Beside the more impressive 4-6-0s with their size, brasswork and names, other smaller locos were also serviced at Long Rock. 0-6-0s shunted at Penzance, Ponsandane and Marazion, and 2-6-2Ts (the ’T’ stood for ‘Tank’, as in “Thomas the Tank Engine”) tackled heavier roles like local freights and branch line services, returning to the Shed occasionally for servicing. Like my favourite book above, “Thomas the Tank Engine” Books at the library were also attractive to me: I think at the age of 8, I enjoyed illustrated books rather than “wordy” ones, and it was not until about the age of 10 that I really read easily, and for pleasure.
In a scene close to a similar perspective on Long Rock station, but with minor differences, 9013 “EARL OF POWIS” rests with another 4-4-0, 9002, some time after WW2. Ash and clinker litter the area around the tracks, and on the front buffer beam of 9013. 9002 has its cab tarpaulin stretched across the cab roof for some reason as it waits refueling. #####AA03-UNK-s9013-PARKD
Friends of the photographer thread among the locos on Long Rock depot in 1936. Water columns flank an 0-6-0 tank and four tender engines, and new doors hang in the entranceway to the southern-most roads. The engines have painted front numbers. 36###AA01-LRK-LOCOS-PARKD
Although the system has been nationalised since the turn of the year, 6318 still has a tender displaying large spaced out GWR initials on 18th August 1948. Behind it are loaded ballast wagons, and only one of the two twisted chimneys is now in situ. 480818A01-LRK-s6318-PARKD
On a drizzly day, a rather elderly 8388 stands cold and isolated on Long Rock depot in the early years following the Second World War. Like the stark simplicity of its empty arch-like cab window, its surroundings are also bare and flat – different from the later years of neglect and hummocks of rank grass. Partially hidden by a water crane, a ‘Hall’ class loco waits in the background. 4#####A01-LRK-s8388-PARKD
Shed chimneys have been reduced in height by the 1950s on the running shed roofs of Long Rock depot. ‘Halls’ 4967 and 4931; ‘4300’ class 6305; and ‘Grange’ 6826 smoke between the breakdown vans, loaded tender, and corrugated iron storage huts. 55###AP01-LRK-E_SHD-VIS__W
‘Light engine’ headcode lamped ‘Grange’ 6824 and ‘4300 class’ 6301, along with other locos, choke the entrance to Long Rock sheds. The shed beside the Fitting Bay has had its front circular vent blocked, and roof chimneys removed. 5####CL01-LRK-LOCOS-PARKD
In the days before tubular steel replaced wood, 4407, oozing steam from its safety valve, waits for permission to proceed between bracket signals near the neck of the entrance to Long Rock Depot. The palisade fencing is clear from any visual obstruction. 5####AH01-LRK-s4407-PARKD
With the exception of a slight wisp of steam escaping, 4548 is virtually dead on the bricked paving outside Long Rock sheds, parked alongside a ‘Grange’. Diesels have yet to appear, and clear in white is a new smoke hood above road two. 56###AA01-LRK-s4548-PARKD
2-6-2T 4566 waits on the apron before Long Rock shed on 2nd April 1961. Behind it is 0-6-0T 6433, a named 4-6-0, a water crane, the sand drying hut, ends of the air raid shelter and turntable, and stock parked on Ponsandane Goods. The whole site is spotless, showing a commendable standard of respect for the railway industry. Copyright – Steve Healey. 610402A01-LRK-s4566-PARKD
Bearing its 83G shed plate, spruced-up 6870 is centre stage, in the company of other “steamers” including 5972 and 6848. The rear doors are open to improve ventilation, and the between-track water columns are still very much required! 59###AA01-LRK-s6870-PARKD
Central in this shot of Long Rock depot among named 4-6-0s in 1955 is 0-6-0 Pannier Tank 8473. An enthusiast friend of the photographer speaks with loco men as a well-behaved boy in wellingtons patiently awaits permission to move on, appreciating the privilege he has of being able to see these huge engines at close quarters. Photo: Stan Brown. 55###AE01-LRK-S_LCO-PARKD
A late 1950s image of 4564 parked on Long Rock Depot, displaying its Penzance (83G) shedplate. Inside the shed is a 57XX class 0-6-0 Pannier Tank – the lintel of the doors between them showing where the smoke extractor once was. Photo: Bill Godwin. 5####BR01-LRK-s4564-PARKD
In this sharp and carefully composed picture, a locoman kicks the motion of Castle 5069 “ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL” as his colleague with him watches with a ‘NOT TO BE MOVED’ sign in his hand. Beside them are 6830 “BUCKINHILL GRANGE” and 6931 “ALDBOROUGH HALL” – the three locos’ steam hiding the depot building behind them. Copyright: J H Aston. 6####IY22-LRK=sLCOS-PARKD
With paint peeling and faded emblem on its tank sides, 4564 lies inert on the Long Rock siding that skirts the southern side of the main building complex. Normally a branch loco, such engines also shunted around the station and yards. 590823A01-LRK-s4564-PARKD
0-6-0 Pannier Tank 2097 clanks across the access roads to Long Rock Shed in July 1951. Other than having received it’s early British Railways “cycling lion” emblem, a casual glance at its GWR shunter’s truck, amid the setting of lineside grass banks, telegraph poles, coal wagons and pastoral hills, might even suggest this picture could have been taken decades earlier. 5107##A01-LRK-s2097-SHU_G
Smoke is gently pushed towards open fields at Long Rock’s depot, demonstrating how wise it was to move the shed well out of Penzance – as well as for noise reasons. Centrally, left to right, are ‘Grange’ 6801, ‘Manor’ 7813, and ‘County’ 1002. Photo: Keith Jones. 590717A01-LRK-S1018-PARKD
Numberless 5537 and 5562 are out of use at Long Rock depot, close to the turntable and beside a roped-off walkway beyond them. A set of stop blocks from a short spur off the turntable is still in situ, beside them and a shunters’ hut that has a window wide open for ventilation. The depot roof has several different types of extractor fans, none of which presumably worked well. 6####IY19-LRK-S_LCO-PARKD
A train of redundant steam locos, including two 45XX tanks and a couple of 84XXa wait in the sidings near Long Rock Signal Box, contrasting strongly with the buffed-up County Class 1001 “COUNTY OF BUCKS” in a road alongside. The nearest 84XX has had its chimney covered, and the steamers still seem to carry bodyside and smokebox numbers, and even shed plates. 620822A01-LRK-S_LCO-PARKD
4548 clanks across the points at the fan of lines running into Long Rock depot from the main line. The coal stockpile behind must have presented substantial conveyance and theft problems. Points rodding from the nearby signalbox and pre-W.R. signals are also in view. Image ex: The Booklaw Collection. 5####CL02-LRK-s4548-LIGHT
On 26th July 1956, 4547 oozes steam on a turntable road at Long Rock depot. Behind it is a consist of various styles of coal wagons, some steel and others wood-planked, and beyond a carriage and what look like tool vans. To the right is the back of a caution sign for entry to the turntable, and the end of the bricked building (air raid shelter?) to the left. Photo: H C Casserley 560726A01-LRK-s4547-PARKD
The Eric Curnow Collection 