58. Blatchbridge Junction-29.09.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 58. Blatchbridge Junction-29.09.15

After assisting my mum and her partner with their house move into Frome and undertaking some diy for them I escaped to nearby Blatchbridge Junction for an hour or so as the sun had come out after a dreary couple of days.

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Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.

150249, GW 11.10 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads (2V90), Blatchbridge Junction
A picture that perfectly illustrates why I find this time of year a contradiction. Whilst, on the one hand, I feel somewhat down about the end of summer with the ever-shortening days (do I suffer from SAD?) the lighting for photography is absolutely superb. With the sun much lower in the sky, even in the early afternoon, it is able to illuminate parts of the underframe of 150249 as it passes Blatchbridge Junction. The Sprinter is about to diverge to its left off the mainline and head into Frome whilst working the 11.19 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads. Blatchbridge Junction signal box used to be located on the right approximately level with the rear coach of the train. The photograph is taken from the security of a cage at a foot crossing.
Keywords: 150249 11.10 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads 2V90 Blatchbridge Junction FGW First Great Western

150102, GW 10.42 Gloucester-Weymouth (Cancelled from Castle Cary) (2O89), Blatchbridge Junction
150102 rejoins the West of England mainline at Blatchbridge Junction having taken the Frome divergence. Under a lovely autumn sky and in superb lighting the Sprinter is working the delayed 10.42 Gloucester to Weymouth. Unfortunately, the train was cancelled a short distance from here at Castle Cary. As with the previous photograph, I am in a safe position in a cage at a foot crossing.
Keywords: 150102 10.42 Gloucester-Weymouth Cancelled from Castle Cary 2O89 Blatchbridge Junction First Great Western FGW

43016, GW 11.33 London Paddington-Exeter St. David s (1C81), Blatchbridge Junction
Knowing that the majority of the HST on the down fast line at Blatchbridge Junction would be in the shade not only because of the trees but also as I have moved to the other side of the line putting the sun on the wrong side, I opted for a more creative photograph. I exposed and focussed on the signage at the foot crossing where I was standing thus putting the subject mildly out of focus. 43016 leads the 11.33 Paddington to Exeter St. David's at speed as it leaves the Frome cutoff to continue its journey westwards. The cutoff was opened in 1933 as part of a suite of measures introduced by the GWR to improve their West of England services that left Frome a little isolated on a branched loop.
Keywords: 43016 11.33 London Paddington-Exeter St. David's 1C81 Blatchbridge Junction FGW First Great Western HST

43093, GW 11.30 Paignton-London Paddington (1A82), Blatchbridge Junction
HST power car 43093 leads the 1A82 11.30 Paignton to Paddington past Blatcbridge Junction just south of Frome. By a quite remarkable coincidence, I visited the Frome area on this same day thirty-six years ago and took a virtually identical photograph from the security of the foot crossing, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/27043799604/x50015-10-05-paignton-london-paddington - what are the chances of that I wonder?
Keywords: 43093 11.30 Paignton-London Paddington 1A82 Blatchbridge Junction FGW First Great Western HST

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.