1. Westbury station in mid-summer-01.06.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 29. Westbury-01 & 02.06.15 > 1. Westbury station in mid-summer-01.06.15
Westbury was one of my old haunts as a spotter in the 1970s, then it was Westerns, Class 50s, 31s and the occasional 33 and of course, the ubiquitous class 47s! Today it's all units and HSTs with plenty of freights operated by the Class 66s, some Class 70s and with some ageing Class 59s thrown in for good measure. It's still good back to get back to Westbury, I have very fond memories of spotting trips there with mates from school with us all eager to bag a shed visit and get some cops.
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Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

153305, GW 16.15 Westbury-Swindon (2M12), Westbury station 
 First Great Western's 153305 stands at Westbury ready to work the 16.15 to Swindon. The single-car unit, originally constructed in the late 1980s, will head to Trowbridge, then travel via the single track through Melksham to rejoin the GWML just west of Chippenham at Thingley Junction. 
 Keywords: 153305 16.15 Westbury-Swindon 2M12 Westbury station First Great Western
66096, 13.30 Appleford Sidings-Whatley Quarry, Westbury station 
 66096 brings the 13.30 Appleford sidings to Whatley stone empties into Westbury station for a crew change. Without the aggregates traffic from the Mendip quarries, Westbury would be a very different place with virtually no freight. 
 Keywords: 66096 13.30 Appleford Sidings-Whatley Quarry Westbury station
Crew change, 66096, 13.30 Appleford Sidings-Whatley Quarry, Westbury station 
 66096 has come to a halt at Westbury's 102 starter signal for a crew change but the signal has already gone green and the feather illuminated to show that the route is set for GW line to Fairwood Junction. In the modern world, it's encouraging to see that females can do jobs that, in the past, were seen as the preserve of males. 
 Keywords: Crew change 66096 13.30 Appleford Sidings-Whatley Quarry Westbury station EWS DB Schekner
43088, GW 15.06 London Paddington-Penzance (1C86), Westbury station 
 43088 pauses at Westbury station on its journey westwards with the 1C86 15.06 Paddington to Penzance. The HSTs have been working on this route since 1979 but will soon be retired as the new bi-mode units are introduced. However, due to the over-running of the electrification, they are likely to be a little delayed so the HSTs will continue to ply their trade for a bit longer yet. 
 Keywords: 43088 15.06 London Paddington-Penzance 1C86 Westbury station First Great Western HST
66232, 14.47 Eastleigh East Yard-Westbury engineer s train, Westbury station 
 A busy scene at the western end of Westbury station sees 66232 at the head of the 14.47 from Eastleigh Yard, a varied engineer's train. The train is currently straddling three lines as the crew discuss the moves required to get it into the yard over to the right of the image. Notice the signal gantry that holds W502 and W602. This was installed in 1984 when the superb mechanical signalling and five boxes were swept away following the opening of the Westbury PSB. Ironically, some thirty-five years later the future of the PSB, located to the east of the station, is now in doubt as Network Rail outlines its plans to build a number of regional signalling centres. 
 Keywords: 66232 14.47 Eastleigh East Yard-Westbury engineer's train Westbury station
150202, GW 15.08 Weymouth-Gloucester (2E26), Westbury station 
 One of First Great Western's Sprinters arrives at Westbury with the 15.08 Weymouth to Gloucester. When I was a young spotter at Westbury in the 1970s Weymouth services ran only to and from Bristol Temple Meads and were handled by a first-generation DMU, usually a Class 118. In addition, there was a twice-daily locomotive hauled service composed of a set of Mk. I stock with a Class 31 up at the front. 
 Keywords: 150202 15.08 Weymouth-Gloucester 2E26 Westbury station
150239, GW 17.11 Westbury-Warminster (2F96), Westbury station 
 About to make a super short journey (4m 53ch to be precise) simply as a connecting and positioning move, 150239 is about to leave Westbury with the 17.11 to Warminster. It's the first day of June but notice the dark black and rain-laden clouds on the skyline! 
 Keywords: 150239 17.11 Westbury-Warminster 2F96 Westbury station First Great Western Sprinter
159015, SW 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-London Waterloo (1O60), Westbury station 
 South West Trains' 159015 arrives at Westbury station working the 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads to Waterloo service. This is an odd working that takes a convoluted route from Bristol via the Avon Valley to Salisbury then north-east to London. However, I would accept this journey in this type of unit as the 159s are basically a scratch Mk.III with a Cummins 400 hp diesel under the body meaning that they are relatively quick, ride well and are comfortable. 
 Keywords: 159015 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-London Waterloo 1O60 Westbury station

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.