DON'T FORGET Paul Negus advises us to make sure you watch this tonight on the 'Yesterday Channel' at 8PM. Bristol Temple Meads.
Wootton Bassett
Neil Phillips
Neil Phillips
Neil was based at nearby RAF Lyneham during the period in which these pictures were taken.
- Picture (1) D1051 'Western Ambassador' in the Wootton Bassett stone terminal sidings on 19th March 1976. The loco was withdrawn on 2nd September that year after an underside ballast strike at Cogload Junction while heading the previous day’s 1B15 08.30 Paddington – Plymouth wrecked wiring and AWS equipment – unfortunate as D1051 had not long emerged from an ‘F’ Exam and had been expected to last until the end.
- Picture (2) D1022 'Western Sentinel' approaches Wootton Bassett Junction on 16th January 1977 with 1B33 14.30 Paddington – Penzance (evidently via Bristol). By this time she was one of the last seven Westerns in service but upon its return to London (on the 17th/18th overnight 6A21 St Erth – Acton milk service) D1022 ran over some debris at Old Oak Common dropped by 31420 which had just suffered a collision incident and this damaged the Western’s brake gear, resulting in its withdrawal. Therefore my photo captures D1022’s last-ever outward run from the capital.
- Picture (3) Deltic 55003 'Meld' presents an extraordinary sight at Wootton Bassett Junction at the head of the Paddington - Cardiff ‘Deltic Debut’ special on 12th October 1975. The Class 55 had been borrowed from the ER for high-speed dipped rail joint tests ahead of the HST introduction the following year and the ever-inventive WR railtour office decided to take it for a spin to South Wales and back!
- Picture (4) Deltic 55003 'Meld' approaches Wootton Bassett Junction on the returning ‘Deltic Debut’ tour of 12th October 1975. Since the WR was still using operational headcodes at the time this was surely the first time a ‘Domino’ panel was seen on the Region.
Picture (1) D1051 Western Ambassador Wootton Bassett stone terminal. 19th March 1976. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Picture (2) D1022 Western Sentinel Wootton Bassett Jc (2) 16th January 1976. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Picture (3) 55003 Meld (Down) Wootton Bassett Jct. 12th October 1975, Copyright Neil Phillips.
Picture (4) 55003 'Meld' (Up) Nr Wootton Bassett Jc (2) 12th October 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks indeed Neil for your pictures and details.
47626 Arrives at Hayle
Michael Forward
Michael Forward
47626 on 13 September 1981 slowing down for it’s stop at Hayle with the Sunday 14.30 Penzance to Paddington. Copyright Michael Forward
Thanks Michael
Bevois near
Southampton
Ron Kosys
Southampton
Ron Kosys
33116 passing Mount Pleasant level crossing with a train of rails from the now closed Redbridge depot on the evening
of 7th September 1988
of 7th September 1988
33116 Bevois 7th September 1988 Redbridge. Copyright Ron Kosys
Many thanks Ron.
South Marston
Swindon
Ken Mumford
Swindon
Ken Mumford
South Marston 66590 heads west for Swindon. Copyright Ken Mumford.
5Q76 SOUTH MARSTON 5Q76 headed by 57312 with DVT 82202 immediately behind the loco followed by 11302, 11299. 10302, 12302. 12448, 12450 and 12232. 8th March 2021 Copyright Tim Hall
Congratulations to Ron and Tim Hall for your records.
From the footplate (1)
Alan Peters
Alan Peters
Alan Peters a driver with Colas is currently unwell and is home based near St Blazey. However, thankfully he is able to delve in his archives and bring us real life scenes from the foot plate - we are both envious and very grateful. Get well soon Alan.
Picture (1) My first cab ride in a HST was on 13th August 1986 aboard 43015 from Cardiff Central to Bristol Parkway, departing from platform 4 where a single yellow is displayed. This is a scene that has changed with electrification, note the class 37 waiting on the Up Main, the flower beds and T lighting, also of note the P Way with a trolley wearing just short H/V vests before the days of full orange and hard hat. The Driver is Ken Mitchel at the time a Saltley Driver originally starting at Edge Hill and later moving to St Blazey, unfortunately I have no notes on the workings although being a Saltley turn this was possibly a Cross Country service via the tunnel in the days before the Cardiff to Nottingham service.
Picture (2) Taken at speed entering the Severn Tunnel on 13/08/86, thankfully 43015 is still working with ScotRail and it is still possible to travel to Cardiff Central on a HST. It would be easier to take a picture nowadays with a mobile phone rather than a SLR camera which I always felt awkward with on duty. Maybe at the time passengers would be listening to 'Chris de Burgh - The Lady in Red' recorded on cassette tape on their Sony Walkman, the number one in music chart at the time!
Picture (3) Bristol Parkway on 13th August 1986, on not so much of a summers day where 50047 'Swiftsure' is seen arriving, although Bristol Parkway is an unattractive modern station an extra two platforms have since been added and the scene changed with overhead wires. The class 50 was an early casualty being withdrawn just a few years later and scrapped at Vic Berry's in 1989
Alan Peters
Picture (2) Taken at speed entering the Severn Tunnel on 13/08/86, thankfully 43015 is still working with ScotRail and it is still possible to travel to Cardiff Central on a HST. It would be easier to take a picture nowadays with a mobile phone rather than a SLR camera which I always felt awkward with on duty. Maybe at the time passengers would be listening to 'Chris de Burgh - The Lady in Red' recorded on cassette tape on their Sony Walkman, the number one in music chart at the time!
Picture (3) Bristol Parkway on 13th August 1986, on not so much of a summers day where 50047 'Swiftsure' is seen arriving, although Bristol Parkway is an unattractive modern station an extra two platforms have since been added and the scene changed with overhead wires. The class 50 was an early casualty being withdrawn just a few years later and scrapped at Vic Berry's in 1989
Alan Peters
Picture (1) Cardiff Central 13th August 1986 aboard 43015 from Cardiff Central to Bristol Parkway
Picture (2) Approaching Severn tunnel. 43015 is still working with ScotRail. 13th August 1986. Copyright Alan Peters.
Picture (3) Bristol Parkway on 13th August 1986, on not so much of a summers day where 50047 'Swiftsure' is seen arriving. Copyright Alan Peters.
On board pictures and experiences - can't beat it. Thank you.
A query was made concerning operation of scrap trains on the stub of the Highworth branch.
We are not sure how this branch is operated these days. Andrew Crawley advises us that Hi
The disused sidings beyond the scrap yard are for BMW and are where the Longbridge train used to load up. The train could go right in, run round and then pull the train through a wagon at a time past EMR for loading but I'm not sure of track condition at the far end so don't know if it is used for that anymore as I've never seen it going in, but I wouldn't be surprised if it probably propels it in and then just draws forward a wagon at a time, staying with the train all day.
Someone else may know more.
Cheers Andrew Crawley
We are not sure how this branch is operated these days. Andrew Crawley advises us that Hi
The disused sidings beyond the scrap yard are for BMW and are where the Longbridge train used to load up. The train could go right in, run round and then pull the train through a wagon at a time past EMR for loading but I'm not sure of track condition at the far end so don't know if it is used for that anymore as I've never seen it going in, but I wouldn't be surprised if it probably propels it in and then just draws forward a wagon at a time, staying with the train all day.
Someone else may know more.
Cheers Andrew Crawley