16th December 2020

Colas 37421 with Test Train
Roger Winnen

201216e 37421 Stabled at Penzance after arriving on the 23.02 departure from Exeter Riverside The trains departs tonight at 20.48 for Exeter via Newquay and Looe. Copyright Roger Winnen

201216f 37421 Nearly at the buffer stops. Copyright Roger Winnen

Yeovil Pen Mill +.
Guy Vincent

​Yeovil Pen Mill station on the dark winter evening of Sunday 13th December 2020.  Platform 1 is deserted as 158767 waits time before departing with the 2V93 1807 Dorchester West-Bristol Temple Meads.  Engineering work taking place beyond Dorchester meant trains were unable to serve Weymouth, a rail replacement bus running in lieu.  Yeovil Pen Mill remains a very interesting station to explore as it retains much olde-worlde atmosphere of times past.      Of  GWR origin, from 2nd April 1950 it was administered by BR (SR) and the Southern influence still lingers through the use of dark green paint on the station although this reflects the current operator Great Western Railway.         Nowadays platform 2 is unofficially regarded as out of use with all southbound trains using the other side of the island, platform 3.  The footbridge spans just one line and the staircases have attractive late 19th century decorative iron banister supports  although not quite so ornate as those at Exeter St Davids.   The bridge is 141 miles and 27 chains from London Paddington by way of Swindon, Melksham and Frome. 

Note: On referring to an old record book I realised that it is now almost 30 years since 158767 started work for British Rail as part of the new fleet of  90mph 'Super Sprinters' that commenced operation on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route on Monday March 18th 1991.  Later transferred away to the Trans-Pennine route 158767 joined First Great Western in 2006 following displacement by new class 185 units and has remained in the west country ever since.   A photo scan dated 19.03.1991 shows the now elderly set when new calling at Bradford on Avon on the 0622 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Harbour.

Best regards

Guy Vincent

Yeovil Pen Mill 158767 2V93 13th December 2020. Copyright Guy Vincent

Yeovil Pen Mill Footbridge 13th December 2020. Copyright Guy Vincent

Yeovil Pen Mill Footbridge. Miles-Chains 13th December 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent

Bradford-on-Avon with 158767 on the 06.23 Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour on the 19th March 1991. Copyright Guy Vincent

Many thanks indeed Guy.
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Remember the
Class142'sSkippers
Steve Widdowson

Whilst we 'mourn' the passing of the Pacers we look back at five nostalgic pictures from the vast library of Steve Widdowson. 

142022 at Exeter St Davids on the 4th September 1987. Copyright Steve Widdowson

Again at Exeter St Davids we see 142016 on the 7th September 1987. Copyright Steve Widdowson.

142018 Newquay on the 27th June 1987 Copyright Steve Widdowson. Note the goods yard has gone to be replaced by a supermarket but the long familiar feature of the gas holder is still there.

Now we look to the north to see and the terminus buildings. 142018 Newquay on the 27th June 1987 Copyright Steve Widdowson. .

142018 Newquay on the 27th June 1987 Copyright Steve Widdowson. That very useful feature - the points at the head of the run round loop come into view in this shot.

Many thanks Steve for these nostalgic views of the 142 class- once we hated them, now, perhaps, we wish they were back. More nostalgic views from Steves camera to come.
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