Weekend Railtours!
A reminder to readers that there are three railtours visiting the west over this bank holiday weekend. Timings and itineraries are available in our Railtour Calendar, but here's a quick preview of what's coming up:
THE BRITANNIC EXPLORER (GBRf Cl.66 x2)
Fri 1st May 2026 - Mon 4th May 2026
London Victoria - Penzance & Return. Overnight stop on the Fowey branch Saturday night.
THE ATLANTIC VOYAGER (Railway Touring Company - WCRC Cl.47 x2)
Sat 2nd May 2026
Dorridge - Newquay
ENGLISH RIVIERA EXPRESS (Steam)
Sat 2nd May 2026
Crewe - Kingswear
THE BRITANNIC EXPLORER (GBRf Cl.66 x2)
Fri 1st May 2026 - Mon 4th May 2026
London Victoria - Penzance & Return. Overnight stop on the Fowey branch Saturday night.
THE ATLANTIC VOYAGER (Railway Touring Company - WCRC Cl.47 x2)
Sat 2nd May 2026
Dorridge - Newquay
ENGLISH RIVIERA EXPRESS (Steam)
Sat 2nd May 2026
Crewe - Kingswear
Check out the Railtour Calendar for further details.
The Nick Perring Collection - Part 17
Around Taunton
Clive Smith
A rare photo of a loco on the Taunton Goods Avoiding Line which saw very little traffic from the early 1970s and was finally removed after the Taunton re-signalling and modernisation in 1986. 46037 is captured along with a large amount of Royal Mail vans. sometime around 1983. The Taunton NCL depot carried on being used by local businesses including an electrical wholesalers called Denmans. It all got swept away with the development of the Firepool Flats and the new inner relief road that now uses the tracked of the former avoiding line. The NCL building was all gone by 2015. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
A picture that oozes atmosphere. An unknown class 37 approaches Taunton station sometime in the early 1980s with a train of stone hoppers passing underneath the magnificent 40 Steps gantry. The West End signal box can just be seen in the right. Removal of the semaphores and track rationalisation took place between February and April 1986. Nick worked in the S & T department for British Rail and looking at pictures of the west end of Taunton station back then taken in the opposite direction I reckon to get this elevation he was on the semaphore gantry that was on the main down platform. Copyright Clive Smith (original photographer Nick Perring).
Many thanks Clive - another super couple of photos from Nick.
Mayday Test Trains!
Mark Lynam, Jon Hird, Clive Smith, Tony Shore & Andrew Triggs
Friday 1st of May saw two yellow trains travelling around the south west.
Modified Class 150 DMU 950001 visited both Falmouth and Newquay on a Truro Yard - Derby diagram, whilst the Network Rail NMT HST visited Penzance and Paignton on its own 4-weekly diagram.
Modified Class 150 DMU 950001 visited both Falmouth and Newquay on a Truro Yard - Derby diagram, whilst the Network Rail NMT HST visited Penzance and Paignton on its own 4-weekly diagram.
950001 arrives at Falmouth Docks working 2Q08 0400 Truro Yard to Derby R.T.C.via Falmouth Docks & Newquay. 01.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
950001 ready to go back up the line. 01.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
A little before 7am, 950001 crosses Ponts Mill viaduct on its way back from Newquay. 01.05.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
I packed the drone away as fast as I could and had a speedy journey over to Treesmill, stopping on the bridge, as soon as I opened the car door the unit was right there, so here's a rushed phone shot of 950001 heading east to Derby. 01.05.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Full 'Flying Banana' colours for the Network Rail 1Q18 05.43 Reading Triangle Sidings - Paignton via Penzance New Measurement Train or whatever it's called these days. 43013 leading with 43014 on the rear as it passes through Ivybridge on its four-weekly Friday visit. This is our HST fix nowadays unless the blue Midland Pullman is scheduled on a tour. 01.05.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
43014 on the rear at Ivybridge. 01.05.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
43013 + 43014 at Brea working 1Q18 0543 Reading Triangle Sidings to Paignton via Penzance. 01.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
1Q18 with 43013/43014 approaching Marazion. 01.05.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Returning from Penzance, 43014 leads 1Q18 approaching Marazion. 01.05.2026, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Passing the ruined engine house at Dolcoath, 1Q18 heads east. 01.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
The NMT led by 43014 coming off Fal Viaduct and heading on to Coombe. 01.05.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Just around the corner from Jon, Tony captures the NMT passing through Coombe St. Stephens. 01.05.2026, copyright Tony Shore.
43013 on the rear of the train as 1Q18 pauses at Plymouth. 01.05.2026, copyrigiht Clive Smith.
Many thanks all - a good day in the west for fans of yellow trains.
Re: The Fowey Auto
Roy Hart
In answer to Stewart's enquiry:
The Fowey branch had been auto worked since the 1920s. If you are modelling it then the motive power and livery will depend on your chosen period.
Until 1949 the service was worked by an antique Metro class 2-4-0T, with GW pattern auto cars in chocolate and cream. Metro 3582 went for scrap in 1949 and for a time, the service was worked by a 6400 class auto pannier, lent by Laira (after Perranporth ceased auto working in 1937, St Blazey had the sole auto-fitted engine in the county), Auto cars were painted all-over chocolate brown in the war years, replaced by carmine and cream after nationalisation. 1419 arrived in late 1949 and was the Fowey engine until withdrawn in 1961 (1468 worked the service for the last few months of steam).
In the mid 1950s auto cars were painted in maroon.
In 1951 the Western Region built a batch of new auto cars (one is pictured in Stewart's piece). These appeared in carmine and cream and, whimsically, were given avian names (Chaffinch, Robin etc). This was soon dropped and , replacing old GW cars, they survived until the end. On the Fowey line at busy times, there was an additional auto coach - a converted non corridor coach, with an observation window, together with auto controls, at one end.
In the summer of 1959, 1419 was sent off for general overhaul and Laira lent auto-fitted prairie 5572, which worked the service for a couple of months.
The Fowey branch had been auto worked since the 1920s. If you are modelling it then the motive power and livery will depend on your chosen period.
Until 1949 the service was worked by an antique Metro class 2-4-0T, with GW pattern auto cars in chocolate and cream. Metro 3582 went for scrap in 1949 and for a time, the service was worked by a 6400 class auto pannier, lent by Laira (after Perranporth ceased auto working in 1937, St Blazey had the sole auto-fitted engine in the county), Auto cars were painted all-over chocolate brown in the war years, replaced by carmine and cream after nationalisation. 1419 arrived in late 1949 and was the Fowey engine until withdrawn in 1961 (1468 worked the service for the last few months of steam).
In the mid 1950s auto cars were painted in maroon.
In 1951 the Western Region built a batch of new auto cars (one is pictured in Stewart's piece). These appeared in carmine and cream and, whimsically, were given avian names (Chaffinch, Robin etc). This was soon dropped and , replacing old GW cars, they survived until the end. On the Fowey line at busy times, there was an additional auto coach - a converted non corridor coach, with an observation window, together with auto controls, at one end.
In the summer of 1959, 1419 was sent off for general overhaul and Laira lent auto-fitted prairie 5572, which worked the service for a couple of months.
Many thanks for the in depth response Roy - I think we can certainly call that one 'case closed'.
Pacer to Portishead
Simon Hickman
WECA / Metrowest hired a preserved Pacer yesterday to take guests on a tour of the planned Metrowest network.
The unit ran from Temple Meads to Portbury and back (Portishead will be a couple of years yet), then out to Henbury and finally to Weston-super-Mare and return. I'm sure participants enjoyed their private railtour.
The unit ran from Temple Meads to Portbury and back (Portishead will be a couple of years yet), then out to Henbury and finally to Weston-super-Mare and return. I'm sure participants enjoyed their private railtour.
The unit passing Ashton Gate Platform (closed 1964). 01.05.2026, copyright Simon Hickman.
Heading towards the closed Clifton Bridge station, with the namesake bridge in the background. 01.05.2026, copyright Simon Hickman.
Many thanks Simon, what an unusual working.
Tracing the Portreath Branch
Stewart Frazer
I have been continuing my search along the branch line in Illogan around Alexandra Road and hope these photos might be of interest.
Please click the below images for an enlargement - captions on the images
Many thanks indeed for this superb report Stewart, fascinating stuff - well done.
SETTLE & CARLISLE 150 YEARS
Ian Thomas
I know this is well off the radar, but perhaps it is worth a mention.
Friday, May 1st marked exactly 150 years since passenger services started running on the Settle & Carlisle Railway. I think that most CRS readers know its history, so just a few facts about the line.
Built by the empire-building Midland Railway, they wanted their slice of the action of the lucrative Anglo-Scottish passenger traffic, and indeed goods traffic. Sadly, it was run down from the 1960s onward, and a certain Prime Minister wanted rid of it. Enter Michael Portillo (bless him!!), and thanks to his intervention we can still enjoy the line on either service trains or charter trains.
Indeed, I first travelled over it on May 15th 1976 with the Erlestoke Manor Fund railtour titled "The Yorkshire Dalesman". It ran from Bristol T.M. via the Midland line north, and me and a mate of mine joined at Gloucester, with Peak 45-048 ("The Royal Marines") at the helm all the way to Keighley.
Then the Worth Valley with 3F 43924 (ex Gloucester 3F), as I remember, in a downpour. Next up, the pub for a couple of beers and then north over the S & C, with 40-013 up front, to the border city.
A break there, before a classic Roarer, 81-012, back south over the WCML to Stafford, and on to New Street. From here, another classic Peak, this one being 45-050 to Gloucester.
I have no pictures of that day, but I have done the route at least 25 times or more since with steam traction (including 6024 King Edward 1st) and many diesel classes... even a Hastings DEMU exactly 40 years ago on Saturday, April 12th 1986, on the Long Thin Drag tour, plus two weeks later, 45-121 hauling the "Pennine Summits Pullman", both of which were run by Hertfordshire Railtours / Southern Electric Group.
Some pictures enclosed of various traction. So enjoy!!!... I urge people to keep using this line and love the Pennine landscape...
Friday, May 1st marked exactly 150 years since passenger services started running on the Settle & Carlisle Railway. I think that most CRS readers know its history, so just a few facts about the line.
Built by the empire-building Midland Railway, they wanted their slice of the action of the lucrative Anglo-Scottish passenger traffic, and indeed goods traffic. Sadly, it was run down from the 1960s onward, and a certain Prime Minister wanted rid of it. Enter Michael Portillo (bless him!!), and thanks to his intervention we can still enjoy the line on either service trains or charter trains.
Indeed, I first travelled over it on May 15th 1976 with the Erlestoke Manor Fund railtour titled "The Yorkshire Dalesman". It ran from Bristol T.M. via the Midland line north, and me and a mate of mine joined at Gloucester, with Peak 45-048 ("The Royal Marines") at the helm all the way to Keighley.
Then the Worth Valley with 3F 43924 (ex Gloucester 3F), as I remember, in a downpour. Next up, the pub for a couple of beers and then north over the S & C, with 40-013 up front, to the border city.
A break there, before a classic Roarer, 81-012, back south over the WCML to Stafford, and on to New Street. From here, another classic Peak, this one being 45-050 to Gloucester.
I have no pictures of that day, but I have done the route at least 25 times or more since with steam traction (including 6024 King Edward 1st) and many diesel classes... even a Hastings DEMU exactly 40 years ago on Saturday, April 12th 1986, on the Long Thin Drag tour, plus two weeks later, 45-121 hauling the "Pennine Summits Pullman", both of which were run by Hertfordshire Railtours / Southern Electric Group.
Some pictures enclosed of various traction. So enjoy!!!... I urge people to keep using this line and love the Pennine landscape...
Please click any image below for an enlargement and caption. All images are copyright Ian Thomas.
Images copyright Ian Thomas
Many thanks indeed Ian - perhaps an idea for a trip if anybody needs some inspiration!
Bristol & Swindon
Colin Pidgeon
57305 & 99007 at Bristol Temple Meads on 0Q57 Portbury Dock to Leicester L.I.P. 30.04.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
57305 & 99007 at Bristol Temple Meads on 0Q57 Portbury Dock to Leicester L.I.P. 30.04.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
66660 at Swindon shunting 6V15 Boston Docks to Swindon Stores. 30.04.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
61306 Mayflower passing Swindon on 0Z61 Southall Loco Services to Bishop's Lydeard invoking memories of the 60s & 70s when locos of the class used to work a Sheffield to Swindon Sundays only train. 01.05.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Many thanks Colin, and thanks to Ken M for sending these over.
May 1976
Part 2
Roger Winnen
D1056 Western Sultan works the Royal Mail at Long Rock. 07.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A down service to Penzance at Long Rock. 07.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
D1021 Western Cavalier at Long Rock. 07.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
D1021 Western Cavalier at Long Rock. 07.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
47256 in Green Livery at Penzance. 07.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
47256 in Green Livery at Penzance. 07.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.