57602 at Padd with the “down Midnight” emcars, June 6th 2023
Journey West, Wednesday June 7th 2023
Leaving the comfort of the First class lounge at Paddington, Mk III sleeper 10594 was joined. The comfort and quality of a Mk III contrasted hugely with the awful rubbish now inflicted on us by Caledonian Sleeper. A good night’s doss, being awake to enjoy crossing the Tamar bridge in misty light.
57604 leaves Liskeard with its quality Mk III consist Penzance bound, June 7th 2023
My stay in Cornwall was brief (90 mins) with time for a walk into town and back plus view some HST/150 action. My cheap advance was on 802106 but the rolling Cornish/Devon scenery was as superb as ever, East winds giving a lively sea at Dawlish. The tight connection onto 158959 was made with a bail at Eggesford on the Barnstaple line. During a tour of Exmoor we visited the operational narrow gauge line at Woody Bay which was very popular, perhaps one day this line will once again link Lynton and Barnstaple.
43098 and 43122 at Liskeard with the 0540 Penzance – Cardiff, June 7th 2023
150243 at Liskeard with a Looe service, June 7th 2023
The moves
06/06/23 Tu
319214} 1757 M.Keynes – Euston LB-EU
319219}
51528 NO EU-CX
465169}
465181} 1940 Charing X – Sevonoaks CX-OR
466003}
465928}
465023} 1928 Tonbridge – Charing X OR-CX
466035}
3535} BK CX-PA
3233}
345051 2130 Padd – Shenfield Bond St PA-BS
345007 2109 Abbey Wood – Heathrow BS-EB
345064 2130 Heathrow – Abbey Wood EB-PA
57604 2345 Padd – Penzance PA-LI
17175, 12100, 10217, 10604, 10601, 10596, 10584, 10594H
07/06/23 We
43098} 0540 Penzance – Cardiff -phot
43122}
802106 0605 Penzance – Padd LI-EX SD
158959 0917 Exeter C – Barnstaple EX SD-EG
More interesting times on the sea wall, 50011 Plymouth bound March 12th 1977
158’s crossing at Eggesford on the Barnstaple branch, June 7th 2023
What a stunning backdrop, narrow guage kettle 762 at Woody Bay, Exmoor, June 7th 2023
The West Somerset Gala, Thursday June 8th 2023
We arrived at a warm sunny Bishops Lydeard just as visiting 33002 was shunting out the stock to form the 0958 departure to Minehead. Relieved of £42 for a day rover but with no free timetable sheets was not perhaps the best of starts.
33002 having reversed the stock of the 0958 Minehead service into Bishops Lydeard, June 8th 2023
25309 arrives at Williton with the 0945 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard on June 8th 2023
With 5 Mk I’s in tow the noise from 33002 once on the move was excellent. We crossed the “teddy bears” at Crowcombe before bailing at Williton. Here Western 1010 and failed 7018 were stabled with 33048. At Williton free timetables were available! An immaculate 25309 then arrived and we were soon enjoying the distinctive small Sulzer thrash and horn. A mileage move to Minehead followed again behind 25309.
7017 looking and sounding good at Blue Anchor with the 1325 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard on June 8th 2023
A very smart TSO W5025 at Blue Anchor a 1962 Wolverton Works product on June 8th 2023
At Minehead in now hot sun we boarded 7017 which had a distinctive red liveried PMV van S1464S as part of a short 4 coach consist. At Blue Anchor a medical emergency was declared on the train so we leapt for the popular 55009 back to Minehead on 6 well loaded but not wedged Mk Is.
25309 again provided the power South this time past Lydeard onto the 3 mile extension to Norton Fitzwarren where a good few included me scratched the shack! An HST passed on the mainline before 25309 ran round passing a huge mound of spent ballast in the process. 25309 thrashed consistently as ever before we bailed at Watchet to quickly do the harbour etc. The pub looked very tempting but we didnt have time so we returned to the station as 7017 powered in right time.
25309 running round on the triangle/loop at Norton Fitzwarren on June 8th 2023
9526 and 9551 approach Crowcombe on June 8th 2023
Unfortunately 7017 couldnt then take power and was eventually failed allowing much milling around the loco. About an hour or so later 33048 arrived and quickly had us heading South at haste to arrive back in Bishops about 75 down. Few seemed that bothered, just hoping the Hymek failure wasn’t serious as we all piled into our cars and headed our different ways.
33048 to the rescue of failed 7017 at Watchet with the delayed 1815 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard on June 8th 2023
The moves
33002 0958 Bishops Lydeard – Minehead BL-WI
25309 0945 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard WI-BL
25309 1140 Bishops Lydeard – Minehead BL-MI
7017 1325 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard MI-BA
55009 1235 Bishops Lydeard – Minehead BA-MI
25309 1420 Minehead – Norton Fitzwarren MI-NF
25309 1620 Norton Fitzwarren – Minehead NF-WT
33048} 1815 Minehead – Bishops Lydeard (7017 fail WT, 75L) WT-BL
7017(d)
Journey home, Friday June 9th 2023
The return trip saw me deposited at Yeoford, South of Eggesford, another winning shack. 158951 was flagged down right time for the short “ng” run to Exeter St Davids, 69003 was stabled in the yard here
Watching very wedged 800 rubbish heading for Paddington i was relieved to join a quiet 159106 and 159108 for the mileage move to Waterloo. Whilst not our classic route 62 power the route remains as scenic and interesting as ever. 350232/249 were the last power of an enjoyable few days.
The Okehampton and Barnstaple branches run as seperate lines through Yeoford here 150233 passes the abandoned Yeoford platform on June 9th 2023
69003 an unlikely site in Exeter down yard on June 9th 2023
The moves
158951 1535 Barnstaple – Exeter C Yeoford YF-EX SD
159106} 1725 Exeter SD – Waterloo EX SD-WA
159108}
52602 NO WA-EU
350232} 2123 Euston – Northampton EU-LB
350249}
end
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