NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 65
Laira Open Days
Michael L. Roach
It is often forgotten or overlooked that the Pilgrim Fathers originally set out for the New World not from Plymouth but from Boston in Lincolnshire fleeing religious persecution. They set out in two hired ships with one carrying the pilgrims and the other carrying all the stores they would need for the trip across the Atlantic and the early days in America. One of the ships was giving problems so there were calls into Dartmouth and Plymouth for repairs, but it became clear that the smaller ship, the Speedwell, was in no fit state to cross the Atlantic. The pilgrims transferred to the larger ship carrying the stores which was called the Mayflower finally leaving Plymouth in just one ship on 6 September 1620, and first sighting land on the other side on 9 November 1620.
The 400th anniversary of this heroic voyage in 2020 was celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic but the years of detailed planning in Plymouth were severely disrupted by the Covid Pandemic which meant that many events were postponed until 2021 and then cancelled completely. Fifty years earlier the 350th anniversary was celebrated during the summer of 1970 and one of the events planned was to open the British Railways diesel depot at Plymouth to the public for one day on 26 September 1970. The depot was then only about eight years old and I think that this was the first open day. Both it and the year's celebrations were a great success with crowds taking advantage of a chance to see inside the diesel depot.
The second that I attended took place on Saturday 7 September 1985 as part of the GWR 150 Celebrations. We travelled up from Cornwall by train and then took advantage of the dmu shuttle from Plymouth Station to a temporary scaffold platform at the depot. There were three standard gauge steam engines on display including small prairie 4555 again. There was also an interesting selection of freight wagons on display many of which have disappeared from regular use. Most of my photos of the 1985 Open Day will appear in a later part of the series. I am not sure just how many open days there have been at Laira but the only other one that we attended was on 15 September 1991 when there were examples of the following diesel and electric classes on display: class 37, 42, 47, 50, 52, 55, 58, 59, 60, 86 and 90.
On 21 August 2025 Alstom and GWR announced a £75M contract to maintain the 26 strong fleet of Class 175 dmus at Laira. The units were built by Alstom between 1999 and 2001 and previously operated in Wales and The Borders. The class 175s will now travel between Barnstaple, Exeter and Penzance from later in 2025.
The 400th anniversary of this heroic voyage in 2020 was celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic but the years of detailed planning in Plymouth were severely disrupted by the Covid Pandemic which meant that many events were postponed until 2021 and then cancelled completely. Fifty years earlier the 350th anniversary was celebrated during the summer of 1970 and one of the events planned was to open the British Railways diesel depot at Plymouth to the public for one day on 26 September 1970. The depot was then only about eight years old and I think that this was the first open day. Both it and the year's celebrations were a great success with crowds taking advantage of a chance to see inside the diesel depot.
The second that I attended took place on Saturday 7 September 1985 as part of the GWR 150 Celebrations. We travelled up from Cornwall by train and then took advantage of the dmu shuttle from Plymouth Station to a temporary scaffold platform at the depot. There were three standard gauge steam engines on display including small prairie 4555 again. There was also an interesting selection of freight wagons on display many of which have disappeared from regular use. Most of my photos of the 1985 Open Day will appear in a later part of the series. I am not sure just how many open days there have been at Laira but the only other one that we attended was on 15 September 1991 when there were examples of the following diesel and electric classes on display: class 37, 42, 47, 50, 52, 55, 58, 59, 60, 86 and 90.
On 21 August 2025 Alstom and GWR announced a £75M contract to maintain the 26 strong fleet of Class 175 dmus at Laira. The units were built by Alstom between 1999 and 2001 and previously operated in Wales and The Borders. The class 175s will now travel between Barnstaple, Exeter and Penzance from later in 2025.
Please click on any of the below images to obtain an enlargement
Small prairie no. 4555 was only 46 years old when it was displayed at the Laira Open Day in 1970 and had only been in preservation for some 6 years. Those figures are now 101 and 61 years. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The cover of the souvenir programme for the 1985 Laira Open Day.
The programme's diagrammatic track layout of the Laira Depot.
The list of exhibits in 1985.
(Terry Nicholls photo of steam engines in the roundhouse)
(History of Railways in Plymouth)
(Laira's 1985 allocation of diesels and dmus)
The first engine we saw as we entered the 1985 open day was the broad gauge 4-2-2 replica “Iron Duke”. The original was designed by Daniel Gooch and was the first engine built at Swindon Works being turned out in 1846. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks as always Michael, another superb article.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
Cornish 'Castle' Capers
Jon Hird
43198 leads the 1315 Penzance - Plymouth into St. Austell, with 43189 on the other end. 43198 is still looking tidy after last months visit to Derby for 'The Greatest Gathering'. 15.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Poor 43188 has had a coming together with a tree near Bodmin Parkway and is seen running into Par (where it would terminate) with a heavily delayed 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. 43186 was on the opposite end. 15.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The crew assess the damage at Par and make plans to get the damaged train back to Laira, with the Newquay branch class 150 in Platform 3. 15.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Seaside Steam
Roger Salter
Passing Cockwood Harbour is 1Z49 0544 High Wycombe-Kingswear behind 5029 Nunney Castle. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
Passing Cockwood Harbour is 1Z49 0544 High Wycombe-Kingswear behind 5029 Nunney Castle. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
Shortly afterwards came 1Z43 0604 Birmingham New St-Plymouth behind 7029 Clun Castle and 45596 Bahamas. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
Shortly afterwards came 1Z43 0604 Birmingham New St-Plymouth behind 7029 Clun Castle and 45596 Bahamas. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
The support act for 7029 and 45596 - OZ45 0937 Bristol East Depot- Plymouth class 37, 37418 Ann Comunn Gaidhgalach & 37240. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
The support act for 7029 and 45596 - OZ45 0937 Bristol East Depot- Plymouth class 37, 37418 Ann Comunn Gaidhgalach & 37240. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
The returning 'Mayflower' excursion approaches Cockwood - 1Z48 16 38 Plymouth-Birmingham New St. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
The returning 'Mayflower' excursion approaches Cockwood - 1Z48 16 38 Plymouth-Birmingham New St. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
7026 'Clun Castle'. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
Followed closely by 5029 Nunney Castle with 'The English Riviera Express' - 1Z52 1635 Kingswear-High Wycombe (held at Eastdon signal with coach brake problem, caused delays to following services). 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
5029 'Nunney Castle'. 06.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
Some nice sunny shots, many thanks Roger.
The Midland Pullman
Roger Salter
After the sunny weather for the charter steam on Saturday 6/9/2, 5 Wednesday 10/9/25 turned wet to see the Blue Pullman at Cockwood. However, on her return at Eastdon the sun came out until she approached the Warren and a cloud thought it would spoil the fun!!
The Midland Pullman passing Cockwood Harbour. 1Z32 0609 Norwich-Paignton, 10.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
The return working between Dawlish Warren and Cockwood, just missing the sun due to a stray cloud. 10.09.2025, copyright Roger Salter.
Thanks again Roger - you can't win them all with the sun!
Swindon Variety
Ken Mumford
Vandalism on a GWR IET at Swindon. 15.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
37800 approaches platform 4 with 5Q76 [Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings to Newport Docks [Sims Group] 5 minutes early. 15.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Having run around its train 59101 leaves Swindon East Loop for the final few miles to Wootton Bassett. 15.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Dr75017 passing through Swindon. 15.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
6Z04 [Coleham - Swindon Transfer] - with loco 97302 hauling RHTT [Rail Head Treatment Train] wagons 613106 and 613108. 15.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
6Z04 [Coleham - Swindon Transfer] - with loco 97302 hauling RHTT [Rail Head Treatment Train] wagons 613106 and 613108. 15.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Many thanks Ken - a great mix.