11th November 2020

Armistice Day
We shall remember them
Harry Patch at Penzance in November 2015

151130c Harry Patch the last survivor of the trenches. Copyright Roger Winnen

151130b The famous words of the fallen spoken the the Remembrance services each year. Copyright Roger Winnen

Kemble
Roger Geach

Kemble station passing HST's Thursday 22nd September 2016. Copyright Roger Geach. N.B. The thrid platform is for the Cirencester branch - this unfortunately closed on the 6th April 1964.

More Woodborough
Guy Vincent

I was very interested in Doug Nicholls archive pictures of Woodborough this morning. The station was, quite literally in the middle of nowhere and the site remains so today with few signs of habitation nearby.  In July 2012 I visited the area as loco 59102 had been removed from a loaded eastbound stone train due to a seized axle bearing and left in the up loop pending recovery.    At that time a length of GWR spear-tipped fencing remained on the right (up) side.  Also notice the footpath crossing the line at the entrance/exit of the loops.  This was removed in 2014 and replaced at great expense by a large metal footbridge.  Photo taken from the rear of a (Pilton Festival) Castle Cary-bound Turbo I was on in June 2014.

Also, from the loft a copy of a GWR blueprint dated 18.02.1944 for rebuilding the signal box.  This was bought in an auction lot of old S&T paperwork many years ago.  The box closed on 20 January 1979 when Reading panel box assumed control of the area, around the same time the down loop was extended and this is used daily by freight and engineers trains to allow fast west country services to pass.

Best wishes

Guy Vincent

Woodborough looking west on the 29th July 2012 Copyright Guy Vincent. Note 59102 abandoned on the up loop and the pedestrian board crossing - since replaced. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Almost two years later at Woodborough. Looking east with the new footbridge in place of the board crossing and that the reverse shunt on the London end of the down loop has been removed.26th June 2014 Copyright Guy Vincent

Woodborough Signal Box Blueprint 1944 - Copyright the Guy Vincent Collection.

Many thanks Guy

Motive power on the Paignton, Exeter, Waterloo services in 1980. (2)
Exmouth Junction
Paul Barlow

33006 and 33047 double head the 13.40 Exeter to Brighton train as it passes passes Exmouth Junction on the 23rd August 1980. Copyright Paul Barlow.

Many thanks Paul