NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 128
H.G. Hurrell of Wrangaton
Michael L. Roach
While writing a couple of articles about Wrangaton recently my thoughts turned to what the village was famous or well-known for in 1964. For railway enthusiasts Wrangaton would have been known as the summit of a long climb from both directions, with a signal box and an adjacent road bridge convenient for photographing trains; and the location of a rail-connected Royal Navy victualling depot, with loaded wagons being dropped off in 1964. For the general public there was a golf club set high above the village beyond the last fields on the open moorland of Dartmoor and reaching the 300 metre (nearly 1000 feet) contour. The village's best-known resident was H.G. Hurrell – a naturalist who was often consulted by television news programmes at the time. He came to my school in the late-1950s to give a talk on his nature interests and one of his major passions was the subject of badgers. He wrote the standard work of the time on the subject of Dartmoor badgers; and although now out-of-print it is still available on the internet. Plymouth produced another well-known naturalist in Tony Soper (1929-2024) who attended my junior and senior school, although years before I went to either. Tony co-founded the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol in 1957.
Henry George Hurrell was born in Plymouth in 1901, the son of a corn merchant. He was known as “HG” and just before WW2 he sold the family firm and devoted the rest of his life to nature and the Baptist Church, making nature films, painting and bird watching. He was associated with Mutley Baptist Church for many years – this is located alongside the public road which is over the top of the west end of Mutley Tunnel, Plymouth. Beneath the chapel was a meeting room where I went just once to hear a talk by probably the most famous railwayman and railway enthusiast of the twentieth century Mr. Cecil J. Allen. HG moved to Wrangaton sometime before 1939 and lived there for the rest of his life, passing away in 1981. It was here on the edge of Dartmoor, high above the village, that he studied badgers, among many other species.
One evening in early July 1964 I went walking on the edge of Dartmoor with my then girlfriend as we often did in Summer. I think it was probably in the Cornwood area, and after the walk we would adjourn to the Cornwood Inn which I am pleased to see has been a community inn since 2019. There we would feed a coin into the juke box to play “Telstar” among other tunes. Telstar was a 1962 instrumental by the English band The Tornadoes named after the Telstar communications satellite launched into orbit on 10 July 1962. Another favourite tune was “Apache” by the The Shadows – an English instrumental rock group, who were originally a backing band for Cliff Richard. Apache was their first no. 1 and propelled the group to stardom, the first backing band to achieve commercial success in their own right.
On the way home from Cornwood to Plymouth in 1963 I would sometimes organise it so that we stopped at Sparkwell Bridge (at the top of Hemerdon Bank) to watch and listen to one steam-hauled freight slog its way up the bank – in the dark if necessary. In 1963 there were just two regular rostered steam-hauled trains up the bank that could be relied on; this one was the 4T12 9.40pm Tavistock Junction to Cardiff freight due to pass Hemerdon Box at 10.02pm. The 22 minutes allowed for a banker to come out of Plympton loop and buffer up to the rear of the freight train. On Saturdays the train ran earlier at a nominal 8.05pm to Cardiff, but very slowly at first, because the 4.50pm Penzance (8.00pm ex-Plymouth) to Manchester had to pass Tavistock Junction and clear Hemerdon Box at 8.17½ before the freight could get going through Plympton and up the bank complete with banker.
It was only possible to photograph the freight train to Cardiff on a Saturday evening in summer for about 12 weeks from mid-May to mid-August, I attempted it just the once on Saturday 25 May 1963; and of course the Manchester train ran late that evening. The freight train passed me at 8.50pm instead of 8.30pm in weather that was not brilliant in a field some distance west of Sparkwell Bridge. I could not read the number of the 9F but it was probably 92208 or 92241 both of which I had seen that Saturday morning on Laira Shed.
On this particular evening in July 1964 the visit to the inn had to be abandoned because we came across an injured bird sitting at the bottom of a hedge. We carried the bird back to the car and then sat and thought what we were going to do with the injured bird. Was one of us going to take it home and nurse it back to health? Then I remembered that a few miles up the main road lived HG Hurrell the well-known naturalist. He was not difficult to find even though we did not know exactly where he lived in Wrangaton. HG was a perfect gentleman and very welcoming to two total strangers and agreed to look after the bird. He went much further than that inviting us back later to go on a badger watch one evening at dusk. A couple of weeks later we returned to HG's home on the edge of Dartmoor just before sunset. It was one of HG's sons who took us down to a field of grass at the edge of a wood, there to sit very still against the base of a hedge for nearly an hour waiting for the badgers to come out to play; but not that night – no badgers came out to play which was disappointing.
I was very fond of that young lady but two months later we parted and went our separate ways; and our paths have not crossed since. I was too young to settle down anyway, and very lucky in that I had another love competing for my attention and that was the railways. In 1964 there were still four years left to seek out and travel over interesting railway lines before the end of steam in August 1968.
Henry George Hurrell was born in Plymouth in 1901, the son of a corn merchant. He was known as “HG” and just before WW2 he sold the family firm and devoted the rest of his life to nature and the Baptist Church, making nature films, painting and bird watching. He was associated with Mutley Baptist Church for many years – this is located alongside the public road which is over the top of the west end of Mutley Tunnel, Plymouth. Beneath the chapel was a meeting room where I went just once to hear a talk by probably the most famous railwayman and railway enthusiast of the twentieth century Mr. Cecil J. Allen. HG moved to Wrangaton sometime before 1939 and lived there for the rest of his life, passing away in 1981. It was here on the edge of Dartmoor, high above the village, that he studied badgers, among many other species.
One evening in early July 1964 I went walking on the edge of Dartmoor with my then girlfriend as we often did in Summer. I think it was probably in the Cornwood area, and after the walk we would adjourn to the Cornwood Inn which I am pleased to see has been a community inn since 2019. There we would feed a coin into the juke box to play “Telstar” among other tunes. Telstar was a 1962 instrumental by the English band The Tornadoes named after the Telstar communications satellite launched into orbit on 10 July 1962. Another favourite tune was “Apache” by the The Shadows – an English instrumental rock group, who were originally a backing band for Cliff Richard. Apache was their first no. 1 and propelled the group to stardom, the first backing band to achieve commercial success in their own right.
On the way home from Cornwood to Plymouth in 1963 I would sometimes organise it so that we stopped at Sparkwell Bridge (at the top of Hemerdon Bank) to watch and listen to one steam-hauled freight slog its way up the bank – in the dark if necessary. In 1963 there were just two regular rostered steam-hauled trains up the bank that could be relied on; this one was the 4T12 9.40pm Tavistock Junction to Cardiff freight due to pass Hemerdon Box at 10.02pm. The 22 minutes allowed for a banker to come out of Plympton loop and buffer up to the rear of the freight train. On Saturdays the train ran earlier at a nominal 8.05pm to Cardiff, but very slowly at first, because the 4.50pm Penzance (8.00pm ex-Plymouth) to Manchester had to pass Tavistock Junction and clear Hemerdon Box at 8.17½ before the freight could get going through Plympton and up the bank complete with banker.
It was only possible to photograph the freight train to Cardiff on a Saturday evening in summer for about 12 weeks from mid-May to mid-August, I attempted it just the once on Saturday 25 May 1963; and of course the Manchester train ran late that evening. The freight train passed me at 8.50pm instead of 8.30pm in weather that was not brilliant in a field some distance west of Sparkwell Bridge. I could not read the number of the 9F but it was probably 92208 or 92241 both of which I had seen that Saturday morning on Laira Shed.
On this particular evening in July 1964 the visit to the inn had to be abandoned because we came across an injured bird sitting at the bottom of a hedge. We carried the bird back to the car and then sat and thought what we were going to do with the injured bird. Was one of us going to take it home and nurse it back to health? Then I remembered that a few miles up the main road lived HG Hurrell the well-known naturalist. He was not difficult to find even though we did not know exactly where he lived in Wrangaton. HG was a perfect gentleman and very welcoming to two total strangers and agreed to look after the bird. He went much further than that inviting us back later to go on a badger watch one evening at dusk. A couple of weeks later we returned to HG's home on the edge of Dartmoor just before sunset. It was one of HG's sons who took us down to a field of grass at the edge of a wood, there to sit very still against the base of a hedge for nearly an hour waiting for the badgers to come out to play; but not that night – no badgers came out to play which was disappointing.
I was very fond of that young lady but two months later we parted and went our separate ways; and our paths have not crossed since. I was too young to settle down anyway, and very lucky in that I had another love competing for my attention and that was the railways. In 1964 there were still four years left to seek out and travel over interesting railway lines before the end of steam in August 1968.
The 8.05pm Tavistock Junction to Cardiff freight roars up Hemerdon Bank on the evening of Saturday 25 May 1963. Super power on 30 wagons; a 9F at the front and a D800 Warship at the rear. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks as always Mike, another superb recollection of times gone by.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
The First Green '175'
And other Swindon Scenes
Colin Pidgeon & Ken Mumford
The first GWR Class 175's to receive the 'house colours' pass through Swindon - 175110 & 175103 on 5V84 Wolverton to Laira T M S D. left Swindon East Loop 4 LATE on 01.10.2026. Click for enlargements. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.
1Q22 Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road with 37419 top and tail with 37422 passing Swindon [platform 4] 6 LATE. 30.09.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
The other end of the train. 30.09.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
6Q10 passing Swindon station on the UML [Up Main Line] followed by further photos of this engineering working leaving Stratton Loop ON TIME. 30.09.2026, copyright Ken Mumford.
5Q65 - Wolverton Centre Sidings to Bristol (St. Phillips Marsh) at Ashbury Crossing, just east of Shrivenham, passing me 24 LATE. 30.09.2026, copyright Ken Mumford.
Many thanks Ken and Colin. I'm not sure what to make of the green 175 - what does everyone else think?
Another view of those green 175's
Martin Scane & David Tozer
175110 & 175103 on the 10:48 5V84 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira the first deliveries since 23rd June 2026. A few minutes earlier the sun was out. 01.10.2026, copyright David Tozer.
This is 175110 leading 5V84 Wolverton to Laira running 78 minutes early at Teignmouth station. The early running caught me out completely as I had a prior appointment. The train came into view just as I stepped onto the platform hence the very rushed shot. I had no time to cross the bridge onto Platform 2 unfortunately. Looks like 175110 took the muddy route to Devon! Nevertheless, I think green suits them. 01.10.2026, copyright Martin Scane.
Many thanks both - some dirt picked up on that front between Swindon and Devon!
Worcester Test Train
Steve Widdowson
37422 tnt 37419 @ Norton Jn & Worcester with 1Q23 0643 Bristol Kingsland Road to Derby RTC. Click for enlargements. 01.10.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
Many thanks indeed Steve, always good to see the 37's out and about earning their keep. And a new livery for 37419 too.
Devon 'Duffs'
Paul Barlow
47484 I K Brunel on the 0915 Paddington to Plymouth 1Z47 passes Newton Abbot. 01.09.1985, copyright Paul Barlow.
47622 leaves Newton Abbot on the 0932 Cardiff to Paignton. 01.09.1985, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul, nice shots.
October 1976
Part 2
Roger Winnen
Odin at Penzance. 03.10.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Penzance with the 08. 03.10.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Construction work at Long Rock. 03.10.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The well for the old pumphouse at Long Rock. 03.10.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.