Although Long Rock depot was undoubtedly “a blot on the landscape”, it was a magnet for me, whenever a visit was possible. Before the railway came there was a long beach of sand between Penzance and Marazion with marshland behind and it was on this land spit that the railway laid its lines. When space for engine servicing and turning was too constrained by Penzance’s growth, this third Engine Shed was built to a standard GWR style and lasted for well over 60 years, though lack of sufficient investment in its latter days took its toll. However, some of the railway’s top express locos ended their daily runs here, and a lot of local services and a substantial volume of freight meant the shed was kept busy much of the day.
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
Trackwork creaks, and the crew of ‘Star’ Class 4012 “KNIGHT OF THE THISTLE” are anxious to be captured on film for posterity, as the loco trundles off the turntable at Long Rock shed in the 1930s. The shed has short dark stumpy chimneys and it looks like white lights have been positioned on its facade to aid illumination. Copyright: Lens of Sutton. 3####AH01-LRK-s4012-PARKD
This strange choice of image for the front of a Post Card shows 4958 ‘PRIORY HALL’, with GWR roundel tender, straddled across the entrance to Long Rock depot. Its crew proudly pose for the camera, and there is a lean-to hut against the pump house. 3####AE01-LRK-s4958-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
4901 sails past Long Rock Signal Box towards Penzance on 25th August 1936. There is a lot of points rodding before the Box, and a neat woodpiles in the background against the depot retaining wall. Photo: C.F.H Oldham. Lens of Sutton. 360825A01-LRK-s4901=PAS_D
Looking every inch a loco in the finest GWR tradition, Penzance allocated 4911 “BOWDEN HALL” waits on Long Rock depot. It ended its days prematurely hit by a WW2 bomb in Plymouth; one of only two GWR locos lost through enemy action. 3####AC01-LRK-s4911-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
Penzance MPD on 27th June 1950. Locos include 6354, 4965, and 6809, which have yet to receive front end numberplates, and 7909, who’s tender features the cycling lion emblem of the new British Railways organisation. Copyright: R.S. Carpenter. 500627A01-LRK-LOCOS-PARKD+
A ‘STAR’ rebuilt as a ‘Castle’ – 4032 “QUEEN ALEXANDRA” – is pictured on Long Rock shed beside “CRUMLIN HALL” and other locomotives. One of its crew stands on the tender, possibly preparing to trim the coal pile, and it takes water from one of the shed water cranes. Copyright: J.H. Aston. Lens of Sutton 5##999999-LRK-s4032-PARKD
1019 ‘COUNTY OF MERIONETH’ sits on Long Rock depot’s turntable with, around it, the ribbed apron used for pushing the assembly. To the left is the air raid shelter, a breakdown van and coal wagons, and to the right, the main line. Copyright: R.S. Carpenter. 500627A01-LRK-s1019-TURNT
Long Rock shed in 1951 – 4090 “DORCHESTER CASTLE” and 6801 “AYLBURTON GRANGE” are among the locos stabled. Wooden smoke hoods hang from the ceiling and the shed has yet to be partitioned. The clean floors contrast strongly with the oil covered filth of “my day”! 510624A01-LRK-s6801-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
In ‘Great Western’ livery, 2-6-2T 4406 waits permission to proceed on the main line west of Long Rock Signal Box. As is so frequently found in photos of this era, being caught on camera was still quite a novelty, and the train crew show this. The palisade of the depot boundary runs behind the loco. #####AW01-LRK-s4406-LIGHT
A buffed-up BR WR 4-6-0 No. 1021 ‘COUNTY OF MONTGOMERY’ is inspected by its driver at Penzance’s MPD in April 1955. There is wear to the cab paintwork lining where the crew grip to climb and an oil can on the cab steps. © Photomatic 5504#AO01-LRK-s1021-PARKD
Standard Class 4 75028 is left alone on a storage road at Long Rock shed while other, GWR-derived, designs stand in more immediate use behind. It was said that BR standard designs weren’t particularly popular with local crews, and this picture is certainly a rarity. 550524A01-LRK-75028-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
Badly stained with water overflows and in general run-down appearance, 7806 ‘COCKINGTON MANOR’ is parked in the gentle sun before the white storage cabins at Long Rock depot in the late 1950s. Empty tracks occupy the foreground. 5####BE01-LRK-s7806-PARKD
Top link haulage for an up service consists of immaculate 4087 “CARDIGAN CASTLE”, passing Long Rock with locos steaming on shed. The white objects are new diesel fuel tanks, showing that preparation for dieselisation had seriously started. 56###AC01-LRK-s4087-PAS_U
An enlargement of the picture above shows a Gresley coach immediately behind the engine, and a motley combination of other carriages behind that. Two rows of telegraph poles converge from two different directions and two nearby signals are set at “off”. 56###AC01-LRK-s4087-PAS_U
An unmanned 4949 “PACKWOOD HALL” and a classmate without numberplate, gently smoke with their noses pointing east on Long Rock depot. The water column beside the locomotive has a ‘fire devil’ below it to help prevent icing up in cold weather. 57###AA01-LRK-s4949-PARKD
Locos including 1018 ‘COUNTY OF LEICESTER’ stand on Long Rock depot on 20th May 1957 wearing the early BR logo on their sides. The County’s nameplates seemed less graceful by not following the splasher curves. Photo: L.W.Perkins. 57052CO01-LRK-s1018-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
With a loaded tender of a lighter colour hue, 4931 “HANBURY HALL” sits in the sunshine on Long Rock shed. The differences of roof ventilation to the buildings seem to indicate different attempts to deal with the problem of overwhelming exhaust fumes. 5####BK01-LRK-s4931-PARKD
A well-presented and frequent visitor 5025 “CHIRK CASTLE” shares the apron outside Long Rock depot with a more dowdy 1002 “COUNTY OF BERKS” – both gently simmering away in the sunshine. 5025 appears to be in green with “cycling lion” emblem, but 1002 is in lined black. Above the shed doors is a recess for the ventilation housing, the unit now removed. 6####HQ01-LRK-s5025-PARKD
6938 “CORNDEAN HALL” is on shed at Penzance MPD in the early 1960s, as not only is there an 0-6-0 diesel shunter present, but also two D63XXs. A grounded van is sat at the entrance to the depot to provide more storage, and the site is crowded with locos. White ventilation chimneys plus two darker ones are still intact on the shed’s roofline. 6####IB01-LRK-s6938-PARKD
A clean 5926 “GROTRIAN HALL”, wearing a Truro (83F) shed plate, sprays boiling water from below a cylinder as it rests over at Long Rock depot in July 1956. It is parked against some ‘loco coal’ minerals wagons, and behind it are a 5-plank wagon, brakedown tools van, and fireman trimming coal on a tender. 5607##A01-LRK-s5926-PARKD
Separated from a rake of loco coal wagons by it’s weather-worn tender, 6868 “PENRHOS GRANGE” waits on a side road at Long Rock depot, with a better-cleaned 1004 “COUNTY OF SOMERSET” behind it. Steam rises from its cylinders and smoke drifts across from the main shed roads behind it. 611011A01-LRK-S6868-PARKD
Penzance’s proud allocation of 1018 “COUNTY OF LEICESTER” looks a bit work-worn, shunted to the side of Long Rock depot out of immediate use amid hummocks of long, lank grass. Its tender has been cleaned from ground level and awaits completion. 590717A02-LRK-s1018-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
7925 “WESTOL HALL”, with straight-sided tender, is parked to one side of the access tracks, next to a sister loco on Long Rock MPD. Behind it are wooden wagons showing scrap odds and ends through their open doors, and white corrugated iron storage huts. 590824A02-LRK-s7925-PARKD
A view from the seaward lineside sees ex-GWR 4-6-0 locomotives pack Long Rock depot, though only one seems to be in steam. Partially hidden behind the new mineral trucks in the middle-ground is the breakdown train, the distinctive skylights of a tool van rising above the rooflines around it, and the chimney of the sand-drying building is quite prominent too. 61###AI01-LRK-S_LCO-PARKD
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
Beside the shadow of Long Rock’s Coaling Stage, on a lovely Summer’s Day, 4088 “DARTMOUTH CASTLE” slowly clanks away, wagons squealing, towards the ‘UP SDG’ as displayed by the signal it has passed. A guard looks forward up the length of the train. 5####BV01-LRK-s4088-GDS_U
6875 “HINDFORTH GRANGE” is seen passing Penzance MPD on 11th May 1959 with an up passenger service. The siding beside the depot is packed with locos and everything about the picture looks trim and proper – from the tension of the wires in the fencing to the levelness of the ballast. 590511A01-LRK-s6875-PAS_U
With smoke from a ‘Hall” drifting behind it, 6809 “BURGHCLERE GRANGE” catches the weak sun. The difference in body finishes suggest a cleaned engine, but an indifferently finished tender. A rake of loco coal wagons is assembled behind it. 6####CY01-LRK-s6809-PARKD
Bearing a handwritten service number on its smokebox door, 7022 “HEREFORD CASTLE’ moves off Long Rock shed towards the crossing to take the 10:50am Penzance to Manchester. The sidings behind it already show signs of dereliction. 600716A01-LRK-s7022-LIG_D
With sides oiled down and brasswork gleaming, 6800 “ARLINGTON GRANGE’ waits top link duty on the siding at Long Rock depot. Behind the engine is the Air Raid shelter, and on the roof line of the sheds the chimneys and glazing seem to have been cleaned, had attention or been replaced. 610426A01-LRK-s6800-PARKD
1008 “COUNTY OF CARDIGAN” waits outside Penzance (Long Rock) shed in the company of 6921 “BORWICK HALL”, D6341 and D838 “RAPID”. Steam was confined to the two-road shed on the left at this time, and the diesels to the right; its facade brickwork recently repaired. Copyright: Paul Sankey 620611A01-LRK-s1008-PARKD
Steam billows from 6868 ‘PENRHOS GRANGE’ as it waits beside the coaling stage on Long Rock depot. The turntable can be glimpsed in the distance and pools of water suggest a recent downpour on this miserable grey day. 620421A01-LRK-s6868-COALG
Gorse sprouts from thick clumps of grass beside 6825 ‘LLANVAIR GRANGE’ that is packed into the diesel fuel loading road beside Long Road shed with other locos on 10th June 1962. Parking space was often at a premium here. Photo: D K Jones 620610A01-LRK-s6825-PARKD
Coaled, and in steam, 6802 “BAMPTON GRANGE” is pictured in black BR livery alongside a line of white corrugated iron storage huts in the early evening of 26th September 1956. Beyond it, the retaining fence leads towards a huge heap of loco coal plus Long Rock Signal Box, and at right are breakdown vehicles. Photo: H.C. Casserley 560926A01-LRK-s6802-PARKD
In 1958, 6823 ‘OAKLEY GRANGE’ waits on the approach road to Long Rock depot for an opportunity to gain the main line to run back into Penzance Station before heading a train eastwards. A huge stockpile of coal is in the background before the fence. 58###AE01-LRK-s6823-LIGHT
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
The Eric Curnow Collection 