Aftermath

Following on from yesterday’s post about the closure of the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway network, the next job was to start dismantling the line. Class 22 diesel hydraulic locos were regulars on this sad chore, their sad looking faces reflecting that. Here we in late summer 1966 at Combwich, the railway still looks open, but don’t be fooled, now the work starts removing anything of scrap value or possible reuse. Soon the rails will be gone, the buildings will be bulldozed. Within a few years it might be an industrial park, a featureless housing estate, or maybe a supermarket. 

56 Years Ago

56 years ago today in 1966, the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Rly system closed forever. During the final year, there were many enthusiast specials. Here we are at Combwich in the summer of ‘65, and as usual all the regulars are to be seen.

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Rail Replacement Bus Service

It’s rail replacement Sunday! A miserable experience only enjoyed by lonely bus spotters. They seek to enjoy as many miles as possible, often taking a 3 hour ride for a journey which would only to be 49 minutes and 23 seconds by rail. The bus is usually empty, the wise choosing not to travel on such painful weekends. Here we have the Highbridge to Evercreech rail replacement bus service passing a few wild Triffid plants at Catcott crossing. Back in the olden days, Triffids would often be seen growing in the wild having escaped the farms. Photo copyright Nasal Nigel taken on his Zeiss Flashercamoflex.

 

Much Hype

Down on the docks. For years Pete, Dud and Neil have been asking for a passenger service on the light railway system. The day has finally arrived with the delivery of the much hyped train! No expense is spared as we can see! Alas budgets are tight, with management announcing that there might be some minor compromises over the original specification. Pete, Dud and Neil check over the 1st class accommodation, in fact there is only one class - how very inclusive. And as a bonus, the management announce that the unusual 6 wheel arrangement will provide an enhanced ride over the rickety old rails. The motive power comes in the form of an old tractor, with top speed of 9mph, and in the event of a fuel shortage can be easily adapted to run on moonshine. There is always plenty of moonshine around.

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A Load of Old Guff

It’s July 2026 and Class 08 rumbles between the rear of former Pedant & Armchair pub and the long closed Polbrook Gurney Colliery with a train of limestone from the Mendip Hills. With the ongoing war in Eastern Europe, rumour has it the colliery is going reopen as an opencast mine, thus reducing the madness of importing coal from halfway around the globe. By 2026, shortage of lithium means that electric cars are totally unfeasible and unaffordable for the everyday man, woman and other variations in between. The way forward is steam powered cars which can be powered by burning coal, single use plastic, Westminster guff and anything else which burns. 

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Shiny Beast

Thursday at Moorewood Colliery. Management, after many years have decided to operate a works train at the tiny colliery. It’s not really needed, for everyone lives within walking distance of the pithead. However it makes a fine sight, as it arrives with the morning service from nowhere in particular. Shamus and Eric look at the shiny paintwork, before turning their heads towards the scruffy carriages of unknown European origin. Barry Bullhead, the time and motion man wonders where the budget for the shiny beast came from. Hubert the conversational speaking Latin  horse turns his head towards Beryl and Doug whilst muttering “Is vultus amo Im 'non iens ut a raeda iam” to himself. 

Click to enlarge!

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Parp

 Wednesday morning on Combwich shed. Loco crew, Mike & Jim are standing over by the signal box as their engine boils up ready for use. Something awful appears to be happening in the loo. The methane stench is quite alarming. It appears that young Colin’s hangover cure of pickled winkles, pickled eggs, pickled onions, garnished with farmhouse cider and mustard may be backfiring. Light and retire. Little England joins the space race. Parp.

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Forgotten Veteran

 

For a brief spell in 1963 after leaving Southampton Docks, Vulcan Iron Works ‘USA’ tank was used on the wharf sidings at Combwich before heading to Guildford shed & Eastleigh Works the following year. The engine is now in long term storage at the Bluebell Railway, having last steamed in 1983. A true story apart from the bit that isn’t. 

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Monochrome Monday

A moody Monday at Cement Quay, a Class 4 Stanier tank shunts the siding. These locos tended to be used  on passenger services, but were equally good on freight. 

Sunday Lunchtime Outside The Miners Arms

Sunday lunchtime outside The Miners Arms. The posh girls Liz & Margo meet up for a spin in Beryl’s new toy, it might be a tight squeeze. Liz, Margo and Beryl met at finishing school in Switzerland many moons ago and have kept in touch ever since, mostly due to their liking of gin and proper working men.

Comical Ned (with the funny shaped head) is hoping to be invited, he’s had ‘a thing’ for Beryl for years. He’s a rather big chap, so there’s no way he’ll be able to join ’the girls’ on their jolly - it looks like another lonely pint when the pub opens in 5 minutes. All together, 1, 2, 3…….

On the left, local bounder and cad, Terry Tuttle-Thomas-Smythe eyes up the scene. He recently bought Beryl’s ancient Austin 7, not because he wanted it (he’s more of an Austin Healey 3000 kind of chap), it was simply a ploy to try to get in to Beryl’s pantaloons “Oh, hello ladies”. 

In the distance Nasal Nigel looks on from one of his favourite elevated spots. His bus-spotting green flasher-mac is primed and ready for speedy deployment after placing petroleum jelly on the button holes. And finally, keen railway modellers Edwin and Colin watch the engine pass through whilst they discuss the intricacies of rail flangeway clearances in EM gauge. 

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Where is Philbert?

A magnificent red sky greets the early shift at the colliery. But alas nothing can happen for a while. Down the pub the night before, Pete thought he’d successfully bribed young Philbert to light up the engine so he could spend a few extra hours in bed. Alas Philbert is nowhere to be seen, the 8% rough cider and saucy Sandy the barmaid leading the young whippersnapper astray with her charms. Dud suggests they use the diesel, but as is always the case, Pete has ‘lost’ the key again. Pete always does this on Saturdays, a ploy to get in a few extra hours overtime whist they ‘search’ for the key. It looks like it’s going to be a long day, not helped by the fact that the diesel is 5 miles away undergoing maintenance. 

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The Pedant & Armchair

The Frome to Evercreech goods rumbles past Polbrook Gurney Colliery. The Pedant & Armchair gets its milk delivery for the Horlicks drinkers. It’s a funny kind of pub, and very popular with elderly single men who still live at home with mother, even though mother passed on a good few years before, often in unexplained circumstances. This parallel universe line ran up the Nettlebridge Valley serving coal and mineral deposits linking the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway at Binegar with the Great Western Railway at Mells Road. The line was jointly operated by the SDJR and the GWR which resulted in an interesting mix of trains. An occasional passenger service also ran mostly to serve the numerous pits. 

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Herbert the Horse

At the end of WW3, the inch high people of Little England celebrate the reopening of the colliery, for coal is again king. A special train arrives with shiny blue-suited not so special guests who’ve managed to freeload their way on to the train. But the real star of the show is Herbert the Mayan speaking horse, the lesser known brother of conversational Latin speaking Hubert. Herbert has been taken out of retirement, after his solar powered replacement was deemed useless due to lack of sunshine for 13 months of the year. What a champion.

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Polished Brass

Wibble Wednesday at Combwich. In 1957 after much wibble and speculation, 1904 record breaker & celebrity loco ‘City of Truro’ is returned to regular service. The hot steamy delight is always a popular rail tour choice, especially with older gentlemen who fantasise of old brass and highly polished knobs & knockers. 

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Phallic Contraption

Tuesday morning, Shunter Terry notes that someone has stolen the screw coupling and replaced it with a phallic looking contraption. Control haven’t told him that his position will soon be redundant with the introduction of a new fangled auto coupling system. Union meeting time!

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Emmet Engineering Ltd.

Meanwhile at a little known location on the Isle or Purbeck, Monday morning sees the inaugural run of the new passenger rail car. It started life as a posh garden art studio, but an Emmet style blend of engineering with an old lorry produced this marvel of British engineering.

Nasal Nigel to the Rescue

Sunday morning at the newly formed Brew Street Railway Heritage Trust. Everyone looks on in awe at the shiny new engine. However there has been an invasion of mice overnight - Nasal Nigel, Colin, and horses Hubert, Herbert and Henry are terrified of mice. But that won’t stop them enjoying the fine sight. Nigel is particularly pleased to have found this new elevated platform; for his furtive skills with his sticky green bus-spotting flasher-mac, will humanly scare any vermin away. Oh Nigel, look at you, mother will be impressed. 

How it was done …

The Storm

Saturday bonus shot! I was going to keep it until tomorrow, but it's more topical today in the aftermath of storm Eunice. In the rose-tinted land of the inch high, the little people are tiding up after the storm. As is the norm, there is much discussion but not much actual doing. All the usual suspects have appeared to dish out 'advice'. It's likely they'll all give up shortly and have a strategy meeting in the nearby pub.

 

Angela Flatbottom

Saturday morning. Somewhere in the Polden Hills, the daily mixed Edington Jct to Bridgwater Nth service is watched by Barry Bullhead, the time and motion man from the ministry. Barry is in a good mood, having recently asked Angela Flatbottom for her hand in marriage. Part of the agreement is that Barry has to learn to drive a tractor, Angela being a farmer’s daughter and all that. Meanwhile down on the track, Doug and Digger Dave are examining some strange ghost like lettering hovering over the track. Curiously things can pass right through it. Click to enlarge…..

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Moonlight Encounter

 Moonlight rendezvous…… I got up early this morning in anticipation of the much hyped Zombie Apocalypse Doom predicted by the Met Office. So, with one eye out of the window, I thought I’d put this one together in anticipation of having to chase our dustbin down the road.  Click to enlarge. 

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Eunice & Dud

Thursday at the colliery. Hubert the Horse continues to teach Barry Bullhead conversational Latin. Edwin, Eunice & Dudley have a stormy conversation about point levers & whether Seep or Cobalt point motors are the best. It soon blew over, with them deciding on wire in tube.

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The Loo

4571 simmers on Combwich shed, these ex-GWR locos were often used on the Bridgwater service. The crew are nowhere to be seen, but it’s likely that Driver Norman is on the loo just visible to the left enjoying Razz, Routemaster Monthly or the recently released Psycho novel. Oh, mother will be impressed. 

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End of Shift

Tuesday evening deep in the Forest. For Bill & Ted it’s almost the end of their shift. The evening mist rises, the light in the public bar of The Miners is on. Just one wagon to go, then they’ll be off for a snifter or two, or three, or four, or five. Fireman Reggie grumbles, “keep one for me”. Poor Reggie.

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Monochrome Monday

 Monochrome Monday 

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