Class 175's to Newquay
Mark Lynam & Chris Bellett
Thursday 7th May 2026 saw the first 3-car class 175 to Newquay.
The unit worked through from Laira with various dignitaries and GWR/NR staff onboard who carried out measuring at certain locations.
A BBC news report is available - click here.
Read on beneath the images for details on future 175 visits to the North Coast.
The unit worked through from Laira with various dignitaries and GWR/NR staff onboard who carried out measuring at certain locations.
A BBC news report is available - click here.
Read on beneath the images for details on future 175 visits to the North Coast.
175114 arrives at Newquay with 2Z51 from Plymouth/Laira. 07.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
After just a 6-minute layover, the unit departs again for Par. 07.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
The return working passes Middleway, St. Blazey. 07.05.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Chris Bellett writes to say:
With the new summer timetable commencing on 18th May, the Newquay Line service goes to an hourly pattern and is scheduled to be worked by Class 175 units.
The summer through IET extras are added to that and the freight traffic as well, so the branch is going to be very busy again.
A poster elsewhere has given permission to publish the Class 175 diagrams (with the usual caveat on trained crew and units being available). Goonbarrow Junction and St.Blazey signalboxes are going to be very busy...
The following should be class 175 operated during the Summer Timetable from 18th May.
The diagrams are all Laira starters.
Monday to Friday there should be 6 diagrams
Saturdays there should be 5 diagrams
Sundays there should be 3 diagrams
Monday to Friday
(1)
5C00 0449 Laira Plymouth
2C00 0533 Plymouth Penzance
2E06 0743 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C20 1127 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P20 1515 Penzance Plymouth
5P21 756 PLymouth Laira
(2)
3C05 0645 Laira Liskeard
2P05 0808 Liskeard Plymouth
2C11 1014 Plymouth Penzance
2P16 1315 Penzance Plymouth
5P16 1519 Plymouth Laira
(3)
5C26 1314 Laira Plymouth
2C26 1340 Plymouth Penzance
2p21 1552 Penzance Plymouth
5P21 1756 Plymouth Laira
(4)
3E05 0540 Laira Exeter St Davids
2c05 0655 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2E11 1015 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C32 1528 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2E28 1915 Penzance Exeter St Davids
5P28 2256 Exeter St Davids Laira
(5)
5E04 0828 Laira Plymouth
2E04 0849 Plymouth Exeter St Davids
2C18 1027 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P17 1350 Penzance Plymouth
2C31 1556 Plymouth Penzance
2P27 1850 Penzance Plymouth
5P27 2109 Plymouth Laira
(6)
3N02 0612 Plymouth Par
2N02 0707 Plymouth Newquay
2N03 0822 Newquay Par
2N06 0916 Par Newquay
2N07 1028 Newquay Par
2N10 1121 Par Newquay
2N11 1217 Newquay Par
2N14 1316 Par Newquay
2N15 1428 Newquay Par
2N18 1515 Par Newquay
2N19 1618 Newquay Par
2N22 1717 Par Newquay
2N23 1822 Newquay Par
2N26 1916 Par Newquay
2N27 2028 Newquay Par
5P99 2135 Par Laira
Saturdays
(1)
5C05 0444 Laira Plymouth
2C05 0515 Plymouth Penzance
2P10 0740 Penzance Plymouth
5P10 0942 Plymouth Station Sidings
2C49 1231 Station Sidings Plymouth
2C49 1242 Plymouth Penzance
2P24 1515 Penzance Plymouth
5P24 1731 Plymouth Laira
(2)
3E42 0400 Laira Exeter St Davids
2C42 0800 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P18 1150 Penzance Plymouth
2C53 1443 Plymouth Penzance
2P30 1715 Penzance Plymouth
5P30 1824 Plymouth Laira
(3)
3C12 0520 Laira Penzance
2E12 0850 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C51 1219 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P26 1550 Penzance Plymouth
5P26 1750 Plymouth Laira
(4)
5C40 0714 Laira Plymouth
2C40 0807 Plymouth Penzance
2E16 1039 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2P56 1422 Exeter St Davids Plymouth
2C57 1638 Plymouth Penzance
2P95 1930 Penzance Plymouth
5P95 2145 Plymouth Laira
(5)
5N02 0526 PLymouth Par
2N02 0703 Par Newquay
2N03 0812 Newquay Par
2N06 0905 Par Newquay
2N07 1010 Newquay Par
2N10 1130 Par Newquay
2N11 1221 Newquay Par
2N14 1338 Par Newquay
2N15 1447 Newquay Par
5N15 1540 Par Par Chapel Sidings
5N20 1610 Par Chapel Sidings Par
2N20 1622 Par Newquay
2N21 1740 Newquay Par
2N24 1834 Par Newquay
2N25 1938 Newquay Par
2N28 2032 Par Newquay
2P97 2124 Newquay Plymouth
5P97 2342 Plymouth Laira
Sundays
(1)
5C06 0750 Laira Plymouth
2C06 0845 Plymouth Penzance
2E13 1149 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C32 1527 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P28 1915 Penzance Plymouth
5P28 2125 Plymouth Laira
(2)
5C20 0949 Laira Plymouth
2C20 1032 Plymouth Penzance
2E17 1349 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2P36 Exeter St Davids Plymouth
5P36 1838 Plymouth Laira
(3)
5C06 0750 Laira Plymouth
5N08 0859 Plymouth Par
2N08 1012 Par Newquay
2N09 1118 Newquay Par
5N12 1218 Par Par Chapel Sidings
5N16 1426 Par Chapel Sidings Par
2N16 1438 Par Newquay
2N19 1552 Newquay Par
2N22 1715 Par Newquay
2N23 1816 Newquay Par
2N26 1935 Par Newquay
2N27 2029 Newquay Par
5P27 2145 Par Laira
With the new summer timetable commencing on 18th May, the Newquay Line service goes to an hourly pattern and is scheduled to be worked by Class 175 units.
The summer through IET extras are added to that and the freight traffic as well, so the branch is going to be very busy again.
A poster elsewhere has given permission to publish the Class 175 diagrams (with the usual caveat on trained crew and units being available). Goonbarrow Junction and St.Blazey signalboxes are going to be very busy...
The following should be class 175 operated during the Summer Timetable from 18th May.
The diagrams are all Laira starters.
Monday to Friday there should be 6 diagrams
Saturdays there should be 5 diagrams
Sundays there should be 3 diagrams
Monday to Friday
(1)
5C00 0449 Laira Plymouth
2C00 0533 Plymouth Penzance
2E06 0743 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C20 1127 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P20 1515 Penzance Plymouth
5P21 756 PLymouth Laira
(2)
3C05 0645 Laira Liskeard
2P05 0808 Liskeard Plymouth
2C11 1014 Plymouth Penzance
2P16 1315 Penzance Plymouth
5P16 1519 Plymouth Laira
(3)
5C26 1314 Laira Plymouth
2C26 1340 Plymouth Penzance
2p21 1552 Penzance Plymouth
5P21 1756 Plymouth Laira
(4)
3E05 0540 Laira Exeter St Davids
2c05 0655 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2E11 1015 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C32 1528 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2E28 1915 Penzance Exeter St Davids
5P28 2256 Exeter St Davids Laira
(5)
5E04 0828 Laira Plymouth
2E04 0849 Plymouth Exeter St Davids
2C18 1027 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P17 1350 Penzance Plymouth
2C31 1556 Plymouth Penzance
2P27 1850 Penzance Plymouth
5P27 2109 Plymouth Laira
(6)
3N02 0612 Plymouth Par
2N02 0707 Plymouth Newquay
2N03 0822 Newquay Par
2N06 0916 Par Newquay
2N07 1028 Newquay Par
2N10 1121 Par Newquay
2N11 1217 Newquay Par
2N14 1316 Par Newquay
2N15 1428 Newquay Par
2N18 1515 Par Newquay
2N19 1618 Newquay Par
2N22 1717 Par Newquay
2N23 1822 Newquay Par
2N26 1916 Par Newquay
2N27 2028 Newquay Par
5P99 2135 Par Laira
Saturdays
(1)
5C05 0444 Laira Plymouth
2C05 0515 Plymouth Penzance
2P10 0740 Penzance Plymouth
5P10 0942 Plymouth Station Sidings
2C49 1231 Station Sidings Plymouth
2C49 1242 Plymouth Penzance
2P24 1515 Penzance Plymouth
5P24 1731 Plymouth Laira
(2)
3E42 0400 Laira Exeter St Davids
2C42 0800 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P18 1150 Penzance Plymouth
2C53 1443 Plymouth Penzance
2P30 1715 Penzance Plymouth
5P30 1824 Plymouth Laira
(3)
3C12 0520 Laira Penzance
2E12 0850 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C51 1219 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P26 1550 Penzance Plymouth
5P26 1750 Plymouth Laira
(4)
5C40 0714 Laira Plymouth
2C40 0807 Plymouth Penzance
2E16 1039 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2P56 1422 Exeter St Davids Plymouth
2C57 1638 Plymouth Penzance
2P95 1930 Penzance Plymouth
5P95 2145 Plymouth Laira
(5)
5N02 0526 PLymouth Par
2N02 0703 Par Newquay
2N03 0812 Newquay Par
2N06 0905 Par Newquay
2N07 1010 Newquay Par
2N10 1130 Par Newquay
2N11 1221 Newquay Par
2N14 1338 Par Newquay
2N15 1447 Newquay Par
5N15 1540 Par Par Chapel Sidings
5N20 1610 Par Chapel Sidings Par
2N20 1622 Par Newquay
2N21 1740 Newquay Par
2N24 1834 Par Newquay
2N25 1938 Newquay Par
2N28 2032 Par Newquay
2P97 2124 Newquay Plymouth
5P97 2342 Plymouth Laira
Sundays
(1)
5C06 0750 Laira Plymouth
2C06 0845 Plymouth Penzance
2E13 1149 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2C32 1527 Exeter St Davids Penzance
2P28 1915 Penzance Plymouth
5P28 2125 Plymouth Laira
(2)
5C20 0949 Laira Plymouth
2C20 1032 Plymouth Penzance
2E17 1349 Penzance Exeter St Davids
2P36 Exeter St Davids Plymouth
5P36 1838 Plymouth Laira
(3)
5C06 0750 Laira Plymouth
5N08 0859 Plymouth Par
2N08 1012 Par Newquay
2N09 1118 Newquay Par
5N12 1218 Par Par Chapel Sidings
5N16 1426 Par Chapel Sidings Par
2N16 1438 Par Newquay
2N19 1552 Newquay Par
2N22 1715 Par Newquay
2N23 1816 Newquay Par
2N26 1935 Par Newquay
2N27 2029 Newquay Par
5P27 2145 Par Laira
Many thanks to Mark and Chris for the photographs and information. An ambitious schedule of services - great to see the appetite is there for it.
The CRS visit to Bere Ferrers
Roger Winnen
A selection of photographs from the CRS excursion to Bere Ferrers and the Tamar Belle Heritage Centre on the 18th April 2026.
Please click any image below to obtain an enlargement and caption - all images are copyright Roger Winnen.
Please see our outdoor events section for more upcoming CRS excursions.
Avon Valley Railway
'Fit for the future' appeal
The Avon Valley Railway have just launched our “Fit for the Future” Appeal, focused on safeguarding the line's long‑term future.
The aims are deliberately forward‑looking: investing in essentials such as the buffet and track, progressing the Avonside restoration, and ensuring the railway can continue to educate and inspire. And to be enjoyed!
With coal costs, locomotive hire, and utilities, it costs well over £1,000 a day to operate before the railway has sold one ticket. Those costs are manageable, and can be reduced, if the buffet can be refurbished to generate more casual spend, the Avonside restored to reduce reliance on hired engines, and the infrastructure kept in good condition so we’re not constantly firefighting problems.
Behind every successful heritage railway is careful planning, skilled conservation, and steady, long‑term support. The railway suffered a real blow two years when it was the victim of fraud but it rebuilt. Santa traffic is up 10%, half-term operations were up 25%. There are new trustees and a new family-focused events programme that brings in the visitors without significant costs. The AVR are going places again and would like to go further, but it can’t seriously plan an extension without the existing foundations being totally secure.
Even modest contributions genuinely help turn good intentions into lasting outcomes!
More details here: https://www.avrht.org/appeal
The aims are deliberately forward‑looking: investing in essentials such as the buffet and track, progressing the Avonside restoration, and ensuring the railway can continue to educate and inspire. And to be enjoyed!
With coal costs, locomotive hire, and utilities, it costs well over £1,000 a day to operate before the railway has sold one ticket. Those costs are manageable, and can be reduced, if the buffet can be refurbished to generate more casual spend, the Avonside restored to reduce reliance on hired engines, and the infrastructure kept in good condition so we’re not constantly firefighting problems.
Behind every successful heritage railway is careful planning, skilled conservation, and steady, long‑term support. The railway suffered a real blow two years when it was the victim of fraud but it rebuilt. Santa traffic is up 10%, half-term operations were up 25%. There are new trustees and a new family-focused events programme that brings in the visitors without significant costs. The AVR are going places again and would like to go further, but it can’t seriously plan an extension without the existing foundations being totally secure.
Even modest contributions genuinely help turn good intentions into lasting outcomes!
More details here: https://www.avrht.org/appeal
Best of luck to the AVR with their appeal - a superb railway.
Sea wall light loco
Martin Scane
57301 caught me out this afternoon by being earlier than anticipated so here is a very rushed shot of her having just passed Teignmouth station on her way back to Reading having rescued 57604 and 57605 on Wednesday. 07.05.2026, copyright Martin Scane.
Well caught Martin - many thanks.
May 1976
Part 8
Roger Winnen
D1070 Western Gauntlet with the 10.20 from Penzance at Chyandour. 22.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
47256 at Long Rock. 23.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Class 47 Rounding Long Rock curve. 23.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
New pointwork being installed for the carriage sidings at Long Rock. 23.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The 09.30 Plymouth Penzance DMU at Long Rock. 23.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
A Class 47 departing Penzance on the 12.05 to Paddington showing the original road by Finn Shoes. 23.05.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.