NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 76
Penzance 14.05.1977
Michael L. Roach
This is the second of the Mixed Bags from 1977 and follows on date-wise from the first one posted 26 Oct 2025.
On Saturday 14 May 1977 I visited Penzance to take a few record photos, and caught it at an interesting moment in time as the new train shed was being completed to maintain the soon-to-be introduced High Speed Trains, whilst the redundant steam shed was being demolished; and joy of joy I caught the semaphore signals at the end of the platform before they were swept away by colour lights – a really grand array of BRWR lower quadrant platform starting signals.
However, the principal reason for visiting Penzance on that particular day in 1977 was to photograph a 200-ton transformer sat on the quayside at Penzance. It had been unloaded from a ship and was waiting for the Sunday morning to move the 40-odd miles to the major sub-station at Indian Queens at the point where the two 132Kv lines across Southern England end and the electricity is transformed down to lower voltages.
This was the second of two such transformers to make the move and would have the advantage of using the new A30 Camborne – Scorrier Bypass. When the first one was moved a couple of years earlier, that bypass was still under construction and the whole assembly of two tractor units and an air-cushioned trailer had to thread their way through the main streets of Hayle, Camborne and Pool (but not Redruth) including the steep climb of East Hill, Tuckingmill for which a third tractor unit would have been attached at the rear. The Hayle Bypass was still some years away in 1977.
On Saturday 14 May 1977 I visited Penzance to take a few record photos, and caught it at an interesting moment in time as the new train shed was being completed to maintain the soon-to-be introduced High Speed Trains, whilst the redundant steam shed was being demolished; and joy of joy I caught the semaphore signals at the end of the platform before they were swept away by colour lights – a really grand array of BRWR lower quadrant platform starting signals.
However, the principal reason for visiting Penzance on that particular day in 1977 was to photograph a 200-ton transformer sat on the quayside at Penzance. It had been unloaded from a ship and was waiting for the Sunday morning to move the 40-odd miles to the major sub-station at Indian Queens at the point where the two 132Kv lines across Southern England end and the electricity is transformed down to lower voltages.
This was the second of two such transformers to make the move and would have the advantage of using the new A30 Camborne – Scorrier Bypass. When the first one was moved a couple of years earlier, that bypass was still under construction and the whole assembly of two tractor units and an air-cushioned trailer had to thread their way through the main streets of Hayle, Camborne and Pool (but not Redruth) including the steep climb of East Hill, Tuckingmill for which a third tractor unit would have been attached at the rear. The Hayle Bypass was still some years away in 1977.
The time is 2.15pm on the afternoon of Saturday 14 May 1977 and the transformer waits in the sun for Sunday morning to commence the move to Indian Queens. There are several websites devoted to Wynns Heavy Haulage. The registration DW was allocated to Newport (Mon) and HB to Merthyr Tydfil. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
I failed to record the name of this ancient dredger in Penzance harbour that day which appears to be steam powered. On the right is the roof of Penzance railway station. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
At 4.00pm 50022 is leaving the station LE. The red boxes are destined to hold fire extinguishers in the new HST shed and were made of wood, possibly at the carpenters shop at St. Blazey. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Five minutes later and 50005 arrives with 7C some 25L. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The new shed is arriving as the old shed is leaving this world. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
50017 arrives at Penzance with 8C past the new shed at 17.48. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks as always Michael, another interesting article. Look how modern that new shed at Long Rock looked!
For more of Michaels articles, click here.
For more of Michaels articles, click here.
CRS Artefact Seach
Can you help?
Following an internal discussion, we are searching for an illustration produced for the CRS in the late 1970's.
The image in question was a hand-drawn map of Cornwall, showing all known railway lines. We believe that it was produced by Peter Butt.
Perhaps somebody has a copy somewhere - we'd love to obtain a copy.
Please email us if you can help - [email protected]
The image in question was a hand-drawn map of Cornwall, showing all known railway lines. We believe that it was produced by Peter Butt.
Perhaps somebody has a copy somewhere - we'd love to obtain a copy.
Please email us if you can help - [email protected]
Present day on the Exmouth Branch
Roger Geach
Part 1
Our journey begins at Exeter Central, where we see 165103 waiting to depart with an Exmouth - Paignton service. 11.11.2025, copyright Roger Geach.
Next stop is Digby Sowton, where we see 165104 arriving from Paignton. 11.11.2025, copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks Roger. Great to see some pics of the Exmouth branch, we don't see a lot of it nowadays.
More photos to follow tomorrow.
More photos to follow tomorrow.
Saturday HST hunt
Jon Hird
43189 leads the 1241 PLY-PNZ past Restormel. 15.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
43156 leads the 1443 PLY-PNZ away from Saltash with the magnificent Royal Albert Bridge in the background. 15.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Last-built 43198 slows for Saltash with the 1315 Penzance - Plymouth. 15.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Fan favourite 43093 on the rear of the 1315 PNZ- PLY calls at Saltash. 15.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Request for information:
Cornish Freightliner Operations - early 1970s
Dear Sir
Would you be kind enough to put out a 'call for information' to your members for the following piece of information I seek.
As a 'lad' I was an avid trainspotter living in Plymouth and after school one of the regular movements I would see on my way home was the 1525 Par-Park Royal Freightliner. My old log books showed the 'up' service with a headcode of 4A64 but I can never recall seeing, or ever recording, the 'down' movement with associated headcode and time..............so, that is the question I need answered.
I ask this because my interest these days is in recreating the days of my youth in virtual-reality of Train Simulator and a train I want to run (albeit on the PC) the aforementioned Freightliners, both 'up' and 'down'.
Your website has been a treasure trove for pictures of the railways of Devon and Cornwall which I've been able to use to reproduce the virtual world. Attached are a couple of pictures as examples of what I get up to on the PC, albeit a Southern engine (!) about to enter Devonshire Tunnel on the S&D.
I look forward to discovering that headcode.
Yours faithfully
Paul Kiver
Would you be kind enough to put out a 'call for information' to your members for the following piece of information I seek.
As a 'lad' I was an avid trainspotter living in Plymouth and after school one of the regular movements I would see on my way home was the 1525 Par-Park Royal Freightliner. My old log books showed the 'up' service with a headcode of 4A64 but I can never recall seeing, or ever recording, the 'down' movement with associated headcode and time..............so, that is the question I need answered.
I ask this because my interest these days is in recreating the days of my youth in virtual-reality of Train Simulator and a train I want to run (albeit on the PC) the aforementioned Freightliners, both 'up' and 'down'.
Your website has been a treasure trove for pictures of the railways of Devon and Cornwall which I've been able to use to reproduce the virtual world. Attached are a couple of pictures as examples of what I get up to on the PC, albeit a Southern engine (!) about to enter Devonshire Tunnel on the S&D.
I look forward to discovering that headcode.
Yours faithfully
Paul Kiver
Train simulator screenshots. Copyright Paul Kiver.
An interesting question Paul - can anybody help? Please email [email protected]
Old Oak's Turntable
Steve Clark
I lived in London between 1989 and 1995 and my weekends were taken up playing snooker or Golf, watching Arsenal or I bashed a few London Depots and stabling points. Camera Film was at a premium, so I tried to take quality rather than quantity and I have many timeless shots from places like Stewarts Lane, Hither Green, Stratford, Ripple Lane and Old Oak Common. For some reason I was always turned away from Willesden TMD.
Anyway, I have a few shots of Locos on the turntable at Old Oak but none better than the below.
Anyway, I have a few shots of Locos on the turntable at Old Oak but none better than the below.
WR traction at Old Oak Common. 47814 is nearest the camera with 47484 to the left then 47628, 47826 and 47833. Two more 47s can be seen in the background, the Large Logo example being 47526. Copyright Steve Clark.
What a shot - many thanks, Steve.
Missing IET names
Steve Widdowson
It has been brought to my attention by a local enthusiast that at least 2 IET sets are currently missing there names. He has informed GWR, who have said its in hand.
800028 which was named "Sir Peter Parker" & "Oliver Lovell" has recently been to Eastleigh for a planned repaint, but has lost its names during the repaint.
800004 which was named "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" & "Sir Daniel Gooch" believed to be missing for at least 6 years. Didn’t even get reinstated for Rail200 year !
We are now wondering how many more are missing ? Have CRS members noticed the same.
800028 which was named "Sir Peter Parker" & "Oliver Lovell" has recently been to Eastleigh for a planned repaint, but has lost its names during the repaint.
800004 which was named "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" & "Sir Daniel Gooch" believed to be missing for at least 6 years. Didn’t even get reinstated for Rail200 year !
We are now wondering how many more are missing ? Have CRS members noticed the same.
Good observations, Steve. Any IET experts amongst us? Get in touch..