October 2023 – RailwayWorld.net

Scheduled steam returns to Wolsztyn

Pt47-65 storms away from Nowawies Mochy on 20 October 2023 with the 11.43 Wolsztyn-Leszno

Managing to organise a three-night autumn mini-break to Poland, and spend two days riding on Europe’s last standard gauge steam services for a total cost of well under £250.00 might sound pie in the sky, but a recent trip has proved that such things can still be done.

In a crazy world where my return Ryanair flights from Stansted to Poznan cost less (£35.02) than an off-peak return from Haslemere to Stansted (£39.75 with railcard), the total cost of a four-day break, including all fares, food and accommodation, came in at just £224.30.

Favourite photo-spots: Melton Mowbray

43321/303+43357/301 approach Melton Mowbray with 0Z60 from Exeter Riverside to Old Dalby

Many years after it was supposed to have been replaced, there remains a significant amount of mechanical signalling interest along the busy cross-country route linking Leicester and Peterborough, with six of the seven signal boxes along a 20-mile stretch of the line retaining some semaphores.

Largest and most impressive of this half dozen is Melton Station Signal Box, a tall and attractive LMS Type 11c box, which dates from 1942 and stands west of Melton Mowbray station on the north side of the line. A total of six semaphores are among 21 working levers on its 45-lever frame, including a rarity in motor-worked up distant MN19.

Castle HST sets and semaphores at Liskeard

Three years after my last visit (blog: November 2020) it is time to make a day return to charming Liskeard on 3 October 2023, and attempt to photograph the dwindling ranks of GWR’s Castle HST sets and semaphore signals, as well as trekking out to a fine vantage point some way east of the station.

This is an over-bridge on a narrow lane called St. Keyne Road (264 miles 10.75 chains) that offers a fine panoramic view looking west of trains as they pass the first of Liskeard’s six semaphore signals, its down outer home (LD35), which stands just before the line curves west over the short Bolitho Viaduct.