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2016
DAY RETURN

9th October  Kent & East Sussex Railway

I filled a last minute firing vacancy at the K&ESR on the 9th October, which saw the Railway's 'Wealden Pullman' dining train double-headed by Terriers 32678 and 32670. It was to be one of the last such occasions for a while as 32670's boiler ticket expired a couple of weeks later. My steed was to be 32678. As hoped it proved to be a highly enjoyable and satisfying turn.

 
       
Loco: 32678 and 32670
Location: Tenterden

Caption: The footplate – just the way I like it – clean, tidy, shiny
Location: 32678

Loco: 32678
Location: Tenterden
Loco: 32678 and 32670
Location: Northiam
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27–28th May  Swanage Railway
Loco: 31806
Location: Swanage
Caption: Tea's up!
Location: Swanage
Loco: 31806
Location: Swanage
Caption: Employment opportunities
Location: Swanage
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Loco: 31806
Location: Corfe Castle

Locos: 30053 and 31806
Location: Swanage

Loco: 31806
Location: Swanage
Loco: 30053
Location: Swanage
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12–13th March  West Somerset Railway

On the 7th March 1966 the majority of the former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway closed. The line was made famous by its route from Bath to Bournemouth, which climbed over the Mendip Hills, and in so doing took many folk from the industrial Midlands on their holidays to the south coast.

Fifty years on, and the West Somerset Railway commemorated the closure over two weekends with an impressive line-up of locomotives and the renaming of their stations to some of those found on the old S&D. (Whilst it was rather romantic to disembark at 'Midford' or 'Evercreech Junction', it did make trying to work out exactly where I was a tad challenging!) The probable highlight of the event was the pairing of newly overhauled 7Fs 53808 and 53809. These were joined by two other former S&D stalwarts, 4F 44422 and 9F 92214. This left four others, representing types found on the S&D during its final years, West Country class 34070 Manston,34053 Sir Keith Park (masquerading as 34098 Templecombe), 8F 48624 and 4MTtank 80072(masquerading as 80045).

 
       
Loco: 53809
Location: Bishops Lydeard
Loco: 53809
Location: Washford
Loco: Kilmersdon
Location: Minehead
Loco: 53809
Location: Minehead
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Locos: 53808 and 53809
Location: Minehead
Loco: 53808
Location: Minehead
Loco: 34098 Templecombe
Location: Williton
Caption: Evercreech Junction
Location: Williton
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Subject: Williton station
Location: Williton
Loco: 48624
Location: Heading north
Loco: 48624
Location: Blue Anchor
Loco: 53808
Location: Bishops Lydeard
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Locos: 53808 and 92214
Location: Bishops Lydeard
Loco: 92214
Location: Bishops Lydeard
Locos: 53808 and 34070 Manston
Location: Bishops Lydeard
Loco: 80045
Location: Bishops Lydeard
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Subject: Bridge
Location: Bishops Lydeard
Loco: 34070 Manston
Location: Bishops Lydeard
Loco: 53809
Location: Bishops Lydeard
Loco: 53809
Location: Bishops Lydeard
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