GbRF

[rogerw]

Could someone tell me why GbRF are sending light engines down through Cornwall down to Penzance

 

[Class15]

They are getting the St Blazey RHTT and China Clay diagrams from DBC, but I have no idea why they are going all the way to Penzance.

 

[JonathanH]

Speculation that it is to do with the Belmond Britannic Explorer.
https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/britannic-explorer/journeys/cornwall

CORNWALL AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT
A celebration of Cornwall in all its sand-kissed, sea-swept glory, this three-night itinerary spirits us to the far reaches of South-West England – the stunning land of shanties and seafood. From your private luxury cabin, embark on a train journey like no other and visit the region’s most historic and picturesque sights.

Cornwall
3 Nights
Depart from London Victoria for a thrilling luxury holiday in Cornwall. From the rugged shoreline of Penzance to the bucolic villages of the Lostwithiel area, there’s something to see for every kind of adventurer.

New Belmond train in England & Wales

New Sleeper service from 2025, run by the same folks that do the Royal Scotsman: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-14072053/Sleeper-train-england-wales-belmond.html The 'Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train' will depart from London Victoria It will have 18 'extraordinary' cabins ranging...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[66701GBRF]

Speculation that it is to do with the Belmond Britannic Explorer.
https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/britannic-explorer/journeys/cornwall

New Belmond train in England & Wales

New Sleeper service from 2025, run by the same folks that do the Royal Scotsman: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-14072053/Sleeper-train-england-wales-belmond.html The 'Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train' will depart from London Victoria It will have 18 'extraordinary' cabins ranging...

www.railforums.co.uk

Yes, GBRf are operating said train.

 

[Express380]

They are getting the St Blazey RHTT and China Clay diagrams from DBC, but I have no idea why they are going all the way to Penzance.

Is the China Clay part confirmed please? I know they'll be being doing the Britannic and RHTT but have seen nothing concrete for the clay work.

 

[co-tr-paul]

Concrete. China Clay . Ha ha.
Also 57301,5,12 on hire to GWR for sleeper/LTV Thunderbird duties.

 

[Adrian Barr]

They are getting the St Blazey RHTT and China Clay diagrams from DBC, but I have no idea why they are going all the way to Penzance.

Don't forget the regular Cornwall RHTT diagrams cover all the way from Penzance to Westbury (3S11 / 3S12 / 3S13).

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...8/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=ZZ

Is the China Clay part confirmed please?

There were rumours of this as far back as December on the forum, but I've not heard anything beyond that. It seemed to be an assumption based on GBRF seeking permanent drivers at St Blazey and route learning the Fowey branch. However, the railhead treatment contract is likely to include the summer MPV weedkilling down all the branch lines (including Moorswater / Parkandillack e.t.c.) and they'll need drivers for the Britannic Explorer if that's a regular visitor to Cornwall. No doubt GBRF will bid for the clay contract whenever it comes up for renewal and be in a good position to win it, but if they'd won the contract last year I'd expect them to have taken over by now, or at least to have heard about it from other sources.

57310 at Golant on a 5Z24 in June, working Penzance to Fowey with an interesting rake of coaches (presumably Brittanic route learning / train handling):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/66901380@N04/54581568722/ (Photo: Mark Lyman)

Also DB pulling out of St Blazey depot may have contributed to the rumours. The clay wagons are now maintained at Westbury and planned to stable at Goonbarrow between workings - for example see the caption to this photo of 6V76 from Westbury; the photographer has a good local knowledge of the clay workings:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nat37670/54649880553/ (Photo: Kernow Ned)

 

[Express380]

No doubt GBRF will bid for the clay contract whenever it comes up for renewal and be in a good position to win it, but if they'd won the contract last year I'd expect them to have taken over by now, or at least to have heard about it from other sources.


Also DB pulling out of St Blazey depot may have contributed to the rumours. The clay wagons are now maintained at Westbury and planned to stable at Goonbarrow between workings - for example see the caption to this photo of 6V76 from Westbury; the photographer has a good local knowledge of the clay workings:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nat37670/54649880553/ (Photo: Kernow Ned)

Still a few wagons on St Blazey in addition to a lot of staff around there still too today so seems to be clinging on for now. I haven't seen anything materialise from the vacancies so far but I guess it's one to watch.

 

[Nat the Ned]

GBRF do not have the clay. St.Blazey Depot has closed, DBC have moved staff to Goonbarrow Jn. Trains can still stable at St.Blazey on the 'Fowey Main', the line that leads into Par Harbour, they need the facility to run around here as you can't at Par Harbour. There is still activity at St.Blazey as the turntable and adjoining building is still leased to Mpower Kernow.

 

[Express380]

GBRF do not have the clay. St.Blazey Depot has closed, DBC have moved staff to Goonbarrow Jn. Trains can still stable at St.Blazey on the 'Fowey Main', the line that leads into Par Harbour, they need the facility to run around here as you can't at Par Harbour. There is still activity at St.Blazey as the turntable and adjoining building is still leased to Mpower Kernow.

So guessing those vacancies lead to nothing for GB unless it's for the Brittanic/RHTT?

 

[Adrian Barr]

So guessing those vacancies lead to nothing for GB unless it's for the Brittanic/RHTT?

Does anyone know how many posts were advertised? There were adverts for a "Qualified Freight Train Manager - St. Blazey" and also "Part Time Freight Train Manager - St. Blazey" (i.e. drivers) with the part-time one saying this:

We have an exciting opportunity for you to work an average of 2 days per week. Consisting of Full time work during the Autumn and Winter months and then you will get your Spring and Summer off!!

Which ties up with a GBRF announcement about autumn and winter treatment trains:

April 30th 2025: GB Railfreight (GBRf) has been awarded a new five-year deal to run Network Rail’s fleet of autumn and winter treatment trains, keeping tracks clear and passengers and freight on time.
Until at least 2030, GBRf will take on leaf-blasting, snow and ice treatment trains and weed spraying in many locations across the country. In addition to retaining seasonal services at Broxbourne, Stowmarket & Tonbridge, from this August, GBRf will be running expanded operations from Peterborough and Kings Norton and operating new services from Inverness, St Blazey and Toton.

https://www.gbrailfreight.com/gb-ra...l-to-keep-tracks-clear-and-passengers-moving/

One thing that I don't quite understand is that the announcement about NR treatment trains refers to new services from St Blazey, but the RHTT schedules are now set up from Taunton Fairwater Yard? Possibly it just meant they won the existing circuit based off St Blazey.

Another possible use for Cornish drivers would be if GBRF have any upcoming work for possession trains in the area. I think these are typically operated by Colas but such work does shift around occasionally as operators bid for it.

There's also this loco-hauled weedkilling train that I'd forgotten about, seen here at Dawlish in 2024: https://www.flickr.com/photos/195070602@N03/53943997821/ (Photo: Richard Farrant)
It seems to have been working off Exeter this past week as a 3Q98, on routes around Devon.

The Cornish branches have been covered this summer by an MPV operated from Truro by DB.
MPV DR98906 / DR98956 seen at Truro at the end of July: https://www.flickr.com/photos/66901380@N04/54698928194/ (Photo: Mark Lynam)
That MPV is now back at Wigan, but the work will presumably be part of the GBRF contract next summer.

 

[Express380]

Does anyone know how many posts were advertised? There were adverts for a "Qualified Freight Train Manager - St. Blazey" and also "Part Time Freight Train Manager - St. Blazey" (i.e. drivers) with the part-time one saying this:
We have an exciting opportunity for you to work an average of 2 days per week. Consisting of Full time work during the Autumn and Winter months and then you will get your Spring and Summer off!!

There was just the 2 that you mentioned, it just seemed to me like 2 adverts would end up as more than just RHTT and as mentioned above St Blazey, for now at least is no more.