Summer Saturday Over Mendip!

nevard_110109_pines_DSC_20926_BW_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Acclaimed West Country snapper Ivan Locksmith with his Rollieflex and a roll Kodak Tri-X captured this photo of the Cleethorpes to Exeter pounding up the Mendip slopes near Masbury ably hauled by 40564 and 53809 in August 1959. On summer Saturdays Bath shed was frequently short of motive power, so a SDJR 7F heavy freight locomotive was often rostered on to assist over the Mendips and was always marshalled on the inside.

The reason for no crew being seen, is because there was a group of naked ladies running through the field on the other side of the embankment being shot of a Carry On film!

The miniature representation here consists of a renumbered and painted Hornby LMS 2P 4-4-0 and the new Bachmann SDJR 7F 2-8-0. The coach is a 25 year old Mainline LMS panelled carriage repainted into maroon and lined out. The foreground is my stock photo-thingy and a summer sky added to replace the magnolia wall this little cameo was shot against.

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