Spring Steam Spectacular 2012

We have just arrived home after a very enjoyable week's holiday in Cornwall. The fact that it coincided with the Bodmin & Wenford Railway's Spring Steam Spectacular was no coincidence. When the line up of steam power included a T9, an O2, a 42xx along with a Beattie Well Tank and a 45xx, a trip had to be organised. The only drawback was that it happened to be the same weekend as Scalefour North. I had already promised to help with Fish Dock Road but luckily someone stood in for me on the Saturday. With much gratitude this enabled us visit the Steam Spectacular on Friday and briefly on Saturday morning before heading back home. A few photos follow...

30120 was on an empty stock movement at Bodmin General.

O2 and the Beattie prepare to depart for Bodmin Parkway

5552 working hard on the incline from Bodmin Parkway.

4247 on the incline from Boscarne Junction

The photo of the T9 is probably not the best one we took. I'll post a few more photos of the Steam Spectacular once we have sorted through them all.

During the week I'd taken the opportunity to do a few trips along the Camel trail, taking more photos of Grogley and the Bridges at Boscarne and Pendavey. Postings of these will follow in due course.

A tremendous bonus during the week was finding out that Andrew Jones, the owner of the cottage we were staying in, completed a survey of the line in 1972. His survey recorded how many sleepers were in each rail section; type of sleeper; dates on the chairs; and where occupation crossings were. He also took photos at regular intervals as he walked the line. During our conversations I have gleaned much information which I'm hoping I'll remember correctly. More posts will follow but I must unpack and get ready for Scalefour North tomorrow.