27th December 2019

Exminster
27th December 1999
Roger Winnen

991227a Exminster on 27th December 1999. Copyright Roger Winnen

991227b A First Great Western passes a Virgin HST near Exminster. Copyright Roger Winnen

A Snowy Winter's Tale -Part 2
Clive Smith

Saturday 9th January 1982 was my first outing with my new Canon AE1 camera and it was one of those days that British Rail would persevere in running a service in the most severe weather. It was a public service and trains ran if they could. The drivers would be working hours way past their normal working day. I had joined the 07.40 Penzance - Liverpool  train at Plymouth at 10.12 and normally would have taken it to Birmingham for the same loco back on 1V90 to Plymouth arriving about 19.45. My train was two hours late by Cheltenham but with the deteriorating weather it was time to think about getting home so I got off at 15.25. Trains were still running south and north albeit late. As the snow fell I joined the huddle in the station buffet. I let 47163 go on a Taunton train and also one of the new HSTs to Plymouth on this route. Next train  was the delayed 1V90 from Liverpool which turned up 210 minutes late with 45147. Why I was out and about this late in the day I don't know. The madness of a railway enthusiast. The warning signs were apparent earlier in the day when I passed the down Paddington newspaper train at Exeter at 11.45 a.m. followed by the down postal. We had heard that the down sleepers to Penzance was stuck in a snowdrift in Bath and hadn't moved by 14.30. At least trains were running but progress in the snow was slow. Leaving Cheltenham at 19.25 the 1V90 eventually got to Plymouth at 00.43 some 5 hours late. On today's railway the trains would have all been cancelled and messages would be put out saying don't travel.

Regards
Clive Smith

To get a real feel of how much snow fell I would suggest reading the follow weather links-


Philip Eden: January 1982 | weatheronline.co.uk

Blizzards of 8th Jan 1982

​

(1) 45147 stands in the deep snow at Bristol Temple Meads with the 07.40 Penzance - Liverpool Lime Street. 47316 is on the through road not going anywhere with an exhibition train. This was a day of exceptional weather. 9th January 1982, Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) Just outside CRS's area is Cheltenham and it's 15.25 and the snow is lying thick. 45147 is on the 07.40 Penzance to Liverpool Lime Street./ 9th January 1982. Copyright Clive Smith