Tim V Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 So we agreed to go down to see the West Somerset. I had the transport (an Anglia van), so my companion said he wanted a special look at Dunster Station - he was thinking of modelling it. The level crossing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 21, 2013 Author Share Posted August 21, 2013 the box here was later moved to Minehead. I wish I'd taken more pictures of the level crossings, they are quite different now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 21, 2013 Author Share Posted August 21, 2013 Not much broken glass on the road side, have a read of the posters on the doors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 22, 2013 Author Share Posted August 22, 2013 Anyway our next stop was Blue Anchor. Anyone recognise who is pulling off the Up starter? This end of the station has changed a lot, with the motorising of the Up loop points. further pictures to follow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 22, 2013 Author Share Posted August 22, 2013 the other end, note the goods siding has been lifted. The crossing. what a difference to today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 Another view of Blue Anchor. Who is that in the scarf? He's a member of this forum! This picture from January 1976 gives a better shot of the UP waiting shelter, that has been radically changed by the preservation society, mainly because the original had rot. Quite decorative. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugsley Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Who is that in the scarf? He's a member of this forum!A wild stab in the dark, but is it our very own CK? Loving the pictures - thanks for posting them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 It is indeed a very young CK! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert Cheese Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Marvellous stuff..esp the pics of Blue Anchor where I shall be staying over the weekend of Sept 7/8 for the ever excellent CAMRA Real Ale Festival at Minehead station...6th year in a row this time! Minehead town itself is rough at night with the drunken Butlins crowd and local feral kids roaming the dark streets after dark, I had my glasses knocked from my face by a stray football while eating my post-beer chips 3 years ago....the nipper concerned had no concience about it whatsoever and I was sorely tempted to give him a good smack in the chops...the realisation that the only policeman on the beat in Somerset would be on my case within minutes held me back though! Just stay on the station/trains and its another (better) world for a few days though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisf Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Marvellous stuff..esp the pics of Blue Anchor where I shall be staying over the weekend of Sept 7/8 for the ever excellent CAMRA Real Ale Festival at Minehead station...6th year in a row this time! Me too, except for Blue Anchor - I've found a nice b&b within stumbling distance of the station. Evocative pics Tim! Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Very evocative. I would have been accompanying my father poking around Blue Anchor station at round about the same time. Must have been the summer of '75 because it was prior to reopening but I couldn't have been any less than about 8. I remember the beach huts alongside the line and there is something nagging me about the presence of a very ramshackle former camping coach in the goods siding. However, given that the siding appears to have been lifted by then, that memory is either earlier or false. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 25, 2013 Author Share Posted August 25, 2013 Williton Stogumber Crowcombe Bishops Lydeard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 In case you think the world was still in black and white in those days, here are some in colour that I took just after the line closed. I think they were taken in 1971, but it could have been 72. Edited to add: As people keep on liking this months after I posted it, I've just discovered they were taken in July 1974! Bishops Lydeard: Crowcombe: Williton: Watchet: Washford: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert Cheese Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Always good to see photos like this, to appreciate the line as it is today with all the effort that has gone into it. Did Hornby base some of their plastic station buildings on WSR examples a few years ago? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Did Hornby base some of their plastic station buildings on WSR examples a few years ago? They did a plastic kit with printed overlays of Dunster station building. I built one over 30 years ago, but covered it with embossed Plasticard. I never got round to adding the canopy, and really must finish it one day! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 26, 2013 Author Share Posted August 26, 2013 In case you think the world was still in black and white in those days, here are some in colour that I took just after the line closed. I think they were taken in 1971, but it could have been 72. I took some colour pictures, but had better luck with my black & white photography. These shots show poor exposure - made me improve my photography though! Inside Blue Anchor box Williton Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Love the faded WR chocolate & cream paintwork on Blue Anchor 'box there Tim...! I might be a little biased, but I've always found the WR treatment of woodwork to be nicer looking than the older (and slightly twee) GWR dark / light stone combo. (Ducks for cover / tin hat on...!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 28, 2013 Author Share Posted August 28, 2013 Went to the West Somerset again in early'76. some changes had taken place. Some stock has arrived at Williton. Note how open it was then. Stogumber slumbers, this end of the platform was later demolished as it was rotten. But these were at Bishops Lydeard, three arrivals from Barry, apparently in October '75. 5521, 5542 and 4561. Lots of work to do before they could be used. But, looks like someone is trying to do something with one of the Bagnall's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Minehead town itself is rough at night with the drunken Butlins crowd and local feral kids roaming the dark streets after dark, I had my glasses knocked from my face by a stray football while eating my post-beer chips 3 years ago....the nipper concerned had no concience about it whatsoever and I was sorely tempted to give him a good smack in the chops...the realisation that the only policeman on the beat in Somerset would be on my case within minutes held me back though! Just stay on the station/trains and its another (better) world for a few days though We were there for a second visit last week, the first being on a school trip in 1985. My first impression was that the place must have shrunk, as it certainly seemed alot smaller than when I was ten. The second was any doubts of whether we could fit everything in during our 2.5 hour sojourn were unfounded due to the drizzly weather meaning the obligatory beach visit would only be a short stay, and the first place we saw on the tree-lined avenue of independant shops was a Tattoo parlour that must do a roaring trade thanks to Butlins, so we went the other way to the amusements (if anybody wants 4 tickets they're welcome to them, only another 2496 to go to win a frying pan). On the other hand, the WSR was excellent and 4160 & 3850 were expertly handled in the difficult conditions, and the Turntable Cafe provided the best meal we had all week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 The civilised bit of Minehead is the end away from the station. The grockles tend not to venture that far, or at least the uncivilised ones don't. It's just like a normal town, and on my occasional evening visits I always felt safe! Writing this has made me realise I'm planning to be a grockle for the next couple of weeks, as I don't live in the area any more! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Fantastic pictures! Look at the pics of Blue Anchor I can't see if the catch point was there back then (on the Washford end). Was it something added since preservation? And, what is the point of it as it appears to be pointing up the gradient? As for Butlins in Minhead ... and bear in mind the police area covering Butlins also covers the **** end of Brizzal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 The catch point was there, it was to protect the level crossing from stock running downhill from Washford. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 The catch point was there, it was to protect the level crossing from stock running downhill from Washford. The one I'm talking about is at the Washford end, not the level crossing ... and it faces uphill as you travel inland! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share Posted September 1, 2013 Yes, that one. It faces uphill, so stock running from Washford downhill would be de-railed! You can see the sign for it in the picture of the Up starter, it's a sprung point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 I know its easily done, but now i'm confused!! If its to stop stock rolling from Washford, why isn't it on the down side and facing in the down direction??? Surely if its on the up side, facing in the up direction and sprung then any loose stock from Washford would simple push it shut as it piled through? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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