66. Berkley & Frome-02.12.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 66. Berkley & Frome-02.12.15
Whilst making a brief visit to my mum I stopped off near Frome at a well-known spot to find that recent drainage work has really opened up the views. I also stopped at Frome station.
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Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.

Class 59, 13.34 Exeter Riverside-Whatley Quarry, Berkley ST806498 An unidentified Class 59 heads past Berkely between Frome and Westbury leading the 13.34 Exeter Riverside to Whatley empty stone train. Appearing to be running the wrong way the train will initially have worked past this spot heading east as far as Westbury where it will have reversed to head west again allowing access to the Whatley branch. This well know spot has been completely opened up to the railway photographer due to drainage work undertaken necessitating complete clearance of the extensive and uncontrolled lineside vegetation. It is also pleasing to see that Network Rail has replaced the fencing with a standard type rather than instaling the hideous and totally unnecessary palisade type.....where's my tin hat gone? If anybody can assist with the identification of this Class 59 I would appreciate it. Keywords: Class 59 13.34 Exeter Riverside-Whatley Quarry Berkley ST806498 Hanson Rail
150926, GW 12.42 Gloucester-Frome (Warminster) (2C18), Berkley ST806498 On a drab December day the 12.42 Gloucester to Frome and thence return to Warminster, approaches Berkley worked by 150926. Notice the famous Westbury White Horse on the northern escarpment of Salisbury Plain, a feature that has appeared in many of my railway photographs over the years, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25426700804/x50020-07-50-london-paddington-paignton Keywords: 150926 12.42 Gloucester-Frome Warminster 2C18 Berkley ST806498 First Great Western Great Western Railway
158956, GW 13.10 Weymouth-Gloucester (2E24), Berkley ST806498 As well as on the up side of this bridge close to the hamlet of Berkely just east of Frome, the down side has also been cleared and drainage work has been undertaken. This view was horribly hampered by rampant vegetation growth that had competely covered the culvert, in fact, I did not even know that there was one there! It looks as though the operator of the rail-mounted dredger that was clearing the culvert did not have a very good aim when dumping the spoil in the wagons looking at the state of the tack and trackbed! 158956 is working the 2E24 13.10 Weymouth to Gloucester service via a reversal at Bristol Temple Meads. Keywords: 158956 13.10 Weymouth-Gloucester 2E24 Berkley ST806498 First Great Western
150926, GW 14.59 Frome-Warminster (2F95), Frome station I saw and photographed 150926 a little earlier, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29343358204/x150926-12-42-gloucester-frome-warminster on its way into Frome at Berkely. Having had a fairly lengthy layover at Frome station it is just about ready to leave with the 14.59 service to Warminster via a reversal at Westbury. An interesting journey of some eleven rail miles that by road is a far more direct seven. The arrival and then subsequent departure from Warminster of this train will coincide with the commuting school children from the large Kingdown school near to the station that has many pupils attending from a wide part of West Wiltshire; I should know, I used to work there! Keywords: 150926 14.59 Frome-Warminster 2F95 Frome station First Great Western
Frontage, Frome station The superb station at Frome has recently undergone some renovation and repair work and looks very smart. This especially when compared to the dilapidated condition that BR had allowed it to get into during the 1970 and 1980s when it was in a parlous state supported by scaffolding and severely affected by dry rot. The station was designed by J R Hannaford and opened in 1850 just as the mighty GWR took over from the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway who had authorised its construction. It remains one of the oldest through train shed railway stations still in operation in Britain and was built to broad gauge standards with the platforms the requisite distance apart despite only one now in use. Keywords: Frontage Frome station
Frontage, Frome station Another view of the frontage of Frome station with dusk now beginning to fall. The work to restore the station structure by Network Rail is to be commended; they have done a splendid job whilst modernising it to maintain its historical feel. Notice my trusty Combo van parked in the station car park! Keywords: Frontage Frome station

Images 1-6 of 6 displayed.