The Nick Perring Collection - Part 2
Clive Smith
Following on from my recent introduction to my late friend Nick Perring here are some photos from his collection. The five here are from his early instamatic pictures where a lot of us started with and some later shots when he acquired a decent camera and moved to slides.
The 19th February 1978 was a quite memorable day as I was with Nick journeying up from Plymouth which had escaped the blizzards that were sweeping across the south west. A Deltic railtour was due to run to Paignton after an aborted attempt the previous year making this the first ever appearance of a Deltic in the south west so we made our way to Newton Abbot to view it little realising the worsening conditions. We were all huddled in the waiting room at Newton Abbot when the announcement came through that the Deltic tour was terminated at Bristol due to a London train that was marooned in a snowdrift at Whiteball. The first service from the east was 25080 on a 12.46 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot special in lieu of the Paddington service but so severe were the conditions that the rat and stock then went off into the sidings. 25080 then resurfaced to run a 14.20 relief from Newton Abbot to Plymouth as the snow was piling up, however this was reduced to load 4 to get it over the banks. Nick, myself and a few others including the late Rob Barnes jumped on to get home and I timed the train and recorded a speed of 18mph going up Dainton and 15mph up Rattery at Tigley. Strangely there was no snow in Plymouth. Copyright Clive Smith, (original photographer Nick Perring).
This happened shortly after 16.00 at Plymouth on the 20th June 1975 as I witnessed this occur after Western Campaigner had just worked in on the 1M74 14.00 Penzance - Birmingham, often a pair of locos usually replaced by a peak. On this occasion it was just D1010 as it made an almighty racket as it jumped the tracks as it headed off to Laira. Copyright Clive Smith, (original photographer Nick Perring).
The first ever appearance of a production class 253 High Speed Train at Plymouth on a Sunday ADEX 08.20 Paddington - Plymouth head code 1X80 on the 10th April 1977. A BR trackworker sports the latest safety critical issue headgear. Copyright Clive Smith, (original photographer Nick Perring).
Taken by Nick from Newton Abbot East signal box. He had a massive advantage working in the S & T Department for BR. So much has changed from this scene. 45054 pulls out of the station on the 2nd February 1981 with the 1E37 morning Devonian train from Paignton - Leeds. Copyright Clive Smith, (original photographer Nick Perring).
50022 heads the 1V76 09.20 Liverpool - Penzance across Ivybridge Viaduct in the Stowford part of the town on the 27th March 1982. I think a lot of houses were put up from where Nick took the photo. In the late 1980s and then again in the 1990s the town of Ivybridge was considerably expanded. This shot is no longer possible. Copyright Clive Smith, (original photographer Nick Perring).
Many thanks indeed Clive, a great selection which I'm sure will be appreciated by all.
Western experts required!
A query for you
I am in search of some help on a lifelong trainspotter's mystery and wondered if any of your members might be able to help?
In the school holidays of 1976 my grandparents paid for my parents and I to travel by rail to St Ives from Chesterfield(my dad's grandfather grew up in St Austell workhouse but that's another story) As a young trainspotter this was, as you can no doubt imagine, like a trip to heaven. Where previously I could only look at pictures of Westerns and 50s - we occasionally got a Western named 47 and that was about it - here was a chance to actually see them! (I had no idea how close I got to missing them entirely).
To cut a long journey short, our Peak failed somewhere outside Taunton and we were pushed, by a Hoover as I recall, into the sidings at Tiverton Junction to await rescue. Imagine the excitement when the "thunderbird" turned out to be a Western(!) which took us forward until our change at St Erth.
Here, however comes the mystery. My mum was so frightened of missing our connecting DMU that I was strictly forbidden from running up the platform to cop my first 1000er and to this day, despite all my research, I have absolutely no idea which Western it was(except that it wasn't 1056 which came the other way as we waited for our DMU- I may never have forgiven my mum!)
The train obviously carried on to Penzance with my first Western on it.
I have bought books and gone though websites but to no avail.
So...if any of your expert members could possibly shed any light on the mystery I'd be eternally grateful. You'd certainly make a Derbyshire boy's trainspotting day! (never had anything like the same problem getting 20s!!)
Summer hol Saturdays that year were July 24, 31 Aug 7, 14 and 21 if that helps.
I've maintained a life long interest in West Country railways and have spent a good deal of time in Cornwall so your excellent website content is a constant mine of information.
Thank you for your time.
In the school holidays of 1976 my grandparents paid for my parents and I to travel by rail to St Ives from Chesterfield(my dad's grandfather grew up in St Austell workhouse but that's another story) As a young trainspotter this was, as you can no doubt imagine, like a trip to heaven. Where previously I could only look at pictures of Westerns and 50s - we occasionally got a Western named 47 and that was about it - here was a chance to actually see them! (I had no idea how close I got to missing them entirely).
To cut a long journey short, our Peak failed somewhere outside Taunton and we were pushed, by a Hoover as I recall, into the sidings at Tiverton Junction to await rescue. Imagine the excitement when the "thunderbird" turned out to be a Western(!) which took us forward until our change at St Erth.
Here, however comes the mystery. My mum was so frightened of missing our connecting DMU that I was strictly forbidden from running up the platform to cop my first 1000er and to this day, despite all my research, I have absolutely no idea which Western it was(except that it wasn't 1056 which came the other way as we waited for our DMU- I may never have forgiven my mum!)
The train obviously carried on to Penzance with my first Western on it.
I have bought books and gone though websites but to no avail.
So...if any of your expert members could possibly shed any light on the mystery I'd be eternally grateful. You'd certainly make a Derbyshire boy's trainspotting day! (never had anything like the same problem getting 20s!!)
Summer hol Saturdays that year were July 24, 31 Aug 7, 14 and 21 if that helps.
I've maintained a life long interest in West Country railways and have spent a good deal of time in Cornwall so your excellent website content is a constant mine of information.
Thank you for your time.
A great story and an interesting query. We have many readers who have world-class knowledge of Western workings - I'm hopeful somebody may be able to help! Please drop us an email - [email protected] - if you have any pointers.
Sea Wall HST
Paul Barlow
43093 and 43198 on the 1127 Exeter to Penzance 2C20 approach Dawlish. 10.11.2025, copyright Paul Barlow.
Sun, sea and an interesting train on 'the wall', what more could we ask for. Many thanks, Paul.
HST Memories
Michael Forward
Talking of full HST sets, here is the Bradford to Paignton service leaving Taunton on 26 March 1983 with 43186 leading and 43187 on the rear, and look at those signals! Copyright Michael Forward.
Many thanks Michael - 43186 and 43187 thankfully still with us.. for another 29 days.
Carlyon Views
Jon Hird
Through a thin veil of sea mist, we see 800310 passing Carlyon Bay with the 1003 Paddington - Penzance. 13.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
43156 is next seen leading the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance across the lovely gothic Cypress Avenue rail over road bridge at Carlyon. The bridge was constructed in 1854 and was styled as such to appease Colonel Edward Carlyon, as it spanned the driveway to the grand Tregrehan House. 13.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.