Station Masters Jottings
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For most of us January and February are quiet months, when we
hope to catch up on all those things that have been left until time
allows - but most of us will have done these tasks in the warm.
However there are four groups on the railway that have to be out in all weathers
because of the nature of their job. They are the Cutting Back gang, who keep
the vegetation and trees in check, which allows the travelling public to have
such stunning views of the Quantocks and the Brendon Hills; The Permanent
Way gangs, who have been sorting out the drainage at Crowcombe Heathfield,
as heavy rain was causing flooding in the station; the Association gang, who
have been laying more concrete sleepers along the remaining length of the old
Barnstaple Branch towards Taunton. Over the weekend of the 5th- 7th February,
they took out some plain rail and sleepers, before levelling the track bed, ready
to put in the next point on the Triangle at Norton Fitzwarren, which has now
been completed; and finally the Signal and Telegraph gangs, who have been
putting in the point rodding and lever ground frame at Dunster, along with the
associated electrical relays that allow the whole railway to run in a controlled
way for safety reasons.
The first passenger train to traverse the triangle was a driver and guard route
familiarisation train. All drivers and guards have to sign that they know all the
signals, gradients, bridges, stations and speed or other restriction. Using the
Diesel Multiple unit to give better views the whole line was traversed, some
even know the route into Taunton and are able to escort national railway drivers
from Taunton to Minehead.
Some of you may have noticed that Quantock Motors have moved into a unit
that was used by Rexquote, but not owned by them. The building was built as a
bus museum and is now home to the vintage bus and coaches owned by the
proprietor, Mr Steve Morris. It is hoped that this will enhance the Heritage theme
for the area in conjunction with the railway and joint ventures in the future may
be possible. Preparations for the coming season are taking place. When the
weather is right there is lots of outside painting going on to keep the station
spick and span. I note that there are some new exhibits in the Gauge Museum
and the model railway on the top floor is also under going restoration and
improvement by a group of railway modellers, including some members from the
youth section Trackers.
Some gardening work has been done by Clive Goddard. However, the flower
troughs’ proved a bit difficult to plant as they were still frozen two weeks after
the snow had gone, which is quite difficult to believe but that’s how hard the
frosts were down in the hollow of the station. The strange looking carriage
parked in the cattle dock next to the ex-post office parcel van is auto trailer 169
which is being restored at Williton by Locomotive 5542 Ltd. It had been to the
South Devon Railway workshop were work had been carried out to the
under-frame. Hopefully, it will go to Williton soon for further work to the frames
and full restoration.
Following the container lorry bridge strike at Combe Florey, remedial work is
now being carried out to repair the damage. Unfortunately when these strikes
occur, that part of the railway is closed until the bridge has been inspected, for
safety reasons, and declared fit to cross. A speed restriction may be placed on
the bridge if it is not damaged enough to close it, - these speed restrictions are
strictly observed, to avoid further damage to the bridge and for the safety of
passengers.
The Repair and Maintenance team are building a new waiting shelter for
Stogumber Station and it looks to be as big as the one at Crowcombe
Heathfield. This will replace an older building which had to be taken down, as it
was unsafe. The building, when in place, will be dedicated to Mrs Iris Horne
MBE, the former Station Mistress, who was still in post when she died last year
aged 92. Iris, along with her husband Harry, had been involved with the station
and the railway since the mid forties. Harry was the Station Master before Iris
took over the reigns following his death. At one stage Stogumber was a very
busy station with its own signal box, goods shed and camping coach facility.
The station is now undergoing restoration of the toilet facilities and waiting
room by the new Station Mistress, Mrs Jenny Davidge, and her team who I am
told do an extremely good cream tea. So if you are out that way why not give
them a try at this idyllic wayside station - even better still go by train!
Ian Aldridge Former Station Master Bishops Lydeard.