5th May 2021

5/5/2021

May Day
Buckfastleigh Station Part 2
Roger Winnen

210501e Much restoration work needs to be done on 2873 at the site. Copyright Roger Winnen

210501f Sheeted over locomotives D6737 D7612 plus another Class 25. Copyright Roger Winnen

210501g The South Devon Miniature Railway entertains the young and old. Copyright Roger Winnen

210501g The sun did come out from time to time at Buckfastleith however there was not many visitors around the site. Copyright Roger Winnen.

210501h On the way home, the South Devon Railway viewed from the approach road. Copyright Roger Winnen

More on
Wilton Jct & Wylye
Guy Vincent

Following on from the recent piece on Wilton / Quidhampton renewals

Wilton Junction looking east towards Salisbury with the Quidhampton branch on the left

Wylye level crossing with milepost 124.11 (from Paddington via Swindon, Melksham and Westbury) close by the base of the former GWR signal box just visible to the left. Then follows the site of the former station and the now rarely used emergency trailing crossover.

Guy Vincent

Wilton Junction looking East 23rd February 2021. Copyright Guy Vincent. Quidhampton branch off to the left.

Wylye Level Crossing Site of Station & Crossover Feb 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent. .

Many thanks Guy.

New locos from old
Westbury
Guy Vincent

Received 4th May 2021. A very rare short-notice working through Westbury this afternoon. A friend kindly told me that 0O69 1100 Longport-Eastleigh Works had been re-routed at short notice from Didcot North Junction to run via Foxhall Jcn, Swindon, Melksham and Westbury due to an overnight loss of signalling between Reading and Basingstoke on the train's booked route. This working consisted of GBRF locos 66704 69001 and 66794. 69001 is the former 56031, a long-time resident of Westbury (1982-1993) when it worked the stone traffic from the nearby Somerset Quarries. This was the first class 56 loco to be built in the UK in May 1977 at Doncaster Works and from 01.09.1983 to 30.05.1996 carried the name 'Merehead'. Now owned by GB Railfreight the loco has been totally rebuilt and re-equipped with a GM power unit and once cosmetic attention has been completed at Eastleigh it should enter traffic and give many more years service.

Also in the group was another GM product, loco number 29005 / 266 029-8. This was new in 2003 to HSBC Rail and hired to ERS Railways in the Netherlands, numbered 6608. It was sold to Beacon Rail in 2009 and leased to Heavy Haul Power International (HHPI) for use chiefly in Germany. It carried the 29005 number (above) and was named 'Ted Gaffney' who was the CEO of Beacon Rail Leasing from 2012-2019. Its final work abroad was for Crossrail Benelux prior to being acquired for GBRF here in the UK, arriving at Immingham Docks in September 2020. Following conversion and fitting-out for use on Network Rail this loco will become 66794 and is to be reliveried at Eastleigh, hence today's move.

Guy Vincent

Westbury 66704 69001 (56031) 66794. 0O69 4th May 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury 66704, 69001 (56031) 66794 0O69 4th May 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent

Westbury 69001 66794 0O69 4th May 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent

And on thrugh the station at Westbury goes 66704, 69001 (56031), 66794, 0O69 4th May 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent

With very many thanks indeed to Guy who provides such detailed commentaries and reports on the rail scene in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset. Your efforts are very very much appreciated Guy.

Coswinsawsin
Chris Harvey

43 192 leads the 0927 Exeter St Davids - Penzance past Coswinsawsin, on the approach to Gwinear Road. Note that this set only has three coaches for some reason.
Best Regards, Chris Harvey (Bodmin)

Coswinsawsin Just over half a mile east of Gwinear Road. 1st May 2021. Copyright Chris Harvey

Many thanks Chris.

Exminster
Keith Turley

Two views of train 3Z15 the 1915 Exeter Riverside Yard to Exeter Riverside Yard via Plymouth and Paignton..DB-C Red liveried class 66/0 No.66135, MPV and EWS liveried 66140 pass Exminster on 4th April 2021.
Regards Keith Turley.