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Unknown Location - 1860's - Cornwall (or Devon)


Penlan

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Does anybody know the location of this photo, currently on Ebay at http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-Photos-Of-Great-Western-Railway-Construction-Devon-Cornwall-1860s-Clouds-/351822172372?hash=item51ea3c50d4:g:2d0AAOSwFc5XwftK

 

I initially thought Camborne or Redruth, but I don't think any of those just had broad gauge track, I don't have a book of station plans.

 

I would have posted under 'Specialist Interests - Broad Gauge' but I can't see that topic....

 

post-6979-0-28899100-1473430715_thumb.jpg

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Does anybody know the location of this photo, currently on Ebay at http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-Photos-Of-Great-Western-Railway-Construction-Devon-Cornwall-1860s-Clouds-/351822172372?hash=item51ea3c50d4:g:2d0AAOSwFc5XwftK

 

I initially thought Camborne or Redruth, but I don't think any of those just had broad gauge track, I don't have a book of station plans.

 

I would have posted under 'Specialist Interests - Broad Gauge' but I can't see that topic....

 

attachicon.gif1860s Cornwall..jpg

I've asked on the BGS eGroup.

 

A 'Specialist Interests - Broad Gauge' would be great :).

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As I'm not into GWR in general or Broad Gauge, in spite of living in PZ, I don't know when the GWR introduced those casting for the top of the signal posts,  the 'orb & spike', and signalling arms in general. The arms are of course the later semophore type and according to the HMRS's (first edition) of Great Western Way, these were introduced to the Broad Gauge lines between 1865 and 1869 - Paddington to Kensal Green, then fairly rapidly across the rest of the Broad Gauge system.

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It's not Redruth or Camborne, the topography is wrong. 

There appears to be bridge or tunnel under construction in the distance.

I wonder if this is somewhere Devonport way.

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Perhaps the tall building will be recognisable to somebody.  Looks later than 1860s though, perhaps just before the new gauge work as the two gents are wearing bowlers rather than stove pipe hats of the earlier era.  Unusual loading gauge and interesting picture.

 

Brian.

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Teignmouth looking east?

 

The church could be this one - Catholic Church of Our Lady & St. Patrick, Teignmouth

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/sites/default/files/IMG_0080_2.JPG

 

 

 

The line in the picture looks to be bending to much for this location. Church did look right however. 

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Teignmouth looking east?

 

The church could be this one - Catholic Church of Our Lady & St. Patrick, Teignmouth

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/sites/default/files/IMG_0080_2.JPG

 

The rather well worn house on the right has gone in this map

http://maps.nls.uk/view/101445136#zoom=5&lat=1816&lon=2543&layers=BT

 

Or at 25", http://maps.nls.uk/view/106005791 - surveyed 1888, so the absence of the house with the hole in the roof from this and the 6" map - surveyed 1887 - gives a terminus ante quem. (I'll get the joke about Teignmouth always being a through station now myself to save you the bother...)

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Teignmouth looking east?

 

The church could be this one - Catholic Church of Our Lady & St. Patrick, Teignmouth

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/sites/default/files/IMG_0080_2.JPG

 

The rather well worn house on the right has gone in this map

http://maps.nls.uk/view/101445136#zoom=5&lat=1816&lon=2543&layers=BT

That looks likely, the Church is distinctive

Another map -

https://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html#/Map/294500/73500/13/100130

 

(1889 1:500)

 

View from Southern platform looking East, siding to wagon turntable behind the platform on the right?

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Above the bridge there is a building (church?) with a distinctive cupola, perhaps someone can identify where from that.

 

I already have, in my previous post!

 

The Catholic church was originally above the tunnel, and was demolished in 1878. The one in the photo was the replacement opened in 1880. Photos of the tunnel being opened out in Peter Kay's book "Exeter - Newton Abbot, A Railway History" are thought to have been taken in winter 1882/3, so it's probably when this one was taken. There are houses in the locations in the photo in the 1864 track plan in the book.

 

So it looks pretty certain it's Teignmouth.

 

Now, what are the wagons? With an 1882/83 date, they were probably still around in 1890, so ideal subjects for models for my "Small, Broad & Totally Pointless".

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The other photos in the sale also seem to be the same subject. The bridge looks to be closer to the sea wall, and the bottom of the two together seems to have the church in the background. I've enhanced it a bit in the bottom picture.

 

post-7091-0-12781500-1473453869.jpg

 

post-7091-0-28254100-1473453872.jpg

 

post-7091-0-82804700-1473454012.jpg

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I've looked on Google Earth and it is Teignmouth. I would say its before 1884 when the tunnel was opened out. The track appears to be single so it is probable that the buildings in the foreground were demolished when the track was doubled..

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