Items added on 3rd January 2018 Those added most recently come first

3/1/2018

Last train on the S & D !!
Geoffrey Matthews

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The following courtesy Six Bells Junction records, what would we do without them?
2nd January 1966 R.C.T.S. (London Branch)
Somerset & Dorset Rail Tour
Locos Used35011 'General Steam Navigation', 34015 'Exmouth' & 31639, 48309, 41307, 41283 & 82019Route :
Loco(s)Route
35011 (2)London Waterloo - Clapham Junction - Hampton Court Jn - Woking - Basingstoke - Winchester - Eastleigh - Southampton - Bournemouth Central - Broadstone
31639 + 34015Broadstone - Evercreech Junction - Masbury - Radstock - Bath Green Park
48309Bath Green Park - Mangotsfield - Bristol Temple Meads - Weston-Super-Mare - Highbridge (West) (3)
41307 & 41283Highbridge (S&D) - Glastonbury - Templecombe
35011Templecombe - Salisbury - Basingstoke - Woking - Hampton Court Jn - Clapham Junction - London Waterloo
Notes :
(1) This tour was intended to run on the day following the public closure of the Somerset & Dorset line. However last minute difficulties with the substitute bus service caused postponement of the closure. The tour was limited to ten coaches, though demand for tickets far exceeded the train capacity.
(2) On leaving Waterloo station the train was assisted in the rear by 82019.
(3) Passengers detrained and had to make their own way between stations whilst the train shunted.
Sources : David Hills & Robin Lush

Geoffrey Matthews writes :- Sorry I haven't been in touch for a while but I've preoccupied with other commitments between August and December, so some things have had to been put on hold
for awhile.

So please find attached 5 photos that I took on a RCTS railtour on the S&D on January 2nd 1966.

Hope these will be of use to you and also wish all of you 'Happy New Year'

Cheers Geoff Matthews
My apologies to you Geoffrey for your pictures being being a day late - I'm afraid that they arrived after I'd closed down on the 2nd. Many thanks for your irreplaceable pictures and for the detailed captions.

Photo 1 - Merchant Navy 35011 'General Steam Navigation' at Broadstone Junction while uncoupling from train. this then followed the train up to Templecombe light engine to take us back to Waterloo in the evening. Yes I no these were officially banned on the S&D but the rules seemed to bent around this time as other Merchant Navy's ran between Broadstone and Templecombe on railtours in 1965 and 1966, 2 actually hauled trains. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 2 - 31639 and 34015 'Exmouth' backs onto train for the journey to Bath. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 3 31639 and 34015 'Exmouth' at Evercreech Junction both taking water, which involved moving the train forward as only one water column. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 4 34015 'Exmouth' moves up to take its water at Evercreech Junction. 2nd January 1966 Copyright Geoffrey Matthews

Photo 5 - 48309 at Bristol Temple Meads station, one of the 3 8F's fitted with Steam Heat, this hauled the train from Bath To Highbridge. 2nd January 1966. Copyright Geoffrey Matthews.

Meldon Signs
Andrew Jones

Dear Keith, Stormy January nights really lend themselves to trawling and scanning old slides. I came across this one labelled early 70’s. It was taken when one track was still in place on Meldon Viaduct and there also existed a roadway on the other formation for Dam construction traffic. Meldon Quarry at this time was still supplying railway ballast and the warning was very real, although I note restricted to only twice a day and for approx 30mins in the morning and 1 hour at mid day.

Best wishes Andrew Many thanks Andrew - keep up the good work!
However, I thought I'd seen that before, well that wording. Looking back though our Plymouth - Okehampton Gallery I see identical wording on a sign photographed by Mike Roach. Now is this on a notice board at a different location, or has somebody replaced a 'tatty' notice , and adjusted the timing - isn't the 24 hour clock so much simpler??!! Has anybody else noticed it??