5. Exeter & Newton Abbot-17.05.80

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 5. Exeter & Newton Abbot-17.05.80
At this time in mid May 1980 I was in the middle of my O-level and CSE examinations so quite why I was permitted a day out in the West Country doing railway things I do not know when I should have been at home revising? I spent a glorious day in South Devon with a teacher from school, Mr. Brush, making our way there by train with me travelling on a Persil promotional ticket that, according to my contemporary notes, cost just £1.
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33008, 06.53 Bristol Temple Meads-Portsmouth Harbour, Bradford-on-Avon station Still looking very smart following its eponymous naming just over a month previously 33008 'Eastleigh' arrives at a bright and sunny Bradford-on-Avon. It was named in commemoration of it being one of the Class 33s that hauled Lord Mountbatten's funeral train on 05.09.79 from Waterloo to Romsey. Mr. Brush and I took this train, the delayed 06.53 Bristol to Porstmouth Harbour, as far as Westbury. Keywords: 33008 06.53 Bristol Temple Meads-Portsmouth Harbour Bradford-on-Avon station Eastleigh
Nameplate, 33008, 06.53 Bristol Temple Meads-Portsmouth Harbour, Westbury station The nameplate of 33008 'Eastleigh' is seen in the shadows at Westbury station, unfortunately, a little out of focus. The Class 33 was hauling the 06.53 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour service composed of a set of roomy and comfortable Mk. I stock. Keywords: Nameplate 33008 06.53 Bristol Temple Meads-Portsmouth Harbour Westbury station Eastleigh
Class 37, 47341, 47160, 50015 & 33003, Westbury MPD Class 37s and 47s were common on Westbury shed during this time. Not so common were Class 50s and 33s. With an unidentified Class 37 looking on in the background 47341 and 47160 bask in the spring sunshine. The latter is still in operation today as 47746 'Chris Fudge' hauling railtours for WCRC. The former did not fare so well being cut up at HNRC in the Toton training compound in February 2003. 33003 dominates the line up with 50015 'Valiant' tucked in behind. According to a member of staff at the depot, the 50 had failed and described it as being 'knackered'! Keywords: Class 37 47341, 47160 50015 33003 Westbury MPD Valiant stabled
Nameplate, 50015, Westbury MPD With the side looking a little faded and work stained, 50015 'Valiant' sits in the morning sun on Westbury depot. The Class 50 was 'knackered' according to a member of staff who allowed us to walk around the depot with impunity. Named two years previously, 50015 would soldier on for another four months, no doubt failing on numerous other occasions, before being sent north to Doncaster for its refurbishment. Keywords: Nameplate 50015 Westbury MPD Valiant
46034, 09.18 Paignton-Derby, Exeter St. Davids station A classic scene at the western end of Exeter St. David's sees 46034 arriving at the head of the 09.18 Paignton to Derby service. Apart from the West signal box to the left, the photograph is dominated by the former GWR water tower in the background. This was converted from one of Brunel's pumping houses used to power the flawed and ultimately ill-fated atmospheric railway. Quite how it was permitted to be knocked down to make way for the Exeter panel box in 1984 is absolutely beyond me. I can console myself that the likelihood of this happening today would be nil! Keywords: 46034 09.18 Paignton-Derby Exeter St. David's station
50012, 10.05 Paignton-London Paddington, Exeter St. David`s station 50012 'Benbow' pauses at Exeter St. David's leading the 10.05 Paignton to Paddington express. The consist is interesting in that it has both a General Utility Van (GUV) and a Mk.I Brake Gangwayed (BG) marshalled behind the locomotive. The fourth coach in the consist is a Mk.I catering vehicle with the rest of the train being Mk.IIf air-conditioned stock. You just don't get trains like this today with this service being formed by a five-car Class 800 unit. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see... https://youtu.be/6llZcsXby4w Keywords: 50012 Benbow 10.05 Paignton-London Paddington Exeter St. David's station
50012, 10.05 Paignton-London Paddington, Exeter St. David`s station 50012 'Benbow' passes Exeter Middle signal box over the level crossing that is being watched over by the crossing keeper. On a summer Saturday, the crossing keeper would be kept busy ensuring that he struck a balance between keeping everything safe for all users but at the same time avoiding hefty build-ups of road traffic on the approaches to the level crossing, especially on the busy Cowley Bridge road. He was also permitted to allow pedestrians to cross under his directions when the barriers were lowered through side gates. This was the time when us humans had something called common sense! 50012, leading the 10.05 Paignton to Paddington, would stay in service until November of this year before being sent to Doncaster to be comprehensively re-built and emerge on 05.05.81. Keywords: 50012 10.05 Paignton-London Paddington Exeter St. David`s station Benbow
Exeter Middle Signal Box (GW, 1914) With the signalman taking a breather and basking in some springtime sunshine the grand Exeter Middle signal box is seen. It is a GWR Type 31 structure dating from 1914 and contained a 95 lever frame. Notice the diminutive crossing keeper's hut to the left of the box. The crossing keeper spent his day managing Red Cow level crossing that could cause huge congestion, particularly on a busy summer Saturday. Behind the box to the far right are two vintage wagons. There is a 12 ton twin-axle fruit van next to a coach and then a clay hood that would be making its way from the china clay quarries in Cornwall. Keywords: Exeter Middle Signal Box
Exeter Riverside signal box (GW 1943, ex. Hatherley Junction, 1906) A signal box that was always very difficult to get a photograph of was Exeter Riverside being in the middle of the yard of the same name. The yard was hastily constructed during World War Two to assist with the war effort with the box to control its movements built in 1943. It was second hand being moved from Hatherley Junction in Cheltenham with an austere wartime structure built there that, at the time of writing, is still standing but in a very sorry state. By the time this photograph was taken Riverside box was not routinely manned as it only controlled access in and out of the yard and within it. The yard is being used for the storage of a huge array of wagons and brake vans many of which were probably destined for the scrap man. Notice the unidentified Class 47 stabled to the left. Keywords: Exeter Riverside Signal Box
50045, 07.45 Kensington Olympia-St. Austell Motorail (1V34), Exeter Riverside I am not absolutely sure how I managed to get to this spot at Exeter Riverside as by all accounts I should be in somebody's back garden! Either way, it's an unusual spot that sees 50045 'Achilles' approaching Exeter leading a summer Saturday favourite working, the 1V34 Kensington Olympia to St. Austell Motorail service. Whilst the usual rake of Mk.I stock is behind the locomotive, unfortunately, the car flats are out of view at the back of the train. I always liked including these in photographs as the cars added some extra period interest. Keywords: 50045 07.45 Kensington Olympia-St. Austell Motorail 1V34 Exeter Riverside 'Achilles'
46012, 07.57 Penzance-Liverpool, Cowley Bridge Junction In a seemingly bucolic scene at Cowley Bridge Junction 46012 picks up speed away from its stop at Exeter working the 07.57 Penzance to Liverpool Lime Street. I say that the scene appears rural in nature but I am standing on a busy and narrow road bridge at the junction with the A396 and the houses of Exeter to my left. The Peak will have worked this service to Birmingham New Street (unless it had a stop at Gloucester where there would have been an engine change) and from New Street, an AC electric would take it onwards to its destination. Keywords: 46012 07.57 Penzance-Liverpool Cowley Bridge Junction
253021, 09.25 London Paddington-Penzance, Cowley Bridge Junction I would probably have cursed the HST working the 09.25 Paddington to Penzance as it came around the curve at Cowley Bridge Junction as I was hoping for a Class 50 or at worst a 47! However, I am pleased that I did take a photograph of 253021 as some forty years on HSTs have now disappeared from this route along with the superb signal box and semaphores. The black and white timbered New Inn is still there and trading but I suspect that most of the cars in its car park including a Mini van and a Mk.I VW Scirocco have all gone to the great car graveyard. Keywords: 253021 09.25 London Paddington-Penzance Cowley Bridge Junction HST
50017, 11.20 Paignton-London Paddington, Cowley Bridge Junction By this time of day, this viewpoint at Cowley Bridge was becoming rather too backlit for my liking. However, the fine sight and sound of 50017 'Royal Oak' accelerating away from Exeter with the 11.20 Paignton to Paddington will have inspired me to press my shutter! 50017 was the third member of the class to be comprehensively refurbished, or re-built given the amount of work undertaken, and had been back in service for some three months when this photograph was taken. However, being an early refurbished example, it does not have its centre mounted high-intensity headlamp fitted but the hole to accept it is drilled and crudely plated over with a circular disk of steel. Keywords: 50017 11.20 Paignton-London Paddington Cowley Bridge Junction Royal Oak
47121, 09.30 London Paddington-Paignton, Cowley Bridge Junction 47121 rounds the curve on the approach to Exeter at Cowley Bridge Junction leading the 09.30 Paddington to Penzance service. The Barnstaple line seen curving off to the left used to be doubled and was the L&SWR's route to the West Country and one that is being given serious consideration today for reopening thus avoiding the troublesome South Devon coastal stretch. However, Cowley Bridge is not without its problems being very prone to flooding. Network Rail has undertaken considerable flooding resilience work to improve matters but one cannot get away from the fact that it lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Exe and the Yeo, that both handle large volumes of runoff from south Exmoor during times of heavy rain. Keywords: 47121 09.30 London Paddington-Paignton Cowley Bridge Junction
Cowley Bridge Junction Signal Box (GWR, 1894) The superb Cowley Bridge Junction signal box was opened by the GWR in 1894 at the formerly important junction with its great rival the L&SWR. They both then shared track for the relatively short distance to Exeter St. David's. In this photograph, the box maintains all of its classic GWR features including a pair of finials, the six pane sliding windows and slate roof. Also, notice the extension added to the right of the box. It puts the bricked up locker room windows and nameplate off centre as well as having a slightly different tone of colour in the bricks. I can't believe that nobody thought to reposition the cast nameplate centrally so as to regain some sense of symmetry to the building! I suspect that the extension was added during the war years but I am open to correction on that. Keywords: Cowley Bridge Junction Signal Box Great Western Railway GWR
50026, ECS for a London Waterloo working, Exeter Yard 50026 'Indomitable' stands at the head of a rake of non air-conditioned Mk.II stock in Exeter Yard. It will have backed into this position after arriving from London Waterloo where it will work back to a little later after the train has been cleaned and serviced. I took a very similar photograph from a passing train in 2015 but the motive power was a little different then, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29042982204/class-153-class-142-142621-exeter. By 2015 the steam age infrastructure had all gone including the water crane, the pair of loading gauges and the semaphore with route describer. Close examination of the cars parked to the left of the yard does not reveal them to be staff cars as they are all products of British Leyland and not wearing number plates. They are predominantly brand new Austin Princess' with a couple of Marina estates thrown in for good measure. No doubt they were being stored here by a local garage as it tried in vain to sell them! Keywords: 50026 ECS for a London Waterloo working Exeter Yard Indomitable
33027 & 33042, 09.20 Brighton-Exeter St. David's & 25058, 12.38 Barnstaple-Exeter St. David's, Exeter St. David's station A busy scene at the northern end of Exeter St. David's station sees a Sulzer Type 2 meet a pair of Sulzer Type 3s. 25058 eases the 12.38 Barnstaple to Exeter service over the Red Cow level crossing past the Central signal box as the crossing keeper looks on ensuring all is well. Meanwhile, 33027 and 33042 are being detached from the stock of the 09.20 from Brighton that they have just hauled. All that was required to work trackside under trains then was an oily boiler suit and cloth cap! It's a shame that when I was composing this photograph that I did not take a few steps backwards and include the signals on the dolls rather than clumsily cutting them off! Keywords: 33027 33042 09.20 Brighton-Exeter St. David's 25058 12.38 Barnstaple-Exeter St. David's Exeter St. David's station.jpg
33027 & 33042, 13.40 Exeter St. David's-Brighton, 25058, ECS & 47090, 10.27 London Paddington-Paignton, Exeter St. David's station With spotters gathering at their usual haunt just above the platform ramp at Exeter St. David's a busy scene is in view with all of the platforms occupied by trains. 47090 'Vulcan' has just arrived leading the 10.27 Paddington to Paignton express service and will soon be on its way. Next to the Class 47 is Type 2 25058 that has worked a train in from Barnstaple. Soon it will run round its stock and head back whence it came. The pair of 33s, 33027 and 33043, have just run round their rake of Mk.1s and will leave soon with the 13.40 to Brighton. Last, but not least, the tail of a Mk.1 coach is seen at the rear of the 10.36 Newquay to Paddington train. Of the four locomotives in this view, only the Class 47 is still with us and running on the mainline as 47843 operated by RivieraTrains painted in the Company's own version of BR's blue and yellow livery. 25058 moved to the northwest and was named 'Castell Criccieth/Criccieth Castle'. 33027 was to become a celebrity locomotive within a few months of this date, being repainted and named 'Earl Mountbatten of Burma' following it being one of the locomotives that hauled Mountbatten's funeral train the previous year. Ironically, earlier in the day, we had travelled behind the other locomotive involved in the funeral train that had already been treated and recognised, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29422474804/x33008-06-53-bristol-temple-meads There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see...https://youtu.be/-pH1wWB8WQk Keywords: 33027 33042 13.40 Exeter St. David's-Brighton 25058 ECS 47090, 10.27 London Paddington-Paignton Exeter St. David's station
50040, 11.30 London Paddington-Paignton, Torquay Road bridge, Newton Abbot This was a photograph that I managed by the skin of my teeth! We had travelled behind a work-weary 50040 'Leviathan' leading the 11.30 Paddington to Penzance from Exeter as far as here at Newton Abbott. I then managed to run, after alighting from the train, to this location on Torquay Road to take the train leaving the station from this classic location. My companion did not manage to make it but I did have a few years on him being a sprightly sixteen year old! The scene is full of interest apart from the train of course. The David and Charles publishing company buildings are to the right complete with a rake of coaches painted in the D&C corporate colours. The signalling is absolutely superb with Newton Abbot West signal box to the left and just look at the number of rods used to control the point work. Today, whilst the scene is similar, there has been a vast reduction in infrastructure with just three running lines. There is an audio recording taken a little earlier of this train leaving Exeter St. David's on my youtube channel, see....https://youtu.be/dwgFfxAXopw Keywords: 50040 11.30 London Paddington-Paignton Torquay Road bridge Newton Abbot Leviathan Warship
50028, 08.40 Liverpool-Penzance, Forde Park Road, Newton Abbot I am not absolutely sure how my teacher from school and I managed to get to this illicit spot off Forde Park Road in Newton Abbot but it certainly offered commanding views of the four-track route south of Newton Abbot station. Having recently received a re-paint and, still some two years away from a full refurbishment, 50028 'Tiger' gets the 08.40 Liverpool to Penzance away from Newton Abbot station. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see....https://youtu.be/zVrQmv_hVt4 Keywords: 50028 08.40 Liverpool-Penzance Forde Park Road, Newton Abbot Tiger
50028, 08.40 Liverpool-Penzance, Forde Park Road, Newton Abbot I do not take going-away photographs as a rule. However, on this day I must have been overcome by a combination of things such as the sun, the subject matter and the position that I had got myself into so that I felt the need to press the shutter for a second time! In its pre-refurbishment condition but in receipt of a recent re-paint 50028 'Tiger' leads the 08.40 Liverpool Lime Street to Penzance away from Newton Abbot. There was a different attitude towards being on railway property then enabling photographs like this to be taken. Also towards the shirtless homeowner adjacent to the signal gantry fly-mowing the top of the embankment! If one could gain access to this location today a photograph would be impossible due to rampant and uncontrolled tree growth. Keywords: 50028 08.40 Liverpool-Penzance Forde Park Road Newton Abbot Tiger
47090, 16.20 Paignton-London Paddington, Aller Junction Having seen 47090 'Vulcan' a little earlier at Exeter, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29422478204/x33027-33042-13-40-exeter-st-david it is seen again on its return diagram, the 16.20 Paignton to Paddington. Despite being named, the Class 47 appears to have lost its plates, on this side at least. This glorious scene is at Aller Junction a short distance south of Newton Abbot. The train is composed of thirteen Mk.I coaches with today's equivalent being a Class 800 IET made up of five carriages containing quite appalling seats. Keywords: 47090 16.20 Paignton-London Paddington Aller Junction Vulcan
45041, unidentified Paignton working, Aller Junction Not a particularly good photograph of 45041 'Royal Tank Regiment' as it approaches Aller Junction in Devon leading an unidentified Paignton working. I have managed to clip off the rear of the train and it is a little blurred as the weaknesses of the Rollie B35 camera are revealed. Whilst the Peak still carries its nameplate the crest of the Royal Tank Regiment has been removed. The A380 road in the background has now been swept away with a new dual carriageway replacing it with the bridge that I am standing on having been removed to make way for these works. Keywords: 45041 unidentified Paignton working Aller Junction Royal Tank Regiment
50014, 13.30 London Paddington-Paignton (1B84), Aller Junction The 13.30 Paddington to Penzance 1B84 rushes past Aller Junction led by 50014 'Warspite'. Unfortunately, the limited shutter speed of the Rollie B35 camera has meant some motion blur has marred the image. 50014 soldiered on in this livery in an un-refurbished condition for nearly another four years being the last member of the class to leave Doncaster works in December 1983. There is an audio recording of this event on my youtube channel, see....https://youtu.be/JOv2duTje6I Keywords: 50014 13.30 London Paddington-Paignton Aller Junction Warspite
50040, 16.40 Paignton-Exeter St. David's (2B31), Aller Junction We travelled down from Exeter to Newton Abbot a little earlier on this stock hauled by 50040 'Leviathan'. Having terminated at Paignton the train now returns to Exeter as the 2B31 16.40 local service. In glorious spring sunshine the train is seen passing over Aller Junction where the West of England lines curve off to the right beyond the tall tree with the Torbay route, where the train has come, more or less straight behind. Keywords: 50040 16.40 Paignton-Exeter St. David's 2B31 Aller Junction Leviathan
50019, 14.00 Penzance-Birmingham New Street (1M74), Aller Junction Relatively fresh after its Doncaster overhaul and still looking smart 50019 'Ramillies' leads the 14.00 Penzance to Birmingham New Street past Aller Junction. 50019 was the fourth member of the class to be overhauled that took it out of traffic for nearly a year with it entering the works in July 1979. By the end of the overhaul programme, the locomotives were turned around a lot more quickly with some taking considerably less than five months. Notice the signal box in the background where the signalman will have been kept busy on this spring Saturday and his VW Beetle parked up behind the box. Keywords: 50019 14.00 Penzance-Birmingham New Street 1M74 Aller Junction Ramillies
47467, 09.08 Newcastle-Paignton, Aller Junction The 09.08 Newcastle to Paignton service approaches the end of its journey seen at Aller Junction. 47467 is about to lead the train under the superb four doll gantry along with two unused dolls. The gantry was installed in 1962 following the simplification of the junction with the consequential removal of a pair of matching three doll brackets that themselves were installed in 1941 during wartime alterations. What really strikes one in this photograph is the neatness of the embankments and the trackbed. The bullhead track is laid on immaculate ballast with no weeds and looks almost manicured! The network is not maintained like this today with rampant and uncontrolled growth encroaching and creating its own problems, particularly during the leaf fall season. Keywords: 47467 09.08 Newcastle-Paignton Aller Junction
47442, 17.02 Paignton-Newton Abbot, Aller Junction 47442 accelerates away from Aller Junction a short distance south of Newton Abbot leading the 17.02 Paignton to Newton Abbott local stopper. This service was an efficient way of returning a set of stock that had worked from the north earlier in the day back to Newton Abbot for servicing and stabling. This particular Class 47 did not make it to the privatisation era being withdrawn early in 1993 but it took another four years before it was cut up at Crewe works where it was built just over three decades earlier in February 1964. Keywords: 47442 17.02 Paignton-Newton Abbot Aller Junction
45041, Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS, Aller Junction 45041 'Royal Tank Regiment' worked to Paignton a little earlier and is now seen returning to Newton Abbot with the empty coaching stock composed entirely of twelve Mk.1 coaches. In the late afternoon spring sunshine, the train makes a fine sight as it passes Aller Junction taken from the farm occupation bridge that, unfortunately, has now been removed as part of the A380 relief road construction. The new dual carriageway was opened in 2015 after numerous delays and passes immediately to the left of the train obliterating the allotments and the lovely trees behind the signal box. Keywords: 45041 Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS Aller Junction Royal Tank Regiment
50014, Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS, Aller Junction I got a bit excited and was obviously a little overcome by this train as I took three different images of it, this one being the first! 50014 'Warspite' leads a Paignton to Newton Abbot empty coaching stock train that is coming to a halt at a signal at danger to the north of Aller Junction. The train had worked to Paignton earlier but I did not notice the restaurant car at the tail end (now behind the locomotive) that passengers would not have been able to use due to it being isolated from the rest of the train by a GUV and a BG wagons. Keywords: 50014 Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS Aller Junction Warspite
50014, Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS, Aller Junction Photograph two of 50014 'Warspite' as it comes to a halt at Aller Junction leading a Paignton to Newton Abbot empty coaching stock working. The restaurant car marshalled behind the locomotive sitting on its Commonwealth bogies would not have been in use on the outbound service as it was isolated from the rest of the train by a GUV and a BG wagons! This view also shows off the vintage bullhead track yet to be replaced by welded panels something that would not happen for a few years yet until the semaphores were replaced by colour lights some years later. Keywords: 50014 Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS Aller Junction Warspite
50014, Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS, Aller Junction Picture three of the Paignton to Newton Abbot empty coaching stock working at Aller Junction. This side-on view was lightly panned meaning that 50014 'Warspite' remains sharp whilst the background is subject to motion blur; a technique that I was learning to use back as a sixteen year old railway photographer. The Class 50 is in its original and non-overhauled condition that it would stay in for another three years until, as the last member of the class, it would move to Doncaster in May 1983. Keywords: 50014 Paignton-Newton Abbot ECS Aller Junction Warspite
Aller Junction signal box (GW, 1925) The superb 1925 Great Western signal box at Aller Junction is seen in the late afternoon sunshine. On a summer Saturday the box would be a busy place controlling various services to and from Paignton as well as those going further to and from the West of England. The trick for down Plymouth/ Penzance workings was for the signalman to clear the down signal before the train departed from Newton Abbot and that he had obtained acceptance from Daignton box ensuring that it had reached line speed when passing the box so it had a good run at Daignton bank that commenced immediately after the junction with some fearsome gradients up to 1:34. The box was closed in 1987 but the frame lives on being recently installed in Broadway's 'new-build' signal box on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway, see... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/26925146604/broadway-signal-box Keywords: Aller Junction signal box
Newton Abbot West signal box (GW, 1927) What a glorious sight to behold! Against a lovely evening springtime sky, the western end of Newton Abbot station is viewed from the junction of Station and Torquay Roads. The view is dominated by the Type 28C West Box which was opened in 1927 and its superb gantry spanning the tracks behind it. Behind the gantry is the purpose-built diesel depot with a couple of Class 50s in view along with the resident Class 08 shunter. To the right are three coaches painted in the publisher David and Charles' corporate colours. The one nearest the camera is a former LNER gangwayed full brake/pigeon van number 70759 that currently resides on the SVR as part of its teak set. I returned a few weeks after this date and took a time exposure standing in what must have been exactly the same position, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29477848004/x11-newton-abbot-west-signal-box It is a tragedy that this scene today is so different with just three tracks, a much-reduced station and all of the land and trackbeds to the left of the box covered by a car park. Such is progress I suppose! Keywords: Newton Abbot West signal box Great Western Railway
TDB97008 (ex 24054), pre-heater, Newton Abbot CS One of the most unusual residents of Newton Abbot depot was the former 24054. On withdrawal by BR in July 1976 after a lengthy period of storage, it was tripped to Plymouth Laira during August. After modifications, it took up carriage heating duties at Penzance renumbered as TDB97008 to be moved to Newton Abbot during September 1977. It continued to be a carriage heater but, seeing less work as time moved on, it was transferred to Norwich Crown Point in 1982 after receiving a smart repaint at Stratford. However, due to complaints from local residents about noise during the night, it was moved to March facing a grim future. However, things looked up in 1983 when it was purchased by the fledgling East Lancashire Railway and moving to its new home in the autumn. It remains there to this date in the care of the Diesel Group and is a stalwart locomotive on the line. Keywords: TDB97008 24054 pre-heater Newton Abbot CS carriage sidings
47549, unidentified up working, Newton Abbot station 47549 brings an unidentified up working into Newton Abbot station on the up relief line having just passed a fine array of GW lower quadrant signals and the West signal box. To the right of the train is the superb bracket holding two main dolls and two short dolls. There are some permissive reversing arms on the bracket along with a pair of route describers so that the backing drivers know where the signalman is sending them. The gantry to the left still exists today but not over railway lines but a stone's throw away from this location at the entrance to the appropriately named Brunel Road Industrial Estate. I took a photograph standing on about the same spot during a visit to the station in 2017, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24745328004/x43139-1c79-newton-abbot-station 47549 had an interesting history as it was one of the three Class 47s that were marooned on Anglesey following the disastrous 1970 bridge fire and being repatriated by boat to Barrow-in-Furness. Keywords: 47549 up working Newton Abbot station
47010, 12.23 Manchester Piccadilly-Paignton (1V89), Newton Abbot station With the down main starter pulled off 47010 gets away from Newton Abbot with the 1V89 12.23 Manchester to Paignton service, now just a short distance from its destination. A silver roofed Class 47 was always good to see announcing the fact that it was based at Stratford which undertook this unofficial modification to all of its allocated examples. For all of its life, 47010 (later to be named 'Xancidae') was an Eastern Region locomotive eventually being withdrawn in January 1993 and cut up at Booths during December of the same year. Keywords: 47010 12.23 Manchester Piccadilly-Paignton 1V89 Newton Abbot station.jpg
31145, 19.05 Paignton-Exeter St. David's, Newton Abbot station The 19.05 Paignton to Exeter St. David's local all stations stopper arrives at Newton Abbot. It has just passed the West signal box and some of its magnificent associated signalling. The sun is beginning to get low in the western sky now and has cast a lovely warm evening light across the whole scene. Our intention was to take this train to Exeter and then an HST from there back to Westbury. However, we had heard on the grapevine that the following 16.23 Penzance to Paddington was locomotive hauled (Class 50 perhaps?) as the rostered HST had failed. Keywords: 31145 19.05 Paignton-Exeter St. David's Newton Abbot station
50027, 16.23 Penzance-London Paddington, Newton Abbot station Even back in the pre-internet days of 1980, it was still possible to get gen! We would have caught an earlier train to Exeter and then onwards to Westbury but we had information that the 16.23 Penzance to Paddington HST had been substituted by a locomotive-hauled set and gambled on it being a Class 50; our patience paid off! 50027 'Lion' brings the late running train into Newton Abbot station on the up main platform that no longer exists today. This member of the class was one of the last to head north to Doncaster for its much-needed refurbishment in February 1983. Standing in this position today I would see no superb semaphore signals or signal box but plenty of cars as I would be in the station car park! Keywords: 50027 Lion 16.23 Penzance-London Paddington Newton Abbot station
From 16.23 Penzance-London Paddington, Teignmouth sea wall Oh, for the glory of droplights! About to pass the Teignmouth down-home, the South Devon sea wall is seen looking forward towards Sprey Point. Whilst the train and immediate foreground is in deep shadow with the sun having set it is still just managing to catch the Permian red sandstone above Parson's tunnel in the distance. The evening promenaders will be enjoying the English Electric soundtrack of 50027 'Lion' leading our train, the 16.23 Penzance to Paddington substituting for an HST. My travelling companion and technical drawing teacher, Mr. Brush, is seen leaning from the coach in front also with his camera poised to take a similar photograph to myself! Keywords: From 16.23 Penzance-London Paddington Teignmouth sea wall
50027, 16.23 Penzance-London Paddington, Westbury station This was a photograph that was discovered in the rejects' box for obvious reasons! In fact, I almost did not bother with it as the image was so poor! However, I gave it my best shot and have managed a half reasonable presentation depicting 50027 'Lion' in almost darkness at Westbury station leading the 16.23 Penzance to Paddington. We had just alighted from this train having enjoyed haulage all the way from Newton Abbot. Keywords: 50027 16.23 Penzance-London Paddington Westbury station
1128, unidentified Salisbury working, Westbury station Despite having its red destination blinds on display, DEMU 1128 will soon be heading away from Westbury towards me with an unidentified evening working to Salisbury. On the adjacent platform two, a refurbished Class 101 DMU waits on a Weymouth train that will be the last one of the day. Westbury North signal box is seen lit at the end of platform three. These Southern Region units were common on Bristol to Portsmouth services in the late 1970s but by this time their use had diminished. I always had a fondness for them something that continues to this day helped by the excellent work of Hastings Diesels Limited see...... https://www.hastingsdiesels.co.uk/ Keywords: 1128 unidentified Salisbury working Westbury station English Electric DEMU

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