Maurice Dart Memorial Train
A special memorial train in honour of Maurice has been organised to take place on the Bodmin Steam Railway on Saturday 13 July 2024. All who knew Maurice are welcome to attend.
You may travel free of charge on the last service train from Bodmin Parkway at 16.15, arriving at Bodmin General at 16.35. Pasties and cream teas are available after arrival at Bodmin General - must be booked in advance and paid for on the day. The memorial train leaves Bodmin General at 18.00, probably hauled by one of the 55XX Prairies after Morris Men have danced on the platform.
Bookings to Roger Winnen on 01736 350048 by 9th July 2024.
You may travel free of charge on the last service train from Bodmin Parkway at 16.15, arriving at Bodmin General at 16.35. Pasties and cream teas are available after arrival at Bodmin General - must be booked in advance and paid for on the day. The memorial train leaves Bodmin General at 18.00, probably hauled by one of the 55XX Prairies after Morris Men have danced on the platform.
Bookings to Roger Winnen on 01736 350048 by 9th July 2024.
Westbury Western
Guy Vincent
WESTBURY WIZZO RAILTOUR - Saturday 6th July 2024
D1015 arriving at Westbury on the UK Railtours 1Z77 0602 East Midlands Parkway - Westbury & Cranmore 'Westbury Wizzo' railtour charter. Once in the station GB Railfreight's newly commissioned 'Euroshed' 66309 was added to the rear to assist with shunting of the ECS at Cranmore. The train then departed in true 'Western' style with the mighty Maybachs delighting the large crowd of enthusiasts on the platforms. For a few precious moments it was a summer Saturday in 1975 or 76!
D1015 carried a wreath on the drivers side lamp bracket, this was in tribute to former BR / GWR fitter and DEPG engineer Andy Venn who very sadly passed away on July 1st.
Many thanks to Dennis Clarke for the photos he sent of this train at Watford Junction; these delighted Cathy as she grew up in nearby Hemel Hempstead and still considers 'Dacorum district' to be home!
D1015 arriving at Westbury on the UK Railtours 1Z77 0602 East Midlands Parkway - Westbury & Cranmore 'Westbury Wizzo' railtour charter. Once in the station GB Railfreight's newly commissioned 'Euroshed' 66309 was added to the rear to assist with shunting of the ECS at Cranmore. The train then departed in true 'Western' style with the mighty Maybachs delighting the large crowd of enthusiasts on the platforms. For a few precious moments it was a summer Saturday in 1975 or 76!
D1015 carried a wreath on the drivers side lamp bracket, this was in tribute to former BR / GWR fitter and DEPG engineer Andy Venn who very sadly passed away on July 1st.
Many thanks to Dennis Clarke for the photos he sent of this train at Watford Junction; these delighted Cathy as she grew up in nearby Hemel Hempstead and still considers 'Dacorum district' to be home!
D1015 curves into Westbury from the Berks and Hants line to arrive in platform 1. Until 1984 platform 1 was numbered P2 and was referred to as the 'Down Weymouth' and used by trains bound for the west of England. Remarkably, I was the only person on the bridge to record this classic scene, everyone else had chosen a spot on the station platforms to witness 1Z77's arrival. Copyright Guy Vincent.
GB Railfreight's immaculate 66309 'Charley Wallace' runs the short distance from the down Trowbridge stabling siding to attach to the rear of the charter. This loco was used to assist with shunting the empty stock at Cranmore. Copyright Guy Vincent.
66309 attaches to the rear coach of 1Z77 while DB's 66075 carries out shunting in the up yard. Copyright Guy Vincent.
A member of staff from the Panel Box takes the Train Staff for the White's Crossing - Cranmore single line to the crew of D1015. This short section of line, disused since 2019, has been cleared of dense vegetation and today's train will hopefully be the first of many charters to visit Cranmore. Copyright Guy Vincent.
D1015 prepares for departure. A sight that revived memories of the 1970s for many including myself. Copyright Guy Vincent.
D1015 prepares for departure. A sight that revived memories of the 1970s for many including myself. Copyright Guy Vincent.
WESTBURY WIZZO RAILTOUR Saturday 6th July 2024 Part 2 The return 1Z79 1515 Cranmore - East Midlands Parkway.
Unfortunately I was unable to get to Cranmore to see D1015 on the railtour as I had an afternoon shift to work. Luckily my main break coincided with the train's 30 minute pause at Westbury so I was able to witness both arrival and departure. As the tour was 15 minutes early at Westbury South Junction it was held to wait for platform 3 (old P4 'Up Weymouth') to clear and, from the station it was again a return to the 1970s with the distinctive plume of Maybach fumes visible to the right beyond the rows of stabled wagons in the up yard. Sadly, the long-dismantled semaphore bracket signals that would be pulled off heralding an arrival from the west country or Weymouth are no longer there.
After a few minutes D1015 came cautiously into the much extended platform 3, past the site of the former Westbury Diesel Depot where she would have spent many hours stabled between duties. In fact, D1015's last working for BR was a Westbury - Yeovil trip freight on 8th December 1976 during which the loco derailed in the sidings at Castle Cary, sustaining damage to 'A' end underside equipment. Returned to Westbury and then forwarded to Laira, D1015 was withdrawn on 11th and sent to Swindon for disposal on 3rd - 4th January 1977, travelling via Taunton, Westbury and Melksham in company with D1001 and D1054. It was by way of this route (towards Melksham) that D1015 departed today rather than via the Berks and Hants line towards Newbury.
An option for this tour was a visit to Longleat House and the coach used for transfer is pictured outside Westbury station.
On the platform at Westbury I met with a former schoolfriend, Stephen Randall, who was travelling on the tour. He runs his own website and blog, (ontheupfast.com) which features several galleries of photos and slides from the 1970s to date, inclding Westerns at Westbury etc. A site well worth looking at if you haven't visited yet. Our former Technical Drawing teacher from Trinity School, Bradford on Avon, Dave Brush, was also at Westbury for D1015 but thankfully no homework was set on this occasion!
Finally, a couple of my very old Instamatic prints showing Westerns at Westbury in the late spring of 1976.
Unfortunately I was unable to get to Cranmore to see D1015 on the railtour as I had an afternoon shift to work. Luckily my main break coincided with the train's 30 minute pause at Westbury so I was able to witness both arrival and departure. As the tour was 15 minutes early at Westbury South Junction it was held to wait for platform 3 (old P4 'Up Weymouth') to clear and, from the station it was again a return to the 1970s with the distinctive plume of Maybach fumes visible to the right beyond the rows of stabled wagons in the up yard. Sadly, the long-dismantled semaphore bracket signals that would be pulled off heralding an arrival from the west country or Weymouth are no longer there.
After a few minutes D1015 came cautiously into the much extended platform 3, past the site of the former Westbury Diesel Depot where she would have spent many hours stabled between duties. In fact, D1015's last working for BR was a Westbury - Yeovil trip freight on 8th December 1976 during which the loco derailed in the sidings at Castle Cary, sustaining damage to 'A' end underside equipment. Returned to Westbury and then forwarded to Laira, D1015 was withdrawn on 11th and sent to Swindon for disposal on 3rd - 4th January 1977, travelling via Taunton, Westbury and Melksham in company with D1001 and D1054. It was by way of this route (towards Melksham) that D1015 departed today rather than via the Berks and Hants line towards Newbury.
An option for this tour was a visit to Longleat House and the coach used for transfer is pictured outside Westbury station.
On the platform at Westbury I met with a former schoolfriend, Stephen Randall, who was travelling on the tour. He runs his own website and blog, (ontheupfast.com) which features several galleries of photos and slides from the 1970s to date, inclding Westerns at Westbury etc. A site well worth looking at if you haven't visited yet. Our former Technical Drawing teacher from Trinity School, Bradford on Avon, Dave Brush, was also at Westbury for D1015 but thankfully no homework was set on this occasion!
Finally, a couple of my very old Instamatic prints showing Westerns at Westbury in the late spring of 1976.
D1015 arriving into P3 at Westbury with 1Z79 1515 Cranmore. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Passing the area formerly occupied by Westbury Diesel Depot, now used by Colas. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Running to a halt at the north end of platform 3. In semaphore days trains would pull right up to the end of this platform as the signals were beyond the end ramp. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Running to a halt at the north end of platform 3. In semaphore days trains would pull right up to the end of this platform as the signals were beyond the end ramp. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Awaiting departure. Copyright Guy Vincent.
66309 prior to detachment and return to the sidings. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Arleen coach used for Longleat House off-train visit. Copyright Guy Vincent.
D1041 at Westbury, Spring 1976. Copyright Guy Vincent.
D1021 at Westbury, Spring 1976. Happy memories revived by today's visiting celebrity, D1015. Grateful thanks to the Diesel Traction Group and to UK Railtours who organised today's treat. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Our grateful thanks go out to you, Guy, for providing such a comprehensive report and for sharing your wonderful photos. The 'bonus' shots of the way things were are also excellent. Thank you very much indeed.
DRS at Doublebois
Jon Hird
37606 and 37609 top and tail the 3-2-C Railtour, running as 1Z21 Parkandillack - Heathfield on 09.06.2012. Seen on the impressive embankment at Doublebois, a view no longer possible due to development. Copyright Jon Hird.