Choppers'
Steve Widdowson
20302 and 20311 in Swietelsky livery with 769006, which was being taken to Long Marston, with 43467 and 43423 leading seen in Worcester Yd. The train was running as 5Q88 1225 Crewe TMD eletric - Long Marston. 14th May 25, copyright Steve Widdowson.
A colourful mix - many thanks, Steve.
Classic Traction at Swindon
Colin Pidgeon
37884 on 5Q76 Ely Papworth Sidings to Newport docks with 465236. 15.05.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Unit 465236 being dragged through Swindon. 15.05.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
43274 t&t 43357 on 1Q23 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC. 15.05.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
43274 t&t 43357 on 1Q23 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC. 15.05.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Many thanks Colin, and to Ken for sending them in.
Burngullow 'Castles'
Andrew & Diane Jones
I spent a scorching few hours at Burngullow junction today Thursday 15th May 2025.
There is very little shade at this location but worth the heat to capture three castle sets on their way to Penzance.
It been a while since I was last here, the silos now dilapidated and little freight activity. I assume that the passing loop with its solitary signal gets some use but this once busy site is a sad reflection on the under utilisation of our rail freight facilities.
Why oh why did the Cornwall Metro not use the line from St Dennis junction, with only a short distance of track to reinstate and opening up the clay villages to a new rail service!
There is very little shade at this location but worth the heat to capture three castle sets on their way to Penzance.
It been a while since I was last here, the silos now dilapidated and little freight activity. I assume that the passing loop with its solitary signal gets some use but this once busy site is a sad reflection on the under utilisation of our rail freight facilities.
Why oh why did the Cornwall Metro not use the line from St Dennis junction, with only a short distance of track to reinstate and opening up the clay villages to a new rail service!
43097 and 43189 at 11.19. 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
43098 and 43188 at 11.48. 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
43093 and 43187 at 12.46. The heat haze is clearly visible! 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
This image shows the location on a bridge that is very old and in need of a lick of paint. 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
A general view of the layout. 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
A relic of past glory! 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
A remarkable survivor complete with EWS locomotive instruction sign. 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
An enlargement of the EWS signage. 15.05.2025, copyright Andrew & Diane Jones.
Great photographs - even if the subject matter is a little sad. Many thanks indeed, Andrew & Diane.