D820

Wow! A green one on St Blazey, only seven of them to start with. D1004 and D1037 were the last two, both going blue in early 1967. So, given your proposed modelling period, it's 30/12/1966 then..................

I had my doubts about the year, but that was date on the photo and I took the photographer's word for it. I remember going to the open days in the sixties and seventies (1968/9 & 71, I think), but I was just ticking the books in those days...

The loco on the right is another D63xx, you can tell by the central cooler group grill. The D600s had two cooler groups, one behind each cab.

Your wish is my command. This one doesn't actually state it's St Blazey, but I'm certain it is:- http://britishdiesel.../p63713808.html The tight angle hides the embankment of the coal stage loading road, but the workshop in the background indicates it's St Blazey. What the picture does show, are the detail differences between the first five of the class and the production locos.

Another classic hydraulic at St Blazey in 1972, this time it's 806 'Cambrian' in almost ex-works condition. This would literally have been the dying days of this class:- http://www.garyschofields-railwaypics.fotopic.net/p41023438.html

As Mickey says, the Port of Par steam engines were in regular use, as were the steam engines in Falmouth Docks. The young D820 would stand in awe at this spectacle. Dad worked in the docks at Falmouth, so I even got close up and personal with this system. Trips to Newquay in the school holidays required a change of trains at Par and fortunately the connection was lousy, something that never impressed Mum. However, a walk around the area usually provided something to see....

If it's clay wagons you're after, take your pick form this lot:- http://gallery6801.f...et/c980567.html http://gallery6801.f...et/c163789.html http://gallery6801.f...et/c163031.html The first link is the UCV (clayhood), the second is the OWV (clayliner) and the third is the pre-nationalisation clayliner. Well over a thousand odd wagons I should think, plenty of variations. Finally a scene that was quite common down here in the sixties:- http://bernard-mills.../p44100554.html The sort of thing that inspired me as a young child.

Another little gem for you:- http://peterrfoster2.../p55027455.html D6304 along side the shed in 1967, in the background is a rake of vans either to or from Par Docks.

With regards to D600s at St Blazey, I asked Hugh Dady about this and he said they were regular visitors between 1962 & 1966. He also sent the following link:- http://micksworldofb.../p55814602.html He thinks this picture was taken around 1965, enjoy. All the class were withdrawn in December 1967 and languished at Laira before being broken up at Cashmore's, Newport and Woodham's, Barry.

Only two, oh no there's more than that! 'British Railways - Past & Present - East Cornwall' by David Mitchell (a friend of mine) has a shot of the 1971 open day (1-5-71) with 1363 on the turntable. In the background can be seen 806 'Cambrian' and in the shed, 854 'Tiger'. So that's a class 42 and a class 43 Warship in the same picture. It also shows the coaling stage in the process of demolition, the water tank having already been removed. I thought it was quite late when this was demolished as the Bernard Mills picture (1969) was taken from that point. Also worth noting is that prior to 1974, there were no 'clay-hoods' as these wagons were simply sheeted when loaded and open when empty. I have some photos as late as 1980 with sheeted wagons, indicating the time span over witch they were introduced. The variety of wagons and vans was quite extensive, although the colour was bauxite, under a covering of clay dust.

I had a browse through some books last night and found a couple that might be of interest to your 60s/70s period. 'The Heyday of the Warships' and 'The Heyday of the Hydraulics' both by Hugh Dady have some St Blazey (83E/84B/BZ) related shots. The hydraulics book has a shot of 1071 'Western Renown' at St Blazey in 1975. Of more interest is the picture of D6301/D6302 & D6303 in the half roundhouse, all in different liveries and of course, all pilot scheme locos, taken on 20/9/1967. Another photo shows D868 'Viking' on the Par-Fowey line on 1/1/1968 with a clay train. This brings me to a few important dates, the line to Fowey closed on 1st July 1968 and Par Bridge Crossing box closed on 6th October 1968. The present track layout at St Blazey came into use on 19th December 1976. When I visited the box in the eighties, there was still a lever labelled 'Fowey Main', some years after the line's closure. I am told this is still the case!

The last Bullied to Cornwall (in BR steam days) was 34002 'Salisbury' in 1964, working the Cornubian. The first mainline steam special after that date was 6th September 1985, when 7029 'Clun Castle' worked a GW150 railtour from Plymouth to Truro and return. On the down journey, the loco was detached at Par and turned at St Blazey, continuing tender first to Truro. I actually managed to get some shots of this event. The half roundhouse was still used for stabling locos at this time. During the late sixties and very early seventies the shed had a number of open days. I had several cab rides on NBL 63xx and D8xx locos as well as 1363. I can't tell you what the admission cost was, mum took care of all that! There are some photos doing the rounds though. Here is a link to a picture taken by Bernard Mills of Plymouth:- http://bernard-mills.../p42332370.html I might be in this picture somewhere.... Forty odd years ago, frightening!