29th May 2021

Blue Pullman to 
Penzance today

It looks like a that it will be good day for seeing the Blue Pullman on its visit to Cornwall today, guidance on timings was included in yesterdays news.
While this causes great excitement and we'd like to see your pictures we just cannot show all of the pictures received. However Roger Winnen will be collecting and editing  them - you'll find a selection in Features January to June 2021. Click here to find the section and scroll looking for item 2012;

An interval at 
Swindon
Ken Mumford

Ken brings us some of the results of an hour or two spent at Swindon.

Swindon station - IET with a nose cone missing. 26th May 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford

Swindon station 66604 with a non-stop through platform 4 with a westbound freightliner 26th May 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford

Swindon station 769930 (The day it went bang at Swindon - see Alan Peters report in the News Column) 26th May 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford.

windon station 66524 with the 7A60 Whatley Quarry to Oxford (Banbury Road) 26th May 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford

Swindon station 66524 displays this advert - want a job? Current Pay. £50,747.00 26th May 2021 Copyright Ken Mumford.

Many thanks to Ken for the above selection.
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A visit to the
East Somerset Railway
Adrian King

We were fortunate to arrive at Cranmore just in time to catch the 2 pm service for a delightful trip to Mendip Vale hauled by ex LMS 46447. Although the line only extends three miles or so it's a fascinating journey through the Somerset countryside made all the more enjoyable to experience travelling behind a steam locomotive and in proper carriages with comfortable seats !! The amount of rolling stock in sidings at various points out along the track is astonishing and at Cranmore Station itself complete with engine sheds & workshops, extensive sidings, signal box, water tower etc a whole panoply in fact of anything and everything to do with the railway as it was in its heyday.

At Cranmore 46447 having just arrived from Mendip Vale. This loco is very economical on water - just one of bottle needed!! 29th May 2021 Copyright Adrian King

46467 in the process of running around. 29th May 2021 Copyright Adrian King

The workshop crew having a well deserved rest in the afternoon sun at Cranmore. 29th May 2021 Copyright Adrian King

The plaque on the main station building praising the the work of the volunteers. 29th May 2021 Copyright Adrian King

A DMU in the sidings waiting to be called into action if there is no steam available. 29th May 2021 Copyright Adrian King

Many thanks to you Adrian.  You'll find a lot more pictures of the Strawberry line - the Chedder Valley branch in our Yatton to Witham section. Look for this in 'North of Taunton' section.
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