12. Witham on Royal Wedding day-29.07.81

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1981 > 12. Witham on Royal Wedding day-29.07.81
On the evening of the Royal Wedding day (Charles Philip Arthur George and Diana Spencer) Graham and I headed down to Witham in Somerset. It was a location and a signal box that I had never previously visited and never did again despite being relatively close to home where I lived near Bradford-on-Avon.
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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

Witham signal box (GW, date NK) With a friendly signalman on-duty Graham and I were afforded pretty much-unrestricted access around the environs of Witham (Somerset) signal box as long as we stayed well away from the running lines. It was located on the southern side of the tracks between Frome and Bruton at the point where the branch to Merehead quarry left line. I have precious little information about the box but from its non-hipped roof and brick base, I would suggest that it is Type 12 dating from wartime when this simpler and cheaper design was adopted...advice anybody, please. Keywords: Witham signal box GWR
253024, 16.45 Plymouth-London Paddington, Witham A photograph of dubious technical quality and composition! Firstly, the 253024 demonstrates some motion blur as it heads past Witham (Somerset) working the 16.45 Plymouth to Paddington HST service. Secondly, I am not too sure why I pressed the shutter with the HST almost obliterating the signal box, a second earlier placing it just in front of the home semaphore post would have been perfect! However, the summer evening lighting is superb and partially makes up for my schoolboy photographic errors! Keywords: 253024 16.45 Plymouth-London Paddington Witham HST Class 43
33005 17.20 Cardiff Central-Weymouth, Witham This photograph is a classic demonstration of how badly the chemicals in the Fujichrome film handled the strong and rich evening light. I have had to spend an awful lot of time resurrecting it in Photoshop post-scanning and even then it still demonstrates an odd hue that I have really struggled to remove; I may have another go when I have an hour or so spare! 33005 passes Witham (Somerset) leading the 17.20 Cardiff to Weymouth train. Notice that the final digits of the Crompton's number are written in white paint on the drawbar as was often the case with these Southern Region locomotives. Keywords: 33005 17.20 Cardiff Central-Weymouth Witham
B466, 18.00 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads, Witham I have composed this photograph much better than the last but one of the HST also on the up line at Witham in Somerset. The Class 118, set number B466 (presumably W51308, W59475 and W51323) is working the 18.00 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service with another unidentified three-car set following behind. The track to the right in this image leads to the fast line from the Merehead Quarry branch. Keywords: B466 18.00 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads Witham Class 118 DMU
253040 (43150), 18.25 London Paddington-Penzance, Witham Another photograph of an HST at Witham that I also fouled up! Combined with the fact the photograph is also badly afflicted with the Fujichrome hue I also managed to press the shutter a millisecond too late! I have done a fair bit in Photoshop 'adding' some image to the right-hand side in order to just bring the nose cone of W43150 in! HST set 253040 speeds past Witham working the 18.25 Paddington to Penzance service. Keywords: 253040 43150 18.25 London Paddington-Penzance Witham Class 43 HST
Notice, dated November 1953 Graham and I were lucky to be permitted access to Witham signal box in Somerset. Set in a very remote spot the signal box was an intermediate block post between Blatchbridge Junction to the east and Bruton to the west with the latter often switched out with the next block post then Castle Cary. In the box, we came across this interesting paper notice listing the bell call codes of every box between Castle Cary and Heywood Road with some scribbled out such as Frome South. Keywords: Notice dated November 1953
Interior, Witham signal box The interior of Witham signal box is seen as the sun sets on a well-remembered Royal Wedding day. I know very little about the history of the box with very little actually documented about it. The sixty-one lever frame seems to have had a number removed. The box closed on 26.11.84 with control moving to Westbury PSB. Demolition came during the spring of 1985 bringing down another era in our railway heritage. Keywords: Interior Witham signal box

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.