First day back
Jon Hird
I arrived back from a holiday in Spain yesterday, 27.10. After a full day of driving across two countries with a flight in the middle, it was nice to get out with the dog and see a HST, just as the day turned to night.
I would like to thank Roger W for looking after the CRS website in my absence - as the site grows, it's become a difficult thing to keep atop of and the editing suite has many quirks which leave me scratching my head at times - Roger has done a great job keeping things moving. Well done and thank you!
I would like to thank Roger W for looking after the CRS website in my absence - as the site grows, it's become a difficult thing to keep atop of and the editing suite has many quirks which leave me scratching my head at times - Roger has done a great job keeping things moving. Well done and thank you!
43187 leads the 1552 Penzance - Plymouth service past Carlyon Bay, with 43189 on the rear. 27.10.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Darkness falls as 802016 approaches Carlyon from Par with the 1556 Plymouth - Penzance. 27.10.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
A holiday photo which in itself has zero relevance to the CRS, but the story behind it does. Renfe 282-0421 within the workshop at Móra la Nova. An Iberian Gauge Garrett 2-8-2 - 2-8-2 locomotive - absolutely ginormous! A friend got us a tour of the facility and I was astonished to find in our small group a German CRS reader. From the site stats I was aware we have a global reach, but to actually meet somebody from so far away who knew of the website and mentioned specific articles from it was quite surreal. We must be thankful to Keith and Roger as well as all of our contributors for creating this resource which is enjoyed 'world wide' ! Copyright Jon Hird.
Saturday HST & Clay Empties
Neil Phillips
Last Saturday's empty JIA wagons (6V76) were due to reach Par just after an up HST had departed (c14.15 to 14.30), so it seemed a good time to call in while out for a walk in the sunshine. 43187 was worth catching as, following the withdrawal of 43005 and 43041 some time ago, and 43188's recent run-in with a fallen tree, '187 is now the only power car still running with cast alloy GWR logos. 66120's tenure on the clays didn't last long as it has already been replaced by 66136, clearly only recently repainted into DBC red livery.
Taken from the west end of Par Signal Box, a location which is a little restricted with a number of vertical obstructions, 43189 leads 2P90, 13.15 Penzance - Plymouth, into the station. 25th October 2025, copyright Neil Phillips.
Bringing up the rear of 2P90 is 43187 with its 'Welshman' decoration, and number on the bodyside door. 25th October 2025, copyright Neil Phillips.
A close-up of 43187's raised alloy 'GWR' logo, nicely highlighted by the sun. Note the bodywork repair patch - very neatly painted but did it have to be that big?! 25th October 2025, copyright Neil Phillips.
Caught just before entering the shadow of the bridge, 66136 crosses from the down main line to reach Par's Platform 3 with 6V76, arriving 46 minutes early with 15 empty JIA wagons in tow. It is not only rampant vegetation we have to contend with, we also have rampant steel post proliferation - the nearest one doesn't even appear to have a purpose! 25th October 2025, copyright Neil Phillips.
A sparkling 66136 passes Platform 3 at Par on its way to Goonbarrow with 15 empty JIAs. 25th October 2025, copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks Neil. Good tip about the cast GWR logos on 43187 - something I doubt many of us have considered.
Lostwithiel Footbridge Plans
Tim Hughes
Hi.
Hope all is well.
Thought members might be interested in the planning application for a new permanent footbridge at Lostwithiel once again on the agenda having survived the infrastructure 'cull'.
Details here complete with design images:
Https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T49YSUFG1Z500&activeTab=summary
On a tangent, I want to add that the Roger's photographic record is first class. His contribution to recording Cornwall's proud railway history is incredible !
Kind regards
Tim
Hope all is well.
Thought members might be interested in the planning application for a new permanent footbridge at Lostwithiel once again on the agenda having survived the infrastructure 'cull'.
Details here complete with design images:
Https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T49YSUFG1Z500&activeTab=summary
On a tangent, I want to add that the Roger's photographic record is first class. His contribution to recording Cornwall's proud railway history is incredible !
Kind regards
Tim
A screenshot of the visuals from the Cornwall Council planning portal.
Many thanks indeed Tim - looks rather tasteful. The huge lifts we've seen elsewhere on new footbridges (St. Austell, St. Erth) presumably not required here due to the level crossing.
Cirencester Station Open Day
Guy Vincent
Today (25.10.2025) we had planned to go to Cirencester for the opportunity to look around inside the former GWR station building and, in the event, enjoyed the unexpected bonus of seeing the branch railbus W79978 stabled next to the platform.
In my opinion this rare survivor from the earliest days of the GWR fully deserves to be recognised as an architectural gem and rated as important as the main terminus at Paddington and the surviving portions of the main workshops at Swindon. So many local stations were either rebuilt down the years or demolished post Beeching that it is remarkable to find Cirencester still extant over 60 years after closure.
Sadly the number of cars parked and moving around the cramped site made photography difficult, but the building was packed with visitors and many expressed the hope that maybe at last the former station can become an asset to the town and be fully recognised for what it is.
Some photos illustrate how neglected the inside of the building has become and much work will be needed to return it to a usable condition. However, it still manages to retain its railway atmosphere
The final photo shows Mrs Cathy Vincent after being passed out as competent to drive the railcar, W79978 to Kemble!
In my opinion this rare survivor from the earliest days of the GWR fully deserves to be recognised as an architectural gem and rated as important as the main terminus at Paddington and the surviving portions of the main workshops at Swindon. So many local stations were either rebuilt down the years or demolished post Beeching that it is remarkable to find Cirencester still extant over 60 years after closure.
Sadly the number of cars parked and moving around the cramped site made photography difficult, but the building was packed with visitors and many expressed the hope that maybe at last the former station can become an asset to the town and be fully recognised for what it is.
Some photos illustrate how neglected the inside of the building has become and much work will be needed to return it to a usable condition. However, it still manages to retain its railway atmosphere
The final photo shows Mrs Cathy Vincent after being passed out as competent to drive the railcar, W79978 to Kemble!
Cirencester Station Open Day. 25.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Cirencester Station details - click any image for an enlargement - all images © Guy Vincent.
The driving cab of Railcar W79978 at Cirencester. 25.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Railcar W79978 in the temporarily relaid platform at Cirencester. 25.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Railcar W79978 in the temporarily relaid platform at Cirencester. 25.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Mrs Cathy Vincent waits the off after being passed out as competent to drive the railcar, W79978 to Kemble! 25.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy, fascinating photos. And well done to the team who made this event happen - I can't imagine getting the Railcar to the station was a small feat.
On that subject, many thanks to Paul Burkhalter who writes the following:
On that subject, many thanks to Paul Burkhalter who writes the following:
You posed the question about getting the railcar to the event. Well the answer is here!!
https://www.weekendrails.co.uk/weekly-blog/2025-oct-dec/railbus-travels.html
https://www.weekendrails.co.uk/weekly-blog/2025-oct-dec/railbus-travels.html
Many thanks Paul - much appreciated.
Cardiff - Manchester
Michael Forward & Michael Adams
Great pictures from Roger's collection, brought back so many memories - especially of 25225.
Here is a picture from Michael Adam's visit to Cardiff on 16 October 2025 showing 67012 awaiting departure with 1W57 10.53 to Manchester Piccadilly. Copyright Michael Adams.
By way of comparison here is my own picture taken at the West end of Cardiff station almost 40 years ago of 37690 with a long rake of empty MDVs. Copyright Michael Forward.
Many thanks Michael and Michael.
Heads up -
West Somerset Railway on Channel 4 this Saturday
Paul Negus
Hi Jon and Roger
I've just seen the first three episodes of Channel 4's new series Great British Train Journeys from the Air. These have some quite stunning drone photography and all have a story to narrate. As an example, episode 3 features the Ffestiniog Railway and it's role in unlocking the potential of Blaenau Ffestiniog slate, especially through the use of the Double Fairlie articulated locomotive.
The final episode on the WSR is this coming Saturday evening on Channel 4, scheduled for 8.20pm, and is billed in part as highlighting Brunel's influence on choice of route.
As a taster - and I don't know if either loco will feature - here is a photo of Crompton D6566 and new build Lady of Legend at Minehead on 9th July earlier this year.
I've just seen the first three episodes of Channel 4's new series Great British Train Journeys from the Air. These have some quite stunning drone photography and all have a story to narrate. As an example, episode 3 features the Ffestiniog Railway and it's role in unlocking the potential of Blaenau Ffestiniog slate, especially through the use of the Double Fairlie articulated locomotive.
The final episode on the WSR is this coming Saturday evening on Channel 4, scheduled for 8.20pm, and is billed in part as highlighting Brunel's influence on choice of route.
As a taster - and I don't know if either loco will feature - here is a photo of Crompton D6566 and new build Lady of Legend at Minehead on 9th July earlier this year.
D6566 & Lady of Legend at Minehead, WSR. 09.07.2025, copyright Paul Negus.
Many thanks Paul - we'll look out for it!
West Highland Pullman
Guy Vincent
Saphos Trains “West Highland Pullman” 1Z43 0633 Eastleigh to Fort William (2105 scheduled arrival time) at Bradford on Avon where a stop was made at 08.40 on 24.10.2025 to pick up a handful of passengers. The train was due back here at 2210 on Sunday evening (26.10)
The formation was 43058 Loch Eil, 41160, 41166, 40804, 41187, 44078 and 43047 (no name).
43058 was making a very rare (possibly debut?) appearance on the Avon valley route and was originally introduced in 1977 as part of Eastern Region HST set 254002 together with next-built 43059. Both of these PCs were painted green / silver and used for one season on the short-lived Rail Charter Services “Staycation Express” series of tours over the Settle & Carlisle line in the summer of 2021.
The formation was 43058 Loch Eil, 41160, 41166, 40804, 41187, 44078 and 43047 (no name).
43058 was making a very rare (possibly debut?) appearance on the Avon valley route and was originally introduced in 1977 as part of Eastern Region HST set 254002 together with next-built 43059. Both of these PCs were painted green / silver and used for one season on the short-lived Rail Charter Services “Staycation Express” series of tours over the Settle & Carlisle line in the summer of 2021.
43058 and 43059 work 'The West Highland Pullman' through Bradford on Avon. 24.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
43058 and 43059 work 'The West Highland Pullman' through Bradford on Avon. 24.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
43058 and 43059 work 'The West Highland Pullman' through Bradford on Avon. 24.10.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy - sorry they're a bit late going online.