4. Westbury-03.03.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 4. Westbury-03.03.79

I took the train from Bradford-on-Avon to Westbury with my bike on-board. I then spent the day photographing in the Westbury area with a particular emphasis on the mechanical signalling. It was a bit of a miserable early March day!

Click here to search The Archive Files

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.

50038, 08.01 Paignton-London Paddington, Heywood Road Junction
50038 'Formidable' re-joins the mainline at Heywood Road Junction having stopped at Westbury station. It is working the 08.01 Paignton to Paddington that as was common practice at the time had a Mk. I catering coach marshalled near the front of the train, in this case the second vehicle in the consist. I am not sure if I had been given permission o be in this highly un-official position to take this picture or if a did a quick scramble up the bank, got the shot and Sid back down again before the signalman saw me?
Keywords: 50038 08.01 Paignton-London Paddington Heywood Road Junction

50029, 06.24 Penzance-London Paddington (1A15), Heywood Road Junction
50029 'Renown' is taking the sweeping curve from the Westbury cut-off as it passes Heywood Road Junction to the east of Westbury in Wiltshire. It is leading the 1A15 06.24 Penzance to Paddington Express. The wonderfully elevated and somewhat exposed 1933 built signal box is clearly seen. 50029 is still with us being one of a number of the class that is preserved, in this particular case by the 'Renown Repulse restoration Group'.
Keywords: 50029 06.24 Penzance-London Paddington 1A15 Heywood Road Junction

50005, unidentified up working, Heywood Road
A striking picture of 50005 'Collingwood' as it takes the sharp curve off the Westbury cut-off at Heywood Road Junction with an unidentified up working. If anybody can help with the working I would be very appreciative, check the date, 03.03.79 and the time was about 11.30. Notice the '05' suffix printed on the covered up headcode panel between the two domino dots helping us spotters identify the locomotive.
Keywords: 50005 up working Heywood Road

50028, 09.20 Paignton-London Paddington, Heywood Road
50028 'Tiger' takes the 09.20 Paignton to Paddington out of Westbury towards Heywood Road Junction. It is passing the magnificent down bracket signal controlled by the signal box some distance to the right. The lower arms to the right, indicating the subordinate route, are for the tightly curved spur that goes through to Hawkeridge Junction that enabled trains to continue through to the Avon Valley and beyond avoiding having to go into Westbury and reverse.
Keywords: 50028 09.20 Paignton-London Paddington Heywood Road

50004, 10.30 London Paddington-Paignton (1B35), Heywood Road
50004 'St. Vincent' slows for its stop at Westbury station having come off the mainline at Heywood Road Junction, the signal box that sits at the junction can be seen in the background to the left of the linesman's hut. Just above the roof of the class 50 is the chimney of the now closed Westbury cement works.
Keywords: 50004 10.30 London Paddington-Paignton 1B35 Heywood Road

37294 & 37183, up freight, Heywood Road
You can almost hear the noise from the two 1750Hp English Electric 12CSVT engines as 37294 and 37183 get their up freight underway from Westbury heading towards Heywood Junction. I suspect that this was some sort of stone train heading to the London area. Both locomotives still exist. The leading locomotive is now preserved at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway after being withdrawn in 2009. The second locomotive, 37183, is still in front-line service as 37884 'Cepheus' owned by Europhoenix and operated by the Rail Operations Group.
Keywords: 37294 37183 up freight Heywood Road

50030, unidentified down working, Heywood Road
50030 'Repulse' looks like a steam engine as it takes the Westbury cut-off with an unidentified down working. The white smoke rising above the engine is from the chimney of Westbury cement works. 50030 can still be enjoyed at Peak Rail owned by the Renown Repulse Restoration Group and has undergone an extensive re-build.
Keywords: 50030 down working Heywood Road

50023, unidentified up working, Heywood Road
50023 'Howe' sweeps around the Westbury cut-off as it approaches Heywood Road Junction with an unidentified up service. Unfortunately, I have not quite positioned the train in the picture quiet as I would have wanted. The picture should have been taken a second earlier just before it passed the up home signal post. 50023 made it into preservation but unfortunately has since been stripped and was then scrapped in 2004.
Keywords: 50023 up working Heywood Road

50039, 13.30 London Paddington-Penzance, Westbury station
At Westbury station, 50039 'Implacable' leaves Westbury station with the 13.30 Paddington to Penzance. In the background two class 47s are seen on-shed at Westbury's depot.
Keywords: 50039 13.30 London Paddington-Penzance Westbury station

50016, 08.30 Paignton-London Paddington, Westbury station
At the eastern end of Westbury station 50016 'Barham' gets the 08.30 Paignton to Paddington underway under the superb up starter bracket. I am not sure who the young boy in full flight was but he has spoilt the picture somewhat. Just behind him, on the platform is my Ferguson 3286 radio cassette recorder and the microphone wrapped in some foam and a white handkerchief. I still have this recording made on this wet day in March 1979.
Keywords: 50016 08.30 Paignton-London Paddington Westbury station

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.