GREAT LOCO VARIETY in and around WESTBURY! PLUS a look in at WHATLEY and MEREHEAD QUARRIES AND MORE!

A great day exploring Westbury and some surrounding areas of interest! We start at Westbury station, which was a hive of activity with Colas 56049 'Robin of Templecombe' and 59003 showing well in the yard, and DB 66057 and 66069 shunting around. The Colas 67’s could also be heard undergoing engine tests behind the 70 and 66, and 67024 headed the Belmond British Pullman ECS Newbury Racecourse - Salisbury East Yard through platform 1 shortly after 13.30, as well as Tamper DR75010 'Roger Nicholas' shunting around before heading to Reading Triangle Sidings!

We then head to Fairwood Junction, the point on the Reading - Taunton Line west of Westbury where the main line into Westbury Station and the Westbury Avoider converge. The road bridge above the junction offers great views to the west, and on both routes to the east, with the famous white horse of Westbury in the background.

Following a few passes there, we head down to explore the two major rail served quarries in Somerset, firstly Hanson’s Whatley Quarry, which had plenty going on including Freightliner class 59s and class 66s idling on the depot, and the large Hanson GM Switcher EMD SW1001 120 sounding out over the Mendips as it shunted fully loaded stone wagons around the yard! Mixed weather saw some rain showers pass through but that didn’t dampen the day as we headed down the road to Foster Yeoman’s Torr Works/ Merehead Quarry, slightly less busy but still a lot of wagon traffic being loaded and 66560 awaiting its next duties.

The day finished with a quick stop at Cranmore, and a look round the East Somerset Railway, with the renowned railway and wildlife artist David Shepherd’s memorial exhibition now up and running on the new platform, and GWR 4110 arriving with the final afternoon tea ‘Mendip Belle’ service of the day! | 11.09.2024

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