5. The Pines Express-17.03.09

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 5. The Pines Express-17.03.09
A trip out on my bike to see The Pines Express railtour. I had spoken with Mervin Hollbrook, a signalman who lived a few houses away from our family, and he afforded me trackside access to Bradford Junction complete with an hi-viz waistcoat; I felt very official! As the tour was going to Bristol before returning to Westbury this gave me time to ride my bike to see it return. Looking at the Six Bells Junction website, it is clear that things went disastrously wrong from the time that it left Paddington and this continued throughout the day! So much so that a repeat tour was organised and offered to those on board dubbed the '90p Re-Run' on account the organiser, Hertfordshire Railtours, charging for postage and admin. costs.
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Images 1-14 of 14 displayed.

31420, 09.20 Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth, from Bradford Junction signal box Not a great quality picture but an interesting one nonetheless. After some late winter overnight snowfall and using my 135mm telephoto lens, 31420 is seen leading the 09.20 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth past Bradford North Junction. The picture is taken from the window of Bradford Junction signal box with access permitted by the signalman Mervin Holbrook who lived a few doors away from my family in the village of Winsley. Keywords: 31420 09.20 Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth Bradford Junction signal box
47069, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Bradford North Junction 47069 creeps round Bradford North Junction's rarely used spur as it comes to a halt for the exchange of the single-line token that the train will have collected at Thingley Junction just west of Chippenham. The 47 is hauling the very late running Pines Express that was taking in some rare West Country track. However, things had already started to go very wrong, this was the fourth locomotive that had hauled the train and this was not by design! Also, none of the locomotives had any heating capability so the passengers would have to be cuddling up to keep warm! Keywords: 47069 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Bradford North Junction
47069, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Bradford North Junction Having brought his train to a halt, the driver of The Pines Express walks across to the tablet exchange equipment in the white hut. Once exchanged, his train will be able to proceed on to the Avon Valley line and continue its journey to Bath and Bristol. Notice the area of ballast where the driver is walking and the distance the signal post is from the track. This is because the line was once double track but has been singled. The remaining spur was completely removed in 1990 but there is consideration being given to its reinstatement due to the strategic importance of the line to and from Chippeneham as a diversionary route. Keywords: 47069 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Bradford North Junction
47069, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Bradford North Junction Having got the necessary permissions to proceed, the driver climbs back into the cab of 47069 to get the very late running Pines Express railtour underway over Bradford North Junction and down into the Avon Valley towards Bath. Already the train was well over an hour late and the passengers would have been cold on this chilly March morning as there had been no train heating since the train left Paddington! Keywords: 47069 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Bradford North Junction
47069, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Bradford North Junction 47069 takes The Pines Express railtour over Bradford North Junction in Wiltshire. The train is coming off the now removed spur that linked the Chippenham to Trowbridge line northwards to the Avon Valley line. The train is about to cross the River Avon as it will do a number of times on its way to Bristol. Notice the enthusiast leaning out of the window to the right filming events on what was probably a super 8 cine camera; I wonder if the recording still exists in somebody's archive? Keywords: 47069 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Bradford North Junction
31421, unidentified Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads working, Bradford North Junction An old favourite in the Bristol and Westbury area was 31421 that could regularly be seen working along the Avon Valley. Here, it leads an unidentified Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service past Bradford Junction just north of Trowbridge. The picture is taken from Bradford North Junction that I was given permission to access by the signalman in Bradford Junction signal box. Keywords: 31421 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads working Bradford North Junction
46013, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Hawkeridge Junction Having been to Bristol and up the Avonmouth branch to Hallen Marsh, The Pines Express returns to Westbury and is seen passing Hawkeridge Junction. This time, the locomotive is wearing its headboard for the first time since it left Paddington due to numerous locomotive changes. Hawkeridge Junction is a perfect illustration of GWR infrastructure in this image from the cast whistle sign, the lower quadrants signals and the delightful signal box. Hawkeridge Junction was usually switched out, as it was on this day in March 1979. Keywords: 46013 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Hawkeridge Junction
46013, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Hawkeridge Junction With a smokey exhaust, 46013 brings The Pines Express into Westbury station, seen in the background, past Hawkeridge Junction. I know that Im breaking the photographic rules with this image taken straight into the afternoon sunshine but I like the effect the exhaust creates. Notice the remnants of the previous night's snowfall on the grass in the foreground. Keywords: 46013 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Hawkeridge Junction
46013, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Westbury station With a plume of exhaust 46013 comes off the stock of The Pines Express railtour at Westbury station. The Peak had brought the train from Bristol and was going to give way to a Class 37. Look at the people (including me) just wandering around off the end of the platforms with no more than a steward with a loud hailer to maintain order. Keywords: 46013 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Westbury station
50017, 12.20 London Paddington-Paignton, Westbury South At Westbury South 50017 'Royal Oak' passes leading the 12.20 Paddington to Paignton. Unfortunately, in my eagerness to get the shot I have placed it a little too late so part of the front is obscured by a relay box. Like a number of Class 50s, Royal Oak is preserved being, as of the beginning of 2019, owned by Michael Gregory and based at the Great Central Railway. Keywords: 50017 12.20 London Paddington-Paignton Westbury South
37233, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Westbury South With the lighting towers of Westbury yard and depot towering above the scene, 37233 leads The Pines Express out through the South yard. By now, the railtour was nearly two hours late after a number of problems relating to motive power issues. Things did not improve and the planned route had to be modified severely later in the day. Keywords: 37233 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Westbury South
37233 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines) Westbury south 37233 takes The Pines Express away from Westbury past the South yard. I seemed to take a fair number of going-away shots at this time in my photographic and train-spotting career that is strange as every picture had to count due to the cost. After becoming 37889 in 1985, this locomotive was withdrawn in June 1999 and cut up by the Harry Needle Railroad Company in 2007. Keywords: 37233 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Westbury South
37233, outward leg of The Pines Express, 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth (via Bristol & various freight lines), Westbury South Yet another going-away shot of 37233 as it takes The Pines Express away from Westbury past the south junction. I like this picture with the telegraph wires silhouetted against the afternoon sky. I am in an 'unofficial' spot here at Westbury South but one that I visited a number of times but never had any bother from railway staff. As the train was so late, I had now to rush home in order to complete my afternoon paper round delivering the Bath Evening Chronicle but not without a quick visit to Westbury depot first! Keywords: 37233 The Pines Express 07.48 London Paddington-Weymouth Westbury South
50044, stabled, Westbury MPD It was not uncommon to find a Class 50 on Westbury shed but it was not a regular occurrence. They usually ended up there as a result of a problem when they operating a west of England express being removed from the train and deposited until either a local repair could be undertaken or until they could be moved to Laira or Old Oak Common. Here, 50044 'Exeter' sits in Westbury yard with a class 47 just putting in an appearance to the left. Keywords: 50044 Westbury MPD

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