Yeovil Railway Centre

Yeovil Railway Centre

For further details of Yeovil Railway Centre and operations and events please click here https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=yeovil+railway+centre

History of the South West Main Steam Co at Yeovil Junction. It was formed in 1993 to preserve the turntable at the junction for future steam railtour locos that required turning. Of course things have moved on a lot since then, from erecting a 15000 gall water tank, recovered from Morlands at Glastonbury in 1994 and building a two road locomotive shed in 1997-1998,plus a myriad of other things over the years. Our greatest coup to date was the signing of a new lease which included the south chord and two small fields. The former Transfer shed is our visitor centre and refreshment area. We have five locos on site, two steam, 'Lord Fisher' and 'Pectin'[which is having its ten year overhaul], and three diesels, Ruston 4wd 'River Yeo', two 0-4-0 Fowlers 'Cockney Rebel' and 'Sam', plus several goods vehicles. A temporary platform was constructed of scaffolding at the east end for special events. Trains normally run on 1st & 3rd Sundays March to October,any other as required plus our
Santa Specials at Christmas.
The future There is talk of south west trains reusing platform 3 again and reinstating the footbridge
and possibly the south chord so Weymouth train could use the junction station. But this is only hearsay at present.
So Keith,this is a quick preamble of the 'Yeovil Railway Centre' as we are better known.
I hope this is of interest cheers JOHN Cornelius

John Cornelius restores the station sign from Ottery St Mary in the transfer shed at Yeovil Junction

Friday 13th February 2015 and 159 009 calls at Yeovil Junction with a service from Waterloo to Exeter St Davids. A nowadays most unusual view seen from the former down island platform. The island platform on the up side is now bi-directional. Copyright Craig Munday.

Yeovil Junction on the 21st August 2007 Preserved rolling stock together with Class 50 050 Fearless at Yeovil steam centre. Copyright Roger Winnen

The passenger coach used on the short but interesting line at the Yeovil Railway Centre. Photographed by Mike Bojko on 7th May 2016. Copyright

Morning Keith, I was interested in Mike Bojko's pic of the coach at Yeovil Junction.
I have been a member there for over 20 years. It was the middle coach of a dmu set, No 59515, at the WSR.
It was purchased by one of our members in 2013.The first pic is of it shortly after arrival at Yeovil.
It was modified for our use by our members, the carriage connctions at each end were removed and blanked off and with windows fitted at each end. The toilets in the centre of the coach were removed to make way for wheel chair access and a wider door fitted. A cab has been fitted at the leading end and a vacuum brake fitted for the trailer driver[brakeman] to control stopping the train at the end of the out ward runs.
Its first public appearance was on the 2013 santa specials then in undercoat grey livery.
Since then it has been painted in a light green livery of our choosing and not representing any particular
railway livery. It is normally used on the busier days, on other occasions the 'GWR' brakevan only is used.
I thought this may be of interest. cheers JOHN C.

Caution, men at work! Copyright John Cornelius

Recd - 29th August 2016.
Morning Keith, We are quite versatile at Yeovil junction in what we have achieved over the years.
This is one of them. The restoration of Fowler 22900'SAM' which has taken 10/12 years to complete.
IT entered service about two months ago and is used for shunting when our Ruston is not available. It cannot operate passenger trains at present as it has no vacuum brake, only a hand brake.
But it makes a welcome addition to our fleet of small loco's.
'IT' was named 'SAM' after one of our members 'Jack Russell' dog, who was a regular visitor with his master at the centre for several years and nick named 'the railway dog' cheers JOHN C.
A lovely story John, many thanks.

A sequel to Sam
'SAM' belonged to John Barrett,who was our treasurer at Yeovil for several years.
SAM always accompanied him on his visits and became a friend to all the members who came to work at the
centre,hence the nickname 'the railway dog'. Sadly when he was about 12 years old,he was out walking with john one day,both had stopped at the side of the road to let a car pass, when Sam suddenly ran out in front of it and was run over with fatal results.
As John had loaned the money to buy the diesel loco,he suggested that when the loco was restored
it be named Sam in memory of his dog.
However not long after Sam's passing, John bought another 'jack russell' puppy from near Barnstaple
and named it 'BARNY' and of course it comes to Yeovil when ever John comes.
So their we are, hope this is of interest. cheers JOHN C.

Welcome signal

A signal which was at Pen Mill for donkeys years, and was sited at the west end of the up platform has been resited at the Yeovil Railway Centre where it makes a most attractive feature.
History This signal with its indicator boards signalled dopwn trains out on to the 'down main' [To Weymouth]. 'down branch', or 'to shed'.
I think the 'up branch' was used when a Weymouth train was signalled to leave at the same time as a Taunton train, and 'to shed' the loco ran down the up line to Pen Mill shed. 'Down branch' was used only when a train for Taunton was leaving as it crossed to the down main and then onto the branch. The signal was replaced at least five years ago or more. There still are semaphore signals at Pen Mill.
Many thanks for the info John.

A smashing colour picture - Copyright John Cornelius

2011 An amazing year at Yeovil Jct.

Looking back to 2011 with some pics of locos we had at
Yeovil Junction during that year,which was quite a busy one for us with all the visiting locos. The pic of 'TORNADO' leaving with the golden tinged exhaust was a lucky pic . The sun was right down on the horizon as the train left, a few minutes later the sun had set and the effect was gone, I was dead lucky to get it.
cheers JOHN C.

Photograph of the year, a truly amazing picture, a chance in a million. Copyright John Cornelius

Quite some year at Yeovil Junction, many thanks for your memories.

Santa comes to Yeovil Steam Centre December 2016

We have three people who take the part of santa on the various days, one may do the morning session and another in the afternoon, or as on sunday one did the whole day.As one of two assistant guards covering the brake van, I managed to slip off for a few lineside shots. For the past few years at my suggestion, we like to have santa ride on the first morning and afternoon trains meeting the visitors before he goes to the grotto.This goes down well with the youngsters and probably the parents as well, heres a couple of pics of santa on the train and one in the grotto. cheers JOHN C.

We had the last of our santa spls today, 23rd December 200+ visitors.
Luckily the heavy rain kept off and it wasn't intil around 1430 that we had drizzle rain blowing in on the wind,which didn't really matter and didn't spoil anything for the final visitors at 1500.
This has been our best year to date with over 1300 visitors over the five days.
Today we had some of the cast from the Yeovil pantomime 'Alice in wonderland' visit us for most of the day, which I think the young ladies might have been a distraction to santa when they rode on the train. also at the far end of the line at'NORTH POLE HALT', we had santa's workshop with working toys in the windows.This being a new innovation this year.
enjoy the pics cheers JOHN C.

Visitors to the Yeovil Railway Centre 2017

Dave Tozer and John Cornelius at Yeovil Railway Centre 8th July 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

8th July 2017

34052 Lord Dowding 8th July 2017 Copyright David Tozer

With 33207 Jim Martin 8th July 2017 Copyright David Tozer

34052 Lord Dowding at Yeovil Railway Centre 8th July 2017 End of Southern Steam Railtour Copyright John Cornelius

34052 Lord Dowding at Yeovil Railway Centre 8th July 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Having been turned 34052 Lord Dowding at Yeovil Railway Centre ready for a backwards drag to Weymouth 8th July 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

9th July 2017

35028 Clan Line Waterloo Sunset at Yeovil Railway Centre 9th July 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

35028 Clan Line 'Waterloo Sunset' at Yeovil Railway Centre Copyright John Cornelius

35028 Clan Line Waterloo Sunset at Yeovil Railway Centre Copyright John Cornelius

35028 Clan Line takes water . 'Waterloo Sunset' at Yeovil Railway Centre Copyright John Cornelius

The support coach the railtour also needed turning. Waterloo Sunset at Yeovil Railway Centre 9th July 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

With no vacuum to assist the turning of the table 'Manpower Power' was used 'Waterloo Sunset' at Yeovil Railway Centre 9th July 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

23rd July 2017

Yeovil Steam Centre 60009 arrives for coaling & turning. 23rd July 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Yeovil Steam Centre 60009 Coaling 23rd July 2017 John Cornelius

Yeovil Steam Centre 60009 moving onto the turntable for turning 23rd July 2017 John Cornelius

Yeovil Steam Centre 60009 Turning accomplished. 23rd July 2017 John Cornelius

Trains and Tractor 6th August 2017

Hi Keith, on Tuesdays through August we are running brakevan rides at Yeovil junction hauled by one of our diesels, plus the miniature railway operating as well. To encourage people to visit us on these days
We are charging an entry price 0f £3 per adult, children under four free, and £1 for children from 5 to 15. We did this last year and it was very well appreciated by the visitors.
We are doing the same again this year and visitor numbers have been veryencouraging on the first three days. Some pics of today from the junction cheers JOHN C.

Cathedrals Express - visit by Oliver Cromwell 5th September 2017

The Cathedrals Express called on 5th September 2017.
Originating from London Victoria - it headed via Woking, Basingstoke, Salisbury to Yeovil Jct where it stayed from 14.29 to 17.40.

170905a 70013 arrives at Yeovil Junction Copyright John Cornelius

170905d 70013 - coaling under way. Copyright John Cornelius

170905e 70013 proceeds towards the turntable. Copyright John Cornelius

170905i 70013 on the table Copyright John CorneliusI

170905j 70013 turned and ready for its next tour of duty - back to London. Copyright John CorneliusI

Diesel Day at Yeovil Railway Centre 17th September 2017

A few pics of our diesel day at Yeovil Junction today. Unfortunately Fowler 0-4-0'SAM' was failed with a faulty water pump leaving the other two diesels to work the trains.
Not too many visitors on this occasion. Still you can't win them all. cheers JOHN C.

Scenes at Yeovil Railway Centre Diesel Day. (1) 17th September 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Scenes at Yeovil Railway Centre Diesel Day. (2) 17th September 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Scenes at Yeovil Railway Centre Diesel Day. (3) 17th September 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Scenes at Yeovil Railway Centre Diesel Day. (4) 17th September 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Scenes at Yeovil Railway Centre Diesel Day. (5) 17th September 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Scenes at Yeovil Railway Centre Diesel Day. (6) 17th September 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Scenes at Yeovil Railway Centre Diesel Day. (7) 17th September 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Christmas 2017 at
Yeovil Railway Centre
John Cornelius

Many thanks to John Cornelius who supplies our daily dose of pictures as well as this very colourful Bumper Bundle. As you will see the team at the Yeovil Railway Centre have pulled out the stops to produce a very fine effort. As we Cornish would say 'You've done a Proper Job'.

17th December 2017 Copyright John Cornelius

Congratulations to the team at Yeovil Railway Centre and a Very Happy Christmas to you too.

Happy Easter at YRC 2018

From the Y.R.C. Warren. Copyright John Cornelius

YRC Treat - Restered wagon unveiled

'Just over two years ago a few of the 'YRC'members started to restore
one of the Port of Bristol wagons with a view to turning it out in Yeovil
Gas Works livery. The restoration was completed in November last year
and it was immediately sheeted over and put into storage.
Today the sheet was partially removed for public viewing and photographs
to be taken. The wagon is painted in the brown livery of the early
Yeovil Gas Works wagons. This was the first attempt to restore one of the
Bristol Wagons and has been finished to a high standard.
It should be on view at 'YRC' next Thursday (26th April 2018) ,when the 'GREAT BRITAIN' railtour visits Yeovil Junction.'
Many thanks to John Cornelius for the above article and pictures.

Railway Centre - restored coal wagon. Copyright John Cornelius

From another angle - the restored coal wagon. Copyright John Cornelius

Visit of the Great Britain Railtour on the 26th April 2018
On this day the railtour travelled from Cardiff headed by a Black Five which took the train to Yeovil Railway Centre - here the '5' was turned and used to haul the railtour back to Yeovil Pen Mill. From whence the railtour was taken to Weymouth headed by the Class 'U'. The Black Five then took the train to Wareham with the 'U' on the back. The final movement the day was when the 'U' took the complete train down to Swanage.

John Cornelius took pictures of all the movements at the Yeovil Railway Centre. For more coverage of this railtour please see our 'Features From end of April Onwards'.

The 'U' leaves the turntable having been turned. 26th April 2016 Copyright John Cornelius

The 'Black Five' draws the 'Great Britain' into YRC. 26th April 2018.

The Black Five is turned ready for its journey to Weymouth on the back of the train. 26th April 2018. Copyright John Cornelius

The 'U' is attached. 26th April 218. Copyright John Cornelius

26th July 2018 Copyright John Cornelius.

- and finally the Black Five brings up the rear. 26th April 2018. Copyright John Cornelius