Guest 34008Padstow Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Not sure if these are of use but i spent the evening at Falmouths two stations on Friday. Not much there but useful for modeling inspiration. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 Nice set of photos the Falmouth Dock & Falmouth Town (formally The Dell). The Falmouth Town station platform was made from the former platform which resided at Perranporth Beach which was transferred over to Falmouth a few years after the former station and line had closed. I guess that wasn't the first cat as it is in the wrong livery! Xerces Fobe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted June 13, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2011 Has FGW brought out another new livery? The set of photos of the middle DMU seem to be missing the place names? Regards, Nick Ps. Nice set of photos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Has FGW brought out another new livery? The set of photos of the middle DMU seem to be missing the place names? Regards, Nick Ps. Nice set of photos. It looks like a recent repaint most likely awaiting the delivery of vinyls however with First potentially handing the keys to the Franchise back maybe this unit will never receive the place names. Also unusual to see a Class 150on the Falmouth branch since the loop was reinstated at Penryn as they tend to run to Class 153's packed like sardine can every half hours - hopefully they are now running 2-car units on the service but I doubt it as it would cost more! Xerces Fobe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted June 13, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2011 It's one of the ex central trains 150/1's and looks very much like it's a recent repaint. Matches the HST livery so I suspect that it won't get the place names. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted June 13, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 13, 2011 Plenty of interest in there for the modeller - thank you. The wave-form railings at Town are unusual and are appropriate for a maritime location. The original shelter at Docks remains though now with modern extensions offering more in the way of protection. One image shows heavily overgrown rusted rails. This is the still-connected link into the actual docks. I'm not sure of it's status but believe it is theoretically still available for traffic. Though finding a path on the branch other than late evening is going to be interesting. Falmouth station, as it was for many years, was at one point closed when the line was cut back to a new "Falmouth" station in December 1970 using the platform from Perranporth Beach as noted above. After protests the service was reinstated to the end of the line in May 1975 and the stations named The Dell (Falmouth Town since May 1989) and Falmouth Docks. Docks is at some distance from the main commercial centre which is better served by Penmere and Town stations, though neither of these is particularly close either; Penmere is the wrong side of a fair hill as well. Docks is still quite well-used by students, dock workers, beach-goers, visitors to Pendennis Castle and local residents. Until around 1970 there was a regular through train to London Paddington and in earlier times more than one. Falmouth was originally the main line when the West Cornwall Railway was connected via a sharp curve at Penwethers (or Penwithers, though the former is the correct local place name) Junction but Penzance steadily grew in importance as the principal western terminus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted June 13, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2011 One image shows heavily overgrown rusted rails. This is the still-connected link into the actual docks. I'm not sure of it's status but believe it is theoretically still available for traffic. Though finding a path on the branch other than late evening is going to be interesting. I suspect that if that photo was taken from the platform, then it's one of the two old sidings at the back of the platform area, rather than the actual connection into the Docks. As far as the status of that connection is concerned, the run-round loop just outside the station is still in operational status (it's worked by a Ground Frame), but the points off the loop towards the Docks and the plain line from the loop to the Docks gates is mothballed, due to no current requirements. We would bring it back to operational status pretty quickly if any freight traffic materialised. However, the track on the other side of the gates, which is the property and responsiblity of the Dock Authority, is understood to be in poor condition and may possibly have been partially tarmacked over in one location - does anyone know for sure? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I suspect that if that photo was taken from the platform, then it's one of the two old sidings at the back of the platform area, rather than the actual connection into the Docks. As far as the status of that connection is concerned, the run-round loop just outside the station is still in operational status (it's worked by a Ground Frame), but the points off the loop towards the Docks and the plain line from the loop to the Docks gates is mothballed, due to no current requirements. We would bring it back to operational status pretty quickly if any freight traffic materialised. However, the track on the other side of the gates, which is the property and responsiblity of the Dock Authority, is understood to be in poor condition and may possibly have been partially tarmacked over in one location - does anyone know for sure? Last time I looked (the end of last year) the line beyond the gates had obstructions over it and it is tarmaced over further in. The last regular freight from the docks was the waste to a site in Trafford near Manchester if my memory serves me correctly. This waste was produced when the ships are sand blasted prior to a repaint - I have a cousin who works at Falmouth Docks painting and removing paint from the ships and he informs me that the process are different and no waste needs to be transported away. Xerces Fobe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornish Triang Paul Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Word from Long Rock is that the 150/1s will not be getting the grafitti or new seating - just a repaint in and out and new seat covers and CCTV/new door controls. I think they look better without the lettering. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Here are some photo of the other end of Falmouth Docks Station taken in August 08 Xerces Fobe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted June 15, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 15, 2011 Last time I looked (the end of last year) the line beyond the gates had obstructions over it and it is tarmaced over further in. Correct. Potential freight users are being informed of this, if they didn't know already. The local Community Rail user group is keen to preserve the connection for potential traffic to/from the docks in the future. the process are different and no waste needs to be transported away That's interesting, will file away for future reference.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Here are some photos of Falmouth Docks showing where there are some lengths of track still in situ or areas where there used to be railway track By strange coincidence if you look at the phot numbers and add a 7 after the 3 you get uite a few forner St Blazey Class 37 numbers! Xerces Fobe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Country Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 EWS ran a trial freight service on the branch in 1997 using PFA wagons and coal containers (not sure whether they were carrying coal or something more Cornish). Calcified seaweed from Falmouth went by rail until the 1990s, although it was taken by road to Truro. Dredging of calcified seaweed is now banned off the Cornish coast so there's not much chance of this traffic returning. Wasn't Falmouth Docks a late outpost of industrial steam? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted July 5, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 5, 2011 Wasn't Falmouth Docks a late outpost of industrial steam? I'm not sure what you might call 'late' but I spent part of the first day of my honeymoon looking down on the area shown in the above pics watching a couple of steam cranes shunting around the place and there might still have been a saddle tank there then - mind you that was 1977. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 EWS ran a trial freight service on the branch in 1997 using PFA wagons and coal containers (not sure whether they were carrying coal or something more Cornish). Calcified seaweed from Falmouth went by rail until the 1990s, although it was taken by road to Truro. Dredging of calcified seaweed is now banned off the Cornish coast so there's not much chance of this traffic returning. Wasn't Falmouth Docks a late outpost of industrial steam? Yes Falmouth Docks was the last outpost of industrial steam Xerces Fobe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted February 25, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 25, 2012 Been on there loads of times. Ususally high density DMUs (I think they were 118s) and single car jobs - so 4 coasch train of 121 and 118 I am guessing. Last time it was a 150 (had some railway tickets given to us and my car had blown its rear axle). First time I remember going there that the gangways on the mainline train to Truro moved rather than stayed still (mid or late 60s) so must have been pre nationalisation, another trip I remember a mix of colours blue grey and maroon and a funny looking loco (was a Warship) saw a few 6 wheeled locos (08s or were they 14s?). All a blur in my head. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted February 25, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 25, 2012 Not 14s in Cornwall. 6-wheel locos wold have been 08s. A 4-coach train on the Falmouth line could have been a 121 or 122 bubblecar coupled to any of classes 101, 116/7/8 or even a 120 depending on year. Three-car was more the norm and sometimes just a power twin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted February 25, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 25, 2012 For anybody who missed it and would be interested, there was a superb 12 page spread on Falmouth Dockyard in steam days in the February edition of Bylines. http://www.irwellpress.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
floss_4 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Correct. Potential freight users are being informed of this, if they didn't know already. The local Community Rail user group is keen to preserve the connection for potential traffic to/from the docks in the future. That's interesting, will file away for future reference.... Is Falmouth more of a ship repair facility than a freight terminal meaning the potential for freight traffic is minimal. That said I do have a book showing container flats in Truro yard having come from Falmouth so there has been traffic in the past. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted February 25, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 25, 2012 Falmouth is a bit of both in terms of the maritime task. It isn't huge on a national scale and will never deliver freight volumes in a way that Tilbury does but if the rail connection is there it can be used on suitable occasions. The roads are a pain with even the main A39 having steep hills, a few old narrow sections and low bridges - ironically caused by the presence of the railway at both ends! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 25, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 25, 2012 Falmouth has been suggested on a number of occasions as a suitable location for a deep sea container port and various studies have taken place but nothing has ever happened due to the costs and the sheer difficulty of competing with ports further up the Channel and into the North Sea which are much nearer the ultimate destinations of the boxes. Basically it remains an important repair centre plus a cruise port plus, of course, the nearby facility for laying-up ships (which goes in some respects with the repair business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonhaynes72 Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Plus there is a planning application for flats in the area of the old water tank and engine shed. Now the av fuel pipeline is no longer used. A shame, particularly if the dredging for cruise liners occurs, and there was a revival in rail cruise traffic. Who knows how long A&P will be there as a significant force given some of the proposed plans. Cheers Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJ Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Some good photos and discussion here I've had a bit of an idea for a while that something inspired by Falmouth could make the basis for an interesting 70s/80s layout. I believe that lock hauled trains to London remained until the late 70s so if you continued them and maybe some local loco hauled to Plymouth this would add interest to the passenger workings. Then if the connection to the docks remained in use there could be some freight, perhaps steel for the ship building and some speedlink invented flows, perhaps exchanging for the dock shunter. There have even been proposals to divert the Isles of Scilly ferries to Falmouth so maybe an excuse for a parcel or newspaper coach?? Combined with that run down look of a terminus that has clearly seen better days and is sort of clinging on it could make an intersting, fairly compact layout. Just an idea. Maybe I'll build it one day....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caliwag Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I understand that the Penryn loop was installed to accept longer trains than 2 coach units and a couple of years back the freight branch was weeded and had quite a number of wooden sleepers replaced, which I thought encouraging. The 'Firstgreatwestern coffeeshop' site reports odd activity, but the attached is depressing! http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=12354.0 Good luck with the project. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted July 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2013 but the attached is depressing! http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=12354.0 Agreed, it is depressing but it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, and she's only humming a quiet little ditty at the moment... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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