First Bus pull out of Cornwall
Sad news emerged yesterday that First Bus plan to cease all Cornish operations by February 14th 2026.
The company runs a fleet of 85 buses and covers 14 services. It employs 275 members of staff amongst its depots in Falmouth, Camborne, Summercourt Penzance and Truro.
First Bus have offered to assist Cornwall Council with reassigning their routes to other operators.
The company runs a fleet of 85 buses and covers 14 services. It employs 275 members of staff amongst its depots in Falmouth, Camborne, Summercourt Penzance and Truro.
First Bus have offered to assist Cornwall Council with reassigning their routes to other operators.
Bus services as we'd prefer to remember them - the glory days of Western National. The Bristol VR is wearing a promotional livery for Helston's theme park 'Flambards', which sadly also closed its doors permanently earlier this year. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
New platform at Newquay
Mark Lynam
Good afternoon Keith/Roger/Jon,
Here are a couple of photos of the new platform at Newquay in use today.
Here are a couple of photos of the new platform at Newquay in use today.
150249 at Newquay before working 2N13 1320 Newquay to Par. 21.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
150249 at Newquay before working 2N13 1320 Newquay to Par. 21.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
Our first glimpse of the new platform operating in daylight. Many thanks, Mark.
Trenowth Trio
Jon Hird
43004 and 43156 sweep round the reverse curves at Trenowth with the 1128 Exeter St. Davids - Penzance. 21.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The same train viewed from the opposite side of the railway passes through Trenowth, waking a pair of deer who had been sleeping in the long grass. 21.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
43186 leads the 1315 Penzance - Plymouth through Trenowth. 43098 was on the rear. 21.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Class 150's in decline
Guy Vincent
While class 150s are assured of a long-term future in the west country, on the other side of the Severn they are fast becoming harder to find with diagrams cut back and several examples having either been either stored or sent for scrapping.
One of the former TfW sets, 150231, has been saved for preservation by the Mid-Hants Railway and was on display in freshly applied Provincial Sector 'Sprinter' livery at August's Rail 200 event in Derby.
One of the former TfW sets, 150231, has been saved for preservation by the Mid-Hants Railway and was on display in freshly applied Provincial Sector 'Sprinter' livery at August's Rail 200 event in Derby.
150264 was captured in platform 7 at Cardiff Central on Thursday evening with the 2F68 1919 ex Barry Island. 20.11.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Paul. The 150's have served the railway well over the years.
HST's by drone
Paul Barlow
A drone shot of 43156 and 43004 working the 1014 Plymouth to Penzance through Crugwallins. 18.11.2025, copyright Paul Barlow.
43004 and 43156 working the 1128 Exeter to Penzance at Exeter St Thomas. 21.11.2025, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks, Paul
RHTT in need of a clean
Guy Vincent
Beneath the layer of thick brown grime is Freightliner loco 66549, currently on hire to Colas for the RHTT season. This is the 3J41 working covering Reading-Newbury-Westbury. Each year several locos from different operators end up this way but this is one of the grubbiest I've ever seen. Partner 66850 is slightly less dirty, having been partially cleaned.
66850 on the RHTT at Westbury. 21.11.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Freightliner 66549 on hire to Colas. 21.11.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Freightliner 66549 on hire to Colas. 21.11.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks for sharing these with us, Guy.
Mystery Location
Roger Winnen
Roger sends this photo from 07.12.1974 and asks whether any CRS readers would like to take a guess at its location! Copyright Roger Winnen.
Answers by email please to [email protected] - we'll publish the correct location tomorrow!
Re: D1680 / Freightliner
Roger Geach
Regarding Karl's post yesterday - yes, 1680 was on the Par - Park Royal liner Mon to Thursday of that week at least, it was at times the same engine most of the week. Westerns did not appear until they were air brake fitted, so when the train commenced it had to be an air brake fitted class 47. Sadly this service only ran for a couple of years as was noted.
You may like to make readers aware of my late friends web site which lists many west country workings. It's a very comprehensive data base mostly (but not all) of many sightings at exeter and plymouth. It is Diademfiles - link below - set up by my late friend Steve Marshall, who sadly died recently.
You can do loco searches on it, a big number of observations. Only from 1960 to 1977 though. Not all workings are shown but many are, some days more then others, depends who was out and about. Take a look - click here.
You may like to make readers aware of my late friends web site which lists many west country workings. It's a very comprehensive data base mostly (but not all) of many sightings at exeter and plymouth. It is Diademfiles - link below - set up by my late friend Steve Marshall, who sadly died recently.
You can do loco searches on it, a big number of observations. Only from 1960 to 1977 though. Not all workings are shown but many are, some days more then others, depends who was out and about. Take a look - click here.
Many thanks Roger, a useful link - we'd encourage readers to have a look.
Double Headed Sleeper
Joe Birchall
Yesterday I went out to see what I thought was going to be the sleeper top and tailed by 57 602 and 57 604, however the reality turned out to be a double header. This makes it the first time I’ve seen the sleeper as a double header in person! 21.11.2025, copyright Joe BIrchall.
Many thanks Joe - an unusual sight.