BODMIN & WENFORD RAILWAY - 2012

Happy New Year everyone!

Full details of the Bodmin & Wenford's 2012 operating dates and timetables can be found here - Train Timetable for the Bodmin & Wenford Railway

 

Railmotor visit planned by the looks of it. Very interesting:smile:

John

 

Well, that's a few dates gone into my diary.

 

Trains may not be running again until the February school half term week, but excellent progress is being made on a number of projects at Bodmin General:
- the old goods office at the entrance to the car park is being completely refurbished for future use as a staff mess room;
- the station Refreshment Room is also being refurbished and redecorated in time for the new season;
- the station painting team are very busy!;
- work continues on fitting out the planned new Exhibition Coach (ex-RMB No 1873);
- the boiler from 6435 has been lifted out of the frames and has been de-tubed;
- work continues on the restoration of Austerity 0-6-0ST No 2766;
- very good progress is already evident on the restoration of the GWR 1881 saloon.

Look out for another busy year on the B&W in 2012!

 

Going from strength to strength.

 

Is there any word on the planned extension?

 

No! One of the Railway's immediate priorities at the moment is to secure a longer term (35-year) Lease with Cornwall Council for the existing 6.5 mile branch. Negotiations regarding this have been ongoing for some time.

 

Presumably that's the extension back to Wenfordbridge - as implied by the name)
I heard that the resident who orchestrated all the objections to the railway returning to Wenford has moved on. Did that remove any obstacles or is it all too late now?
On a related tack I visited Wadebridge recently. The tragedy from my perspective is that there is scope for the social railway to return all the way to Padstow but the way through Wadebridge itself is permanently and totally blocked. Is that correct?

 

Yes. The trackbed, Padstow side of the level crossing, is now part of the road and the station side of the crossing is part of a car park for the nearby shops

 

A quick news update....

1. Steam Locomotives: February half term trains worked by No 5521. Available for service, Nos 4247, 30587, 30120. 4612 - ten-year overhaul being undertaken at The Flour Mill. 6435 - ten-year boiler overhaul in progress at Bodmin. Austerity No 2766 - restoration continues.

2. C&W: Excellent progress being made with the restoration of the GW saloon No 248. Second SO from the dining train set being repainted externally in chocolate and cream. LNER matchboard box van undergoing restoration.

3. S&T: The 'new' signalling system at Bodmin General has brought significant benefits. Work now in progress on a number of small enhancements - e.g. the provision of a calling-on arm to the Down Inner Home signal.

4. PW: Track relay using concrete sleepers completed on section just north of Colesloggett Halt. Extensive spot resleepering completed in the loop at Boscarne Junction station and between Bridges 22 & 23 on the Boscarne branch. Falailing of the whole lineside currently in progress.

5. Bodmin General Station: New Exhbition Coach, although not yet finally completed, already proving invaluable (e.g. staff training sessions). New office being created in former waiting room. Station Refreshment Room refurbished over the winter. Former goods office at the entrance to the car park returned to operational use as a staff mess room.

6. New season starts this coming weekend, 10-11 March, with a HALF PRICE WEEKEND. Red timetable in use. All travel at half the standard fares - e.g. Adult Day Rover just £5.75.

 

When will 5521 be leaving/4612 returning?

 

When they want to...

 

As things stand at present....
....5521 will be remaining on the BWR until moved to York for the June Railfest event;
....4612 is expected to return in the second half of 2012 - too early to give a more precise date just yet.

 

The 2-8-0T no. 4247 looked superb in BR black on Saturday. Trains were well supported for the half price offer - the Cornish love a bargain!

 

Agreed! The Half Price Weekend was a great success, with very full 5-coach trains on the Sunday. Welcome back 4247!

 

4247 in sunshine + 3 coaches today
An excellent round trip
Friendly + good snacks at Bodmin + Parkway s/b

Thanks to all volunteers on this lovely railway

 

I gather it's the "Steaming through the 40's" event on the B&WR this weekend. I cannot find, on the web site, either a timetable or a loco roster. Can some kind soul tell me what is running and when, please? I'll be in the district on Saturday, and would love the chance of a ride behind T9. My first ever footplate ride was on this loco, from Ropley to Alresford, on my first day as a trainee signalman in 1983!

 

Glad you enjoyed your visit, Ray. The railway has a great team of staff, and I know your comments will be really appreciated.

 

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, hopefully normal service will now been resumed. A brand new, completely re-designed official BWR website, is also in the course of preparation - please bear with us in the meantime....

So, a few snippets to keep you updated....

1. The next special event will be the 'Bodmin Branch 125' Anniversary Gala this coming weekend (25-27 May), which will feature a strong locomotive line-up including the visit of Swanage-based BR Standard 2-6-4T No 80104. There will be an intensive timetable of trains on all three days, with a Locomotive Cavalcade at Bodmin General during part of the afternoon on the Saturday only. Locos expected to feature at some stage during the event will be Nos 4247, 5552, 30587, 30120, 80104 and the pair of Port of Par Bagnall saddle tanks.

2. GWR 2-6-2T No 5521 is expected to depart shortly after a very successful stay on the line (with thanks to its owner), initially to attend the Railfest event at the NRM in York.

3. Work continues on the 10-year overhaul of the line's two GWR pannier tanks. No 6435 is being done at Bodmin, and is expected to return to service in July. Meanwhile, No 4612 is being overhauled at the Flour Mill - the work is more extensive, including the fitting of new tyres and repairs to the cylinder block, but it is still hoped the loco will be back in steam during October.

4. The 2012 season has started well, with both passenger numbers and takings a little ahead of last year.

5. 4247 has returned to the line and is now back in action, having had to be withdrawn from service on the third day of the recent K&ESR Gala.

6. Excellent progress is being made with the restoration of the 1881-built GW saloon - this coach is a real gem!

 

I'd just like to say that I had an excellent day at Bodmin yesterday. 33110 was on top form. Everyone on the railway was friendly and helpful as usual. Dragging the DMU instead of the mark 1s did make for less noise from the loco but I did get some different pictures which is always nice. It didn't help me personally but running the ECS down to Parkway as a passenger train for people off the Penzance 37 and deltic tours was a nice touch. Bodmin is a long way and a long journey but I really enjoyed my annual visit for 33110.
JP
PS I hope you found something to do with all the pasties left after the armed forces day charter.