Items added on 5th January 2017 Those added most recently come first

Todays fresh look at Freshford.
Guy Vincent

GWR have temporarily paired class 158 vehicles 57747 (blue, from set 158954) and 57748 (green, from set 158957) into this hybrid set running as 158957.  Set 954 normally comprises 57760 52760 57747 with set 957 consisting of 57771 52771 and 57748. The 3 car sets normally receive heavy mechanical attention in their original pairs so this is likely to be why this pair has been formed up, using otherwise spare vehicles.   Captured today (Thursday 5th January) approaching Freshford on 2D24 1438 Westbury-Bristol Parkway.  Many thanks Guy for all the details.

A smashing picture caught just at the right moment in stunning scenery. 5th January 2017. Copyright Guy Vincent.

Old Train ticket
Calling all experts
Lloyd Hanson

Question :- Hi I am from Auckland New Zealand and I have found, which I have worked out to be an old train ticket under an old table we have purchased. (Teigmouth to Exminster.)  It would be great to get an approximate era of this ticket.We think around early 1900.
Incidentally I was born in Ashburton NZ.
Attached what is left of the ticket 
Many Thanks,  Kind Regards   Lloyd Hanson  
Answers below 

Not a lot to go by! Here is Lloyd Hanson's ticket. Incidentally Exminster closed 30th March 1964

Very quick replies from Roy Hart (Burma) at 11.56 and Mike Morant (Dorchester) at 12.35 - and also one from Chris Osment (Bath) at 16.49.  Many thanks for your replies gentlemen.

1)  Dear Keith, This appears to be a luggage label. The size and typeface suggest that it dates from the late 19th century. Luggage labels were held in racks at every station and were a great treasure trove for collectors in the 1960s, when labels a century old could be picked up by request to indulgent stationmasters! In later years, the labels simply gave a destination ('Penzance') but in earlier times, stations would hold pre-printed labels naming both origin and destination. The label would be pasted on to the object and off it went! Roy  (Hart) 

2)  Keith,
This example is a GWR luggage label from the period 1876 thru' 1885. Henceforth, from 1886, the station-to-station concept was abandoned and all GWR labels became 'destination only'.
Best regards,  Mike Morant

3)  Keith
 IMHO it looks more like a luggage label than a travel ticket.
 Difficult to tell at LH end, but it might it not be Axminster rather than Exminster?
 Chris Osment​

Lostwithiel
Chris Harvey

Please find attached my first decent photo of 2017 - 43010 leads the 0900 Paddington - Penzance into Lostwithiel on Monday 2nd January. It is quite a thought that with both semaphore signals and the HSTs now on borrowed time, this scene will be soon be history!
Cheers,  Chris               Not too soon one hopes - thank you Chris

Copyright Chris Harvey

Salisbury
​Martin Scane

An 'N' Class 31411 at Salisbury. Undated, possibly 1964 Copyright Martin Scane

Dorchester
Geoff Matthews

Dorchester South station from the down platform showing 2 home signals. We are advised by Chris Osment) that - the nearer signal is indeed the Up Main Home (No 34), but the further signal is the Up Bay Starting (No 33) – the angle of view is deceptive. 24th March 1966 Copyright Geoff Matthews

Dorchester
Mike Morant

Bulleid rebuilt West Country pacific no. 34044 Woolacombe in charge of a Weymouth - Waterloo service arrives at Dorchester South station on 15/7/65. [Mike Morant collection]

Weymouth shed
John Cornelius

Copyright John Cornelius