‘Duchess’ ignites dispute over St Blazey turntable

Tempers have flared in Cornwall after the first-ever main line appearance in Cornwall of a Stanier ‘Duchess’ on August 7. It has all been about the use of the turntable at St Blazey. Contractors removing a boundary fence bordering part of the turntable, to allow sufficient clearance to turn ‘Coronation’ 4-6-2 No. 46233 II*-listed roundhouse locomotive shed as industrial units, arrived on site to find the 7ft high boundary fence posts demolished. According to witnesses, there were some angry exchanges. Clearances for turning steam locomotives on the 65ft turntable have always been tight but, at 74ft from buffer to buffer, the ‘Duchess’ fouled the fence. RTC chief Nigel Dobbing who, together with the Railway Heritage Trust, has contributed around £7,500 towards the restoration of the turntable, said: “We used because it was the only engine available to us. “We only realised the day before the run that there would be a problem with clearances, which is why Cambrian Transport was asked to remove the fence and restore it afterwards. I think everyone understood that it was owned by the railway. “I called Neil Shorland and offered him £2,000 to let us take the fence out again for our ‘Royal Duchy’ trip with to Par on August 28 - but he told me the tenants of his industrial units have threatened to sue him if the fence is removed again.” RTC’s August 28 ‘Royal Duchy’ tour was ultimately run by No. 46233 to Plymouth, with a West Coast diesel taking the train onwards into Cornwall. Jimmy James, a Bodmin & Wenford volunteer who helped restore the turntable, added: “DB Cargo authorised the work on the fence. Mr Shorland insists it’s his fence, but the property deeds contradict him.”