winterbournecm

Bang up to date - this is a sight to "Tug" at the heart strings as it were!! 60056 fresh out of over haul sits near Bathampton Jn with a Colas engineering train in the 6 week Bath TPOD enhancement works.

A different view of the yard throat at BZ. Taken from the scaffold around the office.

How about a different angle on BZ? This was taken from the scaffold around our office.

Summer Saturday shunting at BZ. Hi guys I thought you may like these. During my duties in the day, I couldn't resist some Saturday morning shunting at St Blazey yard as JIASs & CDAs were taken into the repair shops. A delight for the model railway fan to recreate maybe? 66078 leisurely trundled around the yard shining up some of the quietly rusting tracks in the sunshine, whilst HSTs & Voyagers passed on the branch behind us. A scene to treasure. CDAs, dont ever run with JIAs......

66194 worked the Mazey Day Pathfinder tour 27th June 2015 and is seen passing Brownqueen west of Bodmin Parkway.

Well chaps, Mazey day looms and sadly, only one railtour this year. What a contrast to years gone by with 3 or 4 trains being josstled about in between the busy booked departures at Penzance. Pathfinder tours are doing the honours with a special from Tame Parkway hauled by a class 66. It is due into Penzance at 11.39, and departs at 16.10 No doubt full details will be on RTT so no need to post schedules anymore!! YAY Cheers - weather forecast a bit glum looking at the moment, buit could improve (or worsen)!!

A wet Bank Holiday Monday saw a retreat to the layout for a couple oh ours and the following trains ran. 37238 with the clay hoods 37417 with the Manchester 37506 with a short steel service A to relieve the class 37 monopoly.... 50004 with the arriving Paddington with 31111 in the carriage sidings with a Merrymaker service.

A recent set of pictures from specials to grace the Duchy.. Apl 25th / 26th The VSOE set visited Penzance to run around on Sat 25th & Sun 26th. The photos were taken on the 26th 67005 & 67026. Apl 28th / 29th The GB8 railtour reached Penznace, down on 28th & returning next day. 66122 was the loco, deputising for the booked steam traction. The train was seen on the down at Buckshead tunnel (with land owners permission), and Carlyon Bay on the 29th. The cutting at Buckshead has recently been cleared of vegetation, and the flowers have got hold straight away!

The weekend 24 / 25 / 26 Apl see the VSOE in Cornwall. Fri 24th 1Z78 09.44 Victoria - Truro Par 1732 / 17.40 Truro 18.03 2 light locos then return to St Blazey. Timings irrelevant as they will return when ready. Sat 25th 0Z79 06.38 LE's St Blazey to Truro Yd arr 07.18 5Z79 08.00 Truro Yd to Plymouth via Penzance Penzance 08.53 / 09.31 Sun 26th 5Z83 08.36 Tavistock Jn to Truro via Penzance 12.20 Truro to Victoria Full timings on RTT. GB8 due in the County next week, unsure whether steam hauled etc due to WCR situation.

2015 marks the 30th year of Class 59s entering service on BR metals. I'm surprised that such a notable anniversary hasnt been commemorated widly. These locos, particularly the class 59/0s have plodded the Berks & Hants for 3 decades, and must have taken millions of tonnes of stone from the Mendip quarries east during that time. These locos have no mega following like many other classes, but it is a remarkable milestone (no pun intended), that they have been so reliable and steadfast during these years. The Westerns only worked stone traffic for a fraction of the time these locos did. The other interesting fact is that these Foster Yeoman locomotives were the original private locos to run on the network in 1985, followed by the ARC class 59/1s, and National Power class 59/2s some time later. Perhaps some photos of the se locos, and the many liveries they wore could be shared here in the coming months?

A running evening - the first for a while. Just havent had much appetite for the layout lately. Other interests taking up spare time... Chris Smout was on hand to randomly capture the action as it happened. Such a variety - not for the purists, but some pals brought along models to run and they looked great alongside the home fleet. The class 20s on hoods WASN'T my decision. But we heard years ago of a group of class 20s stored at Ayr with ECC Cornwall stenciled on them.

Hi Peter. Yes I agree. My five shades of grey have amused some folk on facebook lately! Railfreight / Inter-city etc.... It's just amazing the comraderie locomotive working brought compared to nowadays. No orange clad shunting staff diving in between to couple up, no diesel shunters bumbling around. No parcel vans or pick up freights. I must get a Bachmann "tug" for my 10 commandments brutes too!

Ah, I dont care what anyone says. Those heady days of blue & grey coaches, blue diesels were simply the best. Love seeing D200 on more mundane traffic too. I remember riding across the S&C in 1983 with her just after refurbishment with the brass horn grilles still shining. I only have a Lima one, but do get it out occasionally.

Colas 47727 made a welcome return to the County last week with a crew refresh trip to St Blazey.

Here's former class 37 178 as 97303 with 3Q01 at Par. The picture was taken at 02.30 on the 28th, though the Network Rail test train had left Penzance at 22.40 the previous evening and visited St Ives & Falmouth. Due to crewing issues the Parkandillack trip was missed. The Driver took his break as scheduled here, so this shot was obtained in typical Cornish mizzle!

Some loco hauled movements due in the coming days: Overnight Thursday 26th: 3Q01 21.01 Laira to Penzance via Looe / Newquay / Lostwithiel / Carne Point (Fowey) / Penzance Stables all day Friday at Penzance Overnight Friday 27th: 3Q01 22.40 Penzance to Bristol via St Ives / Falmouth / Burngullow / Parkandillack / Bristol Train formed 97303 (Former class 37) 3 x Network Rail carriages + DBSO (driving trailer). Locomotive at the LONDON end of the set. Saturday 28th: Colas move 6C51 15.48 Eastliegh to Liskeard yard, class 47/7 with the Railvac in tow. Loco expected to return to Park Siding Plymouth afterwards. Due into Liskeard 22.03

2015 - and even in these days the unusual can happen. Get them 57s added to the layout!

Hi there Many thanks Brian. The high-rise does have a continental look to it, but it fits the layout rather well. I love the Volmer / Kibri kits.

The market is flooded with Mk2 air conditioned coaches, with Bachmann ones on the horizon too. The 1970s Airfix ones were well ahead of their time. I was amazed when these superb carriages with accurate tinted windows came on the market. They looked more real than the Lima locos pulling them. The Lima ones were next, nice mouldings, but lousy windows. Deeply recessed and non- tinted. I was waiting for the Bachmann ones, but these Hornby ones will take some beating. The slightly cheaper Railroad range are great too, and great for the younger modeller.

A class 70 working at Truro bound for the Falmouth Branch 24/ 25th Jan 2015. 70801 / 804 took the Autoballasters down to the Falmouth Docks plain line site following removal of the Ground Frames.

An opportunity to remedy the FTG SPA steel wagons coupling issue. The tools were taken to Liskeard and small strips of plasticard cut from the sheet. These shims were used to supplement the Hornby class 50 couplings I used to replace the short ones supplied. The problems was the couplings were not a snug fir in the pocket. So the shim added the necessary packing to resolve the problem. These were glued to the UNDERSIDE of the coupling, taking care to avoid the moving hook, and gently eased into the pocket. Dont force them in, they just nestle in their own. The glue can then set in the coming hour. I have compared a limpet wagon for the height and length of the couplings, and these will now be sufficient. A bit disappointing to have to make modifications, but worth while to have the wagons right and included on longer rakes of steel or engineers trains. I need to weather them now once I obtain some matt varnish.

Snow ploughs wouldnt neccessarily be the same paint job as a yellow front anyway.

I was saving my Christmas money for the new Bachmann Mk2 air conditioned coaches due sometime in the future. I noticed friends had brought these super looking SPA wagons from FTG models. I have 3 now and hope tro start weathering them soon. They look fab, but unfortunately need immediate remedial work for them to run satisfactorily. The supplied couplings are too short to couple, and need replacement. I had some alternatives but they need a shim of plasticard to secure them. This is a poor state of affairs really. Also pictured, the first arrivals of 2015 sees Westerns on the blocks at Mount Charles

Happy New Year, and Happy new career - welcome aboard the trains!

Just pity the poor sod on frost duties having to start them up over the Festive period!