Indoor Meetings resume this month
A quick reminder to our members that our indoor meetings programme resumes on Saturday 12th September 2026
We kick off the season with a visit from the Ffestiniog Railway Society, who are visiting us for the first time in many years.
More details in our Indoor Meetings Programme section.
We kick off the season with a visit from the Ffestiniog Railway Society, who are visiting us for the first time in many years.
More details in our Indoor Meetings Programme section.
NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 123
Westbury Engine Shed 1915 and 1963
Michael L. Roach
This series has visited the Bath – Westbury – Weymouth line a number of times recently; i.e 1964 – Parts 96, 107/8, 112 and 115. When the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth line was built there were intermediate engine sheds at Yeovil and Frome. When the cut-offs were built in 1906 and Reading to Taunton became the main line to the west it became apparent to the GWR that there was a need for a larger engine shed in the area to serve the needs of both lines, so the Company decided that the new shed should be located at Westbury which had never had an engine shed before, with the station becoming more and more important as a junction where passengers changed trains. The shed opened in 1915 and closed in 1965, so it lasted almost exactly 50 years. I visited the shed just once on the evening of Friday 13 September 1963 while on a day trip from Plymouth to Westbury via Salisbury. It was then steam all the way from Plymouth to Salisbury, via Okehampton, a 4-hour trip behind 34109 plus 12C from Exeter Central. The rest of the day was all diesel – Hymeks and dmus with an 800 Warship home from Westbury in 3 hours 10 minutes, losing 10 mins on the journey. While at Westbury I had time to walk to the shed for my one and only visit ever. The only active steam I saw in the Westbury area that day was a pannier tank in the 9700 series on the 2-coach 4.25pm from Westbury to Melksham (due 4.47pm) which was passed at Trowbridge. The train returned as the 5.10pm Melksham to Westbury. As I had walked out to the shed I did not see what happened to the train upon its arrival back at Westbury. Westbury shed closed in September 1965 but it is believed that steam engines continued to pass through Westbury without changing engines as they might have done previously on perishable trains of potatoes, tomatoes and flowers from Weymouth Harbour to The Midlands. There was just one 9700-series pannier at Westbury Shed at the time and that was 9754. I took very few photos at Westbury Shed that day because I was running out of film, did not have a spare, and had to save a couple of shots for Devizes that evening. Unfortunately the film was slightly damaged by the laboratory during developing.
I sought advice on what happened to the site of Westbury Shed after closure in 1965 and Guy Vincent answered my call with words and photos. Guy wrote – Westbury steam shed remained derelict until 1975 when it was finally demolished. A couple of minor buildings remained but the site was simply left to nature, and trackless, becoming overgrown with bushes and trees etc. A cinder footpath ran along the southern boundary of the steam shed and continues until after crossing the Westbury avoiding line when it joins a minor road linking Fairwood and Dilton Marsh. In 1993 the northern section of the shed site was cleared and relaid as the “New Sidings” and are used to this day for receiving, grading and dispatching spent ballast and formation waste, which goes out by road and rail. The southern section is now dense vegetation, chiefly trees. I was recently told, that around the time of demolition, a young member of traincrew at Westbury was able to arrange for some of the fittings such as windows to be salvaged and these were used in the new steam shed at Cranmore, East Somerset Railway. The head-shunt that was used to access and exit the steam shed and yard is still in use and runs parallel to the down Salisbury line at a lower level. Many thanks Guy.
I was wondering how I found my way to the shed in 1963 and it was almost certainly along the footpath on the south side of the shed site to the west end of the site. Attached is one of Guy's photos showing that footpath and I was pleased to see that GWR or very early BR wooden post-and-wire fence is alive and well in 2026. That fence is now at least 70 years old.
On 1 January 1921 Westbury Shed had 27 engines on the books, including 5 Bulldogs and 3 Counties, but nothing larger than these 4-4-0s. On 1 January 1934 there were 51 locomotives on the books, including 10 Churchward 2-6-0s (Moguls) and 3 Hall-class 4-6-0s. The Halls would probably have been used on the route to Bristol and Cardiff because at the time many of the trains on the route from Cardiff to Portsmouth went no further than Westbury where they terminated right up until midnight and started again early next morning. The Halls were still being used on the route in 1964 as I showed in Part 96 when I travelled from Bristol TM to Westbury behind 4982. I had first travelled this route from Southampton to Bristol in 1957, but in those days was only interested in collecting engine numbers and not recording what was hauling my train. I gave up collecting numbers soon afterwards.
I sought advice on what happened to the site of Westbury Shed after closure in 1965 and Guy Vincent answered my call with words and photos. Guy wrote – Westbury steam shed remained derelict until 1975 when it was finally demolished. A couple of minor buildings remained but the site was simply left to nature, and trackless, becoming overgrown with bushes and trees etc. A cinder footpath ran along the southern boundary of the steam shed and continues until after crossing the Westbury avoiding line when it joins a minor road linking Fairwood and Dilton Marsh. In 1993 the northern section of the shed site was cleared and relaid as the “New Sidings” and are used to this day for receiving, grading and dispatching spent ballast and formation waste, which goes out by road and rail. The southern section is now dense vegetation, chiefly trees. I was recently told, that around the time of demolition, a young member of traincrew at Westbury was able to arrange for some of the fittings such as windows to be salvaged and these were used in the new steam shed at Cranmore, East Somerset Railway. The head-shunt that was used to access and exit the steam shed and yard is still in use and runs parallel to the down Salisbury line at a lower level. Many thanks Guy.
I was wondering how I found my way to the shed in 1963 and it was almost certainly along the footpath on the south side of the shed site to the west end of the site. Attached is one of Guy's photos showing that footpath and I was pleased to see that GWR or very early BR wooden post-and-wire fence is alive and well in 2026. That fence is now at least 70 years old.
On 1 January 1921 Westbury Shed had 27 engines on the books, including 5 Bulldogs and 3 Counties, but nothing larger than these 4-4-0s. On 1 January 1934 there were 51 locomotives on the books, including 10 Churchward 2-6-0s (Moguls) and 3 Hall-class 4-6-0s. The Halls would probably have been used on the route to Bristol and Cardiff because at the time many of the trains on the route from Cardiff to Portsmouth went no further than Westbury where they terminated right up until midnight and started again early next morning. The Halls were still being used on the route in 1964 as I showed in Part 96 when I travelled from Bristol TM to Westbury behind 4982. I had first travelled this route from Southampton to Bristol in 1957, but in those days was only interested in collecting engine numbers and not recording what was hauling my train. I gave up collecting numbers soon afterwards.
A page from the GWR Magazine for September 1915. No copyright.
A page from the GWR Magazine for September 1915. No copyright.
A view of Westbury Shed looking east at teatime on 13 September 1963. Apologies for the flaw. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
4930 Hagley Hall of 82C Swindon Shed. The engine was withdrawn 3 months later in December 1963 and has been preserved. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
6994 Baggrave Hall of 89A/6d Shrewsbury Shed. The engine was immaculate and was withdrawn 14 months later in November 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Looking east from a train just south of Salisbury Branch Junction at the area used for sorting old ballast. Copyright Guy Vincent.
The footpath past the site of the former steam shed seen in August 2026. Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks as always Mike - and with perfect timing, your article leads into the below images from Alan Peters...
'On Shed' at Westbury
(in 2026!)
Alan Peters
On the fuel point at Westbury Colas Rail 70803 with 70806 hiding behind on 24/08/26, both overshadowed by Colas Rail DR75017 Plasser and Theurer Unimat 09-4x4/4S Dynamic tamper DR75017 which stabled on SCO siding 1. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.
Colas Rail 70803 has now been moved to the Downside yard and is DIT (dead in tow) on 6O41 the Westbury to Eastleigh tripper service operated by GBRf with 69004 'RIDC Melton' in pseudo British Rail Research livery heading the train on 24/08/26. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.
On shed at Westbury LMD, Freightliner 66544 on exam on 24/08/26, this locomotive is currently on hire to Colas Rail. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.
Many thanks indeed Alan. Your fascinating photos arrived at exactly the right time to accompany Michaels article. What great timing.
Shrub Hill Surprise
Steve Widdowson
On Tuesday night there was a strange charter booked to reverse at Worcester Shrub Hill. No one seemed to know what it was.
1Z40 1743 Oxford Parkway to Worcester Shrub Hill ( Via Swindon & Cheltenham)
Then:
1Z41 2050 Worcester Shrub Hill to Oxford (back Via the North Cotswold Line).
It turned up 30mins late at Shrub Hill and was indeed the VSOE. The Driver told me that it was a private charter. Only 2 of the Pullmans appeared to be used.
Can anyone shine any light on it?
1Z40 1743 Oxford Parkway to Worcester Shrub Hill ( Via Swindon & Cheltenham)
Then:
1Z41 2050 Worcester Shrub Hill to Oxford (back Via the North Cotswold Line).
It turned up 30mins late at Shrub Hill and was indeed the VSOE. The Driver told me that it was a private charter. Only 2 of the Pullmans appeared to be used.
Can anyone shine any light on it?
Images of the VSOE at Worchester Shrub Hill on 01.09.2026. Please click for enlargements. All images copyright Steve Widdowson.
Many thanks Steve. An expensive evening out for somebody! Perhaps someone knows the occassion.
Peaks by Paul
Part 1
Paul Barlow
46014 on Exeter Shed. 19.08.1982, copyright Paul Barlow.
45001 Paignton South with the ECS for 0840 Paignton to Newcastle 1E36. 21.08.1982, copyright Paul Barlow.
46026 approaches Aller junction on 1000 Bradford to Paignton 1V85. 28.08.1982, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul - some more 'Peaks' tomorrow.
Wednesdays Clay
Jon Hird, Clive Smith & Paul Barlow
With 6 JIA's in tow, 66718 is pictured between East Largin and St. Pinnock viaducts with Wednesdays Parkandillack - Cliffe Vale (via a stopover at Exeter Riverside) clay. 02.09.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
66718 in the mizzle at Plymouth as it departs with load six clay JIAs on the 6M53 Treviscoe - Exeter Riverside. 02.09.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
66718 leads the 1240 Parkandillack to Exeter 6M53 past Rockstone bridge, Dawlish. 02.09.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Clive and Paul.
September 1976
Part 3
Roger Winnen
A Cross Country Unit works the Falmouth Branch with County Hall in the background. 03.09.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The remains of Callington Station. 04.09.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Brentor Station. 04.09.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.