Bodmin & Wenford Railway - 2011

A few current news items which I hope will be of interest:

1. The BWR celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year....

2. Steam train services will be running this coming week on Tuesday (22) and Wednesday (23). Departures from Bodmin General at 10.50, 11.50, 13.50 & 14.50, with all trains operating to/from Boscarne Junction. The rostered loco is GWR 0-6-0PT No 6435.

3. The Bodmin Parkway branch remains closed to all traffic south of Colesloggett Halt as a result of the flood damage incurred after a short period of very heavy rain one night last November. Following agreement with the Railway's insurers, a specialist contractor has just been appointed to undertake the necessary repair works. Work is due to start on Monday 28 February with the line expected to re-open to traffic by the end of March.

4. Beattie well tank 30587 will be visiting the Isle of Wight Steam Railway on 28-30 May for a special gala weekend to help celebrate their 40th anniversary.

5. The signalling project at Bodmin General is nearing completion and expected to be commissioned by the end of March. All train movements will be under the control of the Signalman at BG, and the signalling will enable the Railway to operate two trains at the same time when required - i.e. one on the Parkway branch and the other on the Boscarne branch. The signalbox was originally closed by BR on 14 Dec 1967!

6. Also nearing completion is the overhaul the BR-built auto trailer No 232.

Exciting times ahead....

 

Sounds good. Its a great branch, with some interesting climbing from Parkway. I hope one day it will make it back to Wadebridge......

 

An update to my earlier posting dated 20 Feb 11:

1. The appointed rail civil engineering contractor (K.G.J. Price Ltd of Bedwas, South Wales) has now completed the repairs to the part of line near Bodmin Parkway affected by flood damage on time. They expect to hand the line back to the railway on Saturday 26 March. The BWR is delighted to announce that the whole 6.5 branch line will be reopened to traffic w.e.f. Friday 01 April - this is great news for the railway.

2. So far as the signalling at Bodmin General is concerned, all the signals, points and locks etc have now been connected to the signalbox and tested. The lever frame has been thoroughly tested by an independent competent person and certificated accordingly. The 'signalbox' is currently being operated as a ground frame until such time as the necessary final testing, commisioning and certification is carried out (again by an ICP). This has been booked to take place in mid-April (the earliest time the person was available, which means that, regrettably, the signalling will not be in full use at the Spring Steam Spectacular on 8-11 April as originally hoped. Nevertheless, it will be great to see the signalling back in use.......the first time for 44 years!

 

any more technical details,pics etc on the signalling boss?

well done to you all,will be nice to see a junction box working on a heritage line again in the true sense of the word

 

The Railway's website does have a page with some general information on the signalling project and a few pictures http://news.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk/Signal News/signallingnews.htm

 

More good news from the B&W.... Following final testing, commissioning and certification this last week, the Bodmin General signalling will be going 'live' w.e.f. 00:01hrs on Monday 18 April. This is a fantastic achievement to all those who have worked so hard and put in long hours over the last few months. The Railway will now be able to operate two trains, one on each 'branch', at the same time. The signalbox was closed by BR in December 1967!

 

The Railway had a very busy week last week.....in more ways than one! After a very successful Steaming Thru' the 40s event over the first May Bank Holiday weekend, the BWR then had a formal inspection from the Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions (CATA), of which the BWR is a member, on Tuesday 3 May, followed by the following day by a Royal visit from The Princess Alexandra KG GCVO. Both the team of inspectors and The Princess commented very favourably on the railway and, in particular, the appearance and friendliness of its staff. One of the team of CATA inspectors was Malcolm Bell, Head of VisitCornwall (and former Head of SW Tourism), who commented that "the railway is very well run and a real asset for Cornish Tourism."

 

GWR '4575' Class 2-6-2T No 5521 arrived on the BWR last week, and will be based on the line until at least early September. The loco is now in service on the line. The low loader that brought No 5521 in took GWR 0-6-0PT No 4612 to The Flour Mill, where it is to receive its 10-year overhaul. The boiler overhaul of No 4247 continues at the Flour Mill, whilst a start has been made on retubing Beattie well tank No 30587 at Bodmin. The regular steam fleet for the summer comprises Nos 5521, 5552, 6435 & 30120.