Please note - this item and others published during the period April to September 2023 have and will be repeated in 'Extracts from the diary of a lifetime enthusiast. Michael L. Roach'. Please click here.
1962 Part 28
Yeovil - Dorchester
Michael L. Roach
Yeovil - Dorchester
Michael L. Roach
Yeovil – Dorchester Line
In the last part I was leaving the railway bridge just east of Honiton Tunnel at about 2.15pm to continue on the journey eastwards towards the Somerset & Dorset. Next stop was at Chetnole on the Yeovil to Dorchester line. The line was built by the Great Western after taking over the Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth Railway which ran out of money, and opened to Weymouth in January 1857. Chetnole Halt opened in September 1933 and is still open 90 years later – a remarkable survivor when the next station to the south, Evershot, serving a much larger and important village closed in October 1966. In 1962 Chetnole had two platforms on a double track main line still carrying express passenger trains from Paddington to Weymouth and perishable trains of potatos, tomatoes and flowers from Weymouth Quay to the Midlands. When I returned to Chetnole in 2012 it retained a single platform on a single line carrying dmus only; and is a request stop used by 3,000 passengers pre-covid. I moved on northwards to Yetminster then a fully functioning staffed station with signal boxh, but now also a single platform unstaffed halt used by 7,700 passengers pre-covid. Next station was Thornford Bridge Halt now a single platform used by 3,500 pre-covid. The three villages are one, two and three miles off the A37 from Dorchester to Yeovil and it could be the difficulty and time involved in providing a bus service along the narrow roads that has led to the survival of the three unstaffed halts.
256 words
MLR / 22 June 2023
In the last part I was leaving the railway bridge just east of Honiton Tunnel at about 2.15pm to continue on the journey eastwards towards the Somerset & Dorset. Next stop was at Chetnole on the Yeovil to Dorchester line. The line was built by the Great Western after taking over the Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth Railway which ran out of money, and opened to Weymouth in January 1857. Chetnole Halt opened in September 1933 and is still open 90 years later – a remarkable survivor when the next station to the south, Evershot, serving a much larger and important village closed in October 1966. In 1962 Chetnole had two platforms on a double track main line still carrying express passenger trains from Paddington to Weymouth and perishable trains of potatos, tomatoes and flowers from Weymouth Quay to the Midlands. When I returned to Chetnole in 2012 it retained a single platform on a single line carrying dmus only; and is a request stop used by 3,000 passengers pre-covid. I moved on northwards to Yetminster then a fully functioning staffed station with signal boxh, but now also a single platform unstaffed halt used by 7,700 passengers pre-covid. Next station was Thornford Bridge Halt now a single platform used by 3,500 pre-covid. The three villages are one, two and three miles off the A37 from Dorchester to Yeovil and it could be the difficulty and time involved in providing a bus service along the narrow roads that has led to the survival of the three unstaffed halts.
256 words
MLR / 22 June 2023
7175 The up platform at Chetnole Halt looking north from the road into the village on 29 June 1962.. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
7176 The down platform at Chetnole. The halt was built by the GWR in 1933 but was painted in Southern green and cream in 1962. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
7177 Yetminster Station showing the down platform and station masters house. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
7178 The up platform at Yetminster, also painted in green and cream. Copyright Michel L. Roach.
7179 Thornford Bridge Halt looking north towards Yeovil and showing the down side only. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
7180 The up platform seen from the road bridge. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks Michael - now for Part 29.
Droning around, a new perpective
Stoke Canon and Staffords Bridge
Paul Barlow
43239 43378 passes Stoke Canon on 0611 Leeds to Plymouth 1V44 28th June 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow. Note the rear of the train is just passing Stoke Canon box.
GWR Castle HST43004 43154 pass over Staffords Bridge on 0900 Cardiff to Penzance 28 June 2023. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many many thanks Paul.- your aerial views add a new dimension to our pictures at these locations.
A trip to St Ives
James Bown
James Bown
Hi Keith An enjoyable journey by HST from Bodmin Parkway to St Erth today thence on to St Ives. I was reminded just how comfortable these trains are compared with their successors ! The ultimate in comfort however was to be enjoyed with a journey to Bodmin Parkway on the return leg. What happened to progress? Best wishes James Bown.
A nicely framed shot taken at Bodmkin Parkway. 28th June 2023. Copyright James Bown