This is a personal story of my interest in railways in West Cornwall in the 1970s. The period followed on from the transition from Steam Engines to Diesel Locomotives on British Railways, and my interest only really began right at the end of that period. Even then I was soon aware of the transience of what I was seeing, with early diesels being scrapped, standard designs replacing them, and the Great Western Railway influence waning. My father (pictured above behind my school photo of 1975) and paternal grandfather were both railwaymen, so although I can hardly remember visiting the station (I was seven when my dad left the railway), I must have imbibed something early on, that flourished into a real appreciation later.
A huge visual contrast with its setting, D1036 “WESTERN EMPEROR” pumps out fumes as its engine turns over before Long Rock’s fitting bay in the twilight of both the day and its existence. By now, the days of both loco and shed were numbered! 750607A06
The period of my railway interest was a significant one in my life, and still continues – but greatly muted. I now feel how my father felt when he thought of how things were then – when trains of different composition were puffing about, with a lot of interesting activity, on extensive infrastructure – compared to how they were later. Although there are still interesting developments from time to time, most of the “surprises” of a visit to the lineside are rare, as things have been rationalised and made more efficient – though far less interesting!
Presumably taken on a Sunday, as the depot is so crowded, 6873 ‘CARADOC GRANGE’ is prominent in this view from the water tower. From many sources, smoke pumps westwards in a firm breeze obscuring the fields of ‘The Golden Mile’ towards Penzance. 560808A01-LRK-s6878-PARKD
This collection consists of about 400 of my own photographs, and many others I have collected since. My concern to recall more of that period, and a curiosity into ‘what went before’ is what has driven me to seek out these other pictures, and although mainly of West Cornwall where I was born and raised, they do include other images of much farther afield pertinent to me and this story. I hope those who share my interest appreciate them – there are about 1500 images slowly growing all the time. This is the story of those happy years of railways, seashore and exercise.
The story of those years follows chronologically …
1969 Interest aroused; rich loco variety; fly-shunting
1970 Peaks appear; 22s run-down; a Hymek arrives
1971 Reinstated Warships; milk trains; pristine 63XX
1972 Warships exit; Westerns dominate; big-locos shunt
1973 Westerns withdrawn; plate damage; new crossing gates
1974 Storm damage; signalling changes; boxes demolished
1975 Carn Brea sightings; three 08s; Marazion visits
1976 Corporate identity; green 47s; depot removal begins
1977a Westerns no more; GWR influence wanes; new depot footings
1977b Depot rises; Class 24 arrives; self-relocation eastwards
1978 Deltics; London termini; “widened lines” abandoned
1979 HSTs take over; stabling point closed; large-logo livery
1980 Deltics anonymised; painted names; new standard name plates
1981 Monotony palls; loco varieties: electrics the new norm
If you have any feedback about this site – particularly corrections to be made, or suggestions – please feel free to email me at curnows@btinternet.com
Eric Curnow
The Eric Curnow Collection 