September 2026
66766 Dawlish Warren, up, 6M53 12.40 Parkandillack to Cliff Vale. 24 September 2026.
33012 + 31210 Dawlish Warren, down, 0V62 08.10 East Grinstead (Bluebell Railway) to Bodmin (B&WR for gala). 24 September 2026.
221107 Dawlish Warren, down, 1V52 07.03 Edinburgh to Penzance, overtaking 175114 on 5Z46 14.40 Exeter St Davids to Plymouth (mileage accumulation). 24 September 2026.
175114 Dawlish Warren, down, 5Z46 14.40 Exeter St Davids to Plymouth (mileage accumulation). 24 September 2026.
71000 Starcross, down, 1Z72 14.20 Exeter St Davids to Penzance Steam Dreams 'Cornish Riviera'. No. 57302 on rear, rear 3/4 view. 22 September 2026.
Above and Below: 71000 Starcross down, 1Z72 14.20 Exeter St Davids to Penzance Steam Dreams 'Cornish Riviera'. 57302 on rear. 22 September 2026.
57312 Dawlish, up GW Sleeper stock, 5Z50 09.22 Penzance to Reading depot (off 20/09 Pz-Padd sleeper, replaced by IET due to staff issues). 21 September 2026.
800307 Dawlish, up, 1A81 10.55 Paignton - Paddington, passing 802004 + 802006 on 1C74 09.03 Paddington - Plymouth (started Reading). 21 September 2026.
66706 / Britannic / 66744 Dawlish Kennaway, up 1Z06 09.40 Lostwithiel Down Loop to Bruton via Carne Point. 20 September 2026.
47812 + 3334, 3336, 1961, 3386, 3417, 3278, 1200, 6176, 6067, 9507 + 47802 down Totnes, 1Z19 06.25 Crewe tp Fowey, Carne Point ‘The Cornish Branchliner’. 19 September 2026.
66706 + 66744 Totnes, down, 1C02 09.00 Bishops Lydeard to Penzance via Taunton (Britannic). 19 September 2026.
43059 + 44078, 41187, 40804, 41166, 41160 + 43050 Totnes, up, 1Z41 07.55 Penzance to Oxford ‘Dreaming Spires Pullman’. 19 September 2026.
Below and Above: 57313 + 3174, 3273, 1953, 3267, 3247, 3275, 3313, 325, 17167, 10729, 10734 + 57601 Dawlish, down, 1Z27 10.35 Cardiff Central to Par 'Cornish Lunch via Dawlish', 17 September 2026.
43059 + 44078, 41187, 40804, 41166, 41160 + 43050 Cockwood Harbour, up 5Z38 15.26 Goodrington Sidings to Crewe (after weekend Exeter-Inverness charter over weekend). 15 September 2026.
Above & Below: 153384 Dawlish, down, 2Q26 11.35 Haverfordwest to Bristol Kingsland Road, via Goodrington Carriage Sidings. 14 September 2026.
Below & Above: 66748 / Britannic / 66744 Dawlish Kennaway, up 1Z06 13.03 Fowey to Bruton (Britannic Explorer). 13 September 2026.
43050 + 41160, 41166, 40804, 41187, 44078 + 43059 Dawlish Warren, down 3Z31 08.50 Crewe HS to Goodrington CS (for Inverness charter on 12/09). 11 September 2026.
803003 Doncaster, 1S93 10.15 Kings Cross - Edinburgh Waverley, 9 September 2026.
803005 Doncaster, up, 1E82 08.26 Edinburgh - Kings Cross. 9 September 2026.
185114 depart Doncaster, 1B73 09.36 Cleethorpes - Liverpool Lime Street, passing 801218 on 1S09 09.03 Kings Cross - Edinburgh Waverley. 9 September 2026.
801216 Doncaster, 1E06 08.00 Edinburgh Waverley - Kings Cross. 9 September 2026.
91130 + NL 13 (82213) arrive Doncaster, 1D06 08.10 Kings Cross - Leeds. 9 September 2026.
91111 + NL08 arrive Doncaster, 1D05 07.39 Kings Cross - Bradford Forster Square. 9 September 2026.
802301 Doncaster, 1H01 07.18 Kings Cross - Hull. 9 September 2026.
803004 Doncaster, up, 1E80 06.26 Edinburgh Waverley - Kings Cross. 9 September 2026.
69004 Doncaster, 0D75 08.43 Scunthorpe Trent - Doncaster Up Decoy, light. 9 September 2026.
185144 + 185121 depart Doncaster, 1B69 07.26 Cleethorpes - Liverpool Lime Street. 9 September 2026.
Site of closed Wabtec Works, Doncaster, with 08724 (right), 08669 (left). 9 September 2026.
DC Rail Class 60 No. 60022 Ingleborough was unveiled in Midland Railway crimson lake livery at Derby on 8 September 2026, to mark its return to traffic after a number of years out of traffic. Restoration work and repaint was undertaken by Boden Rail at Rectory Junction, Colwick, Nottinghamshire.
The Mayor of Derby, Jonathan Smale and David fletcher, Rail Director of Cappagh Rail, the parent company of DC Rail.
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The Mayor of Derby, Jonathan Smale and David fletcher, Rail Director of Cappagh Rail, the parent company of DC Rail.
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66778 Stenson Junction, 6M05 10.51 Tinsley - Coton Hill. 8 September 2026.
66771 Stenson Junction, 4E36 05.24 Southampton Western Dock - Masborough. 8 September 2026.
43423 + 96603 Oliver + 96605 Ernest + 43467 pass Stenson Junction, 3Z22 09.44 Kings Norton - Derby Litchurch Lane (for Voyager move). 8 September 2026.
70003 Stenson Junction, 6G65 09.21 Hope - Walsall. 8 September 2026.
70004 Stenson Junction, 6Z45 10.12 Washwood Heath - Tunstead. 8 September 2026.
220007 Stenson Junction, 1E85 07.55 Southampton Central - Newcastle. 8 September 2026.
170116 + 170117 approach Stenson Junction, 1D57 10.09 Birmingham New Street - Nottingham. 8 September 2026.
4498 Dawlish, down, 1Z07 06.35 Poole - Kingswear 'English Riviera Express', 57302 on rear. 5 September 2026.
220019 + 220020 Dawlish, down, 1V44 06.11 Leeds - Plymouth. 5 September 2026.
175006 Dawlish, down, 2C32 15.28 Exeter St Davids - Penzance. 3 September 2026.
66718 Dawlish, 6M53 11.46 Parkandillack - Cliffe Vale (50min late). 3 September 2026.
Above & Below: 150221 arrives and departs from Okehampton Interchange station, 2R60 16.23 Okehampton - Exeter Central. 1 September 2026.
Launceston Steam Railway
A visit was made to the Launceston Steam Railway on 1 September 2026, I line I had not visited since July 1991. A wonderful little line owned by two of the most dedicated enthusiasts i've even met, Nigel and Kay Bowman. On this years visit with Keith Ewins, a trip to mark his birthday, Nigel soon got into conversation and took us around the entire old L&SWR (SR) Launceston site, to see all the locos and vehicles preserved and under restoration. We were then given the pleasure of a cab ride on Lilian driven by Kay, and a ride on works trolley The Dilly. A very interesting lie and well worth a visit.
Dorothea. 0-4-0ST built by Hunslet as works number 763 in 1901.
Built for use at Dorothea Slate Quarry in North Wales, it was fitted with a fully enclosed cab and worked until the early 1940s after which it was dumped. The loco was rescued in 1970. In 1975 Dorothea was moved to Cornwall and 'stored' in the car park of the Launceston Steam Railway. It was eventually sold to Nigel and Kay Bowman in 1989. Kay was the driving force behind the locos restoration which took over 25 years, running in 2001 with the borrowed boiler from Covertcoat. It was fully restored in late 2011. Dorothea returned to passenger use in 2012. It is seen inside the shed.
Built for use at Dorothea Slate Quarry in North Wales, it was fitted with a fully enclosed cab and worked until the early 1940s after which it was dumped. The loco was rescued in 1970. In 1975 Dorothea was moved to Cornwall and 'stored' in the car park of the Launceston Steam Railway. It was eventually sold to Nigel and Kay Bowman in 1989. Kay was the driving force behind the locos restoration which took over 25 years, running in 2001 with the borrowed boiler from Covertcoat. It was fully restored in late 2011. Dorothea returned to passenger use in 2012. It is seen inside the shed.
Lilian. 0-4-0ST + T. built by Hunslet as works number 317 in 1883. Penrhyn Port class.
Built for use at Port Penrhyn and Penrhyn Quarries, it was named Lilian after Lilian Douglas-Pennant, daughter of 2nd Baron Penryn of Llandegai. After ending its working life, the loco was out of use and in a dilapidated state by 1960, when it was purchased in 1964 by Nigel Bowman for just £60! He restored the loco at his home in Surrey and eventually purchased the station site in Launcaston, forming the Launceston Steam Railway, which opened on 26 December 1983, this then became the home for Lilian. The loco was heavily rebuilt over the years with a new boiler and in 2008 a tender was added.
Built for use at Port Penrhyn and Penrhyn Quarries, it was named Lilian after Lilian Douglas-Pennant, daughter of 2nd Baron Penryn of Llandegai. After ending its working life, the loco was out of use and in a dilapidated state by 1960, when it was purchased in 1964 by Nigel Bowman for just £60! He restored the loco at his home in Surrey and eventually purchased the station site in Launcaston, forming the Launceston Steam Railway, which opened on 26 December 1983, this then became the home for Lilian. The loco was heavily rebuilt over the years with a new boiler and in 2008 a tender was added.
Covertcoat. 0-4-0ST + T. built by Hunslet as works number 679 in 1898. Dinorwic Port class.
Built for shunting at Port Dinorwic and Dionwic Quarry, the loco was originally named The Second, but in 1913 was renamed Covertcoat after a race horse that won the 1913 Grand National. At the time the quarry was owned by Sir Charles Asheton-Smith, who had a loco naming policy after his horses. The loco operated in the Dionwic area until late 1959 when it fell out of use. In 1964 the loco became privately owned, until being sold to the Launceston Steam Railway in 1984. In 1991 a tender was added.
Built for shunting at Port Dinorwic and Dionwic Quarry, the loco was originally named The Second, but in 1913 was renamed Covertcoat after a race horse that won the 1913 Grand National. At the time the quarry was owned by Sir Charles Asheton-Smith, who had a loco naming policy after his horses. The loco operated in the Dionwic area until late 1959 when it fell out of use. In 1964 the loco became privately owned, until being sold to the Launceston Steam Railway in 1984. In 1991 a tender was added.
The Gherkin. 0-4-4-0 diesel-electric railcar.
This is a home made railcar which started life in 2009, after the line was presented with a pair of ex Post Office Railway vehicles. These provided the line with a pair of wheelsets with 2 axle-hung 200v DC traction motors. This formed the basis for the 'new' railcar, which is now under advanced construction, using a Peugeot XUD 1900cc diesel engine, driving a 50RVA Meccalte alternator, giving a 400v output. The steel chassis, around 36ft in length has been built which is mounted on the wheelsets and drive. Seats have been obtained (ex Blackpool Tramway) and the vehicle is fitted with air brakes. It 'could' provide a service when it would be financially not suitable to operate steam. It is seen under construction in the shed.
This is a home made railcar which started life in 2009, after the line was presented with a pair of ex Post Office Railway vehicles. These provided the line with a pair of wheelsets with 2 axle-hung 200v DC traction motors. This formed the basis for the 'new' railcar, which is now under advanced construction, using a Peugeot XUD 1900cc diesel engine, driving a 50RVA Meccalte alternator, giving a 400v output. The steel chassis, around 36ft in length has been built which is mounted on the wheelsets and drive. Seats have been obtained (ex Blackpool Tramway) and the vehicle is fitted with air brakes. It 'could' provide a service when it would be financially not suitable to operate steam. It is seen under construction in the shed.
The Dilly. 0-4-0 diesel-electric trolley.
Works trolley The Dilly is a home built 0-4-0 used for site maintenance. it was built in 2004 with a Kubota diesel engine, driving a 6KVA 240V alternator, powering a DC traction motor using a roller chain drive. It is based on a 1920s underframe off a carriage from the Lilleshall Abbey Woodland Railway, built by Baguleys. It is seen in the yard with a maintenance trailer behind.
Works trolley The Dilly is a home built 0-4-0 used for site maintenance. it was built in 2004 with a Kubota diesel engine, driving a 6KVA 240V alternator, powering a DC traction motor using a roller chain drive. It is based on a 1920s underframe off a carriage from the Lilleshall Abbey Woodland Railway, built by Baguleys. It is seen in the yard with a maintenance trailer behind.
Various views of Lilian working on the line on 1 September 2026.
