Past Meetings 2017
Monday 20th November 2017
From the South West to Scotland and Switzerland by Barry Jones
As well as his presentation, Barry had been asked to offer some photography tips prior to entries opening for the PRC’s new format photographic competition in the Spring 2018 season (see program for details). This he did by making observations of some of the key issues using examples of images that he’d taken demonstrating both what to do and what to avoid!
We commenced our evening with a journey to Scotland, travelling from Plymouth via London and the East Coast Main Line. We saw Deltics at Kings Cross, then brief stops at Newark, York, Durham, Newcastle, and the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick, before arriving at Edinburgh Waverley. Whilst in Edinburgh, we saw numerous classes of ‘BR Blue Era’ diesels, including Class 27s and Class 47/7s on the Edinburgh-Glasgow push-pull workings.
Moving to the west side of Scotland, we took in Glasgow, Wemyss Bay with a look at the Isle of Bute, and Gourock -ferry terminal for Dunoon. We then travelled back across the country via the Forth and Tay Bridges, Arbroath, Stonehaven and Inverness to take a journey on the Far North Lines to Wick & Thurso and the route to Kyle of Lochalsh. At Clatchnaharry, we saw the swing bridge over the Caledonian Canal in action. We then returned to Glasgow Queen Street via the Highland main line, before exploring the West Highland and Oban Lines from the 1980s to the present day, with Classes 20, 37, 156 and K1 no. 62005 on the ‘Jacobite’. At Banavie we saw another swing bridge, this time where the Mallaig Extension crosses over the western end of the Caledonian Canal. We then returned to England by way of Crawford, Shap, Acton Bridge and Docker, before arriving at Birmingham Airport via the now closed Maglev.
For Part 2 of the presentation, we flew to Geneva and took the train to Montreux. Here there were photos of the SBB and MOB stations and of SBB main line trains running along the banks of Lake Geneva, with the picturesque Chillon Castle in the background. We then boarded the Glion Railway, with some spectacular views of Lake Geneva from the summit. The next destination was Zermatt for a ride on the Gornergrat Railway up to its summit at 3,089 metres (10,135 feet) and the Matterhorn in the background. We then covered the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn with views at Andermatt, before spending some time on the Rhätische Bahn Albula line with some great angles of RhB trains, both loco hauled (mainly Ge4/4 class) and the newer ABe 8/12 Allegra units on the World Heritage-listed Landwasser Viaduct. We finished with some photos of the RhB street running sections and the Brusio Spiral Viaduct on the Bernina route near the Italian border.
After the break, we returned to steam specials in the West Country and a reminder of how mainline steam started again in this area, with the GW150 celebrations. We saw steam railtours at many locations in Devon and Cornwall, Somerset and on the Waterloo-Exeter route. Personal favourites included: 6024 double heading with a Britannia along the sea wall at Dawlish in heavy seas; Princess Elizabeth crossing Coldrennick Viaduct, taken from Blackadon Farm; 5043 closely followed by D1015 at Hemerdon; and the photos taken whilst chasing a tour with City of Truro.
Special events over the years were covered, including the 1980 Newton Abbot Rail Fair; the visits of 9466 and the steam rail motor to the Looe Branch; the Dawlish Donkeys; and the specials run for the Exeter Railfest in 1994, including 80098 on the Barnstaple branch.
Heritage Lines were not forgotten and there was coverage of the Bodmin & Wenford, South Devon, Torbay & Dartmouth and West Somerset Railways. Some of the local miniature railways were also covered: Buckfastleigh, Pecorama, and reminders of Dobwalls and Central Park: both now gone.
All told a very varied and interesting evening and I for one, hope that Barry can be persuaded to give another talk in the near future.
Stuart Hammond
We commenced our evening with a journey to Scotland, travelling from Plymouth via London and the East Coast Main Line. We saw Deltics at Kings Cross, then brief stops at Newark, York, Durham, Newcastle, and the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick, before arriving at Edinburgh Waverley. Whilst in Edinburgh, we saw numerous classes of ‘BR Blue Era’ diesels, including Class 27s and Class 47/7s on the Edinburgh-Glasgow push-pull workings.
Moving to the west side of Scotland, we took in Glasgow, Wemyss Bay with a look at the Isle of Bute, and Gourock -ferry terminal for Dunoon. We then travelled back across the country via the Forth and Tay Bridges, Arbroath, Stonehaven and Inverness to take a journey on the Far North Lines to Wick & Thurso and the route to Kyle of Lochalsh. At Clatchnaharry, we saw the swing bridge over the Caledonian Canal in action. We then returned to Glasgow Queen Street via the Highland main line, before exploring the West Highland and Oban Lines from the 1980s to the present day, with Classes 20, 37, 156 and K1 no. 62005 on the ‘Jacobite’. At Banavie we saw another swing bridge, this time where the Mallaig Extension crosses over the western end of the Caledonian Canal. We then returned to England by way of Crawford, Shap, Acton Bridge and Docker, before arriving at Birmingham Airport via the now closed Maglev.
For Part 2 of the presentation, we flew to Geneva and took the train to Montreux. Here there were photos of the SBB and MOB stations and of SBB main line trains running along the banks of Lake Geneva, with the picturesque Chillon Castle in the background. We then boarded the Glion Railway, with some spectacular views of Lake Geneva from the summit. The next destination was Zermatt for a ride on the Gornergrat Railway up to its summit at 3,089 metres (10,135 feet) and the Matterhorn in the background. We then covered the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn with views at Andermatt, before spending some time on the Rhätische Bahn Albula line with some great angles of RhB trains, both loco hauled (mainly Ge4/4 class) and the newer ABe 8/12 Allegra units on the World Heritage-listed Landwasser Viaduct. We finished with some photos of the RhB street running sections and the Brusio Spiral Viaduct on the Bernina route near the Italian border.
After the break, we returned to steam specials in the West Country and a reminder of how mainline steam started again in this area, with the GW150 celebrations. We saw steam railtours at many locations in Devon and Cornwall, Somerset and on the Waterloo-Exeter route. Personal favourites included: 6024 double heading with a Britannia along the sea wall at Dawlish in heavy seas; Princess Elizabeth crossing Coldrennick Viaduct, taken from Blackadon Farm; 5043 closely followed by D1015 at Hemerdon; and the photos taken whilst chasing a tour with City of Truro.
Special events over the years were covered, including the 1980 Newton Abbot Rail Fair; the visits of 9466 and the steam rail motor to the Looe Branch; the Dawlish Donkeys; and the specials run for the Exeter Railfest in 1994, including 80098 on the Barnstaple branch.
Heritage Lines were not forgotten and there was coverage of the Bodmin & Wenford, South Devon, Torbay & Dartmouth and West Somerset Railways. Some of the local miniature railways were also covered: Buckfastleigh, Pecorama, and reminders of Dobwalls and Central Park: both now gone.
All told a very varied and interesting evening and I for one, hope that Barry can be persuaded to give another talk in the near future.
Stuart Hammond
Monday 4th December 2017
Devon, Cornwall and beyond in sound and cine by Barry Stirman
We commenced our video journey with footage from the visit to the Looe Branch of GWR pannier tank no. 9466 and English Electric Type 3 no. 37685, with 37685 leading 9466 into Plymouth Station on the “Tamar Valley Syphon” Railtour on the 19th September 2010. We next saw the train arriving at Liskeard, setting back across the connecting line to the Looe Branch and into the bay platform. We took a trip down the Looe Branch with views from both the train and trackside at Coombe Junction, multiple run pasts at the delightful Terras Crossing, and along the banks of the estuary to Looe station itself. We then followed the return “Royal Albert” tour from Liskeard, seeing it cross Coombe-by-Saltash viaduct and viewed the crossing of the Royal Albert Bridge from on board the train. We finished with some very atmospheric footage taken after dark at Plymouth Station.
The next video showcased some notable recent railtours to Devon. Highlights included no. 70000 Britannia passing the sea wall at Dawlish with “The Torbay Express” on a very rough day (with the waves breaking over the train), and the visit in 2015 of a GWR branded HST set to the South Devon Railway on the “First Devon & Exeter Explorer” railtour.
After the tea break, there was a total change of scene as we moved to Bulgaria on board the “Bulgarian Mountain Steam Express” railtour, which ran in September 2011. The train engine for the first leg was a Krupp built 4-6-2 no. 05-01, which was coupled to three coaches and a novel Bulgarian solution to the steam locomotive water supply problem –a bogie water tank wagon! Also on the first day, the tour stopped at Septemvri for a trip along the 760mm gauge line to Dobrinishte through the gorge of the river Chepinska, behind 2-10-2T no. 609-76. The horse tied up in the 6’ way at Dolene station was typical of the scenes of everyday life that abounded the railway interest throughout the video, including the somewhat comical sight of an elderly lady struggling to control a cow that had been startled by the train at Avramovo! Returning to the standard gauge network and 05-01 had been joined by a 2-8-2, no. 01-23. The action moved to Lake Studen Kladenetz with some run pasts with superb view of the trains running through the rugged landscape high above the lake. Travelling via Velico Tarnovo and Polski Trambesh (now behind Henschel 4-8-2 no. 03-12) we passed ex-UK 87010 working a freight, before finishing the tour in Hitrino.
The final video was a brief look at the Churnet Valley Railway on the 22nd July 2012. We started at Cheddington with N7 class 0-6-2T no. 69621, with views from the train of the stop at Consall station and arrival at Kingsley & Froghall.
Another varied and interesting video presentation, for which we again thank Mr Barry Stirman.
Stuart Hammond.
We commenced our video journey with footage from the visit to the Looe Branch of GWR pannier tank no. 9466 and English Electric Type 3 no. 37685, with 37685 leading 9466 into Plymouth Station on the “Tamar Valley Syphon” Railtour on the 19th September 2010. We next saw the train arriving at Liskeard, setting back across the connecting line to the Looe Branch and into the bay platform. We took a trip down the Looe Branch with views from both the train and trackside at Coombe Junction, multiple run pasts at the delightful Terras Crossing, and along the banks of the estuary to Looe station itself. We then followed the return “Royal Albert” tour from Liskeard, seeing it cross Coombe-by-Saltash viaduct and viewed the crossing of the Royal Albert Bridge from on board the train. We finished with some very atmospheric footage taken after dark at Plymouth Station.
The next video showcased some notable recent railtours to Devon. Highlights included no. 70000 Britannia passing the sea wall at Dawlish with “The Torbay Express” on a very rough day (with the waves breaking over the train), and the visit in 2015 of a GWR branded HST set to the South Devon Railway on the “First Devon & Exeter Explorer” railtour.
After the tea break, there was a total change of scene as we moved to Bulgaria on board the “Bulgarian Mountain Steam Express” railtour, which ran in September 2011. The train engine for the first leg was a Krupp built 4-6-2 no. 05-01, which was coupled to three coaches and a novel Bulgarian solution to the steam locomotive water supply problem –a bogie water tank wagon! Also on the first day, the tour stopped at Septemvri for a trip along the 760mm gauge line to Dobrinishte through the gorge of the river Chepinska, behind 2-10-2T no. 609-76. The horse tied up in the 6’ way at Dolene station was typical of the scenes of everyday life that abounded the railway interest throughout the video, including the somewhat comical sight of an elderly lady struggling to control a cow that had been startled by the train at Avramovo! Returning to the standard gauge network and 05-01 had been joined by a 2-8-2, no. 01-23. The action moved to Lake Studen Kladenetz with some run pasts with superb view of the trains running through the rugged landscape high above the lake. Travelling via Velico Tarnovo and Polski Trambesh (now behind Henschel 4-8-2 no. 03-12) we passed ex-UK 87010 working a freight, before finishing the tour in Hitrino.
The final video was a brief look at the Churnet Valley Railway on the 22nd July 2012. We started at Cheddington with N7 class 0-6-2T no. 69621, with views from the train of the stop at Consall station and arrival at Kingsley & Froghall.
Another varied and interesting video presentation, for which we again thank Mr Barry Stirman.
Stuart Hammond.
Monday 18th December 2017
The Mills Railway Year 2017 by Bernard Mills
And so the Plymouth Railway Circle 2017 meetings program reached its conclusion with the traditional and very popular “Mills Railway Year 2017”, which is now in its 53rd year! The show actually started with material that fell after the cut-off for “The Mills Railway Year 2016”. We visited the Plym Valley Railway, with “Merlin” on Santa Special duties before jumping to post-Christmas and New Year action with newly released Standard 4MT 75014 in beautiful winter light on the Torbay Steam Railway, 4612 on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway and a lovely view of 6435 departing a frosty Staverton station (South Devon Railway). Other highlights of the winter were 33 035 top & tailing with “Peak” 45 060 “Sherwood Forester” during the Dartmoor Railway’s “Sulzer Diesel Gala”; the South Devon Railway’s Winter Steam Gala featured 5542 from Bodmin and the NRM’s Beattie Well Tank 30587, which included photos of 30587 and 1369 taken on a night shoot at Buckfastleigh –recreating the final years of Wadebridge.
Spring saw the Swanage Railway’s “Strictly Bulleid Gala”, featuring what is believed to be the largest line-up of Bulleid Pacifics operating together since the end of Southern steam in 1967. Present for the gala were: 34046 “Braunton” (as 34052 “Lord Dowding”); 34092 “City of Wells”; 34053 “Sir Keith Park”; 34081 “92 Squadron” and 34070 “Manston”, which also saw running on part of the new extension towards Wareham. It was noted that some of the headboards such as the “Man of Kent”, were perhaps a little out of place for a Dorset branch line! Mainline action saw the early-April visit of the bright yellow “New Measurement Train” HST set, which was seen crossing St. Germans and Lynher Viaducts and later passing the small harbour at Cockwood.
9th April was the 60th birthday of well known local railway photographer & author Colin Marsden and a special train was hired on the South Devon Railway to celebrate, hauled by Class 37 6975. May featured the VSOE, with 67022 & 67006 hauling a full set of Pullmans, which was seen at Newton Abbot. Moving to Dainton on the 6th May, we saw 34052 “Lord Dowding” & 46100 “Royal Scot” climbing toward the tunnel with “The Great Britain X”, and later on Keyham viaduct seen from the Stoke blockhouse. The return journey was seen at Hemerdon and at Silverton. Later in the month we saw 60163 “Tornado” at Liskeard Viaduct. The main event of May was of course the 70th Birthday of Bernard Mills! Many of the PRC membership will remember this day well, with the charter on the South Devon, comprised of 5542 hauling two auto coaches and many photo stops along the way (as well as refreshments at Staverton). Nice photographic memories of a great evening out and our thanks to the South Devon Railway, and all the others who made it possible.
In June, 60163 “Tornado” spent a week working on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway and we were treated to a number of views at some of the line’s classic locations, with some nice low-angle shots of the train passing Charlie’s Gate, banked by the BWR’s 0-6-0PT No. 4612. June brings the longest days and these were used to full effect with some great shots of 57 605 hauling 2C51 1750 Exeter St. Davids-Penzance across Moorswater viaduct, which (along with the corresponding up working) was one of the enthusiasts’ favourite trains of the summer timetable. The same evening also saw 66056 working a down engineer’s train across the viaduct, the north side of which is only lit in high summer. The month’s fine weather allowed plenty more photos of the loco-hauled locals and freight action in Cornwall, including 70817 at Largin and at Saltash on the cement and 66020 & 66025 on clay trains at Lavrean and Bolitho. Also of particular interest was the visit of the “Intercity Express” units 800 003 & 800 004 on test, which were seen at Saltash. Photos of the PRC’s visit to Buckfastleigh completed a busy month of photos.
July saw two away trips: the first was back to the Swanage Railway for some photos of their new Wareham shuttle (top & tailed by Class 33s), as well as BR standard tank 80146 on the regular Norden-Swanage services. The second multi-day trip was to LNER territory, with stops at Ashchurch for 66094 on a steel working and Cossington for a very successful few hours that saw no less than seven freights: most unusual even for that location in this day and age. The following day saw action from Heck Ings level crossing near where the Knottingley-Goole line passes beneath the East Coast Main Line. Here could be seen freight coming from Goole docks and the nearby Drax power station, including the new biomass trains for the plant, as well as the passenger and freight workings on the ECML. Moving to the Barnetby area, we saw Class 66s from four of the five main freight operators (DRS being the exception) hauling coal, iron ore and biomass trains, with a few Class 60 hauled oil trains thrown in for good measure. The next day was a trip to Lincoln for some “then & now” shots around Central and at the now demolished St. Marks station. There were gasps of surprise from the audience, as diverted Deltics and HSTs passing over the diamond crossings became DMUs and Class 66s running on plain track, surrounded by the inevitable “jungle”! The final day of the trip saw the return journey to Devon, via Hatton bank for Chiltern Class 68 hauled services. Then to Evesham for HSTs and (now gone from the route) Class 180 DMUs, with comparisons of earlier photos taken before the track remodelling and resignalling associated with the Cotswold redoubling scheme. Also seen this month were more shots of the “Saturday loco-hauled” (along with various other HST and Sprinter worked services) and steam tours, mainly worked by 46100 “Royal Scot” and 63163 “Tornado”.
In August 46100 “Royal Scot” again working into Cornwall, with a great shot of the locomotive being turned on St. Blazey, and later running into Liskeard in golden post-rainstorm light. There was also more action from the “Saturday loco-hauled” (rumoured to be running again in summer 2018), celebrity HST power cars (43 002 in original BR Blue & Yellow and 43 185 in Intercity Swallow), as well as the Virgin East Coast liveried set that made it to the Westcountry as cover for a failed Cross Country HST.
Autumn began with a photo charter on the East Somerset Railway featuring Ivatt 2MT tanks 41312 and 41313, along with “then & now” shots of Wells. Other highlights included: a visit to the Launceston Steam Railway; L92 at Dartington Hall, Judy working on the Plym Valley Railway –along with shots of the new
pagoda at Plym Bridge. On the main line another visit of the NMT HST and the start of the “Rail Head Treatment Train” season, with 66 074 and 66 027 top & tailing the water cannon to clear the fallen leaves from the line. The season closed out with the South Devon’s Autumn Diesel Gala, which featured the first ever visit of a Class 17 “Clayton” D8568 to the line (based on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway), as well as BR rail blue liveried 08 644 from Plymouth Laira T&RSMD. Back on the main line, we saw the first ever runs to Devon of the new Hitachi Class 802 “Intercity Express” (802 002), which will soon become an everyday sight in the Westcountry as they take over from the venerable HSTs.
I think that the membership will join me in thanking Bernard for another great photographic review of an interesting year on the railway and look forward to see what 2018 will bring.
Members may be interested that Bernard's historic images can be purchased as downloads or prints via the Classic Traction Images website at www.classictractionimages.weebly.com
Stuart Hammond
Spring saw the Swanage Railway’s “Strictly Bulleid Gala”, featuring what is believed to be the largest line-up of Bulleid Pacifics operating together since the end of Southern steam in 1967. Present for the gala were: 34046 “Braunton” (as 34052 “Lord Dowding”); 34092 “City of Wells”; 34053 “Sir Keith Park”; 34081 “92 Squadron” and 34070 “Manston”, which also saw running on part of the new extension towards Wareham. It was noted that some of the headboards such as the “Man of Kent”, were perhaps a little out of place for a Dorset branch line! Mainline action saw the early-April visit of the bright yellow “New Measurement Train” HST set, which was seen crossing St. Germans and Lynher Viaducts and later passing the small harbour at Cockwood.
9th April was the 60th birthday of well known local railway photographer & author Colin Marsden and a special train was hired on the South Devon Railway to celebrate, hauled by Class 37 6975. May featured the VSOE, with 67022 & 67006 hauling a full set of Pullmans, which was seen at Newton Abbot. Moving to Dainton on the 6th May, we saw 34052 “Lord Dowding” & 46100 “Royal Scot” climbing toward the tunnel with “The Great Britain X”, and later on Keyham viaduct seen from the Stoke blockhouse. The return journey was seen at Hemerdon and at Silverton. Later in the month we saw 60163 “Tornado” at Liskeard Viaduct. The main event of May was of course the 70th Birthday of Bernard Mills! Many of the PRC membership will remember this day well, with the charter on the South Devon, comprised of 5542 hauling two auto coaches and many photo stops along the way (as well as refreshments at Staverton). Nice photographic memories of a great evening out and our thanks to the South Devon Railway, and all the others who made it possible.
In June, 60163 “Tornado” spent a week working on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway and we were treated to a number of views at some of the line’s classic locations, with some nice low-angle shots of the train passing Charlie’s Gate, banked by the BWR’s 0-6-0PT No. 4612. June brings the longest days and these were used to full effect with some great shots of 57 605 hauling 2C51 1750 Exeter St. Davids-Penzance across Moorswater viaduct, which (along with the corresponding up working) was one of the enthusiasts’ favourite trains of the summer timetable. The same evening also saw 66056 working a down engineer’s train across the viaduct, the north side of which is only lit in high summer. The month’s fine weather allowed plenty more photos of the loco-hauled locals and freight action in Cornwall, including 70817 at Largin and at Saltash on the cement and 66020 & 66025 on clay trains at Lavrean and Bolitho. Also of particular interest was the visit of the “Intercity Express” units 800 003 & 800 004 on test, which were seen at Saltash. Photos of the PRC’s visit to Buckfastleigh completed a busy month of photos.
July saw two away trips: the first was back to the Swanage Railway for some photos of their new Wareham shuttle (top & tailed by Class 33s), as well as BR standard tank 80146 on the regular Norden-Swanage services. The second multi-day trip was to LNER territory, with stops at Ashchurch for 66094 on a steel working and Cossington for a very successful few hours that saw no less than seven freights: most unusual even for that location in this day and age. The following day saw action from Heck Ings level crossing near where the Knottingley-Goole line passes beneath the East Coast Main Line. Here could be seen freight coming from Goole docks and the nearby Drax power station, including the new biomass trains for the plant, as well as the passenger and freight workings on the ECML. Moving to the Barnetby area, we saw Class 66s from four of the five main freight operators (DRS being the exception) hauling coal, iron ore and biomass trains, with a few Class 60 hauled oil trains thrown in for good measure. The next day was a trip to Lincoln for some “then & now” shots around Central and at the now demolished St. Marks station. There were gasps of surprise from the audience, as diverted Deltics and HSTs passing over the diamond crossings became DMUs and Class 66s running on plain track, surrounded by the inevitable “jungle”! The final day of the trip saw the return journey to Devon, via Hatton bank for Chiltern Class 68 hauled services. Then to Evesham for HSTs and (now gone from the route) Class 180 DMUs, with comparisons of earlier photos taken before the track remodelling and resignalling associated with the Cotswold redoubling scheme. Also seen this month were more shots of the “Saturday loco-hauled” (along with various other HST and Sprinter worked services) and steam tours, mainly worked by 46100 “Royal Scot” and 63163 “Tornado”.
In August 46100 “Royal Scot” again working into Cornwall, with a great shot of the locomotive being turned on St. Blazey, and later running into Liskeard in golden post-rainstorm light. There was also more action from the “Saturday loco-hauled” (rumoured to be running again in summer 2018), celebrity HST power cars (43 002 in original BR Blue & Yellow and 43 185 in Intercity Swallow), as well as the Virgin East Coast liveried set that made it to the Westcountry as cover for a failed Cross Country HST.
Autumn began with a photo charter on the East Somerset Railway featuring Ivatt 2MT tanks 41312 and 41313, along with “then & now” shots of Wells. Other highlights included: a visit to the Launceston Steam Railway; L92 at Dartington Hall, Judy working on the Plym Valley Railway –along with shots of the new
pagoda at Plym Bridge. On the main line another visit of the NMT HST and the start of the “Rail Head Treatment Train” season, with 66 074 and 66 027 top & tailing the water cannon to clear the fallen leaves from the line. The season closed out with the South Devon’s Autumn Diesel Gala, which featured the first ever visit of a Class 17 “Clayton” D8568 to the line (based on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway), as well as BR rail blue liveried 08 644 from Plymouth Laira T&RSMD. Back on the main line, we saw the first ever runs to Devon of the new Hitachi Class 802 “Intercity Express” (802 002), which will soon become an everyday sight in the Westcountry as they take over from the venerable HSTs.
I think that the membership will join me in thanking Bernard for another great photographic review of an interesting year on the railway and look forward to see what 2018 will bring.
Members may be interested that Bernard's historic images can be purchased as downloads or prints via the Classic Traction Images website at www.classictractionimages.weebly.com
Stuart Hammond