Truro - Falmouth pick-up freight 1960's/70's

[Ben04uk]

Does anyone know what the four-didgit headcode was for the pick-freight service between Truro and Falmouth in the 1960's and 70's? I have some Working Timetables but none that go back far enough to include the time when there was a freight service on the Falmouth branch.

 

In addition, does anyone know any of the four-didgit headcodes for any other freight services that would have passed through Truro in the same timeframe? I already have the ones listed below but if anyone can help provide any other I would be most grateful.

 

 

1415 Penzance - Paddington (4A13) - Perishables

Exeter Riverside - Ponsandane freight (6B31)

Penzance traction maintenace depot to Plymouth Friary

St Erth to Exeter Riverside freight

1450 St Erth - Kensington 6M11 – Milk

1450 Ponsandane - Exeter Riverside 6B59 – Freight

1835 Keyham - Exeter Riverside 7B44 – Freight

1950 Newton Abbott - Exeter 7B51 – Freight

1920 Exeter Riverside - Plymouth Friary 6B36 – Freight

2020 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Riverside 6B65 – Cement

17.05 Truro - St Blazey 7B19 – Freight

St Blazey – Truro – Penzance trip working

Drump Lane and Truro were handled by the daily Penzance – St Blazey freight

6M64 - Ponsandane up freight

[The Stationmaster]

Alas I've got no West of England detail for that time period however you seem only to have 'later' numbers as the Plymouth Division was in existence in 1960 and trains terminating within it (except possibly some local freight trips) would have carried 'C' as the second digit and not 'B' (which was the Bristol Division code).

[Kris]

I have the WTT for that time period (well mid 60's) so i'll have a look tomorrow unless someone has given the answers first.

[Xerces Fobe2]

I have good friends with the Falmouth MRC guys some of which are on RMweb. Sorry I do not have details of the headcodes myself but do recall seeing Class 22's on the services. You also appear to have omitted the Truro (Newham branch) freights!

 

Xerces Fobe

[Irishswissernie]

June - Sept 1962

 

Truro - Falmouth 9B24 Falmouth - Truro 9B81

 

 

Ernie

[Kris]

Hello Ben

 

Having looked at the WTT I have for April 1966 to March 1967 I can give you the following.

 

 

There are no freight services shown for the Falmouth branch at this time. These are weekday services (and Sats - but not summer Sats). Not every service ran every day. I have not put in the milk or mail services. Some of the services are shown as having variable departure points / destination points dependant on the day they ran. I have used the most frequent destination or departure point for these (for down trains this was inevitably Tavistock junction). I have also not shown the perishable trains that are in the WTT.

 

Edited to make the information easier to read.

[Ben04uk]

Thanks for your response Kris. I managed to track down a copy of a Working Timetable for Mandatory Train Services from 7 May 1973 to 5 May 1974 which shows a daily (except Monday) freight service between Truro and Falmouth, departing Truro at 0430 and arriving at Falmouth at 0510 and with the headcode 7B47, which was all the code used for the return journey.

[mikeh]

Hi Ben

 

I have a copy of the 18 April 1966 to 5 march 1967 Devon & Cornwall area Local freight WTT.

 

The Falmouth branch trip was Laira 727 diagram, 1100 HP D63xx Type 2 Diesel, Target J11

Worked as follows

MO

0J11 0405 St.Blazey Shed-Truro 0450

MX

0J11 0335 St.Blazey Shed-St.Austell 0440

5C22 0450 St.Austell-Truro 0525 (0225 Tavi Jnc) (Z)

MThFO

9J11 0530 Truro-Penryn 0555

0J11 0604 Penryn-Truro 0619

DLY (Z)

9J11 0637 Truro-Penryn 0704

9J11 0805 Penryn-Falmouth 0817

Shunt 0825-0905

9J11 0920 Falmouth-Penryn 0933

9J11 0958 Penryn-Truro 1026

SO (Z)

0J11 1100 Truro-St.Blazey Shed 1145

Service

 

SX Q

9J11 1245 Truro-Penryn 1315

9J11 1424 Penryn-Truro 1451

9J11 1500 Truro-Newham 1525

9J11 1605 Newham-Truro 1630

SX

9J11 1642 Truro-Penryn 1704

9J11 1809 Penryn-Falmouth 1821

9J11 1926 Falmouth-Penryn 1929

9J11 2007 Penryn-Truro 2037

SX

0A26 2125 Truro-Drump Lane 2140

6C85 2205 Drump Lane-Par 2318

0Z28 2323 Par-St.Blazey Shed 2333

Service

SO (K)

0J11 0535 St.Blazey Shed-St.Blazey Yd 0540

5J11 0555 St.Blazey Yd-St.dennis Jn 0650

Shunt Retew Branch and St.dennis Tip 0655-1100

5J11 1105 St.Dennis Jn-St.Blazey Jn 1150

0J11 1155 St.Blazey yd-St.Blazey Shed 1200

 

Z - Except Sats 18 June-3 Sept

K - Sats 18 June-3 Sept

 

Diagram subject to alteration by Minerals Area Manager Fowey as required

 

Truro also had a 350hp Laira 748 diagram Target No J77

 

Truro Goods Yard Shunt No.1 0400-1150 SO 0400-2300 SX

Also worked

9J77 0605 DLY Truro-Newham 0635

9J77 0815 DLY Newham-Truro 0845

9J77 0900 SX Q Truro-Newham 0930

9J77 1000 SX Q Newham-Truro 1030

 

Other St.Blazey trip engines visited Truro as follows:

 

Laira 721 D63xx Type 2 DH Off Target no. J06 in multiple with Turn 725 D63xx Off Target J10

 

SX

0J06 1850 St.Blazey Shed-St.Blazey Yd 1855

6C83 1900 St.Blazey Yd- Tavistock Jn 2116

6C70 2210 Tavistock Jn-Truro 0058

0Z28 0120 Truro-St Blazey Shed 0205

 

Laira 722 D63xx Type 2 DH Target No. J07

 

SO 18 June-3 Sept

0J07 0900 St.Blazey Shed-Truro 0910

9J07 1015 Truro-Drump Lane 1043

9J07 1110 Drump Lane-Roskear Jn 1123 Q

9J07 1210 Roskear Jn-Drump Lane 1222 Q

3J07 1250 Drump Lane-Chacewater 1300 EBV

9J07 1320 Chacewater-Drump Lane 1331

5J07 1400 Drump Lane-Tavistock Jn 1826

0J07 19xx Tavistock Jn-St.Blazey Shed 20xx

 

There were also the following extracts from other diagrams:

 

Laira 39 D6xx Extract covered

ThO

---- 0555 Truro-Drump Lane 0623

0A88 0640 Drump Lane-Truro 0655

SO (Not 18June-3 Sept)

9B26 1222 Truro-Drump Lane 1312

Forms 1350 Drump lane-Tavistock Jn

 

And Laira 23 D8xx extract

DLY

9B79 0735 Ponsandane-St.Erth 0752

Shunt 0755-0855

9B79 09xx St.Erth-Truro xxxx

Then works

9J79 1110 Truro-Burngullow 1139

9J79 1200 Burngullow-St.Austell 1208

9J79 1321 St.Austell-St.Blazey 1350

Then works 1520 St.Blazey-Tavistock Jn SX

 

Hope that is of use

 

Regards

Mike

[Kris]

Interesting post Mike. Builds on the info I gave for the same time period. I shall have to keep my eyes open for the local freight WTT for this time period, as these are not shown in the main version.

[Ben04uk]

Does anyone know what all these 12T vanfits in Penryn goods yard (I'm guessing the early to mid 1960's) in a photo for sale on Ebay would have been used for?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253027215824?_trksid=p11021.c100851.m5053&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170803121420%26meid%3D00a13fc080b04bc7a0297f89970b1a0e%26pid%3D100851%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26b%3D1%26sd%3D192902215188%26itm%3D253027215824&ul_noapp=true

[Fat Controller]

1 hour ago, Ben04uk said:

Does anyone know what all these 12T vanfits in Penryn goods yard (I'm guessing the early to mid 1960's) in a photo for sale on Ebay would have been used for?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253027215824?_trksid=p11021.c100851.m5053&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170803121420%26meid%3D00a13fc080b04bc7a0297f89970b1a0e%26pid%3D100851%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26b%3D1%26sd%3D192902215188%26itm%3D253027215824&ul_noapp=true

Had there been some former Cattle wagons, and fruit vans, I might be inclined to say seasonal vegetables. However, the vehicles seem to be an assortment of Vanfits, so probably fertiliser or animal feed. By the 1960s, the larger producers would despatch block trains of vans to livestock-rearing regions. They used yards which often didn't see much other traffic, such as Newcastle Emlyn or Woodborough, and things would be organised so that local farmers would all turn up as soon as possible after the train arrived. The fertiliser/feed companies, via their local agents would offer an appreciable discount for pre-ordered quantities, the agents gaining by not having to hold stock. The farmers would organise their own transport, calling-in favours from people like the local coal merchants and builders.

[AndyH]

A lot of traffic at Penryn was broccoli (also used for cauliflower in Cornwall) and other seasonal products, even daffs. There was a broccoli train from Penzance to London in peak season, but I am sure others here know much more detail than I.