A day in the life of the Callington Branch 1950

The first train of the day was the 5.20 am passenger from Callington. This train of two coaches [‘Gate’ Set No. 361, ex Pull & Push, Brake Compo 6548 + Third 741] would arrive at Bere Alston at 6.08 am and would attach its two coaches to the 6.00 am from Tavistock to Plymouth [2-lav. Set] which left Bere Alston at 6.13 am. Four and a half minutes were allowed for the attachment. This, of course, was one of the many Southern through services. The engine would work a goods train back to Gunnislake, leaving Bere Alston at 6.25 am arriving at Gunnislake at 6.45 am. The engine would then work the 7.08 am from Gunnislake, engine and two coaches [either ‘Gate’ Set 373 or 374] arriving at Bere Alston at 7.29 am. The two coaches would be attached to the 7.05 Brentor to Plymouth [either ‘Gate’ Set 373 or 374], leaving Bere Alston at 7.35 am. Again, four and a half minutes being allowed for the attachment and making the second through service of the day.

The engine then worked the 8.03 am Bere Alston to Callington [light engine or freight if required] arriving at 8.39 am. It then worked the 10.15 am goods arriving at Bere Alston at 12.11 pm returning to Callington at 2.50 pm thence to shed. The 10.15 and the 12.40 pm goods were the trains that visited Hingston Down Quarry. The next passenger train from Callington was the 7.16 am which arrived at Bere Alston at 7.59 am. This was a two coach train [the so called "A" set comprised of Trailer Brake Compos. 6557 & 6558] and it returned to Callington with the 8.24 am train, arriving at Callington at 9.08 am. It then worked the 9.40 am from Callington ["A" set, 6557 & 6558] with a milk van marshalled next to the engine. The train arrived at Bere Alston at 10.23 am. The milk van would be attached to the 10.30 am Plymouth train. The engine then worked the 10.50 am Bere Alston to Callington ["A" set, 6557 & 6558] arriving at 11.34 am. The next train for this engine would be the 1.00 pm Callington to Bere Alston ["A" set, 6557 & 6558] arriving at 1.42 pm. The return working would be the 3.15 pm from Bere Alston ["A" set, 6557 & 6558] getting back to Callington at 3.57 pm. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays a train ran to Gunnislake and back before 3.15 pm [1. 58 p.m. Bere Alston, arrive Gunnislake 2. 18 p.m. returning at 2. 26 p.m., arrive Bere Alston 2. 47 p.m. "A" set, 6557 & 6558] The next service from Callington would be the 4.23 pm ["A" set, 6557 & 6558] This arrived at Bere Alston at 5.06 pm returning with the 5.23 pm [‘Gate’ Set No. 361] due Callington at 6.05 pm

On Monday to Friday, the last service from Callington would be the 6.20 pm [‘Gate’ Set No. 361] arriving Bere Alston at 7.01 pm. The return service would be the 7.10 pm [‘Gate’ Set No. 361] to Callington arriving at 7.53 pm. The engine would then go to shed and await the working of the following day's 7.16 am train. On Saturdays only there would be a late train from

Callington leaving at 9.20 pm. The train would return to Callington at 10.05 pm.

Working of the Friary loco.

The engine had worked the 7.34 am Plymouth Friary to Tavistock, the coaches coming off the 5.20 am train from Callington. The train arrived at Tavistock at 8.31 am then working back to Bere Alston arriving at 8.57 am
berthing the two coaches in the Tuckermarsh siding. (Tuckermarsh siding was the siding from the yard at the Tavistock end going towards Tavistock). These would be ready for the 8.00 pm Callington service. After berthing, the coaches the engine usually ran light engine to Gunnislake arriving at 9.22 am. The engine worked a goods train leaving Gunnislake at 9.38 am arriving back at Bere Alston at 10.09 am.

The engine would then shunt at Bere Alston if required. It would then work the 11.13 am goods train to Gunnislake due at 11.36 am. Sometimes the engine would pilot the 10.15 am freight to Bere Alston. Time of arrival being 12.36 pm. The engine would then run light engine back to Plymouth Friary leaving Bere Alston at 12.56 pm arriving at 1.26 pm This engine would then be prepared for working the 4.53 pm Plymouth Friary to Gunnislake. The coaches
[either ‘Gate’ Set  373 or 374] would come from the mornings 7.08 am service from Gunnislake. The service arrived at Bere Alston at 5.43 pm. The train would shunt from the up platform into the branch platform; the engine would run around and would leave at 6.00 pm arriving at Gunnislake at 6.21 pm berthing the coaches which would form the next morning's 7.08 am service. The engine would then return light to Bere Alston at 6.57 pm crossing with the 7.10 pm train at Calstock.

The engine would arrive at Bere Alston at 7.27 pm. It would then pick up the coaches from the Tuckermarsh sidings and leave Bere Alston at 8.00 pm for Callington, getting there at 8.42 pm and would prepare the coaches for the 5.20am train the next day. The last working for this engine would be the 9.15 pm goods from Callington due Bere Alston at 10.00 pm after which the engine returned light to Plymouth Friary. This is how the services were run for many years before and after 1953. Of course the L.M.S. lvatts replaced the aged 758 class and these were excellent loco's.

John Snell