Thanks to Dave Spencer for the words and phots
Twice a year the WSR held a diesel weekend utilising the home fleet.
This day was different in that a visiting loco in the shape of 37699 was utilised and did three round trips. This minimised the use of the “home fleet” with the result that both hymeks only did one round trip the same as D1010.
The previous event on 29th March had seen the class 14s D9526 & D9551 operating whole line duties as a pair. Today only D9526 was out doing Bishops Lydeard—Norton Fitzwarren shuttles with brake vans 49017 & 68765.
If view of the 37 doing 50% of the roster (excluding dmu) I had to adjust the bash accordingly.
On arrival at Lydeard I decided to flag the class 37 and get a shot of D7017 arriving on the 09:00 ex Minehead. This loco was in pseudo “Dutch” livery.
7017 arrives at Lydeard with the 0900 ex Minehead
Took a spin on the Lydeard shuttle then had D7017 to Minehead on the 11:10 ex Lydeard.
Minehead saw a quick turn round and I returned to Lydeard on the 12:30 with D1010.
1010 Western Campaigner at Minehead with the 1230 to Lydeard
Another shuttle spin and then back to Minehead with D1010.
At Minehead D7018 was taken to Williton on the 15:30 where I made a desperate leap to the road bridge to get a shot of 37699 arriving on the 15:40 ex Lydeard. The original version of the photograph was slightly distant due to the “vegetation” (Yes bushes not neds) I have pulled the shot somewhat but left the semaphore in.
Looking good, 37699 arrives at Williton with the 1540 ex Lydeard
Now D7018 was still waiting to depart and I switched to a black & white shot as the light was going. The 15:40 ex Lydeard can be seen departing in the distance
To get back to Minehead I was lucky to get a 16:30 from Williton being the Cravens DMU which just made the 17:10 ex Minehead with 37699 (This was a scratch)
7018 on Minehead TMD
An example of how powerful the headlight on the 37 was is indicated that on a clear evening I could see the light shining from Blue Anchor station. At Dunster it was very bright.
Weather wise this was a dry but grey day for most of the time. The tight turnarounds at Minehead precluded a visit to the cider emporium. Think I had an off licence stop on the way home.
Dutch liveried 7017 on Minehead TMD
Diesel galas at the “end or start of season” can be very damp and cold due to the lack of heat with the locos being no heat or non working steam generator.
The last few Hymeks were isolated in order to stop them being used on passenger work out of Paddington. In reality it didn’t!!
On one real cold and damp and windy day on a freezing train I passed Blue Anchor beach and seeing the sea fishermen, thought “who is the most desperate?” Your answers are awaited…
Thanks again to Dave Spencer..
Leighton Lists 