A contrast at Blaenau Ffestiniog

Travelling along the North Wales coast back in June I just had time for a quick trip down the branch line from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Arriva Trains Wales liveried 150257 stands at Blaenau Festiniog, 30/6/14

Recently repainted Arriva Trains Wales 150257 was shuttling up an down the branch, taking an hour to cover the 27 mile journey before pausing for 25 minutes to make a connection with Ffestiniog Railway services.

Ffestiniog Railway 0-4-4-0T Double fairlie DAFYDD LLOYD GEORGE/DAVID LLOYD GEORGE arrives at Blaenau Festiniog, 30/6/14

Double Fairlie 0-4-4-0T DAVID LLOYD GEORGE/DAFYDD LLOYD GEORGE arrived with the 13.35 service from Porthmadog and even in its temporary plain grey livery (having only returned to service following overhaul the previous month) still looked fantastic and had no problems handling a heavily loaded ten coach train.

So which is older? The 1ft 11½in gauge, coal-fired steam locomotive working on the world's oldest narrow gauge railway or the shiny diesel multiple unit that covers hundreds of miles every day on the national network?

That's right, 150257 is older, built by British Rail Engineering Limited, York in 1987 whilst DAVID LLOYD GEORGE/DAFYDD LLOYD GEORGE was built at the Ffestiniog Railway's Boston Lodge Works in 1992.

A South-western Ramble, part 3 - Two Beres please!

Having already travelled over the Royal Albert Bridge linking Devon and Cornwall I decided to travel under it (by rail, not river) with a trip up the 'Tamar Valley Line' to Gunnislake.

The line splits off the West of England main line west of Plymouth at St Budeaux Junction and winds its way up the Tamar estuary to Bere Alston before reversing onto the line to Gunnislake passing over the Calstock Viaduct (and into Cornwall) roughly three miles from Gunnislake station.

150126 at Bere Alston, 6/8/14

I hopped off the train at Bere Alston and snatched a quick photo of 150126 as the guard abandoned his ticket machine on the platform and went off to change the points for the line to Gunnislake completely missing this!

Bere Alston signalbox, 6/8/14

Having swapped sides for the journey back to Plymouth I spotted the signalbox on the now disused island platform as the train pulled back into Bere Alston and I detrained once more to investigate. A London & South Western Railway type 3b box dating from 1890 it was closed in 1970 and is now apparently used by the owner of the former station-master's house… I'm not sure what for but wouldn't it make a superb summer house?

Bere Ferrers is the last station before the line re-enters the Plymouth suburbs and is home to The Tamar Belle, a small railway heritage centre that also offers overnight accommodation in a pair of London & North Eastern Railway carriages! Sadly, a lack of time prevented a visit but I managed to take a photo of a couple of the centre's locomotives before continuing on my way.

Hunslet Engine Co Ltd 0-4-0DM (works no.3133 of 1944) and Peckett & Sons Ltd 0-4-0ST 'Hilda' (works no.1963 of 1938) at the Tamar Belle Railway Heritage Centre, Bere Ferrers, 6/8/14

Information on this pair is sketchy but the diesel is a Hunslet Engine Co Ltd product, an 0-4-0DM and believed to be works no.3133 of 1944, supplied new to the Admiralty's Lodge Hill & Upnor Railway in Kent and subsequently moved to the Admiralty depot at Bullpoint, Plymouth in 1962. The 0-4-0ST was built by Peckett & Sons Ltd in 1938 as works no.1963 and I would welcome any details as to its history.

A South-western Ramble, part 1

31 years after I last stood on Truro station during my first visit to Cornwall on a family holiday I made a return visit a few weeks ago while travelling on a Freedom of Devon & Cornwall (3 in 7 days) Rover ticket.

I'd wanted to travel on the Falmouth branch train (marketed as the 'Maritime Line') that begins its 12 mile journey at Truro and just had time to do so before continuing my journey down to Penzance.

150238 prepares to depart from Truro with the 15.51 FGW service to Falmouth Docks, 4/8/14

I made the return trip to Falmouth Docks on 150238, passing 153373 and 153329 at Penryn travelling in the opposite direction on both the outward and return journeys.

Truro signalbox and GWR/WR lower quadrant signal, 4/8/14

Upon arriving back at Truro I had time to take a few photographs before catching 'The Royal Duchy' for the short hop to Penzance, Truro still being blessed with a traditional Great Western Railway signalbox and semaphore signals not to mention some lovely GWR platform benches (although these are more than likely reproductions), now if only First Great Western would adopt a more traditional GWR-style 'chocolate and cream' paint scheme!