The earliest shots were taken on my friend’s, Patrick Dunn’s, camera, and given to me later. I made a few visits to Laira – and these shots were from the time we were ‘officially’ allowed around (taken that day before we summoned up courage to ask!) The permission we got from the manager was not overwhelmingly enthusiastic, so we didn’t take any more pictues, but just raced around, keeping a low profile. On other visits, we/I merely advanced as close as we dared, and hid or retreated when we saw someone we thought might be a bit “officious”.
Not having my own camera until 1975, before this, college projects enabled me to include some railway material if I could manage it. We were based at Clinton Road in Redruth, very close to the station, and not too far from Drump Lane Goods Yard. I was also given permission once or twice to take a camera home and use it for college-themed work – or close approximation (!)
Long Rock MPD viewed from beside the Coaling Stage, with D811 “DARING”, D4161 and an unidentified ‘Western’ resting on it. It was built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1914. 71####A09-LRK-D811-PARKD
Blue D4161 – companion of green D4013 for many years – is parked on the track that formerly led to Long Rock’s southernmost shed roads. This loco was normally Station Pilot. 71####A12-LRK-D4161-PARKD
‘Warship Class’ D811 ‘DARING’ waits between duties at Long Rock depot on the siding running to the side of the shed. Behind it is the sand-drying hut chimney and pump house. 71####A13-LRK-D811-PARKD
The face of the not-so-enticing future as D7577 rests at the south west end of Laira depot. With so many bodywork holes, these locos always seemed very ‘tinny’ to me. 711127A01-LAI-D7577-LIGHT
On a miserable Saturday, D7577 runs onto the fuelling apron at the south west end of Laira depot close to Westerns, a peak and shunter belching out fumes in the background. 711127A02-LAI-D7577-PARKD
D7577 viewed from a more ‘daring’ position on the track at Laira. I never like trespassing, especially at big depots, but sometimes the reward made the risk worthwhile. 711127A06-LAI-D7577-PARKD
The assembly of semaphores and shunting discs set at ‘on’ at the end of Penzance Station platforms break rank when D1045 “WESTERN VISCOUNT” gets the go-ahead to proceed to Long Rock. 720318A04-PNZ-D1045-LIG_U
A 3-car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) set passes a signal beside Long Rock’s coaling stage and prepares to slow for the crossings ahead. The blue and yellow livery fitted these branch sets well. 720318A06-LRK-3XDMU-PAS_U
Long Rock Depot viewed from close to the signal box of that name. Type 2 7504 lurches across the point work as it wends its way off shed to fresh duties further towards the station. 720318A07-LRK-d7504-LIG_U
D1057 “WESTERN CHIEFTAIN” heads a short formation up passenger service in an otherwise deserted Penzance Station. The track is litter and weed free, and lamp post signs catch the light. 720318A08-PNZ-D1057-PAS_U
The first time I realised the ‘D’ prefix to loco numbers was being abolished was when 4181 arrived. It leaves the stock it has just parked in a storage road in the yard at Penzance Station. 711127A09-PNZ-d4181-SHU_S
An empty and wind-swept engine shed with fueling-point shelters before it. To the right, the ‘Fitting Bay’ is by now sublet to the engineering company ‘Liftec’. 711127A10-LRK-E_SHD-VIS_W
Not having the use of a camera until 1975, college projects enabled me to include some railway material if I could manage it. One loaded trolley awaits the next up train at Redruth Station. 740506A01-RED-PLTFM-VIS_N
D1064 “WESTERN REGENT” slows to a halt at the down platform of Redruth Station while passengers await their boarding opportunity. Empty ‘BRUTE’ trolleys lie around awaiting service. 740506A02-RED-D1064=PAS_D
An eastbound 3-car DMU set prepares to brake for arrival at Redruth Station. The keep of Carn Brea castle and the Basset Monument stand prominently on the skyline behind it. 740506A03-RED-P582?-PAS_U
A three-aspect signal replaces a two-aspect version on the lineside a few hundred yards east of Marazion Station overbridge. The pine tree clump behind forms a distinctive landmark on the route. 740520A06-MAR-SGNLS-VIS_N
Mexico Foot Crossing at Long Rock finds 25225 about to stutter away from a signal stop on a short down freight. Lineside trunking and cables foreshadow the demise of the signal box. 740520A07-LRK-25225-GDS_D
With the home and distant signals off, D1034 “WESTERN DRAGOON” races westwards past Long Rock depot’s coaling tower mound. The heavily-wired telegraph poles “sang” in certain winds. 740520A08-LRK-D1034-PAS_D
A close-up of one of 50007’s wheelsets on typical oil-soaked ballast of Long Rock Depot. In the background are Long Rock Signal Box and the junction with the main line. 740520A09-LRK-50007-PARKD
The Eric Curnow Collection 