NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 51
Somerton - An Unusual Arch Bridge
Michael L. Roach
I have been discussing various subjects with Colin Burges of Teignrail for some time and those discussions have always been interesting. Recently the two subjects that dominated were bridges and bricks, and in this instalment those two subjects come neatly together in an unusual brick arch bridge which is quite unique, unless you know of another one similar. The bridge was built by the Great Western Railway in 1906 as part of the Castle Cary to Langport Cut-off. A small black and white photo of the bridge nearing completion appears in the next to last image in 1964 – Part 46.
As the railway heads east from passing through Somerton the double track main line describes a huge curve. Much of it is on an embankment giving good views of the fields below. At the far end of the curve the railway passes over B3153 road from Somerton to Castle Cary, about 1½ miles east of Somerton, on a severe skew of 62 degrees. Normally, and even on a skew arch, the arch springs from a vertical wall / abutment which is parallel to the road, rails or canal that the bridge is passing over. In this bridge the arch springs from a flat area on the top of the abutment and is only an estimated 6 feet (1.8 metres) wide but there are six of these individual arches side-by-side arranged in a sawtooth pattern along the top of the abutment wall. This is highly unusual and was probably chosen because of the severe skew; and I cannot recall seeing another one similar before. One advantage of this design would be that the centreing would be used six times immediately rather than once, and perhaps never used again. At the beginning of June 2025 Colin Burges spent the weekend in Somerset and took the time to visit “six arches” bridge and take a number of photos which are reproduced here. Many thanks Colin.
As the railway heads east from passing through Somerton the double track main line describes a huge curve. Much of it is on an embankment giving good views of the fields below. At the far end of the curve the railway passes over B3153 road from Somerton to Castle Cary, about 1½ miles east of Somerton, on a severe skew of 62 degrees. Normally, and even on a skew arch, the arch springs from a vertical wall / abutment which is parallel to the road, rails or canal that the bridge is passing over. In this bridge the arch springs from a flat area on the top of the abutment and is only an estimated 6 feet (1.8 metres) wide but there are six of these individual arches side-by-side arranged in a sawtooth pattern along the top of the abutment wall. This is highly unusual and was probably chosen because of the severe skew; and I cannot recall seeing another one similar before. One advantage of this design would be that the centreing would be used six times immediately rather than once, and perhaps never used again. At the beginning of June 2025 Colin Burges spent the weekend in Somerset and took the time to visit “six arches” bridge and take a number of photos which are reproduced here. Many thanks Colin.
Somerton Road Bridge on 08.06.2025. Copyright Colin Burgess.
I wanted to run a string along the intersections to see if they were in line. If I held the ladder, would you ... ? 08.06.2025, copyright Colin Burgess
Somerton Road Bridge on 08.06.2025. Copyright Colin Burgess.
It looks as if the arches are separate, perhaps to allow for movement. A photo of the bridge under construction would be interesting to see. I take it the reasoning was that six parallel arches were easier to construct than one on the skew. And I wonder if the centering work had been, or was, used on another bridge. 08.06.2025, copyright Colin Burgess.
The unusual construction used on the Somerton Road Bridge. 08.06.2025, copyright Colin Burgess
Here's another unusual one on the "new" line, a replacement for the original just Up from it. Black Smock, between Curry Rivel and Athelney, carries only a minor road. I wonder if its design was dictated by the soil; it looks as if it would tolerate a lot of settlement. This view, impossible yesterday, I think was from the course of the road leading to the former bridge. 08.06.2025, copyright Colin Burgess
The Glastonbury Festival 2025
Castle Cary Station is in the middle of coping with its busiest week of the year. For those who live abroad and may not know it was the week of the Glastonbury Festival which lasted from 25 to 29 June 2025 at Worthy Farm BA4 4BY which is seven miles east of Glastonbury town centre. The gates were opened on Wednesday 25th and the festival goers will still be leaving today Monday 30 June. Many of the 210,000 attendees will arrive by train from all four points of the compass on normal service trains, but some will arrive on special trains from London Paddington and others on normal service trains making a special stop at Castle Cary the nearest railway station which is about six or seven miles from Worthy Farm. Castle Cary Station is a delightful country junction still with an original GWR flavour; and it could quite easily be overwhelmed by the large numbers alighting from arriving trains but the present incarnation of the GWR have years of experience of dealing with the Glastonbury passenger traffic. GWR will have drafted in extra staff and taken special measures to funnel the pedestrian traffic safely from the platform to the station forecourt on the north side where a fleet of buses is organised to transfer festival goers from the station to the festival site. If any of our readers travelled to the festival by public transport perhaps they would like to share their experience.
Many thanks Michael and Colin - what an interesting bridge!
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
Glastonbury Turbo Extras Resurrected in 2025
Guy Vincent
For the 2013 and 2014 Glastonbury Festivals FGW ran additional trains from Paddington and Reading to Castle Cary formed of class 165 or 166 Turbo stock. Since then HSTs or latterly class 800 stock has dominated with just a few trains to /from the Bristol area consisting of older DMU sets. Today, the earlier years were recreated with Reading based Turbo sets used on 4 relief services from Castle Cary to Westbury and Reading.
Class 165-166 sets are ideal for dealing with the heavy additional traffic generated by events such as this due to the number of wide doors and open saloon space immediately available to those boarding with large items of luggage etc.
Class 165-166 sets are ideal for dealing with the heavy additional traffic generated by events such as this due to the number of wide doors and open saloon space immediately available to those boarding with large items of luggage etc.
Sunday 29th June 2025. 165109 & 165112 at Cowleaze, Edington on 1Z30 1139 Castle Cary - Reading. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Sunday 29th June 2025. 165128, 165123 and 165126 approaching Clink Road Jcn working 5Z33 1618 Reading - Castle Cary prior to returning east as 1Z33 1735 Castle Cary - Reading relief. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Some reminders of the trains provided by FGW in 2013 and 2014...
166209 and 165128 at Castle Cary just after 3pm on 26th June 2013 with 1Z33, a 1233 additional from London Paddington. Once empty the sets will return to London for the evening commuter peak. Copyright Guy Vincent.
165109 and 165121 at Castle Cary waiting to head back east as empty stock on 27th June 2014. The sets had arrived as 1Z32 1030 Paddington - Castle Cary bringing festivalgoers from the capital to Somerset. This was some 4 years before they were introduced on timetabled services in the Wessex region. In February 2013 special gauging test runs had taken place to ensure they were suitable to run so far west. In due course the fleet received suspension modifications allowing normal day to day use. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks, Guy - and with perfect timing to carry on from Mikes article, too.
Sunday Sleeper
Jon Hird & Andrew Triggs
Sunday afternoon saw a quick dash over to the Gover Valley for a photo of hire-in 57301 bringing the GWR 'Night Riviera' sleeper stock west to Long Rock. The train had failed at Plymouth on Saturday morning, and was taken to Laira by back-to-back power cars for repairs. 29.06.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
57301 passing Rospeath Road overbridge at 17.46 (39 late) with 5Z50 14.50 Laira T&RSMD-Longrock T&RSMD. 29.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
57301 propelling 5C50 away from Platform 3 at Penzance at 17.57 (33 late) towards Longrock T&RSMD. 29.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
57301 propelling 5C50 away from Platform 3 at Penzance at 17.57 (33 late) towards Longrock T&RSMD. 29.06.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Many thanks, Andrew
Mazey Day Wiltshire Workings
Guy Vincent
With plenty of interesting diesel action taking place further west on Saturday 28th a few workings of note were worth going out for closer to home in Wiltshire.
GBRF's 66747 'Made in Sheffield' with a further refurbished ex Irish Railways coach now numbered 99104 (destined for the Britannic Explorer charter operation) passed through Bradford on Avon at 7.30am as 5Z43 1724 (Fri) Hamilton - Eastleigh Arlington. Although booked to run via the single line Maindee North to East Jcns chord, the train was diverted into P1 at Newport station where the loco ran round before continuing its journey. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
The going-away shot of 66747. Note the large sheet of chipboard covering the end gangway of the carriage. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Colas loco 60096 'Skiddaw', currently on long-term hire to DC Rail approaching Hawkeridge Junction with the SO 6M52 0844 Tytherington - Willesden DC Rail sidings loaded aggregate working. From here the Westbury East Loop was used to gain access to the Berks and Hants line towards Reading. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Westbury Yard. Freightliner class 70 no. 70009 which is also on long term hire, but to Colas Rail, stabled on the site of the former Westbury Diesel Depot with other Colas locos including 66792, on hire from GB Railfreight. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Westbury Up Yard. 66414 awaiting departure with the 6Z97 1328 Westbury - Llangyfelach long welded rail train. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Westbury Down Yard. 66112 shunting with GBRF's 69001 (the former 56031 Merehead, a one-time Westbury outbased loco) stabled beyond. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Westbury Yard, Colas Maintenance shed with 70817 undergoing repairs. This shed was built in the early 1980s for wagon maintenance but has been extended and upgraded in recent years. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Monkton, on the Melksham single line near the site of the former Holt Junction for Devizes branch station. 50049 'Defiance' with refurbished GWR sleeper coach 10534 gently amble by working a 5V50 1354 Salisbury - Reading Traincare Depot. This originated at Eastleigh Arlington at 1255 but ran as 5X50 to Salisbury. The trackbed of the former Devizes branch (closed in 1966) can just be discerned to the left of the loco as a line of bushes beyond the large tree. This could easily be mistaken as a shot taken on a heritage line. 28.06.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks as always, Guy - loads of variety, great to see so many locos still out and about even on a Saturday.
D1015 leaves Truro
Jonathan Harbage
Here is D1015 leaving Truro on the 28/06/25 on it’s way to Penzance . What a great sound it made. (Please click the arrow/play button to view the video). Copyright Jonathan Harbage
A great noise indeed - many thanks for sending over your video, Jonathan.
A mystery Crompton
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
An unidentified class 33 stars in this 1992 shot from Bristol Temple Meads. Can anyone ID it for Phil? Copyright Phil Smith.
Thanks Phil - if you can ID the loco please drop us an email - [email protected]
Mazey Day Highlights
Roger Winnen
D1015 Western Champion Built in 1963 arrives at Plymouth on the 06.07 Dorridge to Penzance Mazey Day special. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
66768 arrives on the through road at Plymouth Station to follow the Western to Penzance. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
Western Champion arrives at Par. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
Within a few minutes 66019 arrived at Par with clay empties to St Blazey. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
The 05.53 Midland Pullman Shrewsbury to Penzance is seen passing Par. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
66768 Is again seen passing throuth Par. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
The Midland Pullman passes through St Austell. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
The returning 16.00 to Dorridge is seen passing St Austell. 28.06.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.