As it was the destiny of steam locomotives to end visiting the far west by 1962, the first of the new diesel locomotives that were beginning to be produced en mass had been slowly integrated into services from 1958 onward. Firstly the five D6XXs, next their D63XX baby sisters, and ultimately the lightweight D8XX ‘Warships’ took over; but it was only really the latter that at last had the power-to-weight ratio the Western Region authorities had really wanted. There was a brief period when D7XXX ‘Hymeks’ were tried out, but ultimately D8XX ‘Warships’ were joined by the premier diesel hydraulic product, the D10XX ‘Westerns’, to be the mainstay of services through to Penzance until 1977 – along with Brush Type 4s and ‘Peaks’ from midway through. Long Rock carried out their stabling, light maintenance, and refueling.
The writing on the back of this print says, “D6310 and D6331 coupled together – as is normal – light engine after working in a goods from Plymouth. HWR”. The lean-to behind the nose of D6310 has now gained a chimney, suggesting basic heating. 601026B01-LRK-D6310-PARKD
With a lamp added to it’s nose’s left bracket, a pristine D831 “MONARCH” is parked on the bricked apron at Long Rock depot: a D63XX lies the other side of a raised access platform from it. It’s a shame the Shed’s facilities weren’t so immaculate! 6####CB01-LRK-D831–PARKD
Track dust below the solebar and clay residue on the wheel rims cannot decry the splended finish of ‘Warship’ D860 “VICTORIOUS” outside Long Rock shed on 12th July 1966, though the buffer beam red seems brighter scarlet than usual. Inside are D600 and D6310, so the trio represent all hydraulic classes produced by the NBL in the West Country. 660712A02-LRK–D860-PAS_U
Before yellow warning panels were added to its cab ends, D6309 sits on the approach track to Long Rock shed on 21st April 1962, with closed headcode flaps. In the distance are two steam locos awaiting removal for scrapping. By kind permission R.K. Blencowe. COPYRIGHT R. K. Blencowe Negative Archive Tel: 01794 502733 Email: r.blencowe@ntlworld.com. 620421A01-LRK-D6309-PARK
Amid the lank grass of the depot, D6310 waits on a siding at Long Rock shed beside what I believe was an air raid shelter, knocked down fairly soon after the picture was taken, possibly in 1968. Behind is the sand-drying house, the contents of which were used to trickle before loco wheels to improve adhesion. 68###AF01-LRK-D6310-PARKD
A mist rolls in off the sea at Long Rock depot in 1968, the year before I began visiting and saw such scenes as fairly commonplace. D1012 “WESTERN FIREBRAND” and a Class 22 are hedged against Penzance breakdown train vehicles, awaiting duties on one of the former steam shed roads, the trackwork beside it obviously in the process of being “rationalised”. 68###AI01-LRK-D1012-PARKD
NBL-built ‘Warship’ “RELENTLESS” rests between duties on one of the fueling roads at Long Rock depot in the late 60s. The numbers and letters wound up in her headcode panel suggest she had brought down an inter-regional freight, though as it was a bit of a chore to get down from the cab and change the display, the designation could not always be relied on. 6####HP01-LRK—d839-PARKD
A rare “superpower” combination of ‘Western’s 1011 “THUNDERER” and 1028 “HUSSAR” heads an up passenger service past Long Rock depot on 4th June 1974. A stubborn clump of primroses between the tracks sways with the wind of its passing. 740604A01-LRK-D1011-PAS_U
At the back of the shed, D1001 “WESTERN PATHFINDER” is parked up by itself. Daylight comes in from the patched-up rear door windows, the rather stained roof lights, and the office. Various mobile drums line the rear wall. Photo: John Vaughan. 7####EW01-LRK-D1001-PARK
A pair of green liveried Class 25s, with D7502 displaying the ‘Not to be moved’ flag, get fueled on Long Rock depot on 20th May 1972, as a Western lurks in the shadows. Copyright: I T LANGHORN / www.the-transport-photo-interchange.co.uk. 720520A01-LRK-D7502-FUELG
It seems like space was rather restricted on Long Rock depot, as I can’t ever remember this siding being so full. Acting as a stop block is an 08 shunter, and sandwiched between the adjacent 25 and a 47 is D1013 “WESTERN RANGER”. The weather seems sadly typical of much of the year! 740512A01—LRK-D1013-PARKD
In deep shadow, beside a single DMU on Long Rock shed, D1046 “WESTERN MARQUIS” awaits refueling on 9th March 1975. The distinctive broken window in the fascia of the shed is clearly seen, breached to fit a pipe through, and never repaired. The absence of a sign above the adjacent fitting shop door shows ‘Liftec’ engineering have vacated it by this time. 750309A01-LRK-D1046-PARKD
Parked before the fitting shop at Long Rock is D1054 “WESTERN GOVERNOR”: its work-work solidity contrasting with the frayed infrastructure behind it. I think it was the sheer bulk of the ‘Westerns’ that endeared me to them – also resembling the GWR-era steam locos they replaced, … for instance, in the common ratio of the height of the number and nameplate sets. 750810A01-LRK-D1054-FUELG
The wasteland before the wooden palisade fence separating the A30 road and Long Rock depot nicely balances the thunderous approach of D1010 “WESTERN CAMPAIGNER” as it runs eastwards towards the crossing in June 1975. Although exhaust-caked along its roofline, the locomotive has been recently painted, as the silver footrests show. 7506##A01-LRK-D1010-PAS_U
D1033 “WESTERN TROOPER” blasts away westwards from Mexico Crossing at Long Rock with a passenger service trailing a thick cloud of unhealthy exhaust. The bracket signal shows the signal box was still in operation at that time, though the left arm has been removed, and presumably crossing for direct entry to the sheds is no longer possible. Copyright Exe Rail. 720731A01-LRK-D1033-PAS_D
D1063 “WESTERN MONITOR” protrudes from Long Rock Shed on 4th April 1976 in the twilight of the building’s existence. Behind it are Grampus EW wagons of spoil, some of which is dumped before them, and a carriage, back towards the main line. Before it is an external inspection pit and the bricked paving apron surrounding the entrance tracks. 760404A01-LRK-d1063-PARKD
A shedman tries to deal with overspill as 46006 awaits refueling at Long Rock depot on a murky day in the early 70s. Behind the loco are fuel drums, the yellow CCED, the top of the Coaling Stage and the earthwork of the approach road to it. In the foreground is a fueling apparatus shelter and the bricked apron. 7####FO01-LRK-46006-FUELG
50001 and a ‘Peak’ loco are pictured parked together on the ‘Outside Road’ at Long Rock depot on 16th August 1976. All seems quiet and calm, excentuated by the rank grass and soft vegetation in the background. Like 50049, the first of the class I saw here, 50001 is in fine exernal condition, suggesting that when transferred it was in fine fettle. 760816A01-LRK-50001-PARKD
50033 races along the bi-directional track towards Long Rock in April 1977 passing the new HST depot, the track beside it still needing ballasting and tamping, and removal of the uprights of the safety fence. Under a leadened sky , the boundary fence is adorned with wind-blown plastic from off the foreshore. 770409A01-LRK-50033-LIG_U
Fitted with a domino headcode, 47286 moves off the stock storage sidings before an 08 shunter at Long Rock’s new HST depot with a train on 5-plank wagons. Building work is still going on, and posts mark an area now surplus to requirements. 7####BI01-LRK-47286-PARKD
The 15.44 Penzance to St Ives approaches the Mexico Inn footcrossing taking schoolchildren home on 17th September 1990. The sand dunes beside the lineside were typical of the whole stretch back to Ponsandane before redevelopment, and hard going on the calf muscles! Above the sea wall to the right is the former site of Marazion Station. 900917A01-LRK-2XDMU-PAS_U
The Eric Curnow Collection 