Many thanks to John Cornelius who was asked to produce ;countdowns. to the New Year. Here is the first with five days to go.
'Marlbury'
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
Now, where's that - read on!!
1). 150102 captured at daybreak at Maiden Newton working 2O66 0647 Westbury-Weymouth on Christmas Eve, Saturday 24th December. The same unit then returned some 80 minutes later with 150244 on 2E20 0846 Weymouth-Gloucester. The small hut (Pic 2) contains the instrument from where the driver withdraws a key token giving him authority to enter the single line section ahead to Yeovil Pen Mill. Maiden Newton is a very atmospheric place where it still feels as if you are living in the 1950s. Sadly the branch line to Bridport has gone, this closed in May 1975, but the GWR signalbox (4) remains and both it and the unstaffed station buildings (5, 6 and 7) are in good condition. The track through the station has lasted very well indeed, there are two-bolt fishplates in-situ on both lines (3) and some of the GWR bullhead chairs have casting dates as far back as 1924! In 1981 the BBC filmed the second episode of series 3 of their popular comedy series 'To the Manor Born' here. Entitled 'Station Closing', Maiden Newton became 'Marlbury' and British Rail proposed closing the line and selling the station site to the owner of Grantleigh Manor, property developer Richard de Vere (Peter Bowles) for a cash-and-carry supermarket development. Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton (Penelope Keith) can be seen buying a ticket from Marlbury to Taunton at the booking office then, later, alighting from a dark blue Bristol-bound Metro-Cammell class 101 3 car DMU set (B823). There are several other scenes in and around the station with a final view of a departing DMU conveying de Vere (Peter Bowles) away to a meeting. As the (same?) Met-Cam set picks up speed it is just possible to read 'Maiden Newton' on one of the lamp-post station signs!
Maiden Newton 1 150102 calls at Maiden Newton 24th December 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent (What a 'gem' of a picture - look at those colours - marvelous sky)
150102 150244 at Maiden Newton 24th December 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent (That sky has faded somewhat but still a smashing morning shot)
Maiden Newton 3 Track on the 9th November.2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
Maiden Newton 4 Signal Box 16th February 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
Maiden Newton 5 Station 16th February 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
Maiden Newton 6 Station Building (1) 16th February 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
Maiden Newton 7 Station Building (2)16th February 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
Many thanks Guy for a very interesting focus on the charming station at Maiden Newton and its connections with 'To the Manor born'.
North Pole
Mike Morant
Mike Morant
Morning Keith,
No obligation to use the attached image. I meant to send it before Xmas having seen JC's shot of North Pole Halt at Yeovil. This image has nothing to do with the CRS site really but it does depict the 'real' North Pole. The caption that I use is as follows ..........
H.P. Bulmer Ltd.: Return to Steam Stage 3 on 7/10/71.
Both the legs of this major event in our calendars were shrouded in mist at the London end as is evident in this shot of preserved GWR Collett no. 6000 King George V as it passes the long-disappeared North Pole Jct. signal box in the early stages of its journey from Kensington Olympia to Swindon.
Best wishes, Mike.
Many thanks for that Mike - it's such a marvellous picture that I thought acceptable to use it - after it is Western Region. We look forward to more from Mike soon.
No obligation to use the attached image. I meant to send it before Xmas having seen JC's shot of North Pole Halt at Yeovil. This image has nothing to do with the CRS site really but it does depict the 'real' North Pole. The caption that I use is as follows ..........
H.P. Bulmer Ltd.: Return to Steam Stage 3 on 7/10/71.
Both the legs of this major event in our calendars were shrouded in mist at the London end as is evident in this shot of preserved GWR Collett no. 6000 King George V as it passes the long-disappeared North Pole Jct. signal box in the early stages of its journey from Kensington Olympia to Swindon.
Best wishes, Mike.
Many thanks for that Mike - it's such a marvellous picture that I thought acceptable to use it - after it is Western Region. We look forward to more from Mike soon.
For details please see the letter above - what a smashing picture. From the Mike Morant Collection.
Liskeard
40 years ago
Roger Geach
40 years ago
Roger Geach
Merry Xmas to all (Recd 26th Dec.)
Interesting to see RW pics at penzance of the 26 December 1976.
I photographed 1013 pn the 0920 pd - Pz relief service at Liskeard on the 24th December , it had replaced 47024 at Plymouth. It looks like 1013 stayed at Penzance for Christmas then.
Now over 40 years ago .
Dont know what 47086 worked did not see it
Nice pics .
Cheers
Roger G
Interesting to see RW pics at penzance of the 26 December 1976.
I photographed 1013 pn the 0920 pd - Pz relief service at Liskeard on the 24th December , it had replaced 47024 at Plymouth. It looks like 1013 stayed at Penzance for Christmas then.
Now over 40 years ago .
Dont know what 47086 worked did not see it
Nice pics .
Cheers
Roger G
D1013 Western Ranger at liskeard 24th December 1976 Copyright Roger Geach