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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW1 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
Providing summer trains between Bath and Bournemouth the S&D entered legend but was closed in March 1966. Countless photos of the last years of steam are seen, but fewer photos depict the stations of the S&DJR. We open with a view of Corfe Mullen Jcn SB on 12-4-66 which controlled the divergence of the Broadstone (for Bournemouth) line and the Wimborne spur. It is an LSWR type 4 box with a gable ended roof for cheapness. It housed a 24 lever frame and a tablet instrument for the single track section to Broadstone. Bailey Gate Crossing, seen on 12-4-66, was the next box to the north and was demoted from a block post to a level crossing box in 1923, The block shelf shews it had repeater instruments and bells to alert a signalman to the approach of a train. Oue view of Bailey Gate station looking towards Broadstone in 1966 with the station box in the distance shows the rural character of the S&D. Blandford Forum was the first significant town and boasted a brick building on the Up platform and was still handlinf parcels traffic a month after closure to passengers. After a double track section the S&D north of Blandford was single and we see the Tyers tablet instrument in close up. Shillingstone, an S&D type 1 box was the next block post, the design dating from 1876-79. Sturminster Newton, which was another crossing post was also provided with an S&D type 1 box, which by 1966 was sorely in need of painting which it would never receive. Our final view is of Henstridge, which with a 150 foot platform was the smallest station on the S&D. There was a timber building and a store with a curved corrugated iron roof. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW2 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
S&D set BW2 contimues our exploration of the S&D, opening at the LSWR station at Wimborne on 12-4-66. This was on the legendary Castleman’s Corkscrew line via Ringwood. S&D passenger services wnded to Wimborne in 1920 and freight services in 1933.In Set BW1 we looked at Corfe Mullen Jcn and here we see the SB diagram as at 12-4-66 with the one time WImborne line now the truncated Carter’s Siding which served a quarry. To permit staff exchange at speed S&D engines and block post were provided with Whitaker’s tablet exchange apparatus, which was designed by Alfred Whitaker who was Locomotive Superintendent of the Joint. This is the apparatus at corfe Mullen Junction and it permitted tablet exchanges at up ti 60 mph. Bailey Gate SB was an S&D type 1 box with a brick base unlike Shillingstone and Sturminster Newton. Type 1 is a broad description as the boxes all differed. We look at ths main buildings on the down platform at Bailey Gate station. The wooden hut to the left is the porter’s room. Blandford Forum was provided with an LSWR type 4 box with gabled ends in 1893. We take a further look at Shillingstone box to S&D type 1 with its obvious LSWR affinities. Shillingstone box, with its 16 lever frame and a pair of Tyers tablet instruments on large wooden box bases was cramped and we can see the minimal clearance between lver No 1 and the staff instrument. We see the S&D type 1 box at Sturminster Newton in the distance, the Up side water tank and the tall lattice post starting signal in April 1966. Note the dip in the middle of the platform for the barrow crossing! Stalbridge, which was next to the level crossing over the Shaftesbury road, was an early LSWR type 4 box with hipped roof as per LSWR examples. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW3 Shepton Mallet & Radstock 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
After two sets on the neglected southern section of the S&DJR in Dorset, set BW3 cover Shepton Mallet with its S&D type 2 box, which we see moments after a torrential hail storm in 1966. It housed a 26 lever frame, still with a full set of brass plates. We look from the down platform towards Evercreech Jcn, with the goods shed on the right and the bridge carrying rhe GWR Wells-Frome branch in the distance. On the down side, passenger facilities were just an open fronted shelter. In the down yard, there was a superb water tank on a stone base which matched the signal box and the down shelter. Known as Radstock North station from 1949, Radstock North B box (previously Radstock West SB) controlled the level crossing. It was a gable-ended all-timber LSWR type 4 box which was the final type of S&D box. We see both ends of the box and the platforms with the concrete foofbridge and the down sidings in the distance. The main building was on the up platform. At the time of our visit, Wickham type 27 trolley B29W was sitting in the platform coupled to a 4w flat. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW4 Glastonbury 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
The line from Evercreech Junction to the Bristol Channel at Burnham-on-Sea is often overlooked, so Set 4 explores Glastonbury, which was the junction for the Wells branch. The headquarters of the line from 1861 to 1877, it remained home to the S&D civil engineer. We look west from the Up platform towards Burnham in 1966 with the signal box on the left. On the right and largely overgrown is the connection to the engineers’ siding. Looking east along the platforms, we see the lattice footbridge, a rarity on the S&DJR. Glastonbury & Street signal box an early LSWR ‘type 4’ box with LSW hipped roof but was unusually all timber instead of largely brick. It housed a 29 lever frame with some two function push-pull levers. The lever which appears to be in mid stroke, No 22, is a push pull lever in the ‘normal’ position amd is masking push-pull lever No 20. We look from the box with the collection of Engineers huts to the left of the platforms. We look from the east end of the station with the lattice post co-acting starter to Evercreech, lever No 3 PULL. The small arm below No 3 is the subsidiary arm for shunt movements and was No 3 PUSH. We look from the end of the long loop at Glastonbury. Grass has now covered the Wells branch track bed which was served by the third platform face on the extreme right. Both lines crossed Dye House lane on the level, and a concrete hut was provided for the gate keeper with a note proclaiming DYE HOUSE LANE. It housed a 2-lever knee frame, and the signalman’s cloth still hangs on lever No 1, but cobwebs festoon lever No 2. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW5 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
The S&D was famed for its 280s, but also used Midland 2F, 3F and 4F 060 goods, and 4F No 44560, of 1922 (S&DJR No 60 until 1930) is at Templecombe. By June 1965, before the final closure of the S&D, 44560 had moved away from S&D metals and was at the ex GWR shed at Banbury, where we see the Whittaker tablet catcher in close up.The Wells branch from Glastonbury closed to all traffic in 1951, but 9 chains of the S&D including Priory Rd station provided a link between the GWR lines to Cheddar and Frome. We see Priory Rd on 12-6-52 when the S&D train shed was still in place. We also see Priory Rd level crossing and the remains of the GWR East Somerset signal box and the turntable pit in 1966. From this view it is clear that the train shed had been demolished, so we will take a closer look at the S&D building. Midsomer Norton & Welton, on the S&D main line south of Radstock was in S&D coal territory and connections were controlled from several ground frames, including North Ground frame. We look north from Blandford Forum SB in 1966 with the goods shed and bridge 194 in view. We see the surprisingly compex connections to the yard at the north end of Blandford Forum station. We look south at the main buildings at Shillingstone station in 1966. On the down platform at Shillingstone there was just a small wooden waiting room. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW6 Highbridge 1929 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
Ivo Peters (1915-1989) made the S&D famous, but another enthusiast, Jack Stretton Ward (1895-1958) had visited the SDJR works at Highbridge in 1929, making a valuable historical record before the works was closed in 1930. We open with the SDJR breakdown train, rows of wheels the erecting shop, and a 2F 060. A sister engine peeps out of the wooden doors of Highbridge engine shed. No 45A of 1895 was built at Highbridge Works in 1895 to shunt coal traffic at Radstock. In 1929, the SDJR acquired two sentinel shunters and No 45A was sent to Highbrdge where it was withdrawn in August 1929, and we have front and rear views of this delightful engine. No 2 was one of the legendary Fox Walker 060STs of 1874. It is seen in 1929 and was witndrawn by the LMS in Feb 1930. A rake of three 6-w carriages stands outside the paint shop at Highbridge in 1929. We take a closer look at 040ST No 45A on the coal stack road next to the turntable. Note the Salter springs are ahead of the dome, not behind the dome! The number is not visible but our next shot is identical to S&DJR open carriage truck No 4, and is by the oil store at Highbridge in 1929. Next to the carriage truck is S&DJR gas Storage tank No 1 which provided gas for coaching stock from the SDJR gas plant at Highbridge. Johnson 044T No 32 of 1877 was renumbered 52 in 1928 when sister engine No 52 was withdrawn. It became LMS 1230 and long outlived its sisters, surviving until 1946. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW7 SDJR engines 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
Johnson 044T No 54, by Windebank’s coal depot at Bath had been MR 1305 of 1884 but was sold to the SDJR in 1921 to replace an SDJR 044T! It was sent to the SDJR in full MR red livery, but lettered SDJR. The photo predates the fitting of push pull equipment in 1928. It was withdrawn by the LMS in 1931. SDJR 2-8-0 No 84 of 1914, is at Bath shed as LMS 13804. Somerset Central Railway No 7, a George England 240 of 1861, became SDR No 27 and later 27A. It was rebuilt as a 240T in 1888 and is at Radstock. It was withdrawn in 1925. The last engines ordered for the SDJR were two low height Sentinels for Radstock in 1929, No’s 101 and 102, becoming LMS and later BR 47190/91. 47191 is at Radstock. Fox Walker 060ST No 5 of 1875 is seen broadside. It was withdrawn by the LMS in 1934. By contrast, sister engine No 2 of 1874 is next to the water tank at Highbridge with the mess room to the right. It was withdrawn within weeks of the LMS taking over. A broadside view of Radstock shunter No 45A by the turntable at Highbridge shows how the spring balances were mounted AHEAD of the dome rather than behind it, as is normal. In a further view of No 45A, we see one of the legendary 280s in the distance. Motor-fitted Johnson 044T No 52 of 1877, renumbered from 32 in 1928, is in the Up platform at Highbridge in 1929. Non-motor-fitted 044T No 12 of 1877 runs light through the up platform at Highbridge in 1929. A study of the three 044Ts shows how 54 has a Johnson shaped steam trumpet, 52 has open Ramsbottom safety valves and No 12 has cased valves, whilst No 52 is the only one with a Belpaire firebox. The chimneys also differ! A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW8 miscellany 10 6x4 B+W Print Photos
Glastonbury signal box, seen in 1966, was an LSWR type 4 box built of wood, rather than the usual brick to windows of this type of LSWR box. SDJR 2-8-0 No 53803 is on Bath Shed in 1961. Midford signal box, with its sloping flat roof had been hastily rebuilt after it was hit by a runaway engine in 1936. We see the up platform and SB at Stalbridge looking south in 1966. On the down side at Stalbridge, the facilities comprised a partially open concrete shelter. We see the down platform and part of the SB at Blandford Forum in April 1966. We look south from Blandford SB with the yard and cattle dock on the left with a useful study of the upper face of canopy which is seldom seen in photos and useful to modellers. The goods shed at Blandford was just off the end of the down platform. The original shallow brick arch can be seen, as can the later lower arch whilst the structure has been strengthened by rail set into the pillars and bolted to the brickwork! Sturminster Newton was a desolate spot as we see in our 1966 study looking south. We conclude with SDJR 040T No 45 out of use at Highbridge in 1929. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. These views are copyright; Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.
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S&DJR Somerset & Dorset Joint Set BW9 miscellany 15 6x4 B+W Print Photos
S&DJR 440 No 78 was a 69 class built new with a Deeley type cab in 1908, and is at Bath. It became LMS 321 and was withdrawn in 1938. A glorious view of No 68, also at Bath, would have been taken after 1921, as it was a renewal of an older engine of 1896 to the celebrated MR 483 class, i.e. a 2P. Renumbered 42 in 1928 it became LMS 325 and lasted until 1951. LMS No 326 is in Bath Green Park platform on a Templecombe service on 22-9-48. SDJR 6w and bogie stock are between the carriage works and the carriage shed at Highbridge in 1929. 060 goods No 36, a 33 class Johnson engine of 1878, known as a Scottie as this batch were built by Neilson is on an eastbound freight at Highbridge. A part dismantled tender rests of baulks on a tender frame by the coal stack at Highbridge in 1929. SDJR third class 6w daloon No 108 is on one of the stub roads at the back of the carriage shed at Highbridge, as is an elderly 4w Stores van.Jack Stretton-Ward was fascinated by the elderly 040ST No 45 sn took s useful broadside shot. We see the goods shed at Sturminster Newton in 1966 and a cast iron Trespass sign issued by the joint secretaries of the SDJR in 1903 under an LSWR act of 1902. We see the ‘high’ end of Henstridge platform, looking south in 1966. One of the most evocative shots in the collection is the Passenger Services will be withdrawn notice which is on the platform at Blandford Forum in 1966. SDJR 2-8-0 No 53802 is in company with a Fowler 262T and a Johnson 0-6-0 and is devoid of its side rods and tender. It was broken up at Doncaster, dating the photo to May 1960. 53809 is also awaiting scrap but the location is Dai Woodhams yard at Barry. Happily 53809 was saved so after a melancholy look at the end of the SDJR we finish on this happy note. A copy of these notes accompanies the set. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without our prior written permission.