2. Around Frome-12.10.16

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2016 > 47. GWML, Frome & 5Z62-11-13.10.16 > 2. Around Frome-12.10.16

In between work at mum's new house I took an hour so out on the mainline near Frome.

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Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

43140 & 43012, GW 12.56 Plymouth-London Paddington (1A85), Berkley ST802494
43140 'Landore Diesel Depot 1963 Celebrating 50 years 2013' leads 43012 past Berkeley just east of Frome with the 12.56 Plymouth to Paddington.
Keywords: 43140 43012 12.56 Plymouth-London Paddington 1A85 Berkley ST802494

66753, 13.08 Whatley-Whatley LE (0Z42), Berkley ST802494
66753 'EMD Roberts Road' runs as a light engine as the 0Z42 13.08 Whatley to Whatley via Westbury. Looking carefully in the cab reveals a number of staff so perhaps it was a crew training run of some kind?
Keywords: 66753 13.08 Whatley-Whatley 0Z42 Berkley ST802494

150926, GW 14.59 Frome-Warminster (2F95), Berkley ST802494
A strange and rather short working being operated by 150926 is seen passing Berkley just east of Frome. The 14.59 Frome to Warminster working makes the short journey to Westbury where it reverses to then head south to Warminster. Driving by car between the two stations is just over seven miles and would take about fifteen minutes whereas using this train it is over ten miles and takes about thirty minutes. Given this, I presume that it must be some sort of positioning move.
Keywords: 150926 14.59 Frome-Warminster 2F95 Berkley ST802494

159001, SW London Waterloo-Yeovil Pen Mill (1V35), Berkley ST802494
159001 approaches Frome passing Berkeley with the 1V35 London Waterloo to Yeovil Pen Mill. This service takes the usual route south west from London as far as Salisbury. It then heads north to Westbury where it reverses to then head west again down to Yeovil leaving the mainline at Castle Cary.
Keywords: 159001 London Waterloo-Yeovil Pen Mill 1V35 Berkley ST802494

43136 & 43132, GW 14.07 London Paddington-Penzance (1C84), Berkley ST808497
43136 and 43132 'Aberdeen Station 150th Anniversary' work the 14.07 Paddington to Penzance 1C84 past Berkley near Frome. Despite it being the middle of October it was a warm afternoon with autumn appearing to be arriving late given the largely green trees.
Keywords: 43136 43132 14.07 London Paddington-Penzance 1C84 Berkley ST808497

59204, 12.39 Acton-Merehead (7C77), Berkley ST808497
In glorious afternoon sunshine and under a big and dramatic autumnal sky, 59204 brings the 12.39 Acton to Merehead empty stone train past Berkley near Frome. 59205 was a member of the last batch that entered service in October 1995. After twenty years of hard service on these stone trains, it still looks good in its new DB red livery.
Keywords: 59204 12.39 Acton-Merehead 7C77 Berkley ST808497

59101, 15.20 Westbury Down-Merehead LE, Berkley ST808497
A pan shot from a field adjacent to the line near the village of Berkley near Frome of 59101 'Village of Whatley'. The driver of 15.20 Westbury Dwon side to Merehead light engine working is nonchalantly driving with his elbow out of the window that is testament to what a lovely warm October afternoon it was.
Keywords: 59101 15.20 Westbury Down-Merehead Berkley ST808497

GWR boundary post, Berkley ST808497
These GWR boundary posts pop up all over the place. I stumbled across this one in a field full of cows just outside Berkley to the east of Frome. I wonder if the farmer has ever noticed it and, if he has, does he know what it actually is?
Keywords: GWR boundary post Berkley ST808497

66051, 13.03 Fareham A.R.C. sidings-Whatley (6V16), Berkley ST808497
The 13.03 Fareham ARC to Whatley Quarry empty stone train approaches Berkley near Frome with 66051 leading the train. This has been routed via Salisbury to Westbury. Here, the engine ran round and it completed its journey, the short distance to Whatley via Frome. Unfortunately, its passage coincided with the sun diving behind some troublesome cloud that had blown in behind me from the south.
Keywords: 66051 13.03 Fareham A.R.C. sidings-Whatley 6V16 Berkley ST808497

150101, GW 12.51 Great Malvern-Weymouth (2090), Berkley ST808497
With some nasty looking cloud building from the south, 150101 passes Berkley working the 12.51 Great Malvern to Weymouth. In about a mile's time, the unit will diverge from the mainline at Clink Road Junction in order to take in the single section of track and make its stop at Frome. Soon after this brief stop, it will re-join the mainline again at Blatchbridge Junction.
Keywords: 150101 12.51 Great Malvern-Weymouth 2090 Berkley ST808497

66753, 13.08 Whatley-Whatley LE (0Z42), Berkley ST802494
Having run up from Whatley quarry a little earlier, 66753 returns to it origin as the 0Z42 light engine move. Judging by the number of crew in the front and rear cabs it could well have been some sort of route familiarisation or training run?
Keywords: 66753 13.08 Whatley-Whatley 0Z42 Berkley ST802494

43169 & 43056, 14.53 Exeter St. David's-London Paddington (1J99), Berkley ST802494
43169 'The National Trust' leads the 14.53 Exeter St. David's to Paddington 1J99 service past Berkley near Frome. 43056 brings up the rear of this train, the same formation was seen and photographed the previous day passing Shrivenham near Swindon.
Keywords: 43169 43056 14.53 Exeter St. David's-London Paddington 1J99 Berkley ST802494

43163, GW 14.13 Paignton-London Paddington (1A87), Berkley ST802494
Wearing its Visit Plymouth vinyls, 43163 certainly brightens up the, now, rather dull afternoon as it passes Berkley near Frome. It is working the 1A87 14.13 Paignton to Paddington. I like the framing of this picture with the archway created by the many photographers who visit this popular spot judging by the cuttings from the tree laying about on the ground! Also, Network Rail have kindly cut back all the growth on the embankment when they undertook some drainage works last year; I suspect that it will not stay like this for very long?
Keywords: 43163 14.13 Paignton-London Paddington 1A87 Berkley ST802494

60039, 13.30 Appleford-Whatley (6C48), Berkley ST808497
60039 'Dove Holes' brings the 13.30 Appleford to Whatley Quarry stone empties train past Berkley just east of Frome. As can be seen, I am in for a soaking as the squall in the background heads in from the south east. Indeed, within about five minutes, it was absolutely chucking it down with rain.
Keywords: 60039 13.30 Appleford-Whatley 6C48 Berkley ST808497

43194 & 43009, GW 15.06 London Paddington-Penzance (1C86) Berkley ST808497
43194 and 43009 have slowed right down as they past Berkley near to Frome with the 15.06 Paddington to Penzance. The reason for its sedate progress at this point was that it was following the previous stone train hauled by 60039 'Dove Holes' that had just cleared the mainline at Clink Road Junction about a mile west of here. Note the squall that was heading straight for me, just giving just enough time to get back in my Combo van before the heavens opened; time to head back to mum's for a cup of tea I think!
Keywords: 43194 43009 15.06 London Paddington-Penzance 1C86 Berkley ST808497

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.