1. Journey there-03.03.22

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2022 > 15. A trip to Frome-03 & 04.03.22 > 1. Journey there-03.03.22

I took an hour at Westbury station and was once again impressed with the amount of activity related to its key role in the infrastructure and stone network.

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Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.

802001, GW 10.35 London Paddington-Exeter St. David's (1C77, 13L) & 158765, GW 12.17 Westbury-Swindon (2M17, 4L), Westbury station
Under threatening skies at Westbury station, the 10.35 Paddington to Exeter train has just come to a halt being worked by 802001 with 802022 out of sight behind the local unit. For some unexplained reason, the IET stood at the platform for some ten minutes that was odd as no other traffic appeared to be impinging on its route as it headed west. This delay was never made up, despite plenty of slack in its timings with it arriving at St. David's some thirteen minutes adrift. GWR's 158765 sits at platform three waiting to work the 2M17 12.17 local service to Swindon.
Keywords: 802001 10.35 London Paddington-Exeter St. David's 1C77 158765 12.17 Westbury-Swindon 2M17 Westbury station GWR IET

70806, 11.42 Westbury Down-Cliffe Hill Stud Farm (6M40, 97E) & 59205, 11.23 Merehead-Wootton Bassett (7B12, 15L), Westbury station
70806 negotiates its way out of Westbury's Yard leading the 7B12 empty wagon service to Cliffe Hill Stud farm in Leicestershire. The train is composed of a rake of Polish built IOA (E) box wagons nicknamed mussels that have a capacity of just over one hundred tons. In the background 59205 waits patiently to continue also eastwards with the 11.23 Merehead to Wootton Basset stone train.
Keywords: 70806 11.42 Westbury Down-Cliffe Hill Stud Farm 6M40 59205 11.23 Merehead-Wootton Bassett 7B12 Westbury station Colas Rail

159006, SW 10.38 Basingstoke-Yeovil Junction (1V23, 1L), Westbury station
Whilst Westbury is seemingly deep in GWR territory South Western Railway make some inroads. Using the Wiltshire town as a reversal point the 1V23 10.38 Basinsoke to Yeovil Junction takes a circuitous route via Salisbury, Warminster and then onwards from here to Frome and Castle Cary. With the driver having changed ends, 159006 leaves Westbury largely being ignored by the regular spotters and photographers on the platform.
Keywords: 159006 10.38 Basingstoke-Yeovil Junction 1V23 Westbury station SWR South Western Railway

166201 & 165134, GW 10.30 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Harbour (1F13, 2L) & 158765, GW 12.17 Westbury-Swindon (2M17, 4L), Westbury station
With 166201 still wearing its First Great Western livery, it looks from the peeling paint of the front end that it is ready to enter the shop for a much-needed repaint. It leads 165134 away from Westbury working the 10.30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour service. On platform two the 12.17 local service to Swindon will soon depart worked by 158756.
Keywords: 166201 165134 10.30 Cardiff Central-Portsmouth Harbour 1F13 158765 12.17 Westbury-Swindon 2M17 Westbury station Turbo GWR

DR92478, shunted, Westbury station
A long infrastructure train eases its way out of Westbury Yard at a creaking walking pace with DR92478 leading but still wearing the tail light as when it resumes its journey this will be at the rear of the train. The train will work forward as the 6C73 to Taunton's Fairwater Yard led by Freightliner's 66752.
Keywords: DR92478 shunted Westbury station

158769 & 158745, GW 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central (1F14, 4L), Westbury station
158769 paired with 158745 arrives at Westbury station working the 1F14 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central GWR service. Over the years I have witnessed many different types of traction working these inter-regional services between the South Coast and South Wales ranging from Hymeks, Class 204 DEMUs, Class 31s and Class 33s.
Keywords: 158769 158745 10.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central 1F14 Westbury station GWR Great Western Railway

66752, 12.17 Westbury Down TC-Fairwater Yard (6C73, 1L), Westbury station
Having gingerly reversed out of Westbury Yard the 12.17 infrastructure train to Fairwater Yard in Taunton waits to leave led by 66742. Both of these locations are at the hub of infrastructure operations in the West Country having grown in importance over the last few years.
Keywords: 66752 12.17 Westbury Down TC-Fairwater Yard 6C73 Westbury station Freightliner

66139, shunting, Westbury Yard
66139 eases out of Westbury Yard to then return again in a shunting move that saw it return out of sight from the station platforms to the far western end of the sidings. I only have one other photograph of this rather mundane EWS liveried Class 66 taken much closer to home back in 2016, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25629464804/x66139-14-05-daventry-dollands-moor
Keywords: 66139 Westbury Yard DB EWS

59205, 11.23 Merehead-Wootton Bassett (7B12, 15L), Westbury station
Composed of a mixture of HOA aggregates hopper wagons and former National Power converted JHA wagons the 7B12 11.23 Merehead to Wootton Bassett gets away from Westbury led by 59205. Whilst this Class 59 still wears its DB Schenker livery all branding has been removed as it has been operated by Freightliner since 2019 and they seem to be in no rush to repaint these hard-working diesels dating from October 1996.
Keywords: 59205 11.23 Merehead-Wootton Bassett 7B12 Westbury station

166206, GW 10.40 Gloucester-Weymouth (2O76, RT), Westbury station
GWR's 166206 arrives at Westbury station working the 10.40 Gloucester to Weymouth service. Following their displacement from the Thames Valley area, the Turbo units are now the mainstay of operations in the West Country and proving to be a step up from the Class 150s that have replaced here.
Keywords: 166206 10.40 Gloucester-Weymouth 2O76 Westbury station GWR Great Western Turbo

164132 & 165136, GW 11.11 Weymouth-Gloucester (2V64, 1L) & 800307, GW 10.55 Paignton-London Paddington (1A81, RT), Westbury station
I had in my head the idea to recreate a photograph that took standing in a very similar spot back in 1976, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24049434804/x1111-class-50-westbury-station . However, back then, over forty-five years ago, the motive power was somewhat different with a Thumper and a Hoover in-shot but apart from that the similarities at pretty clear to see! In the 2022 view 164132 and 165136 are seen to the right leaving with the station working the 2V64 11.11 Weymouth to Gloucester service whilst to the left 800307 arrives working the 10.55 Paignton to Paddington train.
Keywords: 164132 165136 11.11 Weymouth-Gloucester 2V64 800307 10.55 Paignton-London Paddington 1A81 Westbury station

800307, GW 10.55 Paignton-London Paddington (1A81, RT), Westbury station
800307 pauses at Westbury station working GWR's 1A81 10.55 Paignton to Paddington service. Notice the silhouette of the lady standing to the far right of the photograph. She was about to shout at me threatening all sorts of action stating that she did not want me taking photographs of her even to the point of following me and pointing her mobile in my face to which I obviously obliged with a thumbs up and a smile! Quite why she thought that the photograph was of her or that I was in any way interested in her over a class 800 remains beyond me! Have any other of my readers ever faced this issue, with the exception of over-zealous platform staff, please do get in contact!
Keywords: 800307 10.55 Paignton-London Paddington 1A81 Westbury station GWR Great Western Railway IET

Images 1-12 of 12 displayed.