2. Yeovil-27.07.81

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1981 > 11. Dorset-26 & 27.07.81 > 2. Yeovil-27.07.81
With my host family undertaking some shopping I took the opportunity to visit Yeovil Pen Mill station. I was planning to also go to Yeovil Junction but ran out of time underestimating how long it would take me to walk there!
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Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.

Yeovil Pen Mill signal box (GW, 1937) The superb Yeovil Pen Mill signal box stands on the platform end. At the time of writing in 2022 it is still in use and very much as seen here but with the addition of a rather unattractive personal needs cabin. The last time that I visited this bastion of lower quadrant mechanical signalling was back in 2017, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24819767004/x159104-sw-16-46-yeovil-junction Keywords: Yeovil Pen Mill signal box GW 1937)
Door, Yeovil Pen Mill signal box (GW, 1937) This door at the end of Yeovil Pen MIll's signal box serves two purposes. One it permits access to the locking room and two for the signalmen to reach the lever room with a set of internal steps that is a little unusual. The British Railways Western Region notice will have replaced a GWR cast sign one suspects. One other observation, the general condition of the door reflects the level of maintenance that BR was able to afford on their infrastructure at this time and was very much a sign of the times. Keywords: Door Yeovil Pen Mill signal box 1937 GWR Great Western Railway
B822, 13.00 Weymouth-Westbury, Yeovil Pen Mill station This photograph marks the move from the dependable Ilford FP4 rated at 125 ASA with its soft tones and forgiving tonal range which means that in the modern era it is very easy to scan and work with in Photoshop. Due to a teenage lad's money-saving strategy, I decided to use a series of Fujichrome 100 films instead of the more normal Kodachrome 64. Whilst I would have welcomed the improvement in film speed looking back now it is clearer that the cheaper film was inferior in many respect to the Kodak and Ilford products. The images have an unfortunate hue and a propensity to be a little over-exposed and washed out. Modern-day scanning and use of Photoshop have needed a lot of extra work to get the images back to an acceptable standard for both myself and for presentation on the website. At Yeovil Pen Mill station a Class 101 DMU, set B822 (composed of what should have been W51495, W59096 and W51510) leads another unit in with the 13.00 Weymouth to Westbury service. Keywords: B822 13.00 Weymouth-Westbury Yeovil Pen Mill station
BR(S) enamel, Yeovil Pen Mill station Despite being a Great Western station with many features identifying it thus there is a hint of the boundaries having been a little fluid in the past here at Yeovil Pen Mill station! On a door on the platform is a British Railways (Southern) enamel. As with all of my observations similar to this, I always wonder where this sign ended up with me sincerely hoping that it was not simply removed and binned. Keywords: BR Southern Reagion enamel Yeovil Pen Mill station
Class 101 DMU, 13.03 Westbury-Weymouth, Yeovil Pen Mill station DMUs cross at Yeovil Pen Mill station. As a Class 102 DMU set B603 (presumably W51522, W59546 and W51450) leaves Pen Mill working the 13.03 Westbury to Weymouth service the 13.00 from Weymouth to Westbury waits to leave. With the line largely singled northwards between Yeovil and Castle Cary and southwards to Dorchester Pen Mill is an important passing place for such services. Notice the route describer on the down starter YPM 60 and 61 signal and the attractive down bracket. Keywords: Class 101 DMU 13.03 Westbury-Weymouth Yeovil Pen Mill station

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.