31st December 2018 NEW YEARS EVE

Many thanks to all you web watchers for your support over the last year – we hope to continue to bring you new news and very interesting reports over the coming twelve months but remember that we are very dependent on you, our supporters for much of the information and pictures we show.  So please keep up your good work.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year

New Years Eve
A few photographs taken late this afternoon to end 2018
Roger Winnen

181231a A four car HST seen crossing Derrycombe Viadict on the 12.57 Penzance Newton Abbot. Copyright Roger Winnen

181231b The 12.03 Paddington Penzance HST service is seen crossing St Germans Viaduct Copyright Roger Winnen

181231c St Germans Station decorated for the Festive Season. Copyright Roger Winnen

181231d St Germans Station at 17.31 tonight. Copyright Roger Winnen

181231e The Travelling Post Office coach at St Germans. Copyright Roger Winnen

181231f One of the last HSTs into Cornwall for 2018 was the 14.03 Paddington to Penzance seen arriving at St Germans behind 'The Welshman' at 17.44hrs. - Copyright Roger Winnen

Classic Dawlish
Ron Kosys

A superbly sunny 25th August 1972 sees an unidentified Western on a down working roaring past a busy beach at Dawlish on the 25th August 1972. Copyright Ron Kosys. Additional information from Guy Vincent for which many thanks - The 'Western' passing through Dawlish on 25th August 1972 is one of the cab vent set so either D1039 D1056 or D1071. We can rule out D1028 as it had no headboard clips and D1012 would have had it's Electrification warning flashes in a slightly lower position as it was a Swindon-built loco.

Westbury Work
​Nearly Complete
Guy Vincent

​​​Westbury North Junction Renewals Day 8   30th December 2018 
      Here I more or less intend to conclude the look at the Westbury North renewal project that has now entered it's second week.  Most of the 'interesting' work has now been completed so I'll wait until the trains are running normally before getting a small number showing it back in use.  My biggest disappointment has been the grim weather and poor natural light throughout this job, hopefully allowance can be made for the poor quality of some of the images.

Photo 1) A class 166 on the diverted 0819 Bristol-Weymouth heading down the Westbury avoiding line towards Fairwood Jctn. This had come from Trowbridge via Hawkeridge loop and then reversed direction at Heywood Road Jctn. It's 09.26 on the 30th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 2) Turbo 166212 on Hawkeridge curve having run empty from Trowbridge. After reversal at Heywood Road Jctn it too will return to Trowbridge and form the 1303 for Bristol Parkway. (nb. photo taken through a gap in a secured palisade gate). It's 10.15 on the 30th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 3) A five car class 158 formation ex Trowbridge slowly negotiates Hawkeridge Jctn, heading for Westbury East Loop Jctn and Heywood Road Jctn where it will immediately reverse and then head back to Trowbridge ready to form the 1106 departure to Bristol Parkway. It's 11.53 on the 30th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 4) 166212 coming back around Hawkeridge curve following reversal. Look for the Westbury White Horse in the left background. In years gone by it was common to see pairs of class 37s or single class 56 locos sitting at the signal whilst awaiting entry to the cement works on loaded coal or flyash trains from South Wales. It's 12.02 on the 30th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 5) Looking more like an operational railway again the two tampers carry on with their work while the platforms receive attention. It's 11.12 on the 30th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 6) S&T adjustments to some newly fitted points as the lines in front of the panel box also look ready for business. It's 11.15 on the 30th December 2018. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 7) Besides major track renewals, many smaller jobs are being carried out such as replacing train detection equipment that operates the track circuits. Barely noticeable but absolutely essential in order to run a safe and reliable railway. It's 11.00 on the 30th December 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent.

Photo 8) A view of the work in progress at the north end of platform 2 where the height is being increased. It's 10.55 on the 30th December 2018. Copyright Gut Vincent.

A very sincere thank you to Guy for his painstaking reporting of this important event in Westbury's history.

Five from Clive - 
December HST's
Clive Smith

​As 2018 and December draws to a close my cameras have been busy capturing the disappearing GWR London HSTs. Here is a selection of HST activity around Devon from the last month. A Happy New Year to everyone. 
Regards, Clive Smith.         Many thanks to you Clive and All the best.

(1) 43027 in its '90 Glorious Years' vinyls brings up the rear of the 11.32 Paignton - Paddington at Teignmouth on the 6th December 2018. The following week this train went over to IET. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) 43196 leads the 09.03 Paddington- Plymouth approaching Ivybridge station at Filham Bridge on the 10th December 2018. Copyright Clive Smith.

(3) 43161 leads the 16.57 to Paddington at platform 4 at Plymouth on the 19th December 2018. Amazing how well mobile phone cameras work at night. Copyright Clive Smith.

(4) 43158 leads the 09.03 Paddington - Plymouth approaching Exeter St Davids on the 20th December 2018. Copyright Clive Smith.

(5) 43087 leads the 09.00 Penzance - Paddington past Tavistock Junction on a dull 21st December 2018. Copyright Clive Smith.