The Cornwall Railway Society's next indoor meeting takes place at the Memorial Hall, Redruth on Saturday November 8th 2025 at 18.30 hrs
Roger Webster presents videos of the Isle of Man Steam Railway and North Cornwall Line rails to Torrington
Not to be missed!
Roger Webster presents videos of the Isle of Man Steam Railway and North Cornwall Line rails to Torrington
Not to be missed!
NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 73
W. N. Pellow M.I.Mech.E., M.I.Loco.E.
Michael L. Roach
Anyone who applied for a “shed permit” to visit a Western Region engine shed in the first half of the 1950s would have received a short letter in return. The letter would have been headed W.N.Pellow Motive Power Superintendent Western Region. He retired on 5 May 1954 having reached 65 years of age but I think that the Western Region went on using his headed notepaper for some time afterwards. I did not apply for many but what I particularly remember about them was how small the piece of paper was – even smaller than A5 I think. When Mr. Pellow applied to be a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in November 1935 he was recommended by some real heavyweights – C.B.Collett; F.W.Hawksworth and W.A.Stanier no less.
William Nicholas Pellow was born at St. Blazey on 5 May 1889 the first child of William (1860-1951) and Elizabeth Pellow (1864-1942). In 1891 the family lived at Lamb Park, St. Blazey and William senior was a locomotive engine fitter. In 1901 the family are still there now given as no. 2 Lamb Park PL24 2JB and William junior has been joined by two bothers and a sister. Lamb Park is a short distance from St. Blazey Shed on the opposite side of the A3082.
On 22 February 1904 William joined the Great Western Railway at St. Blazey Shed as an apprentice fitter, aged just 14 years and 9 months. In 1910 he finished his apprenticeship and became a fitter, but he had already moved to Swindon in 1908, where he entered the drawing office in February 1912 and in the 1921 census he gives his occupation as draughtsman. Although at irregular intervals, regular promotions soon followed to Loco Inspector Newport 1922; Assistant to Divisional Superintendent Newport 1924; Assistant Divisional Superintendent Wolverhampton 1924; Assistant to Loco Running Superintendent Swindon 1929; Divisional Loco Superintendent Bristol 1931; Divisional Loco Superintendent Old Oak Common 1939; and finally Motive Power Superintendent Western Region. This shows that the GWR were always keen to promote those who were keen, enthusiastic, and willing to learn and prepared to move around.
Pellow moved from Bristol to London in July 1939 and in the 1939 Register is living at 42 Gunnersbury Avenue, Ealing on what is now the A406 with wife Annie. The A406 provides a useful link between the M4 and the A40 roads. Sometime after retirement the couple moved back to Cornwall and by 1962 are living at Beach Road, Carlyon Bay. Pellow died on 24 June 1982 at Beach Road aged 93 years. In one of the last printed telephone directories for Cornwall there are 37 entries against Pellow in the residential listings with the vast majority in the western half of Cornwall and few in the eastern half.
Gunnersbury Avenue is an interesting road of mostly large detached houses built in the 1920s and 1930s judging by the style of architecture. I looked to see the occupations of the head of the households in 1939 and they were mostly middle-class professionals. One of Pellow's neighbours jumped out at me because he gave his occupation as “railway official.” He was in fact Frank R. Potter who was at the time Superintendent of the Line for the GWR. He was born in Harlington and had started work as a clerk with the GWR at West Drayton Station on 9 January 1895 at a salary of £40 per annum. Many promotions followed over the years, including a spell at Plymouth 1911 to 1913. His final promotion to Superintendent of the Line took place in 1936 and he retired at the end of 1940.
William Nicholas Pellow was born at St. Blazey on 5 May 1889 the first child of William (1860-1951) and Elizabeth Pellow (1864-1942). In 1891 the family lived at Lamb Park, St. Blazey and William senior was a locomotive engine fitter. In 1901 the family are still there now given as no. 2 Lamb Park PL24 2JB and William junior has been joined by two bothers and a sister. Lamb Park is a short distance from St. Blazey Shed on the opposite side of the A3082.
On 22 February 1904 William joined the Great Western Railway at St. Blazey Shed as an apprentice fitter, aged just 14 years and 9 months. In 1910 he finished his apprenticeship and became a fitter, but he had already moved to Swindon in 1908, where he entered the drawing office in February 1912 and in the 1921 census he gives his occupation as draughtsman. Although at irregular intervals, regular promotions soon followed to Loco Inspector Newport 1922; Assistant to Divisional Superintendent Newport 1924; Assistant Divisional Superintendent Wolverhampton 1924; Assistant to Loco Running Superintendent Swindon 1929; Divisional Loco Superintendent Bristol 1931; Divisional Loco Superintendent Old Oak Common 1939; and finally Motive Power Superintendent Western Region. This shows that the GWR were always keen to promote those who were keen, enthusiastic, and willing to learn and prepared to move around.
Pellow moved from Bristol to London in July 1939 and in the 1939 Register is living at 42 Gunnersbury Avenue, Ealing on what is now the A406 with wife Annie. The A406 provides a useful link between the M4 and the A40 roads. Sometime after retirement the couple moved back to Cornwall and by 1962 are living at Beach Road, Carlyon Bay. Pellow died on 24 June 1982 at Beach Road aged 93 years. In one of the last printed telephone directories for Cornwall there are 37 entries against Pellow in the residential listings with the vast majority in the western half of Cornwall and few in the eastern half.
Gunnersbury Avenue is an interesting road of mostly large detached houses built in the 1920s and 1930s judging by the style of architecture. I looked to see the occupations of the head of the households in 1939 and they were mostly middle-class professionals. One of Pellow's neighbours jumped out at me because he gave his occupation as “railway official.” He was in fact Frank R. Potter who was at the time Superintendent of the Line for the GWR. He was born in Harlington and had started work as a clerk with the GWR at West Drayton Station on 9 January 1895 at a salary of £40 per annum. Many promotions followed over the years, including a spell at Plymouth 1911 to 1913. His final promotion to Superintendent of the Line took place in 1936 and he retired at the end of 1940.
Many thanks Michael, another interesting and well-researched article.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
Wagons for storage
David Tozer
A rare visit for me to Cowley Bridge Junction to photograph 66588 with the 0821 6Z27 Westbury Tarmac to Exeter Riverside Hanson conveying wagons for possible storage. Sadly most of the wagons had been badly vandalised with graffiti. A scourge on our railways these days. 03.11.2025, copyright David Tozer.
Many thanks Dave, a classic location.
Crugwallins Castle
Jon Hird
The 'Castle Class' set I photographed yesterday, whilst failed at Penzance, was back in action the following day and is seen passing Crugwallins with the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. 43186 on the front, and 43098 on the rear. 03.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.