Sunshine and semaphores in the South-West

158958 with 2P19 from Penzance (14.50) to Plymouth passes 800308 with 1C76 from London Paddington (10.03) to Penzance

After five days’ walking a highly-scenic stretch of the South West Coast Path from Padstow to St. Ives with a group of friends, time for a couple of trips on the marvellous St. Ives Bay Line using a bargain-priced Day Ranger (£2.75 with railcard) then a walk south from St. Erth to the remote Rosengrouse Road over-bridge to capture trains passing Britain’s most south-westerly semaphores.

My luck was in on the afternoon of 13 May 2026 when not only did the sun shine, but I had the luck to capture two trains passing the semaphore signals that can be seen looking back from the bridge towards St. Erth, with up outer home signal SE68 on the left, alongside down section signal SE7.

175009 in revenue-earning service with 2C20 from Exeter St. David’s (11.27) to Penzance

I have never previously managed to photograph two trains passing the semaphores at the same time, but on this occasion three-car 158958 appeared with 2P19 from Penzance (14.50) to Plymouth as nine-car IET 800308 headed towards its destination with 1C76 from London Paddington (10.03) to Penzance.

158958 heads away from St. Erth with 2C23 from Plymouth (12.19) to Penzance

Having last been at this spot to capture the final Castle HST workings in December 2025, another first for me at this location was the chance to photograph a trio of Class 175 units, only one of which was in revenue earning service (175009 with 2C20 from Exeter St. David’s to Penzance then later returning with 2P20 from Penzance) while 175006/001 passed with test working 5Z23 from Plymouth to Par via Penzance.

802016/009 pass signal SE68 with 1A92 from Penzance (14.15) to London Paddington

Introduction of the former TfW Class 175 units seems to have become something of an issue for GWR, with just a handful of the fleet in active service and numerous reported breakdowns, although their use is set to expand with the new timetable coming into force on 17 May 2026, including a debut for the units on the Par-Newquay branch to coincide with a much-enhanced service as part of the Mid-Cornwall Metro project.

175006/001 have just passed signal SE7 with 5Z23 from Plymouth to Par via Penzance

As I have written on previous occasions, St. Erth is a delightful station, where the semaphores and signal box, along with half-hourly arrivals and departures on the popular St. Ives branch, makes for a charming place to visit and appreciate the workings of a busy branch junction.