treggyman Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hi All My son,grandson & myself went on a jaunt to Newquay & back yesterday. My nephew & I used to regularly travel to Par for the day,or 'do' the Cornish branches,between 2005 to 2008, but we've both changed jobs so the opportunity rarely now occurs. My son suggested a trip,so off we went. The weather was bright,sunny & hot.......yes,we were in Cornwall this summer !!!!!! Anyway,got to Camborne at just before nine to see unrecorded Cross Country 221 head East & HST heading West. Joined the queue for tickets & after handing over£5.15 with Cornwall & Devon railcard got a cheap day return to Newquay......REALLY GOOD VALUE !!!! Caught the 9.06 ex Camborne....It was packed already & got off at Par 43027 leading with 43124 bringing up the rear While we were deciding whether to wander round to StBlazey we saw 153329 leading 150216 arrive on it's way to Penzance A Cross Country Voyager 220003 the arrived ex Penzance We then heard the distinctive sound of wagon wheels screeching, a horn & 66 loco engine..... A BONUS WE HADN'T EXPECTED as 66156 slowly came round the curve from StBlazey ex Goonbarrow on it's way to Fowey We then wandered round to Mioddleway crossing through the 'Park' where we were just in time to see 150108 arrive from Newquay We walked around the front of the nearly empty yard....just a few CDA's awaiting their fate ,glimpsing the line of 60's through the trees. We walked around to the entrance of what is now a trading estate & saw the forlorn nose of 60?....Although the clay hood has gone the Blazey Lizard is still there. Having bought Pasties from Pearns we walked round over the level crossing & turned along the canal bank back towards the depot where we could glimpse the other two EWS red 60's...couldnt see the Mainline one from here..... We then walked back to Middleway where we saw 150108 on its return journey to Newquay A slow walk back to Par station then followed where a Brown fizzy drink was purchased at the Royal above Par station(beer & coke) The advantage of this is....A) a cool drink was most welcome & B)you can still view the trains. We saw 43127 arrive from Penzance With 43053 trailing Sadly I was enjoying my beer & didn't get the number of the leading loco We then saw 150216 153329 return from Penzance We then caught the 1330 to Newquay with 43094 leading & 43193 trailing (seen at Newquay) One of the reasons for taking this particular train is ,as it's an HST the opportunity to take pictures from the open vestibule windows..... In my case of Gonnbarrow & its signal box.....BE AWARE.....THE INFRASTRUCTURE/PLANT GROWTH IS VERY CLOSE TO THE TRAIN DO NOT LEAN OUT OF THE WINDOWS......IT COULD BE FATAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!! A passing view of I think it's Sharon shunting CDA's.....I could have got a better shot but I wanted detail shots of the 'Box & it's environs so I missed the opportunity Finally back to Par.....Pics of Blazey 'Box & the yard from a different angle .where we were in time to see 150108 in the up platforn having run to Penzance & back in the place of our HST. We watched our HST set leave on it's way to Paddington & the saw 150108 run back to the junction signal from platform 2 & then run back into platform 3 to resume it's Newquay & back routine We then caught the 1600 ex Par back to Camborne 43002 leading 43182.... All in all a good day out.....Plenty enough of interest... especially with the summer only midweek HST to Newqay......One passenger was caught out......having boarded the train at Lostwithiel was not amused when 20 mins short of Newquay having asked when the train was going to arrive at Truro was told by the apologetic member of staff that he'd got on the wrong train & would have to go on to Newquay,then return to Par & then catch the following train to Truro Anyway Hope the above is of interest Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hi All Just to say that the last picture fits in where I make the comment that I didn't get the number of the leading loco.....It must have been the thought of beer that put me off!!!! Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B954673 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 We both had an excellent day. BE AWARE.....THE INFRASTRUCTURE/PLANT GROWTH IS VERY CLOSE TO THE TRAIN DO NOT LEAN OUT OF THE WINDOWS......IT COULD BE FATAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes do not lean out of the window, or extend your lens out of the window!!! more pictures to follow... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 We both had an excellent day. BE AWARE.....THE INFRASTRUCTURE/PLANT GROWTH IS VERY CLOSE TO THE TRAIN DO NOT LEAN OUT OF THE WINDOWS......IT COULD BE FATAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes do not lean out of the window, or extend your lens out of the window!!! more pictures to follow... Hi B954673 It was OK....It was your lens.....We'd swapped lenses by then...... But on a serious note.....The greenery Brambles,Hawthorn etc frequently brushes the sides of the coaches & the cuttings/bridge arches are seriously close to the sides of the train........BE VERY CAREFUL Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 22, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 22, 2012 But on a serious note.....The greenery Brambles,Hawthorn etc frequently brushes the sides of the coaches & the cuttings/bridge arches are seriously close to the sides of the train........BE VERY CAREFUL I would echo that, clearances are tight under some bridges, and the notices in the train about not putting your head outside have a serious meaning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Lovely set of pictures! Thank you for sharing. Edited out the quote.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 Hi All thanks for the likes & comments..... I only took 211 pictures....A lot of them were of infrastructure and the general scenes visible from the line.....ie the other side of Hensbarrow downs & Parkindillack/Treviscoe as well as obviously Goonbarrow.....The 'Box While we were wating for the token exchange it was interesting to see the CDA's with their hoods down being loaded by a mechanical shovel but the wooden fence is too high & the pic is not clear....But I saw it. Typical views of Hensbarrow & clay tip One thing I did notice was that all the signal arms have seem to have been replaced.....I can't imagine they've been cleaned !!!!!! The one leading to STBlazey isn't set quite right Isee the original CDA is still parked up at StBlazey yard The Treffry Aqueduct is also quite a seructure I was also quite surprised to see that although the side of Par 'box that faces the main line shows PR as it's name plate the back has a cast plate with Par Signal Box on it..... Thanks again for looking Cheers Bill My son tells me he took 500 or so & threatens to upload some....We await developments but he's gone away on holiday now so they will have to wait Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Gwiwer Posted August 23, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 23, 2012 An interesting set of pics there, thank you. Valid points made about the restricted clearance especially of Mk3 stock on the branch. Drop the window and look out if you wish but do not poke anything (including anatomy) out of the window. Good sense to have the Newquay unit cover the Penzance service while the HST does the branch as well. No-one loses out. Cornish trains are getting very busy these days. Your comment about "already packed" echoes that of a friend who travelled down in June and was unable to get a seat until after Camborne!!! "Ride Cornwall" tickets are also a bargain for anyone wishing to be a little more adventurous and "branch-bash". £10 adult and purchased from staffed stations, train conductors (if boarding at unattended stations) or bus drivers. Valid on First buses and trains throughout Cornwall and to Plymouth, Cross-Country Trains Penzance - Plymouth and Western Greyhound buses in Cornwall and to Plymouth. Valid Plymouth - Gunislake on trains but NOT valid weekday morning peak services nor locally within Plymouth (including Plymouth - St. Budeaux rail journeys) nor on other bus operators. It is possible to cover all five Cornish branches in a day on the current timetable. That has not always been possible and is helped by the half-hourly Falmouth and St. Ives trains. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 23, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 23, 2012 The sign on Par signalbox is a replica, commissioned for Network Rail a few years ago, there should be one or two other boxes similarly treated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 The sign on Par signalbox is a replica, commissioned for Network Rail a few years ago, there should be one or two other boxes similarly treated. Hi Thanks for that..... Which begs another maybe stupid question.....Why a green background (Southern Region) rather than brown for a western box? Or even black as it appears to be on Goonbarrow's name plate.....Or is the black a very dark brown... I noticed that StBlazey's seems to be black letters on a white enamelled background.(haven't got a good pic of that) Also ,why place it on the back of the 'Box where it won't be very often seen? I'm sure there's a very obvious answer Thanks again Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 27, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 27, 2012 I don't think that any hard and fast rules were applied at the time. The Par one may date from a time when Railtrack was painting boxes green and cream down our way, regardless of actual heritage. As for a sign on the back, it's possible that there used to be signs on both sides, as both sides have track adjacent. I think the Goonbarrow one is dark brown, possibly a later sign than the Par one. Need to check what the St Blazey one looks like before commenting, may be in a position to go down there in a week or so for work purposes... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 I don't think that any hard and fast rules were applied at the time. The Par one may date from a time when Railtrack was painting boxes green and cream down our way, regardless of actual heritage. As for a sign on the back, it's possible that there used to be signs on both sides, as both sides have track adjacent. I think the Goonbarrow one is dark brown, possibly a later sign than the Par one. Need to check what the St Blazey one looks like before commenting, may be in a position to go down there in a week or so for work purposes... Hi Thanks for the reply....Await developments with interest Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B954673 Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 as promised a couple more pictures from the day. shows 66156 bringing a rake of CDA's into Par station the rake on the other side of the bridge clearly there is still considerable tonnage of Clay being mover around Cornwall on the railway network a dragon fly resting near midway crossing and interesting road sign HST seen from back at Par defective door Patched up vinyl’s on the HST power car old style phone box in yard at Goonbarrow these where snatched from a moving HST so not great quality, but look at the roof in the back ground! back at Ladds bridge also of note looking at my pictures, I can clearly identify 31 CDA's including the prototype, it would be interesting to see how many are left, seeing as 8 are parked up in St Blazey yard presumably for scrap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treggyman Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Hi All There were 38 in the rake photographed running through Par As they tend to run in rakes of 38 I would assume there were 38 at Goondarrow..... Any others spare....ie at Parkandillack ...... Great pictures.....it was a great day......really enjoyable......good company......the Ale was as always good at the Royal Cheers Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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