39. Trip to Cornwall & Devon-20-23.06.17

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 39. Trip to Cornwall & Devon-20-23.06.17
For our big summer trip this year, Andy and I decided to take the Night Riviera Sleeper to Cornwall. We then hired a car, a natty white Fiat 500, and worked our way back to Devon and then back home via the L&SW route. Andy had huge gaps to fill in his stations' book and I wanted a more comprehensive look at Cornwall's mechanical signalling so it all worked out well for both of us. We stayed one night in Plymouth and the second in Exeter right opposite St. David's station. The trip coincided with the end of one of the summer's great hot spells - at least we had one decent day of weather on the first day!
Click here to search The Archive Files


1. MKC, Paddington & Tilehurst then to Cornwall-20.06.17 I met Andy at a very hot Milton Keynes station. We then made our way to London and then had a run out and back to Tilehurst as it was a station that Andy needed. After a superb Greek meal, we headed back to Paddington and settled into our first class sleeper cabins for a great night's sleep whilst travelling to Penzance. Due to engineering works, we travelled via the Berks and Hants route as far as Westbury. Then, we took the Westbury East Loop to Hawkeridge Junction thence down the Avon Valley to Bath and Bristol to continue our journey westwards.
I met Andy at a very hot Milton Keynes station. We then made our way to London and then had a run out and back to Tilehurst as it was a station that Andy needed. After a superb Greek meal, we headed back to Paddington and settled into our first class sleeper cabins for a great night's sleep whilst travelling to Penzance. Due to engineering works, we travelled via the Berks and Hants route as far as Westbury. Then, we took the Westbury East Loop to Hawkeridge Junction thence down the Avon Valley to Bath and Bristol to continue our journey westwards.
2. Penzance to Plymouth-21.06.17 After an early morning arrival into a sunbathed Penzance on the sleeper, Andy and I hired our natty little Fiat 500 and set off on our tour of Cornish stations. We actually managed to visit all but two of them having to miss out Gunnislake and Calstock, being forced to do them next day. The weather stayed gloriously hot and sunny all day. I managed to do all the remaining signalboxes except for Goonbarrow Junction that proved impossible to get to! We both got some lovely photographs on this hot and sunny day that was the summer equinox. Even the evening was not immune from trains, after our curry in Plymouth we had half an hour or so at the station doing time exposures!
After an early morning arrival into a sunbathed Penzance on the sleeper, Andy and I hired our natty little Fiat 500 and set off on our tour of Cornish stations. We actually managed to visit all but two of them having to miss out Gunnislake and Calstock, being forced to do them next day. The weather stayed gloriously hot and sunny all day. I managed to do all the remaining signalboxes except for Goonbarrow Junction that proved impossible to get to! We both got some lovely photographs on this hot and sunny day that was the summer equinox. Even the evening was not immune from trains, after our curry in Plymouth we had half an hour or so at the station doing time exposures!
3. Plymouth-Exeter-22.06.17 The weather had broken with a return to more normal summer conditions; cloudy and overcast! We made our way from Plymouth to Exeter following the railway all the way. We had an extended stay at Newton Abbott and spent an enjoyable hour or so on the fabled sea wall. Before having our usual curry in the evening, we took some time at St. Davids station as it right opposite our hotel for the night.
The weather had broken with a return to more normal summer conditions; cloudy and overcast! We made our way from Plymouth to Exeter following the railway all the way. We had an extended stay at Newton Abbott and spent an enjoyable hour or so on the fabled sea wall. Before having our usual curry in the evening, we took some time at St. Davids station as it right opposite our hotel for the night.
4. Around Exeter & the L & SW route-23.06.17 Our final day that found Andy and me making for home. We decided to to do a bit of the Tarka Line towards Barnstable, go down to Exmouth and then head back following the L & SW line as far as we could until time ran out. Another disappointing day weather wise but we did get some glimpses of the sun.
Our final day that found Andy and me making for home. We decided to to do a bit of the Tarka Line towards Barnstable, go down to Exmouth and then head back following the L & SW line as far as we could until time ran out. Another disappointing day weather wise but we did get some glimpses of the sun.
Would you like to be contacted when images are added or updated? If so, enter your email: