winterbournecm

A few from the Duchy this week. Our Indian Summer continues with colder nights now and glorious sunshine. The days have been rather warm too. A visit down to St Winnow yesterday as the sun was so bright and sharp. As I drove through Lostwithiel, the dreaded river mist was hanging heavy along the River Fowey. I judged that the majority of it should clear by the time the clay train left Lostwithiel at around 08.40. I was very fortunate to get an image of full sun with the last stubborn remnants of mist still rising in the valley. Early stages: Just as the train passed by Today (23rd). A very welcome visitor made it to Burngullow - Colas Rail class 56 number 56078. The Grid was down to collect the Railvac and trip it up to Exeter Riverside. The day was not over however, as it was to star in the B&W Diesel Gala on the 24th. The loco is seen in bright light calling at Par & Bolitho near Liskeard with the Rail Vac.

Good question Ed, I dont have an answer.

The weekend of 17th / 18th Sept saw two special trains in action. One steam hauled, one diesel. 6201 Princess Elizabeth worked down into Penzance under the cover of darkness Saturday evening, was turned on Sunday via Laira and worked back East on Tuesday 20th. The diesel used in additional duties was WCR 47746. The turning move was pictured on Coombe viaduct on Sun 18th Sept. Also on Sat 17th, D1015 worked into Penzance running as D1071 Western Renown (on one side only). It worked west through murky conditions, but I was lucky to catch a burst of sunlight with the return working at Restormel.

A welcome HST replacement in the shape of 2 class 68s 68004 / 020 and the NMT. 68004 named Rapid - for those old enough conjuring memories of Warship Class locos in the Duchy. Penwithers Jn, Truro Back up in a glimpse of sunlight along Carlyon Bay, most welcome after weeks of gloom.

More 68s in the Duchy. 68020 & 004 this time. The last time Rapid was on the rails it would have been Warship class D838! 1Q18 down direction at Penwithers Jn Truro Back up at Carlyon bay passing Merthen Farm

Slightly off topic railway wise, but still fascinating is pictures of the former power station's control room. All still in situ, though abandoned like some gloomy cold war bunker. If you are on Facebook, the nostalgic Hayle group is well worth following. I'm hoping for some ICI pictures as my grandfather worked there in the 60/70s.

Following on from the lovely "Super Saturday" of 4th June. From Fri 3rd. 66066 runs down from Westbury LE Here's 66066 making a rare clay working due to the failure of 66023 earlier in the week. 1Z31 Northern Belle empty stock moves 5P70 at Hayle & Brea. Able to overtake the train as there is a recess at Camborne.

Recent visits of 68016 /017 to Cornwall. 1Z31 Swindon to par & subsequent ECS move to Penzance at Scorrier Later at Penzance

The fantastic start to Summer 2016 continues. The Rhododendron is out - my particular favourite time of the calendar. Here's Chacewater & Tregurno in full bloom.

Coolant issue 43378.

An extraordinary day on the Newquay line with the failure of 1S55 working 11.32 Newquay to Edinburgh enroute from Newquay to Goonbarrow on Sunday 29th May 2016. The service was returned to Newquay & GWR’s 57605 scrambled from Long Rock to assist the passenger onward from Newquay as 1T55 as far as Plymouth. The loco was crewed by Mike Mahoney from Penzance with John Beale from Par conducting. Fitters from Long Rock attended to couple the loco to the errant set at Newquay.

Our special guest yesterday 68017 Hornet.

As I reached the grand age 47 this year, my birthday gift was naturally, a brush type 4! Bachmann's 47436 was the loco, and is in the fab large logo livery. I have 47591 pristine so 436 joined 644 in the grubby late 80s look when they were pretty uncared for working principal services around the country.

Well chaps from Bouys to trains.. Plenty of mainline special action this April. I'm not around this coming Saturday for the Chester to Penzance WCR tour - so someone will have to deputize for me! The Belmond Pullman in action: Passing Grampound with the Saturday Charity working Up over Angarack viaduct with 66027 leading The Sunday empty working to Penzance prior to working back to Victoria. I was Pilotman for the Penzance single line - so got a ride on them! The Great Britain IX tour: Day one. Passenger train with WCR 57316 near Penponds Royal Scot heads west by Carlyon bay nearing sunset Magnificent sight heading back east on day two passing Bodriggy school at Hayle.

Thanks - I may invest in a natural lamp for these kind of shots.

Some more natural light shots before I give John his lamp back.

Having borrowed a large daylight lamp from a photographer pal, I have been setting scenes using better illumination of the layout. The florescent tubes on the ceiling do little to show the colours / weathering etc... I may obtain a lamp myself at some point as I like these results. 50036 has been relegated to mundane ballast duties and chugs away in the yard with a working to Hinksey, Oxford 50036 a few days before on top link passenger work, whilst 47436 fresh from a repaint into large logo sits atop the newspaper vans. 56084 with a Speedlink service The superb Bachmann met cam class 101 scampers past the panel box.

Hi Rick Yes there was a 57/6 on hand in case of issues with 57310 - that what was said.

Sat 12th March saw a Railtour visit the County. Originally planned to visit Parkandillack, though this was curtailed. The train did visit Carne Point however, and is seen at Lantyan & Golant. Sadly it was low tide.

A catch up for March (Hope you also enjoy the Devon ones)! The GWR green power cars 43187/188 were ripped from the coaches and made a colourful evening shot in plat 4 at Plymouth. There was an overnight stay at Laira for Class 56s 56081 / 104 working a GWR transfer stock move to Kilmarnock. 66139 sits in the sun at St Blazey Sun, sea, daffs & the down sleepers in one picture at Hayle. Taken from Mr Richards's field with permission. Another Devon one, oops. 37025 sits resplendent in the yard at Tavistock Jn And finally - Mellow Yellow. A scene to make your eyes ache! The Network Measurement Train glides over Angarrack viaduct with a matching carpet of daffs.

Well week two of the blockade and storm Henry looking to dump 40mm of rain on St Austell Sat 6th! So no photos tomorrow I reckon!!

Ah, sorry Tim I cheated - I only used the cross-over as it was an unsignalled move. UM to DM.

The first of two weeks relaying the main line near Burngullow saw a bumper crop of Colas class 60/66/70 action. The weather was poor (it was January I suppose), but 60047 managed to get a burst of sun light - which was most welcome. The same applies next Saturday 6th Feb. 60047 pauses to drop off 9 coalfish for a subsequent service to collect (weight issues). 70810 waits entry to the worksite at Burngullow 70805 with the side tippers unloading adjacent to the site - Trewoon. 70805 seen later at St Austell - crossed over to collect the 9 wagons left behind.

Re laying near Burngullow 30th Jan 2016. 60047 put in an appearance at St Austell where I had to cross the train over to the DM to frop off 9 coalfish for a subsequent service.

Indeed. I was on the scene for SLW over the Up Main passing the failed freight at Carlyon Bay. 66156 failed in section between Par & St Austell with 6P07 08.20 Fowey to Parkandillack clay empties 25th Jan 2016. The loco was declared a failure around 09.10 and 57303 scrambled from Long Rock depot to assist forward to Burngullow. Single Line Working was instituted over the UM line (with moi as Pilotman). The class 57 then hauled the clay train to Burngullow after 11.00 with GWR Driver Phil Jones in charge - seen passing St Austell station. Nice to have the GF open for the moves. Incidentally, it will be in action the next two Saturdays for engineering work. Phil worked the last occasion a class 57 hauled the clay train which happened almost exactly 12 months ago! The cavalcade heads West to Burngullow.