Westbury Engineering Occupation
December 2024 - January 2025
Guy Vincent
Work continues to take place around Westbury South Junction and on Westbury station. As of 12th January most of the major trackwork and renewals have now been completed with the station now receiving attention.
Here I have included a mixed selection of photos taken between 26th - 28th December as works got underway.
Concurrent with the work at Westbury, Sherrington viaduct between Codford and Wylye is being strengthened and repainted. As this is rather too far to travel (and likely inaccessible to casual visitors!) I won't get to see this job until after the line between Westbury and Salisbury has reopened. This is currently planned to take place early on Friday 24th January.
Here I have included a mixed selection of photos taken between 26th - 28th December as works got underway.
Concurrent with the work at Westbury, Sherrington viaduct between Codford and Wylye is being strengthened and repainted. As this is rather too far to travel (and likely inaccessible to casual visitors!) I won't get to see this job until after the line between Westbury and Salisbury has reopened. This is currently planned to take place early on Friday 24th January.
26.12.2024 66224 heads a trainload of spoil from Westbury South, seen from an overbridge at Hawkeridge. Copyright Guy Vincent.
26.12.2024 Spoil from Westbury South stabled on Up Trowbridge line, top and tailed by 66002 & 66224. Copyright Guy Vincent.
27.12.2024 Hawkeridge Jcn. Two 158 units returning to Trowbridge to form a Cardiff service. These had terminated at Trowbridge a short time before and then run empty to Heywood Road Jcn and reversed. Copyright Guy Vincent.
27.12.2024 66170 at Penleigh (Westbury South) on a train being loaded with spoil. Copyright Guy Vincent.
28.12.2024 Westbury station with works and materials in view from platform 1. Copyright Guy Vincent.
28.12.2024 Westbury. 66528 66002 & 66225 ready to cross via North Jcn to the up yard. Copyright Guy Vincent.
28.12.2024 Westbury North. Points being wound manually due to disconnection during blockade. Copyright Guy Vincent.
28.12.2024 Westbury. Locos 66224 66002 and 66528 pass 66743 as they run into the up yard where they will attach to more trains and bring into the possession. Copyright Guy Vincent.
28.12.2024 Westbury. Spoil from Westbury South being removed by 66743 and 66713. Copyright Guy Vincent.
28.12.2024 Westbury 66713 at the tail end of a spoil train being pulled out towards Hawkeridge by 66743. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks for your comprehensive report, Guy.
More photos of this interesting project will follow over the next few days.
More photos of this interesting project will follow over the next few days.
A grey day in Truro
Jon Hird
After enduring a shopping trip to Truro, before heading down I whipped over to the viaduct to get a shot of 43004 heading west. I was hoping that the cathedral would appear more prominently, but it doesn't look quite as high when your camera is also up in the air. 11.01.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Just a minute after the previous photo, an IET headed east. 11.01.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Saltash 'Peak'
Paul Barlow
45110 leaves Saltash on the 1740 Plymouth to Lostwithiel 12 March 1983. Paul adds, A bit of a grainy shot, the film was Ilford HP5 400 asa so was never the best. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks, Paul - grainy or not, at least you had the foresight to capture the scene for us.