27th September 2020

A turbo to
Barnstaple
David Tozer

Keith,
GWR Class 166 166211 became the first of its type to work the Barnstaple line today.
166 211 is seen at Exeter Central heading the ECS 0850 5B73  Exeter (St David's) - Exeter (Central) - Exmouth Junction - St James' Park. It then worked the 0912 St James' Park to Barnstaple.
I only just made it to Crediton and got a second shot of it leaving.
Will see if I can take a better photo off my DVD footage.
Regards Dave 

166211 on the Barnstaple service. 27th September 2020 Copyright David Tozer.

Seen at Crediton 166211 on the Barnstaple service. 27th September 2020 Copyright David Tozer.

166211 is seen leaving Crediton on the Barnstaple service. 27th September 2020 Copyright David Tozer.

Well caught David. Nice weather up there too.
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Starcross
Phil Smith

47709 heads east up stream of Cockwood Harbour in 2001. Copyright Phil Jones. Note the man with the bucket, digging for worms for bait is a common activity along here.

Many thanks Phil.

Historical focuses at
Cockwood
Paul Barlow

Only last Friday but now history - 47593 leads 47805 on the 06.08 York to Penzance the 1Z70 at Cockwood harbour. 25th September 2020 Paul Barlow

43009 leads 43185 forming the 14.03 Paddington to Penzance at Cockwood. 16th May 2019. Copyright Paul Barlow.

34067 with the 14.22 Penzance to Ealing. 29th August 2005. Copyright Paul Barlow.

A nice full tide for 67019 on the 13.50 Plymouth to Willesden Mail train. 4th September 2003. Copyright Paul Barlow.

80098 on the 16.28 Exeter to Newton Abbot seen at Cockwood on the 1st May 2001. Copyright Paul Barlow

Remember the 'Virgin red' as 47829 heads the 08.40 Glasgow to Penzance at Cockwood. 11th June 2000. Copyright Paul Barlow

Many thanks for your colourful Cockwood Collection Paul.
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Westbury Freight
Guy Vincent

Westbury on the morning of 25th September 2020.     A smartly turned out 66415 arrived around 10am with the 6C72 Taunton Fairwater-Westbury HOBC wagons for refilling in the virtual quarry here.  How many of their fleet will receive this bright orange livery before it is superseded?  At the north end of Westbury station the signal W111 is to be replaced over the weekend of 2nd-3rd October by the covered-over apparatus that can be seen towards the end of platform 3.   Whether drivers of approaching trains, especially those not stopping, will be able to fully see this equipment with the station canopies and, more especially, passengers on the platform or other trains approaching from the north end possibly liable to cause obstruction or distraction, is indeed a question.  Hours of darkness or periods of fog may prove to be particularly challenging..  The work is being done to enable class 800 trains to be more fully accommodated in the recently extended platform. Note the S&T technicians working on a pair of new indicators in picture 3.

Also at Westbury was last built class 66 no 66779.  Nicely adorned with various 'extras' British Railways green liveried loco again took the morning trip freight to Eastleigh out at 1015.

Regards. Guy Vincent 
 

Westbury 66415 6C72 25th September 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury 66415 6C72 25th September 2020. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Westbury 66415 6C72 25th September 2020. Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury 66779 25th September 2020 Copyright Guy Vincent

More on 
Westbury Resignalling
Guy Vincent

As I mentioned yesterday new signalling is due to be commissioned at the north end of platform 3 at Westbury over the weekend of October 3rd and 4th.  While this is taking place the station will be closed to all traffic and certain Bristol-Weymouth services and VV will be diverted between Trowbridge and Frome via the rarely used Hawkeridge Curve, Heywood Road Jcn (reverse) and the Westbury avoiding line.  Details will show on RTT nearer the time.   Here is another view from today of the soon to disappear W111 signal which was installed in 1982 and commissioned in May 1984. Beyond GBRF loco 66704 has just arrived 145 minutes early with 6G73 1240 Bristol East Depot-Westbury (via Taunton) engineers.  

Plus a vintage view taken on the morning of Sunday February 12th 1984 when semaphores reigned supreme. 50040 and 50044 were working 1A33 0830 Exeter St Davids-Paddington which was booked to run via the then under-threat Melksham line and Swindon.  I travelled on this as far as Reading on two consecutive Sundays, locos 50023 and 50048 were provided the following week, 19th Feb.  Note the run-down condition of the road bridge, it has probably not seen a paint brush for at least 50 years!

Regards, Guy Vincent

Westbury North 66704 6G73 & W111 26th September 2020. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Many thanks to you Guy. I thought it best to put your two posts together.

Yesterday from
Marston Footbridge
Ken Mumford

59202 6O61 Appleford sidings to Stoke Gifford on the afternoon of 26th September 2020. Copyright Ken Mumford

60074 on the 6Y7H Theale to Margam. 26th September 2020. Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks for your observations Ken.