A sight now consigned to history. 08 945 shunting the clay hoods at Wenford Bridge

With work on the branch completed, 08945 rests at Bodmin Road. It will eventually rejoin its brake van and return to St Blazey

Although Class 37s would traverse the branch to collect the china clay wagons from Boscarne Jcn, the curvature of the line between there and Wenford Bridge meant that Class 08s were the only locos used to the extremity. On 12 August 1982, 08 945 arrives at Bodmin Road from its depot at St Blazey. The steep down grade can be seen to the left of the brake van.

08 945 is busy shunting the hooded china clay wagons.

While the crew eat their lunch, 08 945 rests at Wenford Bridge. 12 Aug 1982

Once its work is done, the 08 draws away from the wagons. the crew are able to take their lunch break in one of the nissen huts on the left of the picture. The small trailer beside the loco contains diesel fuel, which is used to top up the loco for the return journey

The view from the guards van, en route to Wenford Bridge

It's hard to believe that this was, at the time, a working freight line...

Just beyond the clay dries lies the end of the line. Bodmin Moor is just a short way ahead

While the crew eat their lunch, 08 945 rests at Wenford Bridge. 12 Aug 82

Photos of the Wenford branch wouldnt be complete without at least one shot of the days when larger locos operated. On 10 June 1980, 37 299 is caught at Bodmin General shunting clay hoods. This location is now operational again as part of a successful restoration project.

Cowley Bridge Jcn, just east of Exeter St Davids, is where the line towards Barnstaple diverges from the WR main. 31 135 is seen coming off the branch on 7 Aug 82 with a two wagon greight, and the driver can be seen just about to handover the token. Meanwhile 50 047 is about to pass with a west of England express

Sat 7 Aug 82. 31 407 has just arrived from Barnstaple with a local service, while 50 015 passes through the centre road with ECS, probably bound for Plymouth

Aller junction, just west of Newton Abbott, has been one of the classic railway photography locations of all time. In perfect weather, 50 009 heads the up Motorail service towards London

Sat 7 August. With the hard work of the Devon banks behind, 50 009 eases past the signal guarding the approach to Aller Junction, with its Penzance - Paddington service

9 Aug 82. 50 033 heads west past a delightful apple orchard at Cutmadoc, near Bodmin Road

One of my favourite all time shots. 50 042 at Aller Jcn,near Newton Abbott

Early August 1982, and a young enthusiast enjoys the thrash along the sea wall with a London Bound 50 045.

The last up Penzance - Pad could often produce a pair on Sunday afternoons - a most satisfying way to end a weekend's bashing in the West. On 8 Aug 82 50 050 and 50 027 swing inland from Langstone Rock, to the obvious delight of enthusiasts on board

In the summer of '82, the London to St Austell morotail services ran as two separate trains. On Sat 7 August, 50 050 attacks the start of the climb over the Devon backs at Aller Jcn, with the down train

With a negligable load, this unidentified Class 50 thunders along the sea wall at Dawlish with the down Motorail service

In 1982, inter regional services were still in the hands of trusty Class 45s. Taken from the footbridge just south of the station, the loco is about to run along the sea wall towards Teignmouth. The car park shows a grand cross section of cars of the era

This HST unit, slowing for a booked station stop at Totnes, is running as a short formation, with only one first class coach.

A location just made for photography. 37 207 within the roundhouse at St Blazey