The Cornwall Railway Society next indoor meeting at the Memorial Hall Redruth
will be presented by John Ball on Saturday May 10th 2025 at 18.30hrs
entitled The Railways of India and East Africa
will be presented by John Ball on Saturday May 10th 2025 at 18.30hrs
entitled The Railways of India and East Africa
NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 42
PS WAVERLEY
Michael L. Roach
Publicity came early in April 2025 that PS Waverley would be returning to the ports on the South Coast of Devon and Cornwall at the end of August as it had done in 2024. The Waverley was built on the Clyde during 1945 – 1947 to replace a paddle steamer of the same name that had been sunk during the evacuation of Dunkirk; and both were named after Sir Walter Scott's first novel. The ship was built for the LNER and sailed on the River Clyde from 1947 to 1973. In 1974 it was sold to a preservation society who had already bought the paddle steamer Kingswear Castle from the River Dart. Originally powered by a coal-fired steam engine this was later changed to oil firing and remains so. The engine is a triple-expansion marine steam engine rated at 2,100 IHP which is similar to a large pacific-type steam locomotive. The paddle wheels are rigidly fixed to the main crank and cannot turn independently; so when it is facing the wrong way it has to execute a 3-point turn just like a motor car. The ship is 73 metres long and weighs 693 grt and can carry up to 925 passengers. The service speed is 14 knots (16 mph), but when I have been watching it online it tends to do a little more than this, around 14.8 knots (17 mph).
PS Waverley spends part of each summer season cruising on the River Clyde, its original stomping ground; but comes south for several weeks to do excursions in the Bristol Channel, Thames Estuary, South Coast etc. The ship is claimed to be the World's last sea-going paddle steamer and therefore rounding Lands End holds no problems for it. However it has been reluctant to visit the ports of Devon and Cornwall for many years but returned in the summer of 2024 to operate out of Penzance, Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth and Dartmouth where it was present for, and I suspect the highlight of, the Dartmouth Royal Regatta.
It arrived in Falmouth on Tuesday 27 August and departed Dartmouth at 10.45am on Tuesday 2 September for a 6-hour one-way cruise to Swanage to take up its South Coast Excursions. Each day would see up to four individual trips, and passengers could partake of one, two, three or all four with coach travel returning passengers to their starting point. I only ever made one trip on the Waverley and that was an evening excursion from Swanage to Bournemouth and back without landing. Swanage pier was closed awaiting repairs at the time so we embarked and dis-embarked by small boat.
The highlight was undoubtedly visiting the engine room of Waverley and seeing the magnificent steam engine working hard. However, the photos used to illustrate this article date back even earlier to 1979 when the Waverley was working out of Plymouth. On that occasion the ship used Millbay Docks at the very pier that had been used by the GWR for landing trans-Atlantic passengers brought ashore, with the mails, by one of the railway's three tenders up until the early 1960s. In 2024 the Waverley used Plymouth's historic Sutton Harbour to embark its passengers.
On Saturday 19 May 1979 I visited Millbay Docks twice to see PS Waverley, and in between the two visits the ship made a trip out to the Eddystone Lighthouse. I witnessed the ship arriving each time and also being refuelled. Originally coal fired, the Waverley now burns low-sulphur medium fuel oil at the rate of 700 litres per hour at the service speed of 14 knots. It was Esso that supplied the oil in 1979 in the days when the firm had its own fleet of delivery lorries. At the time of writing (21.04.2025) Waverley is moored up on the River Clyde near the Glasgow Observation Tower.
PS Waverley spends part of each summer season cruising on the River Clyde, its original stomping ground; but comes south for several weeks to do excursions in the Bristol Channel, Thames Estuary, South Coast etc. The ship is claimed to be the World's last sea-going paddle steamer and therefore rounding Lands End holds no problems for it. However it has been reluctant to visit the ports of Devon and Cornwall for many years but returned in the summer of 2024 to operate out of Penzance, Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth and Dartmouth where it was present for, and I suspect the highlight of, the Dartmouth Royal Regatta.
It arrived in Falmouth on Tuesday 27 August and departed Dartmouth at 10.45am on Tuesday 2 September for a 6-hour one-way cruise to Swanage to take up its South Coast Excursions. Each day would see up to four individual trips, and passengers could partake of one, two, three or all four with coach travel returning passengers to their starting point. I only ever made one trip on the Waverley and that was an evening excursion from Swanage to Bournemouth and back without landing. Swanage pier was closed awaiting repairs at the time so we embarked and dis-embarked by small boat.
The highlight was undoubtedly visiting the engine room of Waverley and seeing the magnificent steam engine working hard. However, the photos used to illustrate this article date back even earlier to 1979 when the Waverley was working out of Plymouth. On that occasion the ship used Millbay Docks at the very pier that had been used by the GWR for landing trans-Atlantic passengers brought ashore, with the mails, by one of the railway's three tenders up until the early 1960s. In 2024 the Waverley used Plymouth's historic Sutton Harbour to embark its passengers.
On Saturday 19 May 1979 I visited Millbay Docks twice to see PS Waverley, and in between the two visits the ship made a trip out to the Eddystone Lighthouse. I witnessed the ship arriving each time and also being refuelled. Originally coal fired, the Waverley now burns low-sulphur medium fuel oil at the rate of 700 litres per hour at the service speed of 14 knots. It was Esso that supplied the oil in 1979 in the days when the firm had its own fleet of delivery lorries. At the time of writing (21.04.2025) Waverley is moored up on the River Clyde near the Glasgow Observation Tower.
Waverley arrives at Millbay just before 1.00pm on 19 May 1979. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The passengers wait to disembark from Waverley. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Waverley receives a load of Esso fuel oil at Millbay Pier at 1.20pm on 19 May 1979. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Here I am looking almost due west showing a Brittany Ferries ship at the Ro-Ro terminal. For so many years the grain silo was a major feature of the docks – it is just out of the picture top left. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Waverley returns to Millbay at 4.00pm after a trip to the Eddystone Lighthouse which cost £3.95 for adults (equals £19 in 2025). Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The raked funnels and paddle wheels. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Waverley manoeuvres to face east at the wharf. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks Michael, another interesting article.
For information on Waverley's schedule, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For information on Waverley's schedule, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
Wilts & Somerset Freight
Guy Vincent
Sunday 4th May 2025 GB Railfreight's 66797, still in plain blue livery with Beacon Rail and GBRf branding, approaches Bradford on Avon with a heavy train of 25 bogie wagons loaded with sand that will be used for 'blanketing' in an engineering occupation near Gloucester. 6G72 0939 Westbury - Gloucester. As the train neared Filton Abbey Wood station at the top of Filton bank (four miles with an average gradient of 1 in 76), speed was reportedly down to below 10mph. This was the last of three trains operated by GBRf from Westbury to Gloucester on Sunday morning. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Monday 5th May 2025 69005 the former 56007, passing Dilton Marsh Halt with a lightweight 6O41 1014 Westbury - Eastleigh engineers trip freight. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Tuesday 6th May 2025 69005 piloting 66703 with the 6O41 'tripper' again, approaching the summit of the 1 in 75 incline at Upton Scudamore. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Tuesday 6th May 2025 66619 passing Clink Road Jcn, Frome with the daily 6A50 1018 Whatley - Hanwell Bridge Loop. Often double headed, today just 66619 on the front. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Saturday 3rd May 2025 A bonus image of 66797 stabled at dusk in Westbury Yard, viewed from the site of the entrance to the old BR Westbury Diesel Depot. The vehicles in the foreground are used by Colas Rail. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Great photos, lots of interesting freight still in your area! Many thanks, Guy.
Avon Valley Railway Fraud
The following text is from Paul Negus:
Hi Jon and Roger
Readers may already have heard about the fraud, reported to be £50,000, perpetrated by an employee at the Avon Valley Railway. The latest news is reported by the website Somerset Live today (Tuesday 6 May) under Bath News. Sorry that I cannot provide a link but Somerset Live appears to have prohibited any such copying!
There is a Bounce Back Appeal - see Latest News on the front page of their website: https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/
This is a small society in railway heritage terms that can ill afford to lose such a sum!
Kind regards
Paul
Hi Jon and Roger
Readers may already have heard about the fraud, reported to be £50,000, perpetrated by an employee at the Avon Valley Railway. The latest news is reported by the website Somerset Live today (Tuesday 6 May) under Bath News. Sorry that I cannot provide a link but Somerset Live appears to have prohibited any such copying!
There is a Bounce Back Appeal - see Latest News on the front page of their website: https://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/
This is a small society in railway heritage terms that can ill afford to lose such a sum!
Kind regards
Paul
Thanks for sharing this with us, Paul. Hopefully the railway can bounce back - what an awful thing to happen.
With thanks to Richard Doney, here is the link to the news article.
Clay on a sunny day
Jon Hird & Tony Shore
66127 leads the mid-day Goonbarrow - Fowey clay towards St. Blazey bridge crossing. 06.05.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Now on the mainline, 66127 slogs up the bank past Tywardreath on its way to Lostwithiel where it will run round. 06.05.2025, copyright Tony Shore.
And finally on the Fowey branch, the train passes Golant nearing journeys end. 06.05.2025, copyright Tony Shore.
The long process of unloading the wagons and shunting at Fowey Docks Carne Point. 06.05.2025, copyright Tony Shore.
Just after 7pm, the shadows are getting longer over St. Blazey as 66127 reverses the wagons back into the yard for the evening. 06.05.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
A NEW station...?
Please click here for a very interesting article regarding the construction of a new station in the Yeovil area.
Our grateful thanks to Keith for spotting this one.
Our grateful thanks to Keith for spotting this one.