Route Availability of GWR Steam Engines and Associated Matters

[whole diary]

[smokey]

A BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) civil engineer (now long retired) who worked on OTP  told me (around 1990) that years ago a King DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) work into Cornwall BEFORE the RAB was strengthened!!!

Guess the Loco Crew were award a BR FORM 1 (please explain) for there efforts.

I wonder how it got back to Devon, I often wonder if it was worked to Bodmin Road reverse, Bodmin General reverse,  Wadebridge Reverse and then along the North Cornwall line to Okehampton and on to Exeter or Plymouth.

NB:  OTP  On Track Plant, Tampers, Cranes etc

[trainbuff]

I would doubt it would come back via North Cornwall Railway (NCR).

Light West Country/Battle of Britain Pacifics were allowed on the NCR but once rebuilt were banned as too heavy. In fact, in rebuilt form, they were only allowed over Meldon Viaduct after it was strengthened in Summer 1961 I believe.

Of course it would have to travel back by rail in any case. Often when heavier trains than normal travel over a line a speed restriction is imposed on them. I would suspect that maybe the loco travelled 'light engine' with a restriction of 5mph over the RAB.

Perhaps someone with more knowledge, or a member of the Cornwall Railway Society would have more information for us?

[Andy]

I would doubt it would come back via North Cornwall Railway (NCR).

Light West Country/Battle of Britain Pacifics were allowed on the NCR but once rebuilt were banned as too heavy. In fact, in rebuilt form, they were only allowed over Meldon Viaduct after it was strengthened in Summer 1961 I believe.

Of course it would have to travel back by rail in any case. Often when heavier trains than normal travel over a line a speed restriction is imposed on them. I would suspect that maybe the loco travelled 'light engine' with a restriction of 5mph over the RAB.

Perhaps someone with more knowledge, or a member of the Cornwall Railway Society would have more information for us?

I expect returned to Devon over the bridge again. If it went back via Bodmin General and Wadenridge, it could have taken the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) branch at Launceston to Lydford and then picked up the Southern Main Line through Tavistock back to Plymouth, thus avoiding Meldon.

[Jamsdad]

I doubt if the Launcston Lydford-Tavistock- Plymouth branch would  have been an option - that was never a Double Red  route, never took more than a 2-6-2 tank.

[martyjon]

A friend living in Falmouth told me the story of its return to Plymouth. The loco was turned at Penance, the fire dropped and towed back to St Blazey. At St. Blazer the engine was split from the tender but the CE Dept would not let the engine to be towed back over the RAB without lightening so the boiler was emptied of water and the coupling rods removed which placated the CE Dept to an extent and a small prairie tank was used to tow the engine from Saltash having  been brought from SB^▸ (Signal Box) by an 28xx.

[trainbuff]

A friend living in Falmouth told me the story of its return to Plymouth. The loco was turned at Penance, the fire dropped and towed back to St Blazey. At St. Blazer the engine was split from the tender but the CE Dept would not let the engine to be towed back over the RAB without lightening so the boiler was emptied of water and the coupling rods removed which placated the CE Dept to an extent and a small prairie tank was used to tow the engine from Saltash having  been brought from SB^▸ (Signal Box) by an 28xx.

Thank you so much. Very informative indeed