Good morning, Keith
I read with interest the item about Weston Mill viaduct. As a youngster this was very much my patch with bike rides down to the Weston Mill bridge and on to St Budeaux to watch the goings on; happy memories of the diesel hydraulics. In particular, there was a daily trip working with a D63xx down to Bull Point and then Ernesettle or the other way round.
Nobody ever minded my taking photos by the signalbox, and I even got a ride on the train to Bull Point one morning. I took a snap of the train at the terminus there and was quickly advised to put my camera away, but not arrested as a Soviet spy or terrorist - things were more laid back in those days.
Several years later, on vacation from Leeds university, and not working that day, I went back and took from the main road a photo of Weston Mill viaduct with a Warship (one of the last by then) crossing on a down train. They hadn't filled in the creek at that time. To my surprise, a police car stopped and I was informed by the occupant that I was being arrested under the Official Secrets Act for photographing a defence establishment - you could just about make out the Royal Marine barracks buildings in the distance, although the amount of detail to be ascertained from a humble Kodak Instamatic camera at that distance was unlikely to be of any aid or comfort to the USSR! I was then taken to Special Branch, where fortunately the rather more intelligent officers realised how silly this all was. After developing my film to make sure there was nothing untoward, they accepted my explanation of being an innocent railway enthusiast and I was allowed to continue on my way.
Oh well, it would probably have been worse in Albania in those days!
John Many thanks for that John. Now please can you find your pictures of Weston Mill Viaduct and also of Bull Point terminus. We would all be interested, especially Paul Burkhalter.
I read with interest the item about Weston Mill viaduct. As a youngster this was very much my patch with bike rides down to the Weston Mill bridge and on to St Budeaux to watch the goings on; happy memories of the diesel hydraulics. In particular, there was a daily trip working with a D63xx down to Bull Point and then Ernesettle or the other way round.
Nobody ever minded my taking photos by the signalbox, and I even got a ride on the train to Bull Point one morning. I took a snap of the train at the terminus there and was quickly advised to put my camera away, but not arrested as a Soviet spy or terrorist - things were more laid back in those days.
Several years later, on vacation from Leeds university, and not working that day, I went back and took from the main road a photo of Weston Mill viaduct with a Warship (one of the last by then) crossing on a down train. They hadn't filled in the creek at that time. To my surprise, a police car stopped and I was informed by the occupant that I was being arrested under the Official Secrets Act for photographing a defence establishment - you could just about make out the Royal Marine barracks buildings in the distance, although the amount of detail to be ascertained from a humble Kodak Instamatic camera at that distance was unlikely to be of any aid or comfort to the USSR! I was then taken to Special Branch, where fortunately the rather more intelligent officers realised how silly this all was. After developing my film to make sure there was nothing untoward, they accepted my explanation of being an innocent railway enthusiast and I was allowed to continue on my way.
Oh well, it would probably have been worse in Albania in those days!
John Many thanks for that John. Now please can you find your pictures of Weston Mill Viaduct and also of Bull Point terminus. We would all be interested, especially Paul Burkhalter.