p***@gmail.com
2014-11-20 11:27:57 UTC
I took a trip from Waterloo to Yeovil Jcn and back yesterday.
The last time I departed Waterloo on the main line was behind a WC pacific - and my last (and first) time west of Worting Junction was behind a Warship - nearly 50 years ago. West of Salisbury I had a WC pacific after the next Warship did what Warships did well - failed.
Yesterday we certainly rattled along between Waterloo and Basingstoke - I guess the line speed is 100 mph, and these 159s can hit that no problem. There are actually some nice looking places - lakes/streams and stuff in this commuterland.
I had forgotten Andover altogether. I suppose there were fast lines through the centre of the station. Did the line to Swindon use platforms on the north side, heading off in a north-easterly direction?
I had vague memories of Salisbury, the station seems quite like it was back then in terms of layout.
Then there were about 30 locos on shed - today, as far as I could make out - the shed area appears obliterated - it looks like totally built over.
We soon entered the single line section - which somehow downgrades the whole experience for me. Tidsbury looked very picturesque as a small town. Beautiful scenery around there, lots of streams flowing through deep green fields and autumn-leafed trees.
There was a section near Tidsbury where the up line seemed not to have been removed - so that appeared to be re-instatable relatively easily, if needs be.
Templecombe - or at least where the shed was - I could remember in terms of topography. today, I could see no reminder of the link line which necessitated that absurdly expensive combination of 2-6-2T or 2-6-4T "top and tailed" combination (not that we termed it that way in those days) pulling up and down to and from the S&D line.
At Yeovil Jcn I struggled to remember - I think my down train arrived at the platform which is now out of use - then there was a railbus to Yeovil Town station parked either in what is today's platform 1 or another platform which was situated in today's car park.
Arrival was about 1 late. Train (09.20 ex Waterloo, Bristol portion at rear)was well filled, I thought, for off peak. I'd say 33-40% full from London.
I took the plus bus 68 into town, which worked very well. Of course, Yeovil Town station is long buried under some sort of sports hall or entertainment centre.
No time after what had to be done to visit Pen Mill.
Coming back, at about 15.10 I was surprised to see a SW Trains 2 car unit (158?) coming up from the Pen Mill link line, It went across towards the unused platform. (looks like a couple of holding sidings there) - stopped - and then promptly reversed from whence it had come. So why? route learning or some such? Is this for planned diversions?
I'm surprised they did not keep say, half a mile of double track west of Yeovil - can two HST units pass in the station if there are diversions for Paddington services?
15.29 departure arrived about 1 late. I could hear it had a flat tyre as soon as it appeared west of the station. It was terminated at Salisbury and we transferred to a 9 car (I think) train to Waterloo.
We made up time to Clapham Jcn, but were on yellows into Waterloo - arrival about 5 late.
Train was only about 25% full out of Yeovil, I'd say, but filled up quite a bit at Woking for some reason.
both trains very clean indeed - South West Trains did a good job there.
Stations en route were not so charming as in steam days, but still had some character - Templecombe especially - or maybe that's just me willing it so.
I saw no freight whatsoever west of Worting Jcn - which I guess is the reason why they do not need to re-double sections west of Salisbury.
A far cry from the days of Bulleids with 13 on, but I suppose it's much better than many imagined when plans were to sever the line at Sherborne.
PP
The last time I departed Waterloo on the main line was behind a WC pacific - and my last (and first) time west of Worting Junction was behind a Warship - nearly 50 years ago. West of Salisbury I had a WC pacific after the next Warship did what Warships did well - failed.
Yesterday we certainly rattled along between Waterloo and Basingstoke - I guess the line speed is 100 mph, and these 159s can hit that no problem. There are actually some nice looking places - lakes/streams and stuff in this commuterland.
I had forgotten Andover altogether. I suppose there were fast lines through the centre of the station. Did the line to Swindon use platforms on the north side, heading off in a north-easterly direction?
I had vague memories of Salisbury, the station seems quite like it was back then in terms of layout.
Then there were about 30 locos on shed - today, as far as I could make out - the shed area appears obliterated - it looks like totally built over.
We soon entered the single line section - which somehow downgrades the whole experience for me. Tidsbury looked very picturesque as a small town. Beautiful scenery around there, lots of streams flowing through deep green fields and autumn-leafed trees.
There was a section near Tidsbury where the up line seemed not to have been removed - so that appeared to be re-instatable relatively easily, if needs be.
Templecombe - or at least where the shed was - I could remember in terms of topography. today, I could see no reminder of the link line which necessitated that absurdly expensive combination of 2-6-2T or 2-6-4T "top and tailed" combination (not that we termed it that way in those days) pulling up and down to and from the S&D line.
At Yeovil Jcn I struggled to remember - I think my down train arrived at the platform which is now out of use - then there was a railbus to Yeovil Town station parked either in what is today's platform 1 or another platform which was situated in today's car park.
Arrival was about 1 late. Train (09.20 ex Waterloo, Bristol portion at rear)was well filled, I thought, for off peak. I'd say 33-40% full from London.
I took the plus bus 68 into town, which worked very well. Of course, Yeovil Town station is long buried under some sort of sports hall or entertainment centre.
No time after what had to be done to visit Pen Mill.
Coming back, at about 15.10 I was surprised to see a SW Trains 2 car unit (158?) coming up from the Pen Mill link line, It went across towards the unused platform. (looks like a couple of holding sidings there) - stopped - and then promptly reversed from whence it had come. So why? route learning or some such? Is this for planned diversions?
I'm surprised they did not keep say, half a mile of double track west of Yeovil - can two HST units pass in the station if there are diversions for Paddington services?
15.29 departure arrived about 1 late. I could hear it had a flat tyre as soon as it appeared west of the station. It was terminated at Salisbury and we transferred to a 9 car (I think) train to Waterloo.
We made up time to Clapham Jcn, but were on yellows into Waterloo - arrival about 5 late.
Train was only about 25% full out of Yeovil, I'd say, but filled up quite a bit at Woking for some reason.
both trains very clean indeed - South West Trains did a good job there.
Stations en route were not so charming as in steam days, but still had some character - Templecombe especially - or maybe that's just me willing it so.
I saw no freight whatsoever west of Worting Jcn - which I guess is the reason why they do not need to re-double sections west of Salisbury.
A far cry from the days of Bulleids with 13 on, but I suppose it's much better than many imagined when plans were to sever the line at Sherborne.
PP