Steam in Devon

Some pics from yesterday of the Princess and Class 47.

No. 6201 moving to Platform 7 to take on water



No. 6201 leaving Plymouth North Road to go to London Victoria with the Cathedrals Express.



Class 47 No. 47746 'Chris Fudge' leaving Plymouth North Road to shadow No. 6201 to Exeter St. Davids.(In case No. 6201 fails on Hemerdon like Tangmere did last year).



That's it for now. This weekend (24/9/16) I'll be at the Bodmin and Wenford again. It's a Diesel Gala and the highlights will be a Class 50 and a Colas Rail Class 56. See you after the event.

 

Sorry lads, didn't make the B&W on Saturday. Was out all day Friday chasing a Lesser Grey Shrike, which is rarer than hen's teeth and I was, to put it bluntly, shattered. Managed it though. Mind you the weather wasn't that clever either on Saturday although the rain did hold off till tea time the cloud and light didn't hold good. Never mind, there's always another time.
Lesser Grey Shrike, Mountbatten, Plymouth.

 

Thanks Toto,
Nikon D5200 with Sigma 150/600 lens. We were very lucky. When we found it, it was on a bush near the edge of the cliffs so distant shots were the only ones possible. However when a large group of twitchers and cameramen moved away we investigated and found we could get about 15 yds away from it without it being spooked. We took quite a lot of shots then it took wing and flew even closer. We were not complaining. The pic I put on the forum does not really do it justice. There are four on my Flickr page. Look at those and click each one to big. The difference is amazing. While you are looking click the large shot of the Princess as well. It's a cracker. That was a Nikon D5300 with Nikon 18/200 lens.

 

Might be lucky this weekend. The last steam special of the year is supposed to be coming through on Sunday, if they can find a loco to haul it. At the moment it looks as though it might be Sutherland again, although it is being stopped at Plymouth and not Par. We shall see.

 

As it transpired the steam was off the steam special and replaced by 57314. This was due to operational problems at Butterley in Derbyshire where the Duchess is based. Will put some pics of that up later when they are sorted. This was to be the last one into Plymouth for this year so future offerings will be relying on the local steam centres. Will be trotting over to Paignton on Saturday and have my first ride on the Paignton to Dartmouth Railway, especially as it's a Half Price Weekend.

 

Here are the promised pics. The first pair are from the Royal Duchy, the next four from the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway and the others were taken on my way home.

The Royal Duchy entering Plymouth behind 57314 (should have been Duchess of Sutherland).





GWR 2-8-0T No. 4277 'Hercules' at Kingswear on the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway









Class 43 at Newton Abbot. On the other end was a power unit in the original Swallow livery. Unfortunately the camera was in the bag and by the time I got it out and ready it was too late.



Colas Rail Tamper at Plymouth North Road.



More after next outing which may not be too far away.

 

Well, the steam special season is over down here and most, if not all of the preserved lines seem to be closing down for the winter, although the SDR and PVR are having the odd running sessions so the only thing I will be able to get hold of easily are the normal service trains.
A couple of weeks ago my mate and I did a birding trip out to Haytor looking for Golden Plover and Ringed Ouzels and we stumbled across some of the track bed of the Haytor Granite Tramway. There were several sections of the actual track in-situ, including a point. The interesting point about it is that the rails were in fact worked granite, including the point but unfortunately I wasn't able to get a good shot on the point-work but did the track. The track is of carved granite sections in an L shape with the wheels running on the plate, the upright section being inside acting as a guide rail. The whole system being horse-drawn. When the quarry ran out of workable granite the whole system was allowed to decay.

Haytor Granite Tramway relics



For more about the quarry and its tramway click here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haytor_Granite_Tramway

Here's a Class 150 no. 150108 travelling along the side of the Plym Estuary on its way to Penzance



Till next time

 

There were other 'Plateways' around using cast iron but this is the first I've heard of one using stone. It would certainly make an interesting small layout. All it needs is some 4mm scale horses that work to pull the empties back up to the quarry. Downwards was gravity worked except for a distance where horses were again used.

 

Just found out that the SDR is open this weekend and is having a Diesel Gala. Apart from their own Diesels they have a guest of a Class 24. Have never seen one so will be going over to get some piccys.

 

'I went, I saw and I conquered.'

The Diesel locos present and running were: Class 24 No. 5081; Class 37 No. 6975; Class 25 No. D7612; Class 33 No. D6501, Class 09 No. D3721 and Class 04 No. D2246. The Railcar W55000 was also on duty but by the time I got there is was back on the shed lines. Not much steam visible except for 4920 'Dumbleton Hall' which is still waiting to go into the shops but has at least had its buffer beam and smokebox painted.
At Staverton the restoration of the GWR Shunters Truck has been completed and a fine job has been made of it and the Routemaster was in operation giving rides up to Ashburton.
The 09 and 04 were on a 'Driver for a Fiver' duty where anyone could pay a fiver and drive one or other of them up and down the platform run-round loop. Looked fun. Might have a go next time they are doing it.

No. 5081 at Totnes



No. 6975 at Buckfastleigh



No. D2246 at Buckfastleigh



No. D3721 at Buckfastleigh



No. D6501 in the woods near Staverton. NO. 5801 at the rear



No. 7612 at Staverton



No. 4920 'Dumbleton Hall' still awaiting the workshops at Buckfastleigh



Railcar No. W55000 awaiting the Paint Shop at Buckfastleigh



GWR Shunter's Truck at Staverton after rebuilding



Ex-London Transport Routemaster at Buckfastleigh Station



That's it for now folks. Hope you like them.