I think my point is that the poor person catching that train - assuming a regular - was *only* catching it because they *had* to - presumably unable to alter their start time - coz you would, wouldn't you if you could.

So they are entitled to a massive amount of notice I feel, rather than the normal few weeks. Like a year or thereabouts, in order that a property move to somewhere more suitable (Liskeard?) with continued links might be easily organised.

 

I am - totally - in agreement with that and all you say, Richard; my comment you picked up on was in answer to a question asked.

We lost out 05:33 at Melksham to Swindon which was also a quiet train and did not fight it nor suggest alternative provision ... first train is now 07:21.  Loss of the earliest or latest journey opportunities is a serious matter reflected also on the passengers onward, return and inward journeys and whilst you do not have to have every individual service making stand alone economic sense (a mistake made in the Beeching era?), you do need to reconsider services that are a severe drain on the viability of the line and sometimes make these decisions / acceptances.

 

This obviously is a very different kettle of fish.  The new first train will simply be one hour later.  Hopefully anyone inconvenienced by this (and I'm sorry if they are) will be able to negotiate a later start time with their employers if necessary.  Despite what "Plymothian" says, I don't believe there is a very regular passenger. 

The hard truth is that running a train for just one person is simply untenable and since the new time is just an hour later, it's also untenable thinking about a taxi or anything else.   As we all know, the Looe line is heavily subsidised and we have to get a bit real about transport economics here. 

The changes will generally be an improvement and I believe will attract more passengers to the line.  The Looe line's main traffic is daytrippers and tourists.  Looe itself is a small place - just 5,000 or so population, about half of whom are of retirement age - and the main line at Liskeard is just 8 or so miles away.  Anything we can do to get more locals on the train year-round is clearly a good thing, year-round daytrippers and tourists too.  We at the Partnership do a lot of promotion of the line, particularly online e.g. via targeted paid adverts on Facebook - you can see examples on our page here  https://www.facebook.com/greatscenicrailways  We're planning significant promotion of the May timetable which will, as well as all the online stuff, include leaflets delivered to households in Looe and the surrounding area by the Royal Mail.

One more thing to consider - in the next few years, some quite serious investment in the Looe line will be needed.  As things look now, battery trains will need either a West Ealing style charging set up or even overhead being installed in Platform 3 at Liskeard.  The more the railway, we at the Partnership and others can do to help increase year-round usage of the line, the easier that funding decision becomes.  I don't think for a moment we might be looking at closure of the line but making sure trains, particularly at either ends of the day when they are most expensive to run, are decently used will be key, I'm sure.

 
If they did provide a taxi and three other customers heard about and paid the rail fare GWR might even make a profit.

 

When trains were withdrawn from the Sinfin branch, taxis were provided for the regulars for a number of years until official closure procedures had been completed.

 

Indeed they should.

Out of interest, has that ever happened elsewhere? (providing a taxi for a regular traveller who loses their regular service and has no other feasible choice for their regular journey).

 
Then that is what they should do.

 
1 person doesn’t make a service viable. It would have been cheaper for GWR to send a taxi for that passenger every day than to run the train.

 


Hmmmm. someone is mistaken. I hope that 1 person doesn't lose their job owing to the loss of the service.

 

It's no small thing to cut the first or last trains.

Having said that, we did not fight GWR's decision to cut the 05:17 Westbury to Swindon (05:33 at Melksham) a couple of years back - first train now 07:05 from Westbury / 07:21 from Melksham.    We lost the ability to get to London at 7 a.m. which (however) we had only had for a couple of years.  A big concern was that it knocked out long distance (and lucrative) journeys being a "peak" train, and knocked out return journeys on other trains that were running anyway.   What we did ask for (and have received) was an extra train at the other end of the day and the 21:16 from Westbury (21:32 at Melksham) is new.  I was on it last night - 2 car train, about 10 in my carriage, half of whom got off in Melksham - not busy but ten times the passengers I ever saw on the 05:33.   Huge care needed - but this might well be the right decision for Looe; I trust RichardB to be fully informed and to have let us know this change is one to work as a modernisation for the future with, rather than protest.

 

Each to their own but it really isn't a good use of resources to run a train that is used by just one person.  It's not same person every day and the few people who ever take that train may well be using it because the next one currently gets them to their destination just too late e.g Plymouth at 09 08 and will find the 07 33 will work fine for them.

 
And that 1 passenger does use that train every day.

 
I feel for that 1 passenger on the 0630. First & Last trains should be sacrosanct if *anyone* is regularly using them, since you can guarantee that they're only on them regularly if they *have* to be on them.

 

What a pity it’s taken these D&CRP inspired TT improvements (and resultant train operating cost reductions) so long to be implemented; it should have happened several years ago.

 
Thank you for posting that advance notice here, RichardB. 

 
There will be changes to the Looe timetable from May to provide much better connections at Liskeard to/from Plymouth throughout the day, a good pre-09 00 arrival in Plymouth for commuters and a better spread of request stops at Sandplace, Causeland and St Keyne.  This follows local requests and liaison between ourselves (Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership) and GWR.

The aim is to provide 6 (or near to) minute connections out of Looe and the same for inward except out of London services where the aim is to provide 10-13 minute connections. The exception is the last connection of the day from London where 20 minutes has been deliberately allowed for robustness.  Currently day trippers from Plymouth to Looe on the key services have more than 20 minutes at Liskeard in both directions. 

To enable these changes, the number of trains a day will reduce from 15 to 13.   The first train will leave Looe at 07 33 instead of 06 30 now.  The 07 33 will give a Plymouth arrival of 08 44 with a 6 minute connection at Liskeard.  We and GWR have counted passengers on the line’s service and the existing 06 30 is little used (indeed the September Tuesday we did our counts, there was just one passenger).  Currently you can either arrive in Plymouth at 07 43 or 09 08.   The new 08 44 arrival should be attractive. 

A further bonus of the new timetable is that the last train will leave Looe at 21 55 on weekdays, 18 minutes later than now.   This will make a 7 minute connection at Liskeard for Saltash and Plymouth.

 
I know: I was, as usual, looking for something else when I happened to stumble across this historic topic. 

Thankfully, the car driver in that particular incident was not seriously injured. Just a bloody nose, apparently.

Our frequent readers should know by now that the use of such clearly irrelevant images, in otherwise factual news articles, is something that winds me up somewhat.  It's just shoddy journalism. 

CfN.

 

Your reply is almost as late as GWRs trains in Cornwall today   

 
No, it's one of their 'stock photos of a train' at Bristol Temple Meads again, isn't it? 

 
Cancellations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to the sea flooding the railway between Liskeard and Looe the line is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 08:30 20/09

 
But at the penalty of Yardees being late for work!!

 
05:57 Liskeard to Looe due 06:27
02/09/24 05:57 Liskeard to Looe due 06:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
And the return run.

But help is on its way
06:19 Par to Plymouth due 07:21
02/09/24 06:19 Par to Plymouth due 07:21 will be terminated at Liskeard.
It will no longer call at Menheniot, St Germans, Saltash, St Budeaux Ferry Road, Keyham, Dockyard, Devonport and Plymouth.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

 
Cancellations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to a shortage of train crew between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

........Newquay-Par branch also wiped out.

 
Took a while - but now done.

 
TG, I’ve suggested mods amend thread title to reflect issues posted beyond 26 August.

 
And again............

Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to a broken down train earlier today between Liskeard and Looe:
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until 10:36 31/08.

 
The 175s primary job is to get rid of HSTs. They will go on Barnstaple and Okehampton.  The 19 150s at Exeter are diagrammed to rotate through the Cornwall branches stabling overnight at various locations in Cornwall before working back to Exeter. The 150s seem to be becoming very unreliable.

The 175s I don't think can be cleared for the Cornwall branches. The 158s at Exeter are likely to go to Bristol.

Paignton-Exmouth will still need at least 4 turbos and 175s occasionally as 158s are used now when short of stock. The Barnstaple/Okehampton 175s will stable at Exeter, in place of the 158s overnight before having to work back to Laira.

 

Obviously sad to lose the earlier services (especially the 10 36 ex Liskeard) but good to see that, once that unit had arrived, the full service was provided for the rest of the day.

 
A two car unit has left Laira depot for Liskeard to resume the branch service with the 11:36 to Looe.

 

Gosh - I hadn't noticed yesterday.

I guess (tell me if I'm wrong) that this is caused by a trains failing / short term fault ("broken down train") and, sure, these things happen occasionally.  But it highlights how thinly resourced and specialised our railway is today.  No dropping off a carriage or two off a train that calls at Liskeard ... and it sounds like there isn't another anywhere in the Plymouth area.  Should the main line be run with class 175 trains next year, perhaps we'll see a 4 or 5 car main line train being reduced by 2 cars in the event of a branch line failure.  Is that part of the plan?

Bank holiday Monday.  It's cloudy and just 14 degrees in Looe this morning , rising to 19 by lunchtime, Some clouds in the sky, which are expected to clear shortly and it will be a lovely if cool morning.

 
A victim of BBQ Sunday yesterday, and it's Bank Holiday Monday today so......

Cancellations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 12:00 26/08.

 
GWR tweeted that taxis are being supplied at Looe & at Liskeard.

 
Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to a train hitting an obstruction on the line earlier today between Liskeard and Looe:
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until 09:30 07/11.
Customer Advice
We're sorry for the delay to your journey.

The 05:57 Liskeard to Looe service struck a tree in the Causeland area. The train was able to continue its journey but some damage was caused which requires an inspection by one of our engineers. Until this is carried out the service on the line between Liskeard and Looe has been suspended.

 
It's reported that it was 2Q08 - the Network Rail Track Recording Unit (950001). Oh dear - meant to be non-destructive, isn't it?

It's last shown as leaving Liskeard P3, so perhaps the crew, not being regulars, hadn't realised they had to check the ground frame before entering Coombe. That could certainly cause a points failure, which is NR's current description. The TRU wouldn't have any reason to go to or towards Moorswater, would it?

 
Good point. Seems that Realtimetrains date for things involving Looe branch is a bit awry at the moment - e.g. the site's not flagging the passenger service as cancelled today.

Mark

 
It derailed, but went through to Par later on?
Surely if it derailed, it would stay there until lifted back on track, etc.
Seems to have arrived at Par 0613

 
This one perhaps...

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U80081/2023-11-01/detailed

Mark

 
Overnight a train has derailed on the Looe Branch.

It appears the train continued past Coombe Junction Halt towards Moorswater and derailed on catch points.

The branch is closed as a result. 

It is the latest disruption on the line after flooding near Looe has closed it on several occasions in recent days - and is set to do the same over the next two days.

 
At least they 'explain' there not-quite-right picture.  An IET to Looe seems unlikely, even in many years time when they're on gentler duties like the castles now are.

 
Somewhat confusing report from Cornwall Live

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/live-trains-stopped-cancelled-after-8467688

 
Reports of a car being in collision with a train at Coombe Crossing on the Liskeard to Looe line.

Car driver initially trapped but now freed and not seriously hurt.

Rail service suspended for the rest of the day.

 
I went from Perranwell to Looe today and all the trains seemed fairly busy compared with the other week. The Looe train was very well patronised with plenty of suitcases in evidence and there were extra buses running from Liskeard. The 255 on the way back was well used especially at Bodmin, Par and Truro.

 
Looe, Newquay, Falmouth, St Ives, and coastal towns in Cornwall without a train are are all very busy. Quite possibly the Looe branch was overcrowded. A lot of Plymouth folk use the train to go there for a day out. I will ask my friends at Liskeard Station for the back story!

 
Social distancing duplicate

 
Thinking more about it, I'm guessing the buses are "belt and braces" to make sure the trains don't get too busy given the very hot weather forecast for today. 

 

I was down there on Thursday last week which was a lovely sunny day.  It was busy, but not overly so.  The branch trains were decently well used but again not overly so - I counted 61 on 11 36 LSK - LOO, for example.   I went to St Ives the following day - drizzly and overcast - and that was busier still.  I saw the 15 03 ex St Ives arrive at St Erth and travelled on the 15 18 out and back (so 15 33 ex St Ives) - easily 100 off at St Erth from both trains and the 15 33 had 30-40 off at Carbis Bay too.  Trains are running at their usual 4 coaches for this time of year so not too packed. 

Bob's point about connections is a good one.  We're missing the additional PLY-PNZ trains so some connections at Liskeard are longer than anyone would like so the buses will help there but, of course, it's not the same, far from it.

 
It may also be to better dovetail with the revised service on the mainline.

The first through train from Paddington arrives at Liskeard at 11:40 and the bus at 12:00 saves nearly an hour’s wait.

 

And at 11:00 and 12:00
Back at 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00.

Good - I sort of think.   Good on the railways / public transport provider to have added capacity.   But, really, is Looe going to be able to handle the numbers arriving, and should people be looking for quieter places to be going?  Is the provision of extra capacity over distance-normal sending the wrong signal?

 

See https://spellerweb.net/rhindex/UKRH/GreatWestern/Narrowgauge/StGermansLooe.html - more text, pictures, map, etc

 
I believe the GWR had plans to build a branch from St. Germans to Looe in the mid 1930s but the outbreak of WW II put an end to the idea.

 
There are some wonderful photographs of Coombe Junction as it used to be here: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/looe-branch-including-moorswater.html

 

Interesting to note that it was the Summer Saturday crowds issues that saved Newquay - from that newspaper article


Also interested to read comment about removing the reversal at Coombe:

 
Country file are covering Looe on BBC1 on Sunday,still waiting if their gonna pay a visit to the train station.

 
Here's more on the reprieve.  Barbara Castle made the announcement on 20 September 1966 with the three Cornish lines part of 29 decisions in all.  I attached a scan of p1 and p2 of the MoT press release (from the National Archives).  At the bottom of page 1, you'll see why she reprieved Looe and St Ives -

"“Several of my decisions affect holiday areas.  I have refused to close the branch lines serving St Ives and Looe in Cornwall.  In spite of the financial saving to the railways, it just wouldn’t have made sense in the wider context to have transferred heavy holiday traffic on to roads which couldn’t cope with it.  Nor would extensive and expensive road improvements have been the answer.  At St Ives, these would have involved destroying the whole character of the town.  At Looe, they could not have avoided long delays in the holiday season.  It would be the economics of Bedlam to spend vast sums only to create greater inconvenience.”

Padstow went because the view was taken that the roads and buses could cope.  It was as simple as that. 

I've also attached the report of the decisions from the following day's Western Morning News.  You'll recognise the name of the reporter.

 
OK this is going to get a bit technical now.  There are two types of Key Token Instrument (originally manufactured by TYERS), an TERMINAL INSTRUMENT and an INTERMEDIATE INSTRUMENT.  The Terminal Instrument is normally located in a manned signalbox at each end of the single line section, in this case Liskeard signalbox.

An Intermediate Instrument is normally located at places that require access to the single line that are usually operated by Train Crew operated Ground Lever Frames, mechanically released by the single line section key token.  On the Looe branch these are located on Liskeard Platform No.3, in the hut shown in Grahames photograph, Coombe Junction No.1 Ground Frame that controls the points giving access to Looe, and Coombe Junction No.2 Ground Frame controlling the trap points giving access to the Moorswater Cement Sidings. 

To release a token from a Terminal Instrument requires the Terminal Instrument at the remote end to be operated thus giving a release at the opposite remote end.  To release a token from an Intermediate Instrument requires both Terminal Instruments to be be operated together.  But hang on, there is no signalbox at the Coombe Junction end of the section, so no signaller available to operate the Terminal Instrument there. Well, there is a special electrical circuit that replicates the actions of a signaller that is operated from the remote, Liskeard end, of the section.  The circuits are really quite staightforward and the system is fail safe in that only one key token can be free in the section at any one time.

So, to sum that all up, the Single line section in this case is supervised and controlled by the Liskeard signaller.

 

But that's only a token hut!

 

I have check Real Time Trains; it ran the day previous to my visit.

Prior experience (I do funny thinks like look at rail tops in various places) would suggest that it takes sustained traffic to have shiny rails, then they go through various degrees of dull moving across to bright orange and then from bright orange to a much duller brown for something really out of use.   Sorry - no detailed look at the track in question but, whilst rusty, it did not scream "unused" to me.


Not sure the main instrument is in the signal box - there's a hut on platform 3:



Where our driver went in and seemed to be working an instrument and on the phone - I suspect he took in a token and the points key, returned the token and got out a new one (or the same one again having put it through the machine?).  Came out and waved it to show the train manager.

 

Ah, yes, that makes sense.

 

The branch is worked by Key Token between Liskeard Signalbox and Coombe No.2 Ground Frame (working the trap points leading from the Moorswater cement terminal, seen in one of Grahames photographs).  There are Intermediate Key Token instruments at Liskeard Branch Ground Frame and Coombe No.1 Ground Frame with Train Staff working from the latter to Looe.  That arrangement allows a freight service to access from Liskeard to Moorswater whilst the passenger service train is on the branch from Coombe Junction to Looe.

 
Presumably the link to the main line is normally locked, and the branch run as “one engine in steam”?

Edited by SandTEngineer to remove duplicate copy of previous post diagram links

 
Coombe Junction once used to have a signalbox and run-around loop: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwf/S1141.htm

...and Looe had a signalbox (actually a very small hut) as well: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwf/S1143.htm

...and Liskeard branch platform had its own signalbox: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwf/S1140.htm

At one time there was also a signalbox at Moorswater, but that was a very long, long, long time ago.

 
guess it was a hand holding a camera in the open window

 
I don't think the rails to Moorswater are that rusty, Grahame.  The Moorswater cement train, from Aberthaw in South Wales, runs at least once or twice a week.

....and I won't ask how you managed to take the photo from the train whilst stood at Coombe Junction No.1 Ground Frame....

 
Did you notice that opposite the platform at Looe stands the 1/4 mile post, in days past the platform was much longer, and on arrival at Looe after passengers had de-trained the stock was pulled forward and the engine ran round where the Petrol station now stands before pulling back into Looe station.  Strange for a short branch with a reversal why did they NEVER use engine and Auto coach on this line.

Rumour has it that Barbara Castle whom stood up in parliament in 1964 and reprieved both the St Ives and Looe lines in the very same speech, had holiday homes in Looe and St Ives. Shame the lady didn't have a holiday home in Padstow as the Bodmin Road to Padstow line was condemned in the same speech. 

 
The branch line from Liskeard to Looe was perhaps the most unlikely survivor of the "Beeching Axe" in the 1960s.  It survived by the narrowest of squeaks, being reprieved just a fortnight before it was due to shut by Secretary of State for Transport Barbara Castle. She cited the inadequacy of of local roads to cope with holiday makers in the summer peaks, and the huge expense that would have been involved to improve them for that traffic.  And so the Looe branch survives in what almost feels like a time capsule - "lost in time".  Some things are not lost in time though - I took a trip on the branch last Thursday, and even off season (mid March) many of the trains are no longer "carrying fresh air" - a good number of passengers about, and that on a service that has been increased in recent years to run once an hour.  No longer just a survivor - but now a health line with passenger numbers that would make some others cry, and a quirky survivor.

Heading south from Liskeard to Looe?  You join the Looe trains at "Platform 3" - slightly away from the main line platforms on the north side, and pointed in a north easterly direction.  And as the train starts its journey, it turns right, and right again and again, and descends into a valley in which it passes under the main line railway you probably used to arrive in Liskeard.   You're now headed south, but not for long as the train turns right, right, and right again still descending into a deeper valley.  Another single track line comes in alongside on your - its come along the valley floor - and you join that line and pull up, facing north again.

The driver walks through the train, and then you move again - though this time in the opposite direction and onto the line that joined from the valley.  One further stop, just clear of the junction points, and a minute later we're headed off towards Looe.  It may be "none-stop" or we may call at St Keyne Wishing Well, and/or Causeland, and/or Sandplace.  It will never really be none-stop, for there's a level crossing along the way where all trains must stop and blow their horns before proceeding.

And so the wooded valley with the rushing stream widens out, into an estuary with - if the tide is right - mudflat teaming with waders. The waterway widens, habitation and indeed a town appear on the hillside opposite, the trains slows down and pulls to a halt and we're in Looe - or rather on its north flank - at a tiny station that just holds our two carriages.

Our trainload pile off, another load pile on, and within 5 minutes the train is headed back whence it came - or almost. On this particular journey, once we got clear of the junction points, the driver did not walk through the train.  Rather, after a brief pause to pick up his crew member he carried on a few hundred yards to the remote station of Coombe Junction Halt, where I left the train; the train departed a couple of minutes later, headed south again but to turn left, left and left, to climb and turn left and left again and climb some more back to its platform at Liskeard. I was left looking ahead at rusty rails, a little road bridge quite close by and a high railway viaduct a little further away, where e the rusty tracks pass under up to the cement works at Moorswater, and original station for Liskeard on this railway - which use to carry on up to the moors to the stone quarries, but that section was lost many generations ago.

And so, my personal trip ended with a walk back up the hill to Liskeard Station - about 20 minutes along a lane that lead into the suburbs and to the station, with a "Steep Hill - 16%" sign.  And I could certainly see and feel the hill - final proof (not that I needed it) of just how much the Looe line drops away in the first part of its run.

 
The Heritage Centre also gets a look in here ,followed by a Four Part video documentary,from Geoff &Vicky those nice young people from All the Stations.
https://greatscenicrailways.co.uk/looe-rail-heritage/.

 
DCRP has obtained some funding for a Looe Valley Line Heritage Centre in the branch station buildings. Full details here https://www.dcrp.org.uk/new-looe-valley-line-heritage-centre-to-be-set-up-at-liskeard-station/
Also a premiere event on 26 April for the stories they have been gathering https://www.dcrp.org.uk/celebrating-the-heritage-of-the-looe-valley-line/
Well done Richard B and team.

Edit :
Oh, just spotted this mornings separate post!

 

I have sort of done that in the past

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16859.msg200093#msg200093

 

Or a walk along the flat valley to St Keyne Wishing Well Halt - about a mile and three quarters, which you could have completed before the next train to Looe (that's assuming that you were on your way down when you called at Coombe

 
Took a trip on the Looe Branch this week.  With the 153s now gone the branch is in hands of class 150s all the time.  Whether I just didn't notice it before or it is because there are more wheels on the track; the squeal as the train negotiates the final stretch into Liskeard is deafening! 



I didn't realise until I boarded that my service was one of the few that calls at Coombe Junction Halt.   Just as well I didn't get off to take some photographs there - the turn round was very quick. I did wonder if there was a driver at each end, but there wasn't!   Would have been a long wait for the next train or a bit of an uphill walk to Liskeard!

 
Many thanks Graham

 
Congratulations to the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership on their successful bid to the CCIF.  The Looe line has, perhaps, one of the highest proportions of leisure / tourist traffic in GWR land, and what a fitting location for a Heritage Centre to inform and attract further passengers.  The recent stepping up of the minimum train length from 1 to 2 carriages means an increase in overall seats ... all set for passenger number growth on the line - sharing in the beauty and helping (I'm sure) the operating finances.


Article continues at the D&CRP web site which I commend to you.

 

Thanks Chris.  Not down to us, of course, though we have been making the case for two coach trains particularly during school holidays for quite some time. 

 
Well done, to all of your team, RichardB. 

 
Video from the Devon and Cornwall Community Rail Partnership

https://www.facebook.com/greatscenicrailways/videos/271209050491031/

With the 153s gone ... a minimum of 2 carriages now; now able to handle those unexpected lovely days all year.

 
Unit failed at Laira.  It’s hoped the train service will resume with the 10:14 from Liskeard. 

 
https://www.journeycheck.com/greatwesternrailway/

Cancellations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to a fault on this train between Liskeard and Looe all lines are closed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 10:00 28/03.
Additional Information
Replacement Road Transport is being sourced.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
Last Updated:28/03/2019 06:35

 

Confirmed elsewhere, that as I posted earlier, that it was infact on the ground frame operated trap points leading from the yard to the Looe single line.  There used to be a shunting neck spur there but due the track condition was so poor it had been shortened by removing a rail, and this is where the unit ended up 'off the road'......

 
Suggestons elsewhere that it was the trap point end of the crossover leading from the Up Main to the yard (No.19B).  Strange as thats a trailing connection if the unit was moving empty to the branch......

 
Good job it didn’t happen with the railtour last week.....loco off at one end and the train rear end still on the mainline.

 
One axle derailed on trap points leading from the yard to the Looe branch.  Line reopened for the 1641 service to Looe.

 
D'oh. Never thought of that. Thank you.
Note to chastise myself (in private of course).

 

Yes.

As a side note it was very icy here this morning.

 

Thanks Rich.  I understand it's on the point where the curve joins the branch itself.  One wheel off, evidently.  As Phil indicated earlier, it was the empty stock, only the driver and guard on board and both uninjured.

 
Google street view shows the layout quite well.

 

Topics now both in "Cornwall" and merged ... breaking news broke in two places at the same time 

 
Does anyone have a track layout for, I guess, the station area? Something to show where/which points this happened.  Just curious.
Thank you

 
Appears to be in the yard at Liskeard.

 
PhilWakely has also posted in a more appropriate sections. May the Mods please move this one across, or remove post.

With thanks

 
5L71 derailed at Liskeard. Looe line blocked

 
Now it's the turn of another Cornish branch

https://www.journeycheck.com/greatwesternrailway/

Alterations to services between Liskeard and Looe
Due to a low speed derailment between Liskeard and Looe all lines are closed.
Train services running to and from these stations have been suspended. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
Last Updated:15/02/2019 06:48

 
The Looe branch beside the estuary is very susceptible to flooding, even when its not stormy, but from spring tides, I have been on the train and the water has been almost up to the rails.

I think the rail replacement buses stop at St Keyne village and Duloe (up the hill from Causeland), due to the lanes being too narrow for buses. Sandplace station is of course next to the main B road.

 
Was closed yesterday too.

 
Looe branch is closed today due to flooding. Bus operations In place. Quite how the bus will operate is anyone's guess as the road is closed for several weeks between looe and St Keyne around Sandplace

 
Mrs CfN, staying overnight with her brother in south Devon last night, reported an electric light fitting 'exploding' and their central heating starting up, apparently due to a severe electrical storm overhead. 

 
Largin has been, and always will be, subject to signalling failures due to lightning strikes.  In my time as the responsible S&T Engineer we tried several remedies but to no avail.  Its something to do with the soil up there (Largin, for those who don't know it, its located quite high up in the river Fowey valley)

One evening, many years ago now, during a particularly severe lightening storm I was sat in Liskeard signalbox and watched the block instrument needles swinging violently from 'Line Clear' to 'Train On Line' and back again and the block bells ringing like church bells

 
Reading between the lines (pardon the pun) I think the problem with the branch was getting a unit onto it rather than the line itself.  Seems things are improving and a train should be there soon.

 
The Largin hit may have been the one I saw from my bedroom window! I'm up about 2-3am as that's what my body does, even on my days off. I was sat watching the storm out of the window.

Largin is almost straight from the back of my house. Coombe junction to the side, so out of view. My neighbours tree stops me seeing the trains on the main line.

 
A lightening strike at Largin affecting the single line section on the main line as well.

 
Looe services currently cancelled due to a lightening strike between Liskeard and Coombe junction overnight.

I'm guessing it was about 2am, as my house was shaking as the thunder rumbled! I'm less than 1/2 mile from the branch.