The legend of the Tiger at Penpont…

The dries at Penpont closed in September 1983. Remembered at the end for its Class 08s and clay hoods it is sometimes assumed that the closure was promoted by the introduction of the Clay Tigers…

However, I was lucky enough recently to be sent the rarest of prints showing a trial shrouded in myth and legend - but here, yes, we can clearly see a PBA did made it to Penpont! On the back a scribbled pencil date of October 1982 - it is not recorded if it was a loaded trial or what, if any problems were encountered on the tight and twisting branch - but sadly the closure was already in hand, ECC had decided the nearly 100 year old dries were not worth investment and a new pipeline allowed the transfer of slurry direct to Wenford. The last train ran just under a year later in September 1983, with St Blazey’s 08113 having the dubious honour.

Penpont dries is the most compact of micro layouts and the EFE Rail N gauge wagon almost fills the scene! It fits, with the brakevan and 08 on the fiddlestick mind, so you could just about ‘play’ with it on the model, and certainly, here, it feels part of the story. The photos show it before I had fitted DG couplers (visible in the post from earlier this week) and this was a rather enjoyable, slightly silly distraction - yet furthered my own myth and legend about the fictitious Penpont Dries. Wonderful! Until next time, more soon…

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