Waiting for nightfall
Julian Stephens
Julian Stephens
Hello Keith , I doubt that you need yet another picture of a dirty Class 70 on a PW train in Cornwall, but this one has been parked at Par all day waiting for a trip to Truro tonight.
Cheers, Julian Stephens. Many thanks Julian.
Cheers, Julian Stephens. Many thanks Julian.
70809 parked in Par Down Goods Loop 21st February 2017 Copyright Julian Stephens
Two for starters
Ron Kosys
Ron Kosys
CDA's 'a plenty' 37674 and 50029 Renown just east of Lostwithiel Crossing 11th April 1988 Copyright Ron Kosys.
Okehampton, west of on the 6th September 1989 33002 on the 7V80 0408 Woking - Meldon Quarry Copyright Ron Kosys.
Bridport Branch
an inside story -
Extremely interesting
Driver Tim Comer
an inside story -
Extremely interesting
Driver Tim Comer
Hi Keith,
I started my footplate career as a secondman at Westbury in 1973, and at that time the Bridport branch work was shared between Westbury and Weymouth traincrew depots. I'm not sure of the exact times but I remember Westbury men worked two afternoon turns from Westbury station. The first was a down Weymouth service ( loco plus 3 or 4 coaches) which we worked as far as Maiden Newton and then relieved by the branch crew who then carried on to Weymouth. We then worked the branch bubble car for a return trip to Bridport and then swapped over with another Westbury crew at Maiden Newton with a following down service to Weymouth where we took our break. On our return up working (loco & 3 or 4 coaches) we carried a lot of mail, some from the Channel Islands. At Dorchester West we were timetabled something like a ten minute stop to load more mail, this was just long enough for the second man to leg it down to the chip shop to collect the fish & chips which would be shared at Maiden Newton with the second Westbury crew on the branch whilst waiting for a down Weymouth to clear the single line. The second crew then worked the remaining branch service and on returning to Maiden Newton worked the bubble car empty stock home to Westbury depot, this was often a spirited run but we were required to stop to pick up the single green painted hurricane oil lamps( the only illumination) at Thornford and Chetnole holts. These had been strategically placed earlier by the guard when working the down service and unless they had been moved they could be scooped up by the guard or secondman without stopping! They were then handed over with the staff to the signalman at Castle Cary. After putting the bubble car to bed, and if you had the right mate, you could just about catch last orders in the railway club. From memory, working the branch was a leisurely affair and stops would be made to drop locals off at foot crossings etc if requested. Bridport station was the only station I worked to that was totally lit with gas lights. I also seem to recall that once or twice the crossing gates were "modified" by the branch train. David Shepherd, the wildlife artist, sadly wrote in his autobiography " A Brush With Steam" that he had considered buying the branch from BR but he received little support.
Driver Tim Comer
A real life story a real gem - lots of interesting facts - many thanks to you Tim
I started my footplate career as a secondman at Westbury in 1973, and at that time the Bridport branch work was shared between Westbury and Weymouth traincrew depots. I'm not sure of the exact times but I remember Westbury men worked two afternoon turns from Westbury station. The first was a down Weymouth service ( loco plus 3 or 4 coaches) which we worked as far as Maiden Newton and then relieved by the branch crew who then carried on to Weymouth. We then worked the branch bubble car for a return trip to Bridport and then swapped over with another Westbury crew at Maiden Newton with a following down service to Weymouth where we took our break. On our return up working (loco & 3 or 4 coaches) we carried a lot of mail, some from the Channel Islands. At Dorchester West we were timetabled something like a ten minute stop to load more mail, this was just long enough for the second man to leg it down to the chip shop to collect the fish & chips which would be shared at Maiden Newton with the second Westbury crew on the branch whilst waiting for a down Weymouth to clear the single line. The second crew then worked the remaining branch service and on returning to Maiden Newton worked the bubble car empty stock home to Westbury depot, this was often a spirited run but we were required to stop to pick up the single green painted hurricane oil lamps( the only illumination) at Thornford and Chetnole holts. These had been strategically placed earlier by the guard when working the down service and unless they had been moved they could be scooped up by the guard or secondman without stopping! They were then handed over with the staff to the signalman at Castle Cary. After putting the bubble car to bed, and if you had the right mate, you could just about catch last orders in the railway club. From memory, working the branch was a leisurely affair and stops would be made to drop locals off at foot crossings etc if requested. Bridport station was the only station I worked to that was totally lit with gas lights. I also seem to recall that once or twice the crossing gates were "modified" by the branch train. David Shepherd, the wildlife artist, sadly wrote in his autobiography " A Brush With Steam" that he had considered buying the branch from BR but he received little support.
Driver Tim Comer
A real life story a real gem - lots of interesting facts - many thanks to you Tim
Weymouth
Trevor Snell
Trevor Snell
Black Five 45493 is pilot engine to Westcountry 34002 Salisbury on the Green Arrow Railtour as it prepares to leave Weymouth on the return journey to Waterloo. 3rd July 1966. Copyright Trevor Snell
Pause for thought!
Michael West
Michael West
I found an etching of this proposed station in a book on Egyptian Influenced architecture and wonder if it had connections with the early lines to the West Country...could it have been on the site of Kensington Olympia Station?...Also has it ever been suggested that the pillar tops of the Brunel bridge have an Egyptian 'flavour'? Michael West
Contributed by Michael West'
Picture taken in 2008. Copyright Michael West.
Taunton
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
What a lovely study of the train crew. The steam engine is said to be the nearest mechanical thing to a living thing. Well, without a crew such as these it wouldn't be going anywhere. Copyright John Cornelius 6908 Downham Hall was put to traffic at Wolverhampton Stafford Road shed on 31st July 1940. Its last shed was Bristol Barrow Road from which it was withdrawn on the 31st July 1965. The official 'cut date' came pretty quickly on the 31st October 1965.