Tuesday 5th September 2023

Roaming around Devon
with a Ranger Ticket
Part 1
Roger Winnen

230903a Join the queue for the 08.15 Penzance to Paddington service. Copyright Roger Winnen

230903b 150243 Departs Dawlish with a service to Paignton. Copyright Roger Winnen

230903bb The new and the old at Dawlish. Copyright Roger Winnen

230903c Cross Country Voyager the 09.30 Penzance to Edinburgh passes Dawlish. Copyright Roger Winnen

230903d The new Dawlish. Copyright Roger Winnen

230903dd The new bridge at Dawlish awaits its customers. Copyright Roger Winnen

230903e Passing the Railway Club at Exeter St Thomas. Copyright Roger Winnen

10 minutes at
Treesmill
Jon Hird

Please find attached two photos taken just 6 minutes apart earlier today (4th Sept. 2023) at Treesmill.

The first of 43155 (with 43153 on the other end) working the 11:50 Penzance to Plymouth service (With a mystery photographer on the bridge if you look closely!).
Then 66190 hot on its heels en route for Fowey via Lostwithiel with 13 JIA’s full of white gold! (I guess the photographer wasn’t into 66’s as he seems to have vanished in this photo!).

Nice to have a bit of sunny weather up here in mid-Cornwall after what feels like an eternity of gloom and Cornish ‘mizzle’!

​All the best, Jon

Treesmill with a mystery photgrapher. 4th September 2023. Copyright Jon Hird

66190 at Treesmill. 4th September 2023. Copyright Jon Hird.

Thanks Jon. Sorry no idea who the mystery photographer is.

​

Chacewater - Newquay remnents
St Agnes & Goonbell
Howard Sprenger

Herewith three photos taken in August 1977 on the Chacewater to Newquay line.  The station building at St Agnes still exists, surrounded by a small industrial estate, but when I returned to the site of Goonbell Halt a couple of years ago, the cutting had been filled in up to the level of the road bridge.  I wonder whether the halt still lies beneath - I bet the platform does!  By the bridge, some spear fencing and a gate still marked the entrance.

Best regards, Howard. 

St Agnes 14th August 1977 (1) Copyright Howard Sprenger.

St Agnes 14th August 1977 (2) Copyright Howard Sprenger.

Goonbell Halt 14th August 1977. Copyright Howard Sprenger.

Many thanks Howard. Going past the Goonbell site recently on a U1C bus confirms the bridge wall and railings still exist - these can be seen on  Google Earth street view. Agreed that the platform remains and I believe that the building was simply crushed by buiding waste being tipped in over it. The cutting towards St Agnes station and Goonbell is completly lost.

​

HST's
a long way from home
​Bill Elston

Hi Keith,
For HST followers, the vessel, BBC Arkhangelsk carrying HST vehicles to Mexico, is now at anchor off Corpus Christi,USA, having arrived
on  September 4  at 0237  UTC. Will any more make that trip??

Best wishes, Bill Elston

Many thanks for that Bill - thats about 4,238 miles from Laira as the 'crow flies'  - some crow!