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My 1999 visit to Cornwall was only just in time. After nearly 20 years, the reign of the venerable English Electric class 37s came to an end this summer. The "Red Death" in the form of the new General Motors class 66 has come to Cornwall. This makes most of these photos history already.
Taken from the road bridge by Par station, a pair of 'Dutch' 37/0s survivors! 37069 and 37234 shunt the midday Burngullow-St Blazey Enterprise trip at Par. The same locos later worked the afternoon St Blazey-Cliffe vale 'Clayliner'.
Another shot from the same vantage point. In "Ghost of Transrail" livery (The full Transrail logos survive on the other side of the loco!), 37505 "British Steel Workington" waits the head of a set of empty CDAs in the down loop at Par to, let a Penzance-bound 158 pass.
The third and final shot from the bridge. Long-time St Blazey veteran 37672 arrives with cement empties from Moorswater. This is a new working in 1999; the wagons will be taken back to Hope in Derbyshire by a brand-new class 66 later in the day. 37672, after twelve years in Cornwall, was sent to France.
37515, still in the long-obselete Trainload Metals livery, heads down the overgrown Fowey branch at Lostwithiel with a loaded clay train. This locomotive was also banished to France, to be used in construction work for a new TGV line.
One welcome change in 1999 (For enthusiasts, if not for passengers) was the return of locomotive haulage for one or two Great Western workings. Here GWT green 47815 arrives at Lostwithiel with the 0808 Penzance-Paddington, substituting for an HST and running some 20-25 minutes late. This locomotive is one of a fleet of seven, all but one painted in GWT green livery.
A few minutes later, Virgin Cross-Country's 47828 hauls the 0848 Penzance-Manchester, slowed by a signal check caused by the late-running Paddington train in front if it. The coaches are all in Virgin colours, but the loco still wears the old BR Intercity livery.
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