Tisbury &
Bristol Temple Meads
Paul Barlow
Bristol Temple Meads
Paul Barlow
33007 Tisbury 25 May 1980 Copyright Paul Barlow
1049 Bristo Bath Road 15 August 1975 Copyright Paul Barlow
1975_08_13 1009 Western Invader Bristol Bath road Copyright Paul Barlow
1975_08_15 1126 DEMU on a Portsmouth service Bristol Temple Meads Copyright Paul Barlow
Many Thanks Paul
Tracing The Southern Lines
Roger Winnen
Part 1
12.04.1977 - Bere Alston Station. Copyright Roger Winnen
12.04.1977 - Bere Alston Station. Copyright Roger Winnen
12.04.1977 - Calstock Viaduct from Bere Alston. Copyright Roger Winnen
12.04.1977 - Trackbed of the Southern Line to Tavistock. Copyright Roger Winnen
12.04.1977 - Shillingmill Tunnel. Copyright Roger Winnen
12.04.1977 - Shillingmill Tunnel. Copyright Roger Winnen
Thanks Roger - more tomorrow..
Nocturnal Newquay Engineering
Jon Hird & Jason Prole
Freightliner's 66516 arrives at Newquay Station with a train of sleepers and rail, in connection with the reinstatement of Platform 1/Mid Cornwall Metro. Early hours of 20.10.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
66516 and the ongoing works to reinstate platform 1. 20.10.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
A view from above of the engineering train and the works site. It was quite windy and the drone didn't want to sit perfectly still, which forced me to use a higher ISO than I'd have ideally liked. 20.10.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
The original platform has entirely gone from this part of the station site and is being rebuilt from the ground up. 20.10.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
66415 'You Are Never Alone' wearing the new orange colour scheme on the other end of the train. 20.10.2024, copyright Jon Hird.
Several hours later, after an overnight lashing of rain, 66516 is seen at Newquay buffer stops after arriving with 6Y43, 17.33 Westbury Yard - Goonbarrow Junction. Copyright Driver Jason Prole.
66415 'You Are Never Alone' is seen prior to making it's way through the possession to then depart as 6Y43, 09.34 Goonbarrow Junction - Westbury Yard, on Sunday 20th October 2024. The train had brought lengths of rail and sleepers to Newquay station for the new point that will be installed. Copyright Driver Jason Prole.
Many thanks Jason - hope you had a good trip back to Westbury.
Penzance Pilot 1967
Simon Howard
Your recent piece on Penzance pilots prompted me to dig out that attached photo. BR took quite a time before it started painting 08’s in blue and I seem to remember that in mid-1967 D4007 arrived as Truro pilot in what looked like ex-works green. However, a few weeks later a day return to Penzance brought the sight of D4161 in blue livery – with red buffer beams. For quite some time afterwards it was the only one I saw in blue. Can anyone shed any light on where and when it was repainted?
Shunter D4161 at Penzance in 1967. Copyright Simon Howard
Many thanks, Simon - if anybody can shed any light on D4161's paint job, please let us know - [email protected]
Dear Roger,
Regarding the article on Class 08 D4161 at Penzance from Simon Howard, the loco was new to Penzance from BR Darlington Works on 26th April 1962 and was repainted BR Blue in August 1968.
This loco being one of the earlier repaints was in a technically non-standard version which was quite common with early blue repaints as the works staff were not up to speed with the full colourings and positions of text etc. Some locos came out with logos in the wrong position, a few with back-to-front BR Barb Wire emblems, incorrect text style numbers, some locos were even repainted green again because of issues supplying blue paint and the repaints themselves were not completely standard which has happened with D4161.
Although in BR Blue it has incorrectly still retained a red bufferbeam instead of yellow and also has the incorrect earlier Gill Sans style of text for the numbers instead of the correct Alphabet for this livery and it shouldn't need the BR(W) power classification yellow dot either. The barb wire emblem should also be on the middle body side door, not on the battery box cover, although there were others that carried this here. The cranks should be yellow, but it is difficult to tell with this image. It also depended on how quickly the loco was required back which meant some parts were only cleaned and otherwise left.
The loco stayed at Penzance until 1972 when it was transferred to St. Blazey for a while (still with all its incorrect details), before being transferred away to Allerton Depot Liverpool around 1974. I assume at this time it would have at least gained its BR TOPS number of 08931 in the correct Alphabet text and was scrapped at Ron Hull's in 2005.
Regards
Karl Hewlett (Friends Of Penmere Station).
Regarding the article on Class 08 D4161 at Penzance from Simon Howard, the loco was new to Penzance from BR Darlington Works on 26th April 1962 and was repainted BR Blue in August 1968.
This loco being one of the earlier repaints was in a technically non-standard version which was quite common with early blue repaints as the works staff were not up to speed with the full colourings and positions of text etc. Some locos came out with logos in the wrong position, a few with back-to-front BR Barb Wire emblems, incorrect text style numbers, some locos were even repainted green again because of issues supplying blue paint and the repaints themselves were not completely standard which has happened with D4161.
Although in BR Blue it has incorrectly still retained a red bufferbeam instead of yellow and also has the incorrect earlier Gill Sans style of text for the numbers instead of the correct Alphabet for this livery and it shouldn't need the BR(W) power classification yellow dot either. The barb wire emblem should also be on the middle body side door, not on the battery box cover, although there were others that carried this here. The cranks should be yellow, but it is difficult to tell with this image. It also depended on how quickly the loco was required back which meant some parts were only cleaned and otherwise left.
The loco stayed at Penzance until 1972 when it was transferred to St. Blazey for a while (still with all its incorrect details), before being transferred away to Allerton Depot Liverpool around 1974. I assume at this time it would have at least gained its BR TOPS number of 08931 in the correct Alphabet text and was scrapped at Ron Hull's in 2005.
Regards
Karl Hewlett (Friends Of Penmere Station).
Many Thanks Karl for your detailed information of D4161 which is most appreciated.
Roger
Roger
Swindon RHTT
Alan Peters
Colas Rail 67023 still retains the nameplate "Stella" but has lost the Colas Rail Freight branding, the class 67 is seen at Swindon transfer Sidings on 2nd October 2024 where the Colas rail head treatment trains are serviced. Driver Alan Peters
Many thanks, Alan - it's been quite a while since we saw a '67' down here in the far west.
The Welshpool and Llanfair Railway
Joseph Birchall
Dear Jon
This week my grandparents rode on the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway, and as this was once operated by the GWR, I wondered if you would like to see some of the pictures. Whilst on the way to Welshpool, they encountered a tree down (possibly a Silver Birch) on the line, this lead to the service being held up for 25 minutes, but it all added to the excitement.
The locomotive is called 'Sir Drefaldwyn' and was originally a tender engine, built for the German military, and came to the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway in 1969.
Kind Regards
Joe
This week my grandparents rode on the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway, and as this was once operated by the GWR, I wondered if you would like to see some of the pictures. Whilst on the way to Welshpool, they encountered a tree down (possibly a Silver Birch) on the line, this lead to the service being held up for 25 minutes, but it all added to the excitement.
The locomotive is called 'Sir Drefaldwyn' and was originally a tender engine, built for the German military, and came to the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway in 1969.
Kind Regards
Joe
The Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, October 2024. Copyright Joseph Birchall
The Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, October 2024. Copyright Joseph Birchall
Tree down! The Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, October 2024. Copyright Joseph Birchall
Many thanks Joe - it's a little out of our area but I'm sure our readers will enjoy the pics, it looks a great railway.