All journeys from Merehead start the same way... backwards. 59004 backs a uniform rake of 19 Yeoman branded hoppers out to Whites Crossing to the west of the Torr works complex before leaving through Quarry junction to gain the West of England line at East Somerset junction, Witham Friary. The working is 12.44 Merehead to Wootton Bassett - 03/02/14
59101 approaches quarry junction before dropping down into the reception sidings at Merehead with 43 JNA and JYA boxes (only know this because it was written on the sides of them) forming the day's 7C77 from Acton yard - 05/10/12
59001 has less than 1/4 mile to go to her destination with 6V18 Hither Green to Whatley stone empties. Don't worry folks, taken from public footpath crossing the track near Great Elm (as hundreds of dog-walkers will testify) - 23/08/12
Horrible conditions but somehow pulled off a very acceptable image of 59005 at Wanstrow having just left Merehead with 7A15 for Acton - 09/10/12
7A15 again, in drier conditions but light not much better. 59101 passes Wanstrow with another load of quality Mendip aggregates bound for Acton - 13/06/12
59004 nears Whatley with 7V52 empties from Hamworthy - 07/05/12
Our old friend 59004 draws another old friend, 7C77 Acton to Merehead, past Studley farm Wanstrow - 09/03/11
59101 draws 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties up the incline towards Studley farm Wanstrow - 26/08/11
59002 pulls slowly towards Bedlam tunnel on approach to Whatley quarry with 7C48 Appleford to Whatley empty boxes - 14/05/12
59005 seen approaching Wanstrow with 7C77 empties from Acton. In the far distance can be seen King Alfreds Tower, sat atop Kingsettle Hill it was completed in 1772 and is owned by the National Trust. It is a grade I listed building - 11/03/11
A very smart 59103 passes Murty near Frome with 6C76 Acton to Whatley empties - 19/04/12
A very clean 59103 leaves Whatley quarry behind on the freight only branch towards Frome with 6L21 Whatley to Dagenham - 31/08/11
Same location as above, same working, grubbier example of the class. 59104 between Whatley and Frome with 6L21 for Dagenham - 05/10/12
Backlit to hell - 59001 exits Frome having just come off the freight only line (from Whatley quarry) at Frome north junction with 6L21 aggregates for Dagenham - 08/02/13
Gloomy Bunns lane near Frome witnesses 59101 with 7C77 nearing final destination of Merehead - 05/10/12
Wrong side of the track again but hey, I just happened to be passing. 59004 leads 59002 past Bunns lane near Frome with a late running 7C77 Acton to Merehead - 15/02/13
59206 powers 7C31 08.40 Theale to Merehead past one of my favourite locations, Bunns lane near Frome. Unfortunately in order to negate encroachment in your shot by the lineside shrubbery here you either need a very,very tall step ladder or (my weapon of choice) a car roof that you don't mind standing (carefully) on. A van would be even better if you have one. The only other option might be to quickly nip over the fence with some gardening implements and have a quick pruning session but of course no-one ever does that do they - 03/03/14
59001 powers an unusually short 7C77 through West Woodlands near Frome - 17/03/14
59204 pulls away from Blatchbridge junction Frome with 7C31 empties from Theale - 17/10/12
59103, as it has many times before, rumbles through Blatchbridge junction, Frome with a very lengthy 7C77 Acton to Merehead- 07/03/14
A gleaming 59201 seen at Blatchbridge junction Frome with 7C77 empties from Acton for Merehead - 23/05/12
Decided I had a boatload of 7C77 Acton to Merehead returning empties but hardly any of the 'source working' so here is 59002 on 7A09 Merehead to Acton (also sometimes known as the 'jumbo train') in very neutral light passing through Blatchbridge junction Frome - 28/03/13
As mentioned above, 7C77 seen at Blatchbridge junction Frome with 59101 providing the horsepower - 28/08/12
7C77 again, Blatchbridge again, this time 59004 in charge. A good chance to compare 59s (see 59101 above), I prefer the twin headlight look of the earlier 59s to the later ones. In terms of livery I'm pretty easy going, I know some guys are not too keen on the 59/1s Hanson look but I'm ok with it (I like the Orange roof, it is my favourite colour) - 12/09/11
Surely not 7C77 again, yep afraid so, 59203 this time. I think once I realised it was a pretty reliable 3-4ish working around Frome I developed a pretty lazy Pavlovian response to it, just going out for it to add another image to the collection. This location on the Frome avoiding line is one of the first 'discovered by me' locations which I soon found out had been regularly visited by others for ages*, shucks - 24/05/12
*for anyone who still doesn't know, it's up the hill behind Asda!
*for anyone who still doesn't know, it's up the hill behind Asda!
A good indication of seasonal changes, contrasting with the image above 59202 brings 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties around the Frome avoiding line - 24/01/13
59203 at Bunns lane with 7A09 07.12 Merehead to Acton, bang on time today at 07.50 - 24/03/14
59102 pulls strongly through Styles Hill on the Frome avoiding line with 7A09 Merehead to Acton. In the distance can (just) be seen Alfred's Tower sitting on Kingsettle Hill - the tower is part of the National Trust's Stourhead estate - 06/08/12
While waiting for the morning's jumbo train a shabby looking 59203 appeared heading South West with a rake of empties on an unidentified working, always assumed it was bound for Merehead but maybe not - 25/08/11
Couldn't get a 59 with the AI 'Ice Cream Van' livery today, you'll have to settle for an actual Ice Cream Van. Mr Whippy (or someone similar) passes over 59202 with 99 flake, sorry 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties, Styles Hill Frome - 21/03/12
59002 with 25 loaded autoballasters in tow forming 6W41 Westbury to Blatchbridge junction (via Taunton) cruise through Clink Road Junction - 17/02/13
Classic Clink of course, 59104 pulls onto the main line with a Whatley to Hothfield working - 07/10/13
Clink again, this time 59102 in charge of 6L21 from Whatley to Dagenham, one of my favs - 02/10/13
59002 opens the taps at Clink road junction Frome with 7Z12 Merehead to (Royal) Wootton Bassett - 20/03/13
59202 approaching Clink road junction Frome with 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties - 27/09/12
59102 rounds the curve from Berkley on approach to Clink road junction Frome with 7C31 empties from Theale bound for Whatley quarry - 20/03/13
59204 pulls through Berkley with 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties - 28/05/12
59002 at Berkley of course (or Berkley Marsh if you prefer) with good old 6L21 Whatley to Dagenham, shame about the dull conditions - 28/03/13
59103 leads 59202 through Berkley near Frome with 7A09 Merehead to Acton jumbo train, todays consist really did justify the name - 29/03/12
A poor record of an interesting movement - 59101 leads 66094 and 59002 through Berkley near Frome with empties for Merehead. It is also worth noting the mast which blights the location at Pot lane, spoiling what I'm told was a good shot looking east towards Westbury - 24/08/11
One of my very favourite images, it just seems to work despite the poor lighting conditions. 59202 Vale of White Horse passes through a gloomy Berkley near Frome having recently left Whatley quarry with this load of aggregates in the form of 6M20 bound for Churchyard sidings St Pancras. This working is normally a DBS 66 working - 30/03/1i2
59205 emerges from the gloom of Standerwick near Frome with empty wagons from Westbury down yard to Whatley. The BBC weather advised me that the fog would lift by 15.00 but no sign of that at 16.39. At this location Westbury White Horse is usually just visible in the top right - 13/03/14
59002 powers through Berkley on approach to Clink Road junction Frome with 6V18 Hither Green to Whatley - 31/07/12
Getting used to seeing 59004 and sister 002 minus the Yeoman logo now, Paul A Hammond passes from Somerset into Wiltshire at Fairwood near Westbury with aggregates from Merehead bound for Eastleigh - 25/10/13
59004 Paul A Hammond powers the Acton to Merehead return empties away from Fairwood Junction, Westbury, Westbury's famous White Horse in the background - 11/03/11
The driver opens the taps as 59101 draws away from Fairwood junction with 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties - 25/08/11
Not long to wait before 59203 rolled into view at Fairwood with Exeter Riverside to Westbury empties - 21/03/14
While in the Fairwood area for the yellow peril it would be rude not to wait around for good old 6L21 Whatley to Dagenham, today in the hands (or should that be wheels?) of 59206 - 21/03/14
A very smart 59103 seen after leaving the main line at Fairwood junction Westbury with a neat collection of boxes forming 7A15 Merehead to Acton - 17/09/12
59204 this time brings a lengthy 6L21 Whatley to Dagenham through Fairwood. I know this one and above are very similar but I like them both and couldn't choose between them! - 17/10/12
So nearly the shot of the year, in a day of sunshine and showers an incredibly clear and bright rainbow appeared between the White Horse and the cement works chimney creating a fabulous arch over the scene, unfortunately nothing at all was passing, nothing! 10 minutes later(!) 59204 is seen with a short 7C77 Acton yard to Merehead working. Still, can't complain, normally I can never get a 59 in full sun at this location - 21/03/14
59005 emerges from the fog of Fairwood junction Westbury with the always nicely uniform consist forming 7Z12 Merehead to Wootton Bassett. I always have an inner conflict a this location as what appears to be a perfectly composed frame here always appears to give a sloping background, I have recently concluded that the bridge and hedgeline in the distance do indeed slope from right to left! - 11/12/13
The weak winter sun barely illuminates the scene as we arrive at our final stop, the Village of Chantry. 59102 rolls into Westbury with 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties. That concludes our tour, 4 square miles of prime Somerset real estate in 4 hours, all without leaving Wiltshire!! Not so much 4 seasons as 4 Hansons in one day! - 14/01/14
Our next stop is at the Village of Whatley, home to Hanson's quarry and the starting point for 6L21 working to Dagenham, appropriately headed by 59101 pictured passing Westbury cement works - 14/01/14
Next on our whistle-stop tour of West Somerset is the Village of Great Elm. 59104 gets away from Heywood Road junction with 7A17 Merehead to Acton, seen passing the currently moth-balled cement works owned by Lafarge - 14/01/14
Time now for a tour of the Mendips, first stop is the Village of Mells. 59103 approaches Heywood Road junction, Westbury with matching Hanson hoppers forming 7C31 Theale to Merehead empties. Passing in the other direction is 6M20 Whatley to Churchyard sidings piloted by 66238 - 14/01/14
Barely breaking sweat with a short rake of empties forming 7V82 Crawley to Merehead, 59002 rolls towards Heywood Road junction, Westbury. Lovely sun although not quite where I would have liked, still can't argue with Earth's orbital trajectory or the network's standard working timetable. The locomotive was de-nuded of it's Yeoman branding in September 2013 but still no sign of the mooted AI livery - 14/01/14
59005 approaching Heywood road junction Westbury with yet another 7C77 Acton to Merehead empties - I never get bored of it though - 16/10/12
59203 accelerates away from Westbury with another I of my favourite workings (reliable, at a reasonable hour and near my front door - what's not to like) 6L21 Whatley to Dagenham - 16/10/12
59104 approaches Upton Lovell crossing in the Wyle valley with 6V12 Woking to Merehead empties - 17/10/13
59103 creeps towards Thingley junction with 7Z12 Merehead to Wootton Bassett - should that not be "Royal" Wootton Bassett?. Kinda backlit but I think I got away with it (a bit like when I mentioned the war!) - 09/10/13
59205 passes The Green at Great Cheverell with 6C76 Acton to Whatley empties - 18/02/13
Greatt Cheverell again, 40 minutes before 6C76, 59201 has just passed the site of Lavington station which closed during the 1960s, the site of the station and goods yard is now a metal recycling operation. The working is our old friend 7C77 from Acton bound for Merehead - 18/02/13
Nearly a year earlier 59101 takes the curve through Great Cheverell with 7C77 retunring empties to Merehead from Acton yard - 22/03/12
A few minutes after 101, 102 arrived with 6C76 Acton to Whatley empties - 22/03/12
59205 exits the Bath goods loop at Oldfield Park with a working from Westbury bound for Bennets sidings at Avonmouth - 10/06/13
59002 powers up into Bruton station with 6W41 Westbury to Blatchbridge Junction via Taunton. 25 loaded HQAs in support of an engineers possession of the Frome Station line from Clink Road to Blatchbridge replacing old bullhead rail. Struggled a bit with backlighting but I like this location - got a cracking HST there and an interesting 150 DMU on other occasions - 17/02/13
59002 climbs Dauntsey bank on approach to Royal Wootton Bassett with 7Z12 Merehead to (Royal) Wootton Bassett. As Johnson Aggregates yard can only be accessed by backing in off the down line, the consist actually runs to Swindon where the locomotive runs around the train before heading "back to Bassett" - 07/12/12