Chard Junction Excl to Yeovil Jct.

Chard Junction Excl.
to Yeovil Junction Incl.

Yeovil Junction 23rd November 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

Marshwood Farm Crossing is to the east of Chard. Copyright John Cornelius

Hewish Crossing is about two and a half miles west of Crewkerne. Copyright John Cornelius

780513e Class 33 Approaching Crewkerne Tunnel Copyright Roger Winnen

Crewkerne Tunnel 206 yards long

The east end of the 206 yard long Crewkerne tunnel. A privileged picture taken by John Cornelius, an employee. Copyright

Preserved class 50 'Hood' back in BR days.Many thanks John, Copyright

About three miles west of Crewkerne lies Hewish Crossing. This smashing picture by John Cornelius. Copyright

South Western Limited Railtour Copyright John Cornelius

The same railtour returning - this commemorated the passing of the Lord Nelson class in BR service. Copyright John Cornelius

A few more pics I thought would be of interest. They are of an embankment slip that occurred towards the end of May 1994 near Crewkerne level crossing. Luckily the running line was not affected and trains
could pass at a very reduced speed. However if the old down line had still been in place,then their would have been big problems with the ground gone beneath it, single line working would have been introduced until the embankment was reconstructed.These pics were taken the day after the slip. The embankment was rebuilt with gabions of stone during the next few weeks. CHEERS JOHN Cornelius

'Undaunted' 5048 pulls away from Crewkerne. Copyright John Cornelius

A 'Route Learner' comprising of blues liveried 150238 passes esngineering work west of Crewkerne. 12th February 2021 Copyright Bill Elston

The same spot as above but showing more of the engineering work in progress as 159001 & 159022 pass by., 12th February 2021 Copyright Bill Elston

Marlpitts road bridge lies about a quarter of a mile west of Crewkerne. Copyright John Cornelius

Crewkerne

S_SR_306_Crewkerne Drummond 700 or 'Black Motor' class 0-6-0 No.306 in SR days hauling a down freight at Crewkerne. No. 306 was built by Dübs & Co. And entered LSWR service as its no. 702 in May 1897 but was renumbered as shown here in 1898. This class gave sterling service and 306 would eventually be withdrawn as BR no. 30306 at Eastleigh mpd in April 1962.
[Dr. Ian C. Allen / Mke Morant collection]

780513f Crewkerne Station Copyright Roger Winnen

130630ac Crewkerne Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

130630ag Crewkerne Station looking towards Exeter. Copyright Roger Winnen

130630af The boarded up former Crewkerne Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen

33039 and 33042 pass Crewkerne at speed with a Saturday service-from Brighton to Exeter St Davids during the summer of 1982 Copyright Brian Pibworth

31170 brings a long train of empty 4-wheeled ballast wagons from Salisbury Yard to Meldon Quarry past Crewkerne Station on 12th August 1982. Copyright Brian Pibworth. Please note of great interest showing scaffolding around the station building chimney stack that had been hit by lightning.

The Railtour is the Exeter-Solent Railtour. The brickwork on the left is the lower part of a retaining wall for Crewkerne's upside goods yard. The footpath across the line from Misterton can be seen with the loco passing over it. Footpaths also ran from either side of the line to the upside and down goods yards. I think this pic (Below) of 30827 on an engineering train at Crewkerne on 2-9-1962 will make it clear. The foot crossing is just behind me in this pic. Copyright John Cornelius

Crewkerne in the snow

One advantage of snow is that it emphasises the track layout. Note the double track main line arrangement through the station with vans both behind the down platform and in the goods yard. Copyright John Cornelius

Courtesy John Cornelius Copyright

A lovely scene, you can almost feel the heat from the loco and the station staff busy clearing the down platform. Copyright John Cornelius

See caption above. Copyright John Cornelius

This loco to traffic 8th February 1961 and was in BR service until 16th December 1972. Onslaught as been on the West Somerset Railway for a time, However it has now returned to the East Lancashire Railway. Class 42 Warship 'Onslaught' came home in mid 2016. Owned by the Bury Hydraulic Group it will be based on the ELR. Copyright John Cornelius

Wood Lane 2 miles east of Crewkerne

Wood Lane, North Parrot, Two miles East of Crewkerne 12th November 2019. Diverted IET 802 & 801 running to time. Copyright Bill Elston.

Crewkerne North Perrot 1 2 miles east of Crewkerne 159014 . 59019 1Z 26 Exeter Central to Salisbury 4th June 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

Wood Lane, North Perrot, bridge notice. 4th June 2020.

Crewkerne , North Perrot 3 2 miles east of Crewkerne 159018 on the 1Z85 4th June 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

Crewkerne North Perrot 67023 & 027 with a Test Train 4th June 2020 Copyright Bill Elston

34027 Taw Valley Approaching Crewkerne. The Devon Venturer Railtour east of Crewkerne 1400 Exeter-London Victoria 1 August 1998 Copyright Paul Barlow.

Network Rail 950001 working the 2Q08 0327 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. The Track Recording Vehicle is recorded passing between Crewkerne Station and Cathole Lane Crossing as the sun breaks through on a misty Somerset morning. 17th August 2020. Copyright Brian Pibworth.

Sutton Bingham

Sutton Bingham, the down platform including the signalbox and waiting shelter.The signalbox closed 6th May 1969, the station had already closed to passengers on the 31st December 1962, the station previously losing its goods service on the 4th April 1960. This picture courtesy of the Mike Morant Collection

Courtesy of the Mike Morant Collection

Sutton Bingham Halt (Closed 31st December 1962) Pictured 13th June 1979 Copyright Roger Winnen

Yeovil Junction

Map courtesy Google Maps showing both Yeovil Pen Mill (Top of the map) and Yeovil Junction (bottom). The line heading off the to of the map is towards Castle Cary, whilst that to the right is towards Salisbury. The lines heading off the bottom of the map are left hand side to Exeter and right hand side to Weymouth. Please use Zoom and Pan to observe recent track layouts.

790613a Approaching Yeovil Junction from the west. Copyright Roger Winnen

A Scotch built King Arthur class . Built by North British in May 1926, Withdrawn October 1960 Copyright John Cornelius

34015 was built at Brighton being released for traffic in November 1945. It was withdrawn in April 1967. Copyright John Cornelius

Yeovil Jct 23rd November 1963 Copyright Mike Roach. Charles Fennamore with duffle bag is back to the camera.

Yeovil Jct Shuttle 30048 2.10 to YT 8th Nov 1959 MLR

Yeovil Jn picture shows a 'Warship' leaving on a Waterloo train, with gas lanterns in evidence on 'barley sugar' posts. The enormous bracket signal looks to be at the limit for such structures before a gantry becomes necessary. Early 70's Copyright the Late John Vines.

Yeovil Junction on the 22nd July 1971 as 815 Druid brings in the Waterloo -Exeter Copyright Ron Kosys

A Class 33 Arrives Yeovil Junction with a train to Exeter St Davids 24th April 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen. Note the signal has been considerably modified.

Busier days in Yeovil Junction Yard on the 31st March 1978 Copyright Roger Winnen.

33119 passes through Yeovil Junction 6th June 1987 Copyright David Tozer

Yeovil Junction 35028 Clan Line 6th June 1987 Copyright David Tozer N.B. Clan Line was one of the first preserved locomotives to participate in steam specials and in 1974 hauled its first revenue-earning train in preservation from Basingstoke to Westbury.

A most interesting picture. Copyright John Cornelius

One HST at Yeovil Junction make a rare sight but two at the same time is very rare. Copyright John Cornelius

This railtour was named after one of the follies to be found in Barwick Park about a mile as the crow flies from Yeovil Junction station. Jack is a figure standing on top of a tower which itself stands on an ornamental arch. Jack the Treacle Eater was one of four follies built to give the estate labourers work during a time of depression in the 1820's. The statue could be seen to the right from trains leaving Yeovil Junction heading west. However tree growth unfortunately blocks that view. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barwick,_Somerset

John Cornelius catches a very smart 159 at Yeovil Junction. Seen from the up yard. Copyright

Friday 13th February 2015 and 159 009 calls at Yeovil Junction with a service from Waterloo to Exeter St Davids. A nowadays most unusual view seen from the former down island platform. The island platform on the up side is now bi-directional. Copyright Craig Munday.

Yeovil Junction on the 21st August 2007 Preserved rolling stock together with Class 50 050 Fearless at Yeovil steam centre. Copyright Roger Winnen

A delightful picture taken from inside the Yeovil Railway Centre of Britannia Oliver Cromwell standing outside the fence. 'Little and Large'! Copyright

For Yeovil Railway Centre see new section
Click here

Yeovil Junction Signalbox

We are most fortunate in having contributions from Martin Duff concerning the signalling of the Basingstoke to Exeter line. Martin was Operations Manager for the changeover from manual boxes to the control centre at Basingstoke.
Many thanks to Martin for letting us have your rare and valuable pictures.

The panel inside Yeovil Junction Signalbox. The double track to the left continues to Templecombe, the single line to the right leads towards Exeter. The single line dropping away to the left is the route to Yeovil Pen Mill which joins the line from Weymouth just before reaching Yeovil Pen Mill. Copyright Martin Duff The grey lines are sidings, those on the top of the diagram serving the private loco shed and turntable.

Detail of the left hand side of the above board. Note various amendments during the changeover period. Copyright Martin Duff

The tokens for the single track section to Pen Mill. Copyright Martin Duff

The fine array of signals controlling entry into Yeovil station from the single line from Pen Mill. Copyright Martin Duff.

A 'drivers eye' view of the above signals. Copyright Martin Duff

Ground Disc YJ10 this is with reference to the catch point on the single line ahead before it enters the station complex. Copyright Martin Duff

Yeovil Junction signalbox Notes courtesy of Martin Duff Operations Manager

Winter 2012, including diverted HST to Penzance - Sunday February 4. Of interest is ground signal YJ16, with its yellow band on a black cut out disc background. This allowed movements toward the siding next to the Pen Mill single line without the signal being cleared. This arrangement is retained in colour light form today. After closure, the frame was recovered for use at Pontypool. Sadly, the structure was doomed, both due condition and location. Not situated for a museum piece, it would involve crossing the track, and then there was a large crack in the brick work at the back. Demolition came in the early hours of Sunday 09/06/2012. YVJ was a lovely little out post of mechanical signalling, with electric token to Pen Mill and tokenless block to Templecombe and Chard Junction. Add the occasional movements in and out of the railway centre and diverted traffic including the night sleepers, the box was an interesting place to be.

DSCF9463 Sunday 4th February - a diverted HST on its way to Penzance. Copyright Martin Duff

A view towards Yeovil Junction for the site of the signalbox 4th February 2012 Copyright Martin Duff Note the steam activity in the background.

Signal YJ16 - see notes above - Copyright Martin Duff. The doomed box in the background.

Yeovil Junction signal box now just a memory - since the 9th of June 2012 Copyright Martin Duff

DSCF9478 Another view of the box - a repaired crack is to be seen to the right of this picture. Copyright Martin Duff

The train is crossing bridge 159 over the Weymouth line. Note the four spotters sat on the embankment beyond the bridge. Double bridges was a favourite location for Yeovil trainspotters in the 1950's and early 1960's,as you could see all the Southern and Western trains,plus anything going too and from the junction and town stations. Grand days indeed. cheers JOHN C. Many thanks John. Copyright

34077 was built at Brighton and released to traffic in July 1948. It was modified in July in 1960 and withdrawn in March 1967. Copyright John Cornelius

The chord line to Yeovil Pen Mill can just be seen heading off the right. Copyright John Cornelius

GWR Diversions at Yeovil Junction

On A VERY WET DAY! Copyright John Cornelius

A perfectly posed picture - one cannot do any better! Freightliner 66556 on route learning at Yeovil Junction. 24th September 2020. Copyright Driver Alan Peters Note by Alan - When Green is not what it seems! Freightliner 66556 is pictured at Yeovil Junction with 0Z80 a route learning special from originating from Westbury to Castle Cary via Exeter St Davids, Honiton, Yeovil and reverse on 24/09/20. The locomotive was in fact hired by Colas Rail Freight for route learning to cover for 66850 which itself was used for route learning between Reading and Eastleigh - Alan Peters