A 'Gem' from Guy
Langport Viaduct
Guy Vincent
Langport Viaduct
Guy Vincent
Langport Viaduct 1906. From the Guy Vincent collection.
A vintage postcard image c1906 showing the newly constructed viaduct at Langport, Somerset on the then recently opened Castle Cary-Curry Rivel line, part of the GWR's shorter route to the west country. This followed on from the building of the Patney & Chirton-Westbury route via Lavington which opened in 1900. At the same time as the Langport route was built a further stretch of new line was constructed from just beyond Athelney to Cogload where a flat junction was provided, this being replaced by the current split-level 'flying junction' in 1931. This high-speed stretch relegated the section of the original Taunton-Yeovil route from Durston to Athelney (via Lyng Halt) to secondary branch-line status, as had happened to the Patney-Holt Junction line via Devizes in 1900. By 1933 cut-off lines had been built avoiding both Westbury and Frome so making through journeys even quicker. Langport boasted two stations, Langport East on the direct cut-off route and Langport West on the Curry Rivel-Yeovil Town section of the former Taunton-Yeovil branch line. East opened on 2nd July 1906 and closed to both passengers and goods on 10th September 1962 ahead of the Beeching report and, despite repeated calls for it to re-open this has yet to happen. West closed along with the whole of the Taunton-Yeovil route to passenger traffic on 15th June 1964.
Guy Vincent
Many thanks Guy for the rare view and the history. Flashing over it in modern stock with no forward view or even drop down windows one doesn't realise what a structure the viaduct is.
Guy Vincent
Many thanks Guy for the rare view and the history. Flashing over it in modern stock with no forward view or even drop down windows one doesn't realise what a structure the viaduct is.
Langport East which had been closed just over a year ago on 10th September 1963 is seen here on 13th June 1964 No time had been wasted removing the platforms, the footbridge and station building was subsequently removed. Copyright Mike Roach
Many thanks to Mike Roach for this picture of Langport East. More pictures in the Taunton to Witham section.
Exeter in 1992
Phil Shattered
Phil Shattered
I'm afraid that 'Keith Shattered' cannot remember your surname but felt that your most most amusing e-mail address of 'Phill Shattered' deserved an airing. Many thanks Phill. N.B. Phill has advised me that he is called Smith - thanks Phill.
In the low light 37671 is the lead loco coupled to 37413 Seen at Exeter Riverside Yard in 1992 the silver bullet syphons live up to their name. Copyright Phill Shattered