Great Western Coffee Shop

26/10
Sleeper has hit a tree approaching Lostwithiel and is damaged -all lines blocked.

The line has now reopened but residual delays are expected until 1000.

57605 working the 'Down' (1C99) appears to have struck a large Oak tree somewhere in the Glyn Valley near Bodmin Parkway. Train terminated Lostwithiel 68 minutes late. No reported injuries.

Not an easy place to get sufficient cabs to, for onward transportation....I hope those pax got to PNZ at a reasonable time...

Not sure what (if anything) is being turned out for tonights 1A40 at the moment...

3 coaches were sent to Lostwithiel and arived in the area at approx 0800, however due to the roads in the area not being suitable to serve the station, 4 taxis had to shuttle customers the 450 yds to the main road. All 3 buses departed at around 0845 towards PNZ.

A 57 from OOC is on its way down to Penzance to work Up sleepers tonight. however my contact tells me that some of the sleeping coaches have been damagedm however there are some spare at Long Rock, so fingers crossed the service should be fully formed tonight. The damaged 57 will be taken back to OOC tonight on the back!!!

I saw a Sleeper set go down near Redruth this afternoon, although it passed slower than other trains. It appeared to have the right amount of coaches. I presume its at Longrock now ready for tonights up sleeper.

full marks to FGW.  It looks liek this was dealt with efficiently

0945/26 Penzance to 0521/27 London Paddington, departed ontime.

57605 DIT on the rear, should be back at OOC by now. The coaches with wheelflats were attached as well so the train loaded to nine coaches plus 57605.

(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s81/chris64ex4/Rail%20odds-sods/57605Penzance26-10-2011.jpg)

EDIT, I remembered my photobucket log in....  ;D

Alas, clicking on the picture link gives a "you are not authorised" message.

Guess the wheelflats made it run slow.... (2145/26 possibly?)   ;D ;D

Load 9 plus a dead loco tend so make it cough a bit going up the hills, bearing in mind the rails are a bit greasy as well. Wheelflats only very minor.

Tree appears to have popped out of the hedge at roughly the same place as the mudslide last year. Perhaps Network Rail will employ Jenny Agutter to stand vigil with a pair of red flannel draws during periods of heavy rain.....

I don't know how to upload pictures on this one....  :(

Edit, I do now!

Has the sleeper started going from Platform 1 at Penzance? Has always been Platform 4 when I have caught it.

Platform 1 used due to the length of the train (9 x Mk3 + 2 x 57/6) yesterday.

Of course - didn't think fo that.  Too little knowledge is a dangerous thing.....

Sleeper is now BOOKED into & Out of Platform 1 at Penzance every time.

Believe it's something ORR picked up over their investigations over the Mexico Crossing fatality.