Closure of Marazion Marsh Crossing
Roger Salter
Roger Salter
210627a This path will be closed for a month to replace the wooden path. Copyright Roger Salter
210627b Path upgrade work will take place during the next month. Copyright Roger Salter
Thanks Roger
Westbury to Okehampton
Driver Alan Peters
Driver Alan Peters
A few pictures taken whilst working Colas Rail 6C41 SCO service from Westbury to Okehampton, the train comprised of top and tailed class 70's with 20 empty Falcon wagons, the locomotives were 70817 leading from Westbury with 70812 on the rear. The train reversed at Exeter Riverside before heading to Crediton the start of the possession then on to the Okehampton line, once in the possession the train worked to Okehampton station where the train was loaded with wooden sleepers recovered from the recent relaying, these are taken to Westbury for recycling and could end up being sold on to end up in someone's garden!
Alan Peters
Alan Peters
Westbury is of course a DB operated yard, 66 094 was acting as the yard pilot on 22nd June 2021 and is pictured in the 'New Yard' where ballast is recycled, this part of the Down yard is difficult to see from the Mainline being hidden by trees.
Colas Rail 70817 the last of the class 70's stands in the Downside Yard at Westbury waiting to depart to Okehampton, 6C41 is formed of top and tailed class 70 locomotives and 20 empty Falcon wagons with 70812 on the rear on 22nd June 2021. Copyright Alan Peters
Westbury Downside Yard looking West with 6C41 awaiting departure on the left, the picture being taken under strict safety conditions whilst no movements were taking place during an important football match on 22nd June 2021 Copyright Driver Alan Peters
The train has travelled down as far as Exeter Riverside where 6C41 will reverse on the Down Goods where 70817 to become the trailing locomotive. The damage from the fire that engulfed 'Johnsons' Laundry on 25th January 2020 can clearly be see seen and the close proximality to the railway 22nd June 2021 Copyright Driver Alan Peters
The Colas Rail train has reached Credition with 70812 now heading 6C41 whilst 70817 is at the rear, the train is waiting for the engineering possession to be taken from CN4 signal, with the worksite actually starting from Yeoford all the way to Meldon! Copyright Driver Alan Peters
The following day and 6C41 has reached Okehampton at a leisurely 5mph and has already been loaded with the old wooden sleepers recovered from the relaying work on the Okehampton line, the picture is taken from the footbridge and it is understood that restoration work will soon be starting on the main station building on the Up side as the station approach has been fenced off in preparation, however the Downside can be visited at weekends, see Home page - Dartmoor Railway Association, Okehampton, Devon (dartmoor-railway-association.org) Copyright Driver Alan Peters
Colas Rail 6C41 at Okehampton and the mountain of sleepers still to clear is evident before work can start on the new station car park, 70817 will lead the loaded train back to Exeter Riverside where the train will reverse back to Westbury with 70812 in charge on 23rd June 2021, Westbury MHD is where the old sleepers will be recycled, another train will run the following week to help clear the redundant track from Okehampton. Copyright Driver Alan Peters
With many thanks to driver Alan Peters who worked the train from Westbury to Okehampton - hence we have the full inside story.
Oath and Wick
Bill Elston
Bill Elston
Oath 20th June 2021
46100 Royal Scot heads though Exeter St Thomas with the 0751 Bristol to Kingswear English Riviera Express on a gloomy Sunday 20th June 2021
4610o pounds towards our photographer at Oath 20th June 2021 Copyright Bill Elston
Almost lost in the steam 47805 leaves Oath 20th June 2021 Copyright Bill Elston
Wick 27th June 2021
Over at Wick today for the 1Z27, 0750 Bristol to Kingswear via Bath and Westbury charter, seen here passing Wick headed by 46100 ROYAL SCOT with 47593 bringing up the fear. Normal Royal Scot weather, gloomy!
46100 at Wick 27th June 2021 Copyright Bill Elston
Bringing up the rear 47593 at Wick, 27th June 21 Copyright Bill Elston
Sorry I missed last weeks train - many thanks for your patience Bill.
Whatever became of
Exminster Box
Paul Barlow
Exminster Box
Paul Barlow
A few shots of Exminster box , don't know the fate of the box as it was proposed to be moved to Broadway on G & WR. Perhaps someone knows what has happened to it?
All the best
Paul Barlow.
All the best
Paul Barlow.
25052 on the 18.02 Exeter to Newton Abbot passes Exminster on the 15th July 1979. Copyright Paul Barlow
Gently does it - careful dismantling of Exminster Signalbox on the 30th September 2006. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Careful dismantling. 30th September 2006. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Exinster Signalbox as a 'flatpack'. 30th September 2021. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks to Paul for this record of a one time familiar sight at Exminster. More on this story tomorrow with an answer.
Portland Harbour
Time Hale
Time Hale
Hello,
You might be able to help me.
For many years my office was in FOST building in the HM Dockyard at the south end directly opposite a much older building locally known as the loco shed.
I was drafted to Portland in the 60s just as the line was being closed from Weymouth to Portland, a few trains ran to the fuel tank farm adjacent to the new airfield but nothing in the actual dockyard.
Searches at the local museum have revealed lots of images of the branchline to Easton and the Merchant’s stone railway to Castleton but nothing about any railway in the dockyard. There were rails still embedded in the road within the dockyard but that was the only trace.
Can you shed any light on when it was closed and what was used in the dockyard.
Thank you
Tim Hale
You might be able to help me.
For many years my office was in FOST building in the HM Dockyard at the south end directly opposite a much older building locally known as the loco shed.
I was drafted to Portland in the 60s just as the line was being closed from Weymouth to Portland, a few trains ran to the fuel tank farm adjacent to the new airfield but nothing in the actual dockyard.
Searches at the local museum have revealed lots of images of the branchline to Easton and the Merchant’s stone railway to Castleton but nothing about any railway in the dockyard. There were rails still embedded in the road within the dockyard but that was the only trace.
Can you shed any light on when it was closed and what was used in the dockyard.
Thank you
Tim Hale
Many thanks for your query Tim - can anybody help please, memories and pictures if possible.
Portland Harbour and Chesil Beach; 12th June 1982. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Weymouth from the upper deck of a bus returning from the lighthouse. 3rd May 1975 Copyright Roger Winnen
The remains of Portland Station platforms and perhaps a sighting of the building where Tim Hale worked. 3rd May 1975. Copyright Roger Winnen
Many thanks to Roger Winnen for his views from his collection.
Portland Dockyard
James Bown
James Bown
It was nostalgic reading about the rail system at the naval dockyard at Portland, I remember as a child visiting there in approx 1959 and being impressed as all school children were, with a climb onboard a submarine, a scramble over a destroyer but the ultimate was being shunted around the rail system in open trucks hauled by ( and I guess here) an industrial tank engine. By the time I lived on Portland in the late ‘70’s the naval base’s days were drawing to a close but on work visits to HMS Osprey I used to look at the rail lines with a smile of nostalgia. Kind regards James Bown
Thank you James - as you say you had the 'ultimate' with a railtour.