Great Western Coffee Shop

Some of you will have recently seen some of my photograph collection amassed over the past 50 years of my railway career.  See if you can guess the locations of these ones.  I will post a new photograph each time the previous one has been correctly guessed.  Enjoy ;)

No.1  No CfN, its not Taunton......
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/1.jpg?cache=0.2672387320660701)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Wow - thank you.  Though I have to admit I would be wildly guess on that starter.

Is it Bourne End, looking towards High Wycombe

I think you have it rogerw

No.1 - Correct.
Photograph taken in Autumn 1969.  Bourne End station in the foreground looking towards High Wycombe.  Bourne End signalbox on the right hand side stands adjacent to the level crossing.  The single (bubble) car DMU is on a High Wycombe to Bourne End service where it connected with a Marlow to Maidenhead service that would reverse in the left hand platform (as those trains do to this day).  In the far distance is Cores End level crossing.  The 'Wycombe Railway' line between High Wycombe and Bourne End closed on 04 May 1970 some 6 months after the photograph was taken.  Bourne End signalbox closed on 22 August 1971.

No.2
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/2.jpg?cache=0.8585315655514056)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

A very wild guess somewhere between Didcot and Swindon. There aren't many staions where there 4 tracks paired by directions.

Norton Fitzwarren ?

No2 Goring ? By any chance.

It has a look of the 'new' Birmingham avoiding line with tracks paired by direction - long platform loops.  Somewhere between Anyho Junction and Princes Risborough would be my guess - but not quite accurate enough.

I was thinking along similar lines (ho ho), but further in. The GCR built several stations with pretty much that track layout, but I can't find one that was still rural so late and with that bridge in the distance.

No.2 - None of the above guesses.  If nobody gets it by close of play on Sunday 17th I'll give a few clues ;)

I vaguely wondered if it's Badminton

Hmm.  :-\

It could be Badminton - from Wikipedia (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Badminton_railway_station_1972021.jpg):

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Badminton_railway_station_1972021.jpg)

Well, it ain't Taunton, anyway.  :P

Actually, having done a bit more digging around on the internet, I'm now convinced that grahame is right - it's Badminton:

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1631/26307279600_5125d2842e.jpg)

 ;)

I've been digging too:

http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/badsig.png

My first thoughts were Chipping Sodbury as that location had a trailing crossover from the Up Loop to the Down Loop with a reverse slip from the Up Main and a facing slip from the Down Main, the signal bow was on the same (sout side) of the line. The weightbridge building at CS was on the north side of the line but I couldn't see the aquaduct which carries the Dodington Spring stream over the GW SW Main line east of the station. If tis Badminton I was on the right line but on station out.

No.2 - Correct
Photograph taken in early 1970.  Badminton station looking East from the down platform.  Badminton signalbox to the right.  Goods Yard to the left. The station opened with the South Wales Direct Line on 03 July 1903 and closed on 03 June 1968.  The signalbox closed on 08 May 1971 with the area becoming controlled by Bristol Panel signalbox. I remember having to catch a Swindon bound bus from Bristol bus station and it taking more than hour to reach Badminton station (that was actually sited in Acton Turville village).

That would explain the similar layout to those stations on the GWR/GCR + Bicester cut-off: 1906-1910. Platform loops must have been in vogue!

Those buses are gone now too. Acton Turville (and Badminton) are now served by a single bus making a round trip every 2 hours between Malmesbury and Yate town centre, which I believe is quite a way from the station at Yate.  We seem to still lack joined up public transport!

I forgot to mention as well that Badminton Stations 'claim to fame' was that the 100 mile post from Paddington was located in the middle of the Up platform..... :D

No.3
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/3.jpg?cache=0.8137993850694498)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

I recall stopping at Badminton on an afternoon South Wales to Padd train in the early 60s.

Yes. I remember Badminton—
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly...

Unwontedly...

No it was a booked stop.

A booked stop can be unwonted... it's all in the eye of the wonter.

It doesn't take much to adapt the poem for the modern age, does it?

Yes, I remember Didcot Parkway
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was late

No.3 - OK a clue then.  You can still get a train from Paddington to quite close to here, but when the photograph was taken the train(s) actually used to pass here......

Between West Wycombe and High Wycombe, looking towards High Wycombe?

No.3 - Correct.
Photograph taken in 1970.  This was High Wycombe North goods yard. Looking South from the road overbridge towards High Wycombe station.  At that time there were three signalboxes at High Wycombe: South; Middle; North.  North signalbox can just be made out in the top left hand corner of the photograph.  From 1979 to 1982 this was part of my S&T faulting area which included the Midland Main Line from St.Pancras to Irchester South (just short of Wellingborough), the North London Line, the West London Line and Marylebone to Bicester North.  Quite an area to cover with a wide spread of equipment ages and types.  I gained a lot of knowledge during those years :P ;)

No.4
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/4.jpg?cache=0.9665586369838066)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

I think deep down I must have known that someone was paid to go round creating signalling faults, but it is nice to have it confirmed :)

Definitely one of those weird railway terms.    "Faultfinding" almost anywhere else I guess...

Paul

No. 4 Possibly Maidenhead looking West. With new signal box put in to control branch when Slough Panel opened. Otherwise there's another station it might be.

Chippenham. looking east.

Castle Cary looking west.

No.4 - I thought of Castle Cary as well but PW beat me too it.

No.4 - Correct.
Photograph taken in 1970.  Castle Cary looking West from the Up Platform (it only had two platforms then).  The signalbox in the background was a GWR ARP design and was built during the second world war, the previous box having been bombed in a German air raid.  The signal shown is called a 'Backing Signal' and is identified so to drivers by the two holes in the arm. The device below it is a mechanical route indicator.  Castle Cary signalbox closed on 01 February 1985.  Note the existence of gas lighting on the platform (even at this late date).

No.5
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/5.jpg?cache=0.25312938451726574)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Cheeky ;)  The S&T teams were always known as 'Faulting and Maintenance Team(s)'.  It was a BR thing..... ;D

Has anyone else noticed that all of SandTEngineer's pictures seem to include some unusual / obscure / unique feature of railway signalling or telegraph equipment in them?  ::) :o ;D

Just give me a straightforward Taunton to get wrong!  :P

Err ... he was the source of the Taunton picture in my Advent quiz - big formal credit and "thank you" to SandTEngineer.   I think there were signals on the Taunton one  :D

Eggesford looking towards Barnstaple?

Bi would concur with Eggesford, similar photo on Cornwall Railways website. SR use of bullhead rails for signal post.

No.5 - Correct.
Photograph taken in September 1970.  Eggesford station looking West towards Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.  The signal is called a 'Banner Repeater' and these are provided where there is insufficient sighting distance of the main signal it repeats.  This one is an upper quadrant version mounted on a typical Southern Railway rail built post.

Here is a photograph taken at the same time looking in the other direction.  The signalbox seen on the right hand side is of the BR-WR 'Plywood Wonder' type.  I hasten to add that this is a nickname for this style of box although they were a bit feeble in construction.... ::)  They were assembled from a kit of standard parts.  The signal that the banner repeater repeats is at the end of the platform.  Eggesford level crossing can be seen in the distance.  Eggesford signalbox closed on 01 November 1987.

(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/Eggesford%2001.jpg?cache=0.4971131084579792)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

No.6
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/6.jpg?cache=0.19583981999334155)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Newton Abbott

I'll go for Newton ABBOT   ;) ;D

No.6 - Correct (I'll let you have the extra T...)
Photograph taken in 1971.  Looking East towards Exeter.  Newton Abbot station had four platforms at that time.  The train is on the Up Relief and the Down Main is to the right of it.  The signal in the distance is the starting signal for Newton Abbot West signalbox with Newton Abbot East signalbox distant signal below it.  You can just make out that there was a trailing crossover in the platform controlled by Newton Abbot West signalbox.

No.7
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/7.jpg?cache=0.5555540861122372)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Westbury

No. 7  = St Erth looking towards Plymouth

No.7 - Correct.
Photograph taken in 1970.  Looking East towards Hayle.  St.Erth signalbox in the middle background; box still open and working (although its the only box in Cornwall to switch out at night).  Signalbox not likely to be replaced for some years now!  You can just make out the cab of a Western loco standing in the Up Platform with a Paddington express.  In the distance to the right of the loco is the Western Growers Depot platform (site now a tyre dump).  The signal is another of those 'Backing' ones like the one published earlier at Castle Cary.  This ones older though as its still on a wooden post and has a wooden signal arm.  I have a drawing for this signal dated 12th March 1937 so it was there a long time.

No.8
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/8.jpg?cache=0.6310697019526255)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Bodmin Road (now parkway)

Having commented elsewhere today what a great resource this forum is, this thread is a shining example. I post a series of contemporary photos but the ones in this quiz are from a past age and cannot be recreated and I’d love them to be part of my collection.

No.8 - Correct (must make them at bit harder as it only took 9mins to guess this one!)
Photograph taken in September 1970.  Bodmin Road station looking East from the Down platform towards Plymouth.  The old 'prefabricated' station buildings were replaced by more substantial brick ones in later years.  Behind the building to the right is Bodmin Road signalbox that controlled the main lines and the branch to Bodmin which ran behind the platform to the left (as it does with the preserved railway today).  At the time of the photograph the china clay traffic to Wenford Bridge (via Bodmin) was quite extensive and it was a busy branch.  The station footbridge is still there.  The signalbox is now a Cafe and is run by the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.  It sells excellent food and a very good cup of tea.

Thanks for that kind comment, BobM.  If I had taken any notice of locomotives at the time then you probably wouldn't of had the chance to see these things now.  I was much more interested in the surrounding infrastructure but couldn't afford to take too many photographs so had to be very selective and only take one or two at each site I visited.  There are more interesting ones to come.  I think this quiz will have about 30 in total (unless people get bored with it in the meantime).

At the end of the quiz my intention is to publish the link to the photographs and I would be happy for people to take copies for their own use, subject to usual copyright rules.

As featured in a British Rail 'Age of the Train' TV commercial from 1981.

(https://i.imgur.com/JIzHRxn.png)

Let's not mention the presenter.  :-X

On the basis that many people love a "then" and "now", here are modern pictures of the last two - St. Erth not being all that close to the same angle.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/nqsa_bod.jpg)
.
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/nqsa_ser.jpg)

No.9
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/9.jpg?cache=0.46854002174752507)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

No. 9: Gerrard's Cross looking north. I think we might have that front window frame in our heritage yard.

No.9 - Correct
Photograph taken in 1971.  Gerrards Cross looking towards High Wycombe.  At this time Gerrards Cross still had its two main lines with separate Up and Down platform loops in typical GWR early 1900s style.  The goods yard to the right had closed although one of the sidings was retained as an Up Refuge Siding (the remainder became the station car park).  Gerrards Cross signalbox was closed on 10 August 1990 and the area resignalled and controlled from Marylebone IECC (Integrated Electronic Control Centre).

No.10
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/10.jpg?cache=0.6592816229394738)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Achnasheen

Gesundheit

Would they have lower quadrant signals and a chocolate and cream sign on the opposite platform in Scotland?

Probably not - but it looks remarkably similar!

Maybe somewhere in Wales but then there were a lot of GWR stations in Wales.

Hereford?

OK then.  No.10 Clue No.1 - It's in Wales..... :D

No 10 is bugging me.  Doesn't look like anywhere on the South Wales main line - the hill is all wrong and the layout is too rural.  Doesn't have the look of the Valleys.  Not the North Wales Coast as if the mountains are on the left the sea is on the right.  Not Conwy Valley.  Cambrian Coast with hills on the left has sea on the right too.  No hills that high in Pembrokeshire.  Not Heart of Wales.

 :-\

Bugging me too ... I'm thinking around Abergavenny / Brecon / up to Moat Lane, and I'm wondering about the Ruabon to Dolgelly line too.  Don't think it's Carmarthen to Aberystwyth, but you never know.

Still remarkably similar to Achnasheen!

No.10 Clue No.2 - Think about the vans parked in the siding.....

Porthmadog.  They are the vans for the explosives shipped from there I think.

I was trying to place it at Penrhyndeudraeth for that reason, but it did not look right. 

I had ruled out Porthmadog because I thought it never had a footbridge.  When did that go?

I should have looked closer.

Hmmm ... I don't think it's either ... nor right for Penryn, and I don't think there are hills so close at Porthmadog.  Yet the vans are some sort of clue.    Could they be for / from elsewhere such as the military base off the Fishguard line?

Trecwn, but no station at the junction.

No.10 - Correct.
Photograph taken in 1971.  Looking West towards Pwllheli.  The vans parked in the siding were for explosives transported by rail from a factory at Penrhyndeudraeth.  The station footbridge disappeared sometime between 1973 and 1984 but not sure of the exact date.  The signals and points were operated from Porthmadog signalbox located at the East end of the station adjacent to the level crossing. Porthmadog signalbox closed on 02 October 1988 and the area was subsequently controlled by 'Radio Electric Token Block' (RETB) supervised by Machynlleth.

No.11
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/11.jpg?cache=0.18617671202148656)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Are we on a theme here .. Achna...Pwllheli ?

No.11 - Correct
Photograph taken in 1971.  Pwllheli station looking East.  Pwllheli West signalbox seen in the distance controlled the immediate station area.  Pwllheli East signalbox controlled access to the locomotive depot and freight sidings.

No.12
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/12.jpg?cache=0.38955244010828793)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

Worcester Shrub Hill?

I concur.

No.12 - Correct.
Photograph taken in 1970.  Worcester Shrub Hill station West end looking towards Hereford/Birmingham.  Worcester Shrub Hill Junction signalbox in the distance.  In the distance to the right is Worcester locomotive shed.  At this time Worcester Shrub Hill station still had four tracks, the middle two being through lines (loops) divided midway into two by scissors crossovers.  Worcester was 'famous' for its large size Disc signals used for passenger movements (disc type signals generally only used for shunting or goods line movements).  One can seen under the station canopy to the left.  The bracket signal in the middle of the photograph still exists and is now controlled by Worcester Shrub Hill Station signalbox at the East end of the station. The Worcester area was remodelled in 1973 and Worcester Shrub Hill Junction signalbox was closed on 17 November 1973.

Here is a photograph taken at the same time but looking the other way:
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/Worcester%20Shrub%20Hill%20Station%2003.jpg?cache=0.40438101711305285)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

...and the East end of the station.  Worcester Shrub Hill Station signalbox to the right.  This signalbox still exists and controls the immediate station area.
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/Worcester%20Shrub%20Hill%20Station%2004.jpg?cache=0.8263550151019967)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

No.13
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/13.jpg?cache=0.5430764541316475)
Image (c)2017 SandTEngineer

13 = Barnstaple Jn looking towards Waterloo, possibly 1970/1 before the major track rationalisation following closure of Ilfracombe line and Barnstaple Jn 'B' S'Box.

13, Castle Cary looking north?

Oops sorry, meant looking SW.

I concur

No.13 - Correct (sorry for the delay).
Photograph taken in September 1970.  Looking towards Exeter.  The old Barnstaple Town branch went off to the left and you can see the river TAW bridge in the left distance. The station was quite a large junction, even at this time.  It still had three platforms, the passenger service to Ilfracombe and freight services to Meeth as well as local goods services to the yard to the left of the photograph.

No.14
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/14.jpg?cache=0.6382607209659392)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

That shouts "Achna..." Ilfracombe at me. Educated guess

No. 14 = Ilfracombe; probably 1970 in its last year before closure.
Note the waste ground on the left, previously the site of several carriage sidings.

No.14 Correct.
Photograph taken in September 1970 (same day as the Barnstaple Junction one above).  A DMU awaits departure back to Exeter St.Davids.  If I remember correctly this was the last weekend of the (last) summer service to Ilfracombe.  Unfortunately, the station, although still intact, looks a shadow of its former self.  The vacant ground to the left, as AMLAG has stated, once contained extensive carriage sidings.  At least there was still a run-around loop at the platform and that summer there was still a loco hauled (WARSHIP) through train from/to London Paddington (reverse at Exeter St.Davids).  The signalbox at the other end of the station had closed earlier.  The station and line to Barnstaple Junction closed 05 October 1970, a few weeks after the photograph was taken, the last train having run on 03 October 1970.

No.15
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/15.jpg?cache=0.3043963095669877)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

That must be the tiny goods yard near Kings Cross?!

or Berney Arms?

No.15 - Correct (you're getting too good at these).
Photograph taken in a very cold December 1969.  Looking down from the North London Line (NLL) viaduct towards Kings Cross to the left.  You can see the spires of St.Pancras station in the distance highlighted against a gloomy sky. The 6 lines on the left led to Kings Cross and were controlled by Kings Cross signalbox (only 4 lines now).  There used to be another signalbox just below to the left called BELLE ISLE but I can assure you it was no lovely pacific island around there!  The yard to the right is Kings Cross Goods Yard controlled by a signalbox just off to the right.  If I had turned around and been there just 14 years before in 1955, I might have seen the final scenes being filmed for THE LADYKILLERS film (the scenes where all the criminals end up tossed off the tunnel top into passing goods train wagons).  The goods yard itself was still quite extensive in 1969 and Kings Cross Top Shed was also located there.  Just in-front of my photograph is where the HS1 lines now pass over the lines in a tube bridge....  How times change.  At the time the photograph was taken I had been in the Watford Signal Gang as an apprentice for a mere 3 months.  We were carrying out works on the NLL rationalising the number of signalboxes.

Is it time to pause now or shall we carry on?  Still have a number of photographs ready for guessing.....

If you are happy to continue posting these fascinating pictures (together with their detailed provenance), SandTEngineer, I rather think our readers will also continue to be very grateful for your work.

Thanks, CfN.  ;) :D ;D

I spent 3 years on a project as Designated Project Engineer under that lot a few years ago, Canal Tunnels dives down just in the front right fore ground.  York Road viaduct is no more demolished and York road re-aligned as part of HS1 works.  The concrete batching plant on the left is still there

 ;D

Only just got round to looking at this one. My first thought, before reading your reply to the correct answer, was Mrs Wilberforce's house was in this general area! An all time favourite film of mine is The Ladykillers.

(https://i.imgur.com/nwWg4aC.jpg)

The house, at the end of Frederica St, off Caledonian Road, was a set built for the film.

Thanks for posting that photograph BNM.  The viaduct I was stood on is just off the left hand top corner.  The tunnel entrance used in the final film scenes is just by the round brick structure to the middle right.  A classic and iconic film that one is  ;D

Edit to add: Also carefully note that the lines immediately behind 'Mrs. Wilberforces house' led up from the right hand side of my photograph, over the Kings Cross lines to Caledonian Road coal yard sidings on the NLL.  This also involved a reversal just to the right of the colour photograph you posted, and over the aforementioned tunnel.  There was a lot of railway around there in the past.... ;)

Thanks CfN.  We will carry on for a little bit and see how it goes from there...... ;)

With a stellar cast. Alec Guinness' best Ealing Studios role in my opinion. And Peter Sellers & Herbert Lom together on screen for the first time. They would, of course, become more famous as the hapless Inspector Clouseau, and put upon Police Commissioner/Chief Inspector Dreyfus, in the Pink Panther series of films.

(https://i.imgur.com/GAjdgt2.jpg)

Must watch it again soon.  :)

There certainly was a lot of railway ... for a start only half of those sidings is shown in your picture. The line to the NLR/NLL goods depot was about the middle of the out-of-shot part, and led into a siding at this end too; in effect requiring a second reversal.

The same old maps also show that Frederica Street used to be Frederick Street and was four times longer (i.e. reaching down to the railway lines). It must have had its name changed when it was demolished, and most of its alignment abandoned, in the 1970s.

No.16
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/16.jpg?cache=0.27966497926581857)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

Chesham, Metropolitan Line.

No.16 - Correct
Photograph taken in late 1969.  Looking towards Chesham station on the Metropolitan Line.  At that time the station still had its Main Platform (8 Car length to the middle), Bay Platform (4 car length to the left) and Stabling Siding (8 car length to the right).  The latter was formerly the run round loop.  The bay platform was only added in 1960.  The goods yard was beyond the station in the distance, but had been closed by time of this photograph.  The signalbox was still open at the time and the last mechanical signal on the London Underground can just be made out to the right leading from the run round loop.  One thing I lament about Chesham is that I was there once when the goods yard track was being lifted (think it was 1967/8ish) and the engineering train was hauled by one of the ex-GWR 57XX Pannier Tank locomotives.  Didn't have a camera then........ :(

No.17
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/17.jpg?cache=0.5076736258912513)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

Westbury?

17 = Westbury North end
         A loaded stone train from Merehead Quarry is stabled in the distance formed of either 27 Ton ex Iron Ore Tipplers or 21 Ton ex Coal Hoppers, in the early (1970's) days of this traffic from Merehead Quarry and before the advent of Foster Yeoman and its successors, acquiring their own wagons.

No.17 – Correct
Photograph taken in 1970.  Westbury station looking North.  In the distance (after the overbridge) the lines to the left head towards Trowbridge and the lines to the right head towards Reading.  The signal is of the GWR 1942 pattern.  This type of signal was introduced during WW2 due to the lack of suitable timber imports.  All the posts and the bracket are made of steel.  The fact that the cantilever is arched and the arm posts are both offset to the same side from the main post distinguish it so.  The two distant arms are motor operated (the motors in the boxes just below the arms).  The left-hand distant arm was worked by Hawkeridge signalbox and the right-hand distant arm was worked by Heywood Road Junction signalbox.

Note in the 4ft ahead of the signal is an original GWR Automatic Train Control (ATC) ramp.  This was the predecessor to our current Automatic Warning System (AWS).  The ATC ramps were all replaced by AWS ramps during the mid-1970s.

The signalbox to the right was the 99 lever Westbury North which controlled everything at this end of the station.  Westbury station had four platforms at that time (two Down direction and two Up Direction) although reversing movements could take place in all four platforms.  On 16 September 1978 Westbury Middle and Westbury South signalboxes at the other end of the station were closed and a panel to control that area was installed in Westbury North signalbox and commissioned on 09 October 1978.  Westbury North signalbox closed on 11 May 1984 and the whole station area was remodelled and controlled from the new panel signalbox just to the right of the old signalbox.

No.18
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/18.JPG?cache=0.23119872663005614)
Image (c) SandTEngineer

Golant LC (open), Fowey branch, Cornwall.

Re No. 17. The pictured signals appear to contain some history of the junction ahead. The arms for both routes are at the same height, and this matches the 30 mph speed limit sign below with arrows left and right. But in the past, the left-hand route was the faster one as its arms have moved down the left-hand doll by about 18".  I suspect the speed of the London route had been raised at some time.

No.18 – Correct
Photograph taken in 2006. Looking out to the river Fowey from Golant open level crossing on the Lostwithiel to Carne Point (Fowey) freight line. This type of level crossing usually doesn’t have any form of warning for road users, but due to the unusual location and line curvature a warning bell was added (later a yodelalarm) too assist road users and pedestrians.  I can assure you that the risk of ending up in the river on the other side of the crossing is very real as the road goes straight down into the river…….

No.19
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/19.jpg?cache=0.027584209062094134)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

Marlow?

(From lamps and building)

OTC

I agree Marlow 1972?  I have some photos of this event somewhere

Is that a young ET waiting to "cab" 1450?

OTC

No  ;D

I was able to watch the engines working from my bedroom window ...................... not so many trees in the 60 / 70 as now

No.19 - Correct
Photograph taken on 15 July 1973.  This was the centenary celebration day for the Marlow branch.  Looking towards the buffer stops at the 'new' Marlow station.  This Marlow station was built on the site of the old goods yard and the old station site to the East (behind the trees) was converted into sidings for the adjacent wood mill.  The train consisted of two GWR Auto-coaches and 14XX class tank locomotive No.1450.  It was running a shuttle service between Marlow and Bourne End stations.  It was a very wet day......

You can see some further photographs of the event here http://www.mdrs.org.uk/wycmaidmarlow.htm#1960s

No.20 (and the last for now - I need to do some more scanning :P )
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/20.jpg?cache=0.11226067024773423)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

That's not even a station!  :o ::) ;D

Something about that looks so familiar - but it could just be that it's a location I've seen in a book somewhere.

Have really enjoyed the series ... thank you and look forward to seeing more after a break!

Norton Junction near Worcester?

Hawkeridge Junction?

Agreed, throughly enjoyed these photos - even if it has reinforced my long held theory that I was born 10-15 years too late!

Yes - just got that too. Is the East Loop (going off to the right) the newest bit of track in these pictures?

Yes: following this topic, I somehow wish I had been there, when that infrastructure was there - and still being used.  ::)

I really should have got that shouldn't I?    Travel through there pretty darned frequently.

The loop only dates back to 1942 - a wartime connection; railway infrastructure for the war in the (TransWilts) area also included a magnificent array of sidings at Lacock and a curve that changes Thingley junction into a triangle.

The Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads service that ran for three years earlier in this decade was scheduled over the curve as an experimental service, but didn't generate a great deal of extra traffic and was withdrawn just prior to it reaching an age at which it would have ceased to be experimental, and a formal closure procedure would have been needed to withdraw it at a future date.  The daily through train in the opposite direction runs via Westbury platforms where it reversed - the early hour of the service putting many people off.   Incidentally, it is the only passenger carrying service of the day that run though Bath Spa station without stopping.

The curve is still used for engineering diversions, which are frequent enough for it to be an easily collectable line for people who look to travel on such.

No.20 - Correct
Photograph taken in 1970.  Hawkeridge Junction looking towards Trowbridge (Westbury station to rear).  Hawkeridge signalbox opened on 14 July 1942 with, as Grahame has quoted above, the East Loop to Heywood Road Junction off to the right.  To the left after the overbridge a War Department Cold Store was constructed during WW2 and a new loop and sidings were installed as part of the work and opened in November 1943.  You can see another two examples of the 1942 type bracket signal installed as part of that work, first discussed as part of the Westbury North photograph above (although by the time of the photograph the left hand signal had its bracket changed to a standard WR type).  Hawkeridge signalbox closed on 11 May 1984 and the area was subsequently controlled by Westbury panel.

Thats all for now, folks and as the old song goes "......be back soon".

Just a quick addition.  A copy of the 1943 Hawkeridge signalling layout can be downloaded from the Signalling Record Society site here: https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gwb/S393-2h.pdf

Thanks for that. A nicely complex layout with several facing routes, approach locking and a Warning Arrangement into Westbury. I bet it was an interesting and enjoyable 'box to work. On a technical note - and rather too technical for the group so please PM me the answer if you have one - how was disk 27 approach locked?

Many thanks for these photographs, and the diagram. I have greatly enjoyed them.

Before we restart the guessing this is just for ET (taken from Winter Hill):
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/19a.jpg?cache=0.8348479772934363)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

OK.  Here we go again:
No.21
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/35.JPG?cache=0.23454863297561168)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

St Blazey looking SE towards main line?

Yes, I'd go along with St Blazey for that one (having wasted spent a lot of time, digging around on the internet for similar images of some other stations in Cornwall).  ::)

The mileage meant it had to be somewhere in that part of Cornwall, surely?  :-\

No.21 Correct.
Photograph taken in 2004. St.Blazey looking South towards Par Harbour with the Newquay line to Par station off to the left and Newquay behind.  To the far right an EWS Class 60 loco can be seen sat in St.Blazey yard.  In the middle to the left of the tracks are the Pick Up/Set Down posts for the St.Blazey to Goonbarrow Junction token section, a reasonably rare thing these days.  It was still used at the time of the photograph.  St.Blazey signalbox to the right.

I once had an argument debate about SB4 signal on the right.  Before I started on the area it had been fitted with a 4ft stop arm which applied to lines used by passenger trains.  But there is no facing point lock on the points ahead, so the line cannot be for passenger use and the signal arm should therefore be a 3ft one for goods lines.  You can see I won my argument (compare it with the others in view)..... :P

..mmm. Time to make these a bit harder.....

No.22
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/22.JPG?cache=0.09681116459719408)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

22= Site of Scorrier station on the Cornwall main line between Truro & Redruth

Oh well done.  I forgot to block out the milepost..... ::) :P

Edit to add: ...and the B****y SB4 ID plate.... ::) ;D

SB4 was a bit of a giveaway as well

No.22 Correct.
Scorrier station site.  Photograph taken in 2005 looking towards Penzance.  The old station situated on the Cornwall mainline was opened as Scorrier Gate on 25 August 1852 and closed as Scorrier on 5 October 1964, but the platforms are still clearly visible at the time of the photograph, forty years later.  Behind the camera was once located Scorrier signalbox.

Not to me, it wasn't.  :-[

No.23
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/23a.JPG?cache=0.14273244760376036)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

Hayle?

The rock face in the background makes me think of Cattedown. I can’t quite read the Industrial Estate sign to check

Oh, you star, LawrenceHillbilly!  ;D

I really should have got that one, me being from Plymouth and all.  ::)

My first though was that someone had reversed the colours of St Piran's flag.  :P ;) ;D

Yes, I must admit that I wasted a moment or two, thinking along those same lines, so to speak.  ::)

Would be difficult to get that shot now due to all trees that have grown since

No.23 Correct (Apologies once again for the delay.  Been very busy with other things)
Photograph taken in 2006.  Cattedown Open level crossing on the former goods only branch from Laira.  The sign indicates an approach to the Open Level Crossing.  The branch is now closed for most of its length with only a shortish stub existing to a scrap yard with little traffic.

No.24
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/24.JPG?cache=0.3581691673755627)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

No 24. Approach to Plymouth Friary?

Phil Wakely just pipd me to it.  That Bridge is Tothill Road!

No.24 - Correct
Photograph taken in 2005.  Plymouth Friary station yard looking towards Tothill Road overbridge.  Friary station itself was sited to the further side of the bridge.  The lines in the foreground formed the run round loop for trains proceeding from Mount Gould Junction (Laira) to Cattedown (seen in Photograph No.23).

No.25
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/25.jpg?cache=0.6122929351680864)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

Yeovil junction, coming up from Pen Mill

No.25 - Correct.
Photograph taken in 1997.  At the time, a 'signalling' survey of the Salisbury to Exeter (Pinhoe) line was being undertaken by Railtrack Southern to determine options for resignalling of the line.  I still have a copy of the feasibility study (a quite bulky tome) that eventually went nowhere due to a lack of funding to take it forward.  The photograph shows the down home signals reading from the Pen Mill branch (lower disc for Down Sidings, left main arm for the Down Line, middle main arm for the Up Line and right reduced arm for the Up Sidings).  In the fog in the distance is Yeovil Junction signalbox which controlled the whole layout here and which has a very interesting history too long to relate here.

No.26
(http://cbrailways.co.uk/PhotoAlbumsPro/Album_p10hy4/26.jpg?cache=0.560853829720297)
Image (c)2018 SandTEngineer

Aberystwyth, with the engine shed to the right.
Many thanks for the pictures SandTEngineer, very interesting.

No.26 - Correct
Photograph taken in September 1971.  Aberwystwth signalbox to the left.  Steam shed to the right (at that time used by the Vale of Rheidol narrow gauge steam locomotives).  The signal in the foreground has a main post of late 1910s concrete construction.  These were introduced due to a shortage of timber brought about by WW1.  Easy to spot by the weight reducing holes in the post.  The signal arm is of wood construction (noted by the peeling paint).

That's all for now, folks!  Thanks for your interest.

May I offer you our very grateful thanks for posting all of those fascinating historic images, together with details of their locations and significance, SandTEngineer.

Chris.  ;) :D ;D

Thanks Chris(fN).  I might restart it later in the year, but need to do a lot of scanning first.