A query - can you help?
Mainline DMU's
I'm currently researching a model based on the Cornish main line.
As you can imagine, I have spent a considerable amount of time working through the fascinating archive material on your website, along with the readily available publications – not least those I know are authored by at least one of your members!
So, to my question. I'm interested particularly in the sections around Penzance and St Austell in the years from 1975 through to 1978 (Westerns at one end and 37s at the other!) and, since I don't have a WTT, I've pieced together (hopefully) at least the key passenger movements, mainly using images captioned with train timings and descriptions. From this, I've got a good sense of the key stock I need.
The gaps in the archive, since most photographers understandably concentrate on the loco-hauled services, seem to surround the main line use of DMUs.
Would any of your members be able to help me to complete the picture? I'm aware that, at either end of the day, units for the branches would operate from further afield – say Penzance to St Ives and (guesswork this one) St Blazey to Falmouth – but I can't get a sense of anything more regular.
Older pics seem to show Truro–Plymouth, for example, although the loco-hauled PZ–Plymouth services seem to duplicate this somewhat.
I'm imagining 121/122 single cars – though don't imagine they'd spend a great deal of time on the main line – and maybe 120s/118s on longer runs.
As a younger enthusiast, I must admit that, like the photographers, I didn't pay a great deal of attention to the humble DMU in my own home area!
If someone could give me a rough idea – or indeed point me towards anything relating to WTTs – I'd be extremely grateful
As you can imagine, I have spent a considerable amount of time working through the fascinating archive material on your website, along with the readily available publications – not least those I know are authored by at least one of your members!
So, to my question. I'm interested particularly in the sections around Penzance and St Austell in the years from 1975 through to 1978 (Westerns at one end and 37s at the other!) and, since I don't have a WTT, I've pieced together (hopefully) at least the key passenger movements, mainly using images captioned with train timings and descriptions. From this, I've got a good sense of the key stock I need.
The gaps in the archive, since most photographers understandably concentrate on the loco-hauled services, seem to surround the main line use of DMUs.
Would any of your members be able to help me to complete the picture? I'm aware that, at either end of the day, units for the branches would operate from further afield – say Penzance to St Ives and (guesswork this one) St Blazey to Falmouth – but I can't get a sense of anything more regular.
Older pics seem to show Truro–Plymouth, for example, although the loco-hauled PZ–Plymouth services seem to duplicate this somewhat.
I'm imagining 121/122 single cars – though don't imagine they'd spend a great deal of time on the main line – and maybe 120s/118s on longer runs.
As a younger enthusiast, I must admit that, like the photographers, I didn't pay a great deal of attention to the humble DMU in my own home area!
If someone could give me a rough idea – or indeed point me towards anything relating to WTTs – I'd be extremely grateful
An interesting question and one I'm sure some of our members and readers may be able to assist with - if you can help, please email us: [email protected]
We received the below helpful response from Doug Nicholls:
I diagramed Cornish railways at Paddington in 1980’s.
Plymouth (Laria) did ML units (3 or 2 cars) Looe SPU, Newquay 2 or 3.
St Blazey did freight 37.
Penzance Long Rock did St Ives SPU & Falmouth 2 cars.
Hope that helps it is a long time ago.
I also worked with Roger Geach.
Yours Doug Nicholls
I diagramed Cornish railways at Paddington in 1980’s.
Plymouth (Laria) did ML units (3 or 2 cars) Looe SPU, Newquay 2 or 3.
St Blazey did freight 37.
Penzance Long Rock did St Ives SPU & Falmouth 2 cars.
Hope that helps it is a long time ago.
I also worked with Roger Geach.
Yours Doug Nicholls
Many thanks indeed Doug, perhaps Roger G will see this.
Thanks also to Rob Lomas who gave the below detailed response:
In response to the reader asking about DMU workings on the main line, I've found a bit of information from the May 1976 Working Time Table which may be of use.
At the time, most of the sets were 3 cars such as P(for Plymouth Laira) 554 which worked the Truro Falmouth Services on 24 July (51575 / 59581 / 51584). From experience, the sets were generally consistent although the centre cars were sometimes switched or omitted in quieter winter periods. Single cars appeared occasionally in the winter, although seldom on the Falmouth Branch.
These were the main workings gleaned from the WTT.
1976 M-F & Winter Saturdays
Main Line – most of these called at All Stations
0555 Plym – Newquay arr 0815. Detached a set at Liskeard to work 0636 to Plymouth
0720 Plym-Liskeard arr 0757
1652 Bodmin Rd – Newquay a 1757
1640 Plymouth – St Austell a 1758 (then ECS to St Blazey arr 1830)
0600 Penzance to Truro arr 0635 – to work 0748 to Penzance
0915 Penzance to Plymouth arr 1133 – advertised for Shoppers. This could be replaced with Loco and Stock at busy times such as in the run up to Christmas.
2300 St Blazey to Laira ECS
Looe
1940 Liskeard – Plymouth (1900 ex Looe)
Newquay (serviced from St Blazey shed)
1510 Newq- St Austell a 1622 – forms 1627 to Bodmin Rd
Falmouth
0405 St Blazey ECS arrived Truro 0448 to work the 0555 to Falmouth. An early start to avoid line conflicts with the Down Milk empties and the Postal
2205 Truro to Penzance Shed
St Ives
ECS from PZ shed arrived St Erth 0708
1359 St Ives – Penzance a 1425 (to switch Guards ??) / 1505 Penzance to St Ives
2035 St Ives to St Erth then ECS to Penzance and PZ Shed
Summer Saturdays (St Ives was a PZ Shed working)
0550 Plymouth to Newquay arr 0756
0920 Plymouth to Newquay arr 1112
0535 Par – Plym arr 0644
0514 PZ Shed arr Truro 0545 to work 0600 to Falmouth
Summer Sundays
0925 Plymouth to Penzance (detached DMU at Liskeard to work the Looe Branch)
There were no scheduled DMUs working on Winter Sundays– but then again there were precious few trains anyway and none on the Branch lines.
In response to the reader asking about DMU workings on the main line, I've found a bit of information from the May 1976 Working Time Table which may be of use.
At the time, most of the sets were 3 cars such as P(for Plymouth Laira) 554 which worked the Truro Falmouth Services on 24 July (51575 / 59581 / 51584). From experience, the sets were generally consistent although the centre cars were sometimes switched or omitted in quieter winter periods. Single cars appeared occasionally in the winter, although seldom on the Falmouth Branch.
These were the main workings gleaned from the WTT.
1976 M-F & Winter Saturdays
Main Line – most of these called at All Stations
0555 Plym – Newquay arr 0815. Detached a set at Liskeard to work 0636 to Plymouth
0720 Plym-Liskeard arr 0757
1652 Bodmin Rd – Newquay a 1757
1640 Plymouth – St Austell a 1758 (then ECS to St Blazey arr 1830)
0600 Penzance to Truro arr 0635 – to work 0748 to Penzance
0915 Penzance to Plymouth arr 1133 – advertised for Shoppers. This could be replaced with Loco and Stock at busy times such as in the run up to Christmas.
2300 St Blazey to Laira ECS
Looe
1940 Liskeard – Plymouth (1900 ex Looe)
Newquay (serviced from St Blazey shed)
1510 Newq- St Austell a 1622 – forms 1627 to Bodmin Rd
Falmouth
0405 St Blazey ECS arrived Truro 0448 to work the 0555 to Falmouth. An early start to avoid line conflicts with the Down Milk empties and the Postal
2205 Truro to Penzance Shed
St Ives
ECS from PZ shed arrived St Erth 0708
1359 St Ives – Penzance a 1425 (to switch Guards ??) / 1505 Penzance to St Ives
2035 St Ives to St Erth then ECS to Penzance and PZ Shed
Summer Saturdays (St Ives was a PZ Shed working)
0550 Plymouth to Newquay arr 0756
0920 Plymouth to Newquay arr 1112
0535 Par – Plym arr 0644
0514 PZ Shed arr Truro 0545 to work 0600 to Falmouth
Summer Sundays
0925 Plymouth to Penzance (detached DMU at Liskeard to work the Looe Branch)
There were no scheduled DMUs working on Winter Sundays– but then again there were precious few trains anyway and none on the Branch lines.
We couldn't really ask for more than that - many thanks indeed Rob.
Late-night locos
Mark Lynam
57312 awaits departure from Penzance on 1A50 2145 Penzance to London Paddington. 08.09.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Colas 70806 arrives at Penzance on 6C41 1727 Westbury Down TC to Westbury Down TC via Penzance with 5 autoballasters. 08.09.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Mark, great night shots.
D6515/33012
Steve Clark
When I moved to Bournemouth Depot in 1999 I blagged my way round Eastleigh Depot a couple of times claiming I was 'Route Learning'. Luckily I took my camera with me and bagged this shot of soon to be Cornish visitor 33012 stabled in the Airport Sidings. I have pictured this Loco numerous time on the Swanage Railway as well but will be glad to see it visit Bodmin. Copyright Steve Clark.
September 1976
Part 10
Roger Winnen
Heathfield Station. 04.09.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Heathfield Station. 04.09.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Heathfield Station. 04.09.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.