Freight in Cornwall 30th August 2002

Probably our best operation of 2002 was the chance to work a freight train……. and a China Clay train in Cornwall at that! 

The story started with EWS requesting to have D1015 at St. Blazey for a private staff event. The loco would arrive, be displayed with other former B.R traction associated with the depot and then go back home to Old Oak Common. However, it became obvious that it would be an ideal opportunity for EWS to train some West of England drivers on the '52' which would enable it to penetrate as far as Penzance on any future trips and tours. 

The plan was to work D1015 from Old Oak Common to Bristol on the 28th August using the Wednesdays Only empty vans, 5C37 13.55 Old Oak Common to Bristol Barton Hill. In the train would be two class 50's, also making their way to St. Blazey, and the train engine. The following day D1015 would work through to St. Blazey on the 6V70 10.00 Stoke to St. Blazey china clay empties. In this train would be the normal EWS loco, not for insurance purposes but simply to keep the EWS loco in its diagram to be at St. Blazey for its next booked duty. Once at St. Blazey static crew training would take place before 'handling' duties for the newly trained drivers. 

The 'handling' turn involved working light from St. Blazey to Fowey, picking up a rake of empty china clay wagons, taking them to Goonbarrow Junction, returning a full rake of china clay wagons back to Fowey and then going back to St. Blazey. In order for D1015 to do this a reduced load had to be carried as the normal class 66 traction can take upwards of 1000 tons along the Cornish branches whereas D1015 could take around 800 tons. 

A railtour commitment prior to the freight working, booked for August 17th to Worcester, was completed but not without fault. Unfortunately the turbo blower bottom end bearings on B engine broke up resulting in D1015 operating on one engine only from Leamington Spa. This meant we had either 10 days to effect repairs or knock the Cornish capers on the head which would have disappointed a lot of people. Failure was not an option! Over the next few days the damaged B turbo blower was removed and a new spare one fitted. We also replaced a cooling fan motor at the A end which was weeping Serck oil. The cause of the failure of the bearings was later found to have been caused by a small piece of carbonated oil blocking one of the bearing lubricating oil ways causing oil starvation to the bearing which overheated. 

Declared fit D1015 was made ready for the 28th. Working the 5C37 would also be a test run for the new B blower. During the run to Bristol on the 28th a coolant leak developed on the blower which was rectified at Bristol and D1015 completed its commitments without further problems. 

Rumours of a dead loco inside D1015 whilst working the Clay trains for insurance proved to be just that and all along the route throughout the day the workings were recording by photographers. At Lostwithiel a group of photographers offered us money as a thank you for helping make the event possible. Whilst this was appreciated just like them we are enthusiasts too and EWS played a big part in making it all happen. The money offered was therefore passed over to the open day appeal at St. Blazey the following day. 

After the open day event on the 31st August D1015 was hauled to the Severn Valley Railway to make its debut passenger run on a preserved railway and after that, in October, work another railtour from Birmingham to Plymouth. The reason it was hauled was that there were no drivers available on shift at that time to drive it so the class 50's were used instead.

Wednesday 28th August 2002  

5C37 13.55 Old Oak Common C.S. - Bristol Barton Hill towing 50031+50049 'Dead in train' and 67001 'Dead at rear'. 

Thursday 29th August 2002

0V70 15.10 Bristol Barton Hill - Stoke Gifford Yard /

6V70 10.00 Stoke-on-Trent - St. Blazey 'China clay empties' from Stoke Gifford Yard in tandem with 60085. 

Friday 30th August 2002

0G11 11.00 St. Blazey - Fowey /

6G11 13.18 Fowey - Goonbarrow Junction 'China clay empties'

6G10 15.48 Goonbarrow Junction - Fowey 'China clay'

0G27 17.00 Fowey - St. Blazey. 

Saturday 31st August 2002      

St. Blazey E W S Open Day event. 

Sunday 1st September 2002     

5Z46 09.45 St. Blazey - Crewe to Bescot Yard towed 'Dead in train' by 50031+50049 + 46035. 

Monday 2nd September 2002

6P21 05.48 Bescot - Highley S.V.R. 'Auto-Ballast' hauled 'Dead in train' to Kidderminster by 50031+50049. 

On Wednesday 28th D1015 runs through Sonning Cutting on 5C37. With 3 dead locos and a van in tow this train weighs over 300 tons for its 4 vehicle length! This is equivalent to around a normal passenger train of 8 or 9 coaches. 

Depature from Old Oak Common was bang on time and we were early at Bristol.

On Thursday 29th D1015+60085 passing through Cullompton with the 6V70 Photo: Bernard Mills. 

 

29th August 2002 D1015 headed for Cornwall in charge of 6V70. At Burlscombe D1015, 60085 and three empty China Clay wagons run past. 

30th August 2002 D1015 passes Blaize Park on the St.Blazey Canal with 6G10 1550 Goonbarrow to Carne Point. Photo: Bernard Mills. 

 

Above D1015 storms through Treesmill on 6G11 with its train of new style China Clay wagons.  

Top right is how it used to be! D1015 is seen in Cornwall on Clay hoods. 

Right we see D1015 returning light as 0G27 to St. Blazey at Lostwithiel.

 

 

The return run home was carried out by two class 50's. These 50's had also been on display at St. Blazey and were returning to the Severn Valley Railway with D1015.  

Also in the train is class 46, 46035 which was being returned from Crewe. All these types of traction were once common in Cornwall on China Clay traffic from the 1970's through to the 1990's. 

Here the train runs along the sea wall at Dawlish

Would like to see what happened or were you there and want to relive those memories?  

Locomaster Profiles has produced a video detailing the events of the operations of D1015 in Cornwall. It includes numerous line side shots and a cab ride from Fowey to Goonbarrow via Luxulyan Bank with microphones set up on the loco to capture the full cry of the Maybach engines. Locomaster is making a donation from the sales from this video towards the continued upkeep of Western Champion on the main line. 

For further details contact Locomaster Profiles at :- 

FREEPOST (SL2253), LANGLEY, SLOUGH, SL3 6BP

Tel : 01753 545888 

www.locomaster.co.uk

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