NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 34
Meldon Viaduct February 1970
Michael L. Roach
Saturday 14 February 1970 dawned cold and clear. For me the beauty of such days in winter was that the light would be crystal clear when the sun did shine and ideal for photography.
When it had warmed up a bit, I set out after lunch to travel the 26 miles from my home in Plymouth to Meldon Viaduct, near Okehampton. From memory I parked on the road which passes beneath the viaduct leading up to the Quarry. I was not disappointed as the weather was immaculate.
I spent a lovely hour traversing the area including climbing up to rail level; there were no through passenger or freight trains of course as they had been withdrawn nearly two years earlier, but freight trains serving the adjacent quarry still shunted out on to the viaduct. There was still frozen snow which had turned to ice resting on the horizontal members of the trusses, but it was starting to melt in the sun. I also travelled further up the valley to take some photos of the planned Meldon Dam site.
It was a memorable day for a very lucky escape which sticks in the mind. As I walked down the road northwards to return the car I passed beneath the viaduct, and as I did so there was a terrific thud somewhere just behind me. A long length of ice had fallen more than 30 metres and landed on the road surface just a couple of metres behind me. It was about 6 feet (1.8 metres) long and had broken into many pieces. I was alone that day.
When it had warmed up a bit, I set out after lunch to travel the 26 miles from my home in Plymouth to Meldon Viaduct, near Okehampton. From memory I parked on the road which passes beneath the viaduct leading up to the Quarry. I was not disappointed as the weather was immaculate.
I spent a lovely hour traversing the area including climbing up to rail level; there were no through passenger or freight trains of course as they had been withdrawn nearly two years earlier, but freight trains serving the adjacent quarry still shunted out on to the viaduct. There was still frozen snow which had turned to ice resting on the horizontal members of the trusses, but it was starting to melt in the sun. I also travelled further up the valley to take some photos of the planned Meldon Dam site.
It was a memorable day for a very lucky escape which sticks in the mind. As I walked down the road northwards to return the car I passed beneath the viaduct, and as I did so there was a terrific thud somewhere just behind me. A long length of ice had fallen more than 30 metres and landed on the road surface just a couple of metres behind me. It was about 6 feet (1.8 metres) long and had broken into many pieces. I was alone that day.
Here I am looking up the west side of the piers of the Meldon Viaducts on Saturday 14 February 1970. It can be seen that the two viaducts are similar but with many detailed differences. The time is 2.05pm. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The various structural elements look to be in good condition in 1970. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Here I am looking north-east through the piers of the eastern half of the viaducts, showing how the bottom of the piers was weighted down with concrete in 1944 with more added in 1959/60. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Looking north-east through the tallest piers. Rail level is 46 metres above the bottom of the valley. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
In this view looking towards Meldon Quarry it can be seen that the snow which has landed on the horizontal members has frozen but is now starting to thaw in the sunshine. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
At track level it becomes apparent that the track is still in use for shunting. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A final view looking north at 3.05pm on 14 February 1970. It must be cold as there is still some snow/ice attached to the vertical members. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks as always Michael - a lucky escape from the falling ice, gosh.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
The Hymeks Bow Out - 50 Years Ago
Neil Phillips
Hello Roger, Keith and Jon,
Wednesday 19th March 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of Hymek D7018, and with it the end of the Hymeks on BR Western Region. 1975 had started with just six of the 101 Hymeks constructed remaining in traffic, although D7028 fell immediately on New Year's Day. It would be the last day of February before D7029 followed it, then on 2nd March D7011/22 were withdrawn leaving just D7017/18 to soldier on for a few more days. D7017 was removed from traffic on 13th March having covered 655,000 miles in service; D7018 brought the curtain down on Class 35 when it was officially withdrawn on the 19th - its final working believed to have been 5A06 11.35 Didcot - Old Oak Common the previous day.
Hymeks were always considered rare in Cornwall, although over the years more photos of them in action in the Duchy have come to light, generally in the 1964-66 period. This is not surprising considering the number of Hymeks allocated to Laira during this period:
D7027 : Briefly 3/64 & 4/64, then 8/65 - 9/65.
D7028 : Briefly 3/64 & 4/64.
D7029 : 8/67 - 11/67.
D7037 : 7/65 - 8/65.
D7038/39 : 7/65 - 1/66.
D7068 : 7/65 - 5/66.
D7069/70 : 4/64 - 5/64, then 7/65 - 5/66.
D7072 : 3/64 - 5/64, then 7/64 - 1/65.
D7073 : 3/64 - 4/64.
D7074/86 : 7/65 - 5/66.
D7088 : 8/67 - 11/67.
D7089: 5/64 - 3/65.
D7090/95 : 5/64 - 5/66.
D7096 - 7100 : 5/64 - 4/66.
(Information from 'A Tribute to the Hymeks' by Chris Neill, published by A&C Services, 2003)
Many of the brief stays at Laira were the result of bouncing between that depot and Newton Abbot. It can be seen that the higher-numbered locomotives spent as along as two years in the Plymouth area. D7029/88's 3-month stay in 1967 was I believe to cover for the absence of A1A-A1A Warships D601/2/4 in South Wales.
Hymeks were regularly rostered for the summer-dated Kensington Olympia - St Austell Motorail during 1970 and 1971, with the loco stabled at St Blazey all day, but these were rarely photographed (I know of only one, showing D7064 stabled inside St Blazey shed). Other than these workings Hymeks did indeed become a very rare sight in Cornwall from the end of 1967, with just one or two visits per year.
Gone but never forgotten by this lifelong Hymek fan!
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
Wednesday 19th March 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of Hymek D7018, and with it the end of the Hymeks on BR Western Region. 1975 had started with just six of the 101 Hymeks constructed remaining in traffic, although D7028 fell immediately on New Year's Day. It would be the last day of February before D7029 followed it, then on 2nd March D7011/22 were withdrawn leaving just D7017/18 to soldier on for a few more days. D7017 was removed from traffic on 13th March having covered 655,000 miles in service; D7018 brought the curtain down on Class 35 when it was officially withdrawn on the 19th - its final working believed to have been 5A06 11.35 Didcot - Old Oak Common the previous day.
Hymeks were always considered rare in Cornwall, although over the years more photos of them in action in the Duchy have come to light, generally in the 1964-66 period. This is not surprising considering the number of Hymeks allocated to Laira during this period:
D7027 : Briefly 3/64 & 4/64, then 8/65 - 9/65.
D7028 : Briefly 3/64 & 4/64.
D7029 : 8/67 - 11/67.
D7037 : 7/65 - 8/65.
D7038/39 : 7/65 - 1/66.
D7068 : 7/65 - 5/66.
D7069/70 : 4/64 - 5/64, then 7/65 - 5/66.
D7072 : 3/64 - 5/64, then 7/64 - 1/65.
D7073 : 3/64 - 4/64.
D7074/86 : 7/65 - 5/66.
D7088 : 8/67 - 11/67.
D7089: 5/64 - 3/65.
D7090/95 : 5/64 - 5/66.
D7096 - 7100 : 5/64 - 4/66.
(Information from 'A Tribute to the Hymeks' by Chris Neill, published by A&C Services, 2003)
Many of the brief stays at Laira were the result of bouncing between that depot and Newton Abbot. It can be seen that the higher-numbered locomotives spent as along as two years in the Plymouth area. D7029/88's 3-month stay in 1967 was I believe to cover for the absence of A1A-A1A Warships D601/2/4 in South Wales.
Hymeks were regularly rostered for the summer-dated Kensington Olympia - St Austell Motorail during 1970 and 1971, with the loco stabled at St Blazey all day, but these were rarely photographed (I know of only one, showing D7064 stabled inside St Blazey shed). Other than these workings Hymeks did indeed become a very rare sight in Cornwall from the end of 1967, with just one or two visits per year.
Gone but never forgotten by this lifelong Hymek fan!
Best regards,
Neil Phillips
D7001, the first Hymek reported to have crossed the Tamar on a freight working on 1st May 1963 - seen here at Worcester heading the premature 'Hymek Swansong' tour (with D7028). Withdrawn 11/3/74. 22nd September 1973, copyright Neil Phillips.
D7093, the last Hymek across the Tamar, but only just! It got as far as Saltash on a ballast train from Tavistock Junction on 7th March 1974 (on past performance I should add 'to the best of my knowledge' to both of these captions!) - photographed at Swindon waiting time with an up parcels working the previous month. Withdrawn 26/11/74 - it had been the only survivor numbered above D7032 since 6/5/73 (the same day the first two Westerns D1019/32 had been condemned) and had been instantly recognisable by its headboard brackets. 2nd February 1974, copyright Neil Phillips.
Many thanks indeed, Neil. 50 years ago today - amazing to think that 50 days ago yesterday, people were out photographing the prototype HST - quite a crossover of technology.
If anybody has any more images of Hymeks in the Duchy, we'd love to see them. [email protected].
If anybody has any more images of Hymeks in the Duchy, we'd love to see them. [email protected].
St. Patricks Day at Swindon
Ken Mumford
66025 awaits [with engine ticking over!] before moving to the east of the station, running around its train, then passes through platform 1 with 6B52 [Swindon Stores - Llanwern Exchange Sidings] waiting just to the west of the station almost on the Gloucester branch. 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
66244 passes alongside platform 4 with 6C03 [Northolt Sidings to Severnside Sita] running 27 EARLY - not stopping in the Swindon East Loop! 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
On platform 4 was IET 800306 [1C14 - Paddington - Weston-Super-Mare] with graffiti spoiling this what I call Train of Remembrance. 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
66560 [7B12 Merehead Quarry - Wootton Bassett] meets 1B15 [800022 and 800002 with a Paddington - Swansea - and Carmarthen??] 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Light engine 70814 running 74 LATE as 0Z74 [Westbury Down - Bescot Up Engineers sidings]. 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
6U31 [Carmarthen Sidings - Didcot Fuelling Point] - a Stone Blower! Station Announcer said, "Fast train approaching. Does not stop here." But it did!! 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
The Stoneblower heads east with 66560 having run around its train is now waiting in Swindon East Loop to head the final few miles to its destination. The Swindon Stores to Llanwern Exchange Sidings can just be seen on the left with 66025. 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
59104 passes along platform 4 with 6C48 [Appleford - Whatley Quarry]. 17.03.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Many thanks, Ken - a 66 in almost every colour.
'Fearless' at Stoneybridge
Julian Stephens
1V65 hauled by 50050 drifts down the gradient through Stonebrige sometime in June 1986. Copyright Julian Stephens.
Many thanks, Julian - I know we always say it, but it's stunning to see how much clearer the lineside was back then.