The
Final Saturday, 5th March 1966
Saturday 5th
March dawned damp and foggy. I had cycled to Glastonbury to
photograph the first train of the day. The plan for the remainder
of the day was to get a lift to Shepton Mallet, spend the day
there, and get the last train back to Glastonbury. By the time we
arrived at Shepton, the mist had gone and it had turned into a
beautiful early spring day.
The S&D
was working to a reduced 'emergency' timetable and the scheduled
trains were extremely sparse. However a number of chartered
trains were running, adding to the interest. The first was
organised by the Great Western Society and ran from Bristol to
Bath, Bournemouth, then back to Bath and Bristol, a return trip
across the S&D. The second, for the RCTS, ran from London to
Templecombe, Evercreech, Highbridge, Evercreech, Bath,
Teplecombe, and back to London; another S&D return trip.
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| The Great Wesern Society
tour included a return trip over the Mendips. Stanier 8F
no.48706 races through Shepton Mallet station on the
southbound leg... Photo J.P.Smith |
...and passes under the GWR
Cheddar Valley line, before the short ascent to Cannards
Grave. 5.3.66 |
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| Running south from Bath
through Shepton to assist its sister over the Mendips
from Evercreech Junction is Bulleid pacific no.34057
'Biggin Hill'. 5.3.66 |
Unrebuilt Bulleid Pacifics
34006 'Bude' and 34057 'Biggin Hill' make light work of
the climb onto the Mendips as they leave Shepton Mallett
over the impressive Shepton viaduct. 5.3.66. |
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| 34006 'Bude' and 34057
'Biggin Hill' continue up the hill from Shepton Mallett. Photo
J.P.Smith |
The 14.44 northbound train
through Shepton climbs towards Masbury, headed by
standard class 4 2-6-4T no.80138 piloted by Ivatt 2-6-2T
no.41307. 5.3.66 |
Creeping forlornly north
across Shepton Mallet viaduct towards the depot in Bath
and ultimately the scrap yard. Ivatt tank no.41206 takes
its final run after several years of service on the
Somerset & Dorset line. 5.3.66 |
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| Returning North in the
afternoon, the Great Western Society train approaches
Shepton behind Stanier 8F, 2-8-0 no.48706. 5.3.66 |
48706 with the GWS train
bursts through the bridge in the previous picture. Photo
J.P.Smith |
48706 in close-up, with the
driver watching the road ahead on the short descent to
Shepton before the long climb to the summit. |
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Bulleid pacifics 34006
'Bude' and 34057 'Biggin Hill' return south past Shepton
Mallett with the RCTS farewell special. 5.3.66 |
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34006 'Bude' and 34057
'Biggin Hill' approaching Cannards Grave summit on their
way south to Templecombe. |
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With the sun almost on the
horizon, standard class 4 2-6-4T no.80043 arrives at
Shepton Mallet with the 16.20 from Bath. |
On arrival at Evercreech
Junction, 80043 takes water for its final onward journey
to Templecombe. 5.3.66 |
Updated 15-10-01
