Description

BR Standard Class 4 No. 75023 (built 1953, with 82G Templecombe shedplate) and BR Standard Class 5 No. 73051 (built 1954) head a Down (Bournemouth-bound) Pines Express in the cutting just prior to the twin bores of Chilcompton Tunnel.

The train appears to have 10 or 11 carriages. The weather appears damp and the transition from bullhead rail to flat-bottomed is clearly visible in the middle distance on the Up line. There is no date currently available for this image but the loco allocations suggest 1961-2.

The cutting was subsequently completely infilled and presents a major obstacle for the S&D at Midsomer Norton, whose running line stops at the foot of the infill.

75023 is shown as allocated to Templecombe from September/October 1961 until September/October 1962 and withdrawn in January 1966. 73051 is shown as allocated to Bath Green Park from new until withdrawal in December 1965.

Photo by G A Richardson. Copyright S&DRT. Our ref. WSHSD_2022_14_144.

Medium format 6 x 6 cm negative.

Image width 800 pixels, available for immediate download in JPEG format. Please note that we do not currently supply prints. For personal use only. Publishing by any means, including social media, is prohibited. Higher resolutions of this image are available for personal use; please see photo enquiries page.

Commercial enquiries welcome via info (at) sdrt.org.