Sunday 18th November saw the Great Western Society's GWR Steam Railmotor no.93 making her second runs on the Looe Valley Railway. The day would see her making five round trip from Liskeard to Looe and back. From Liskeard she would run to Coombe Junction where she reverses to continue her journey to Looe. These trips on the Looe Valley Line would make 93 the first Steam Railmotor to run on the British mainline since 1935, quite the achievement considering she has no TPWS, AWS or OTMR, as well as being a wooden bodied vehicle. This would be my first time on the beautiful Looe Valley Line and luckily we were blessed with brilliant weather for most of the day, albeit a bit nippy!
We start off at Liskeard during a cold and frosty Autumn morning where the sun is now rising. We take a look around the branchline station itself before coming to 93, who is being prepared for the day's run. We also see WCRC Class 33 no.33207 'Jim Martin' who came down to Cornwall from Southall to bring 93 to Liskeard for the run on the 4th, from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway where she had been staying for the past few weeks. 93 is then brought out of the siding ready to back into the station in preparation for the first trip of the day, departing Liskeard at 08:30 and she so in fine style almost disappearing in a cloud of her own steam! This shot was only marred somewhat by the bloke in front who had raised his tripod up as high as possible and left his car boot open partially blocking the view of 93. The next shot sees 93 quite literally screaming through St Keyne Wishing Well Halt which is set in quite a beautiful area. Afterwards she is seen returning from Looe passing through a rather frosty Causeland Station, steaming very nicely too!
Onto the second run of the day now and she is seen arriving off the very steep line from Liskeard into Coombe Junction. After exchanging tokens with the ground frame operator she moves onto Coombe Junction Halt which is the third least used station in Great Britain. She then departs the halt with the viaduct carrying the Cornish Mainline seen in the background. She stops at the ground frame again to exchange tokens and then she's off again in a cloud of steam to Looe. A quick shot now as 93 passes through Sandplace Station, although not the best place to be due to the sun facing right at us, luckily I could use my microphone as some sort of cover. We also see the vintage bus which was operating on a free service running between Liskeard and Looe all day.
Now for the third run of the day we come to the beautiful setting of Terras Crossing for the two longest shots of the day, and my favourites. 93 is seen approaching the crossing from Liskeard coming to a near stop just outside the crossing and then whistling up as the crossing is ungated. She then carries on her journey up the estuary towards Looe. With the sun now out and myself in a different spot 93 is seen returning from Looe this time stopping at the crossing and after whistling up again she carries on her merry way back to Liskeard. Next she is seen on the fourth run of the day at a little spot just outside Sandplace along the A387 road. She is seen there again from a different angle returning to Liskeard. Not long after the last shot she is seen climbing away from Coombe Junction up the very steep gradient towards Liskeard.
With the light now faded we come to the last shot of the day where 93 is seen at a small road crossing just outside Coombe Junction, slowing on approaching then accelerating into the night. There was going to be another two shots after this of 93 departing Looe and arriving at Liskeard, but due to her running very early on the return she passed us heading back to Liskeard as we were heading to Looe, so after that we decided to call it a day and head back home. Overall it was a very enjoyable day capturing this very rare event.
Filmed on a Panasonic HDC-HS900 with a Panasonic VW-VMS2E Microphone.
Enjoy.