My grandfather worked there for over 50 years had many very happy times with grandfather going out with him in this 3 wheel lorry delivering to shop in the town sitting on the battery box to go in to westlands there uses to be cattle sheds where they stored the cattle food. The shed were up on stilts they used to have wild cat running around there I walking up the line with my grandfather in the morning still dark he had to take the number of each wagon very very happy times
Wow. That photo of 4103 at Pen Mill on the last day reveals me having just chalked "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN" on the tanks. (6:45) As reported by the Somerset County Gazette "Railway employee Nicholas Hales chalks a farewell message on the side of 4103 i the hands of driver Dominay of Taunton shed" A memory that will live with me for ever.
The Taunton to Yeopvil line wasn't closed, it was murdered. Scores of people used it to get to Westlands each day, a GWR 'B' set (I think) would disgorge passengers at Hendford. So what did 'they' do? Altered the times so an early train had to wait once it reached Langport, for no proper reason. Look at the timetables of old for proof. Instantly hundreds of people had to find a different way to get to work from that direction. A friend of my wife related the story - she lived in Martock so that was her way of getting to work at Westlands. No more proof is needed. With swine like Marples in charge, what would we expect? Nothing less, obviously...
The vast majority of people in Martock, Montecute work in Yeovil or Taunton this line would now be a big money maker. Remember walking along the old track bed from Martock to Hendford as a teenager. Wish I’d dug out that old rail sign at Fold Hill Lane bridge it would be worth a few Bob now.
I see what Beaching was trying to do, and have some sympathy for him, but what he did to smaller rural communities was devastating for many people. People who couldn't afford a car at the time.
My grandfather worked there for over 50 years had many very happy times with grandfather going out with him in this 3 wheel lorry delivering to shop in the town sitting on the battery box to go in to westlands there uses to be cattle sheds where they stored the cattle food. The shed were up on stilts they used to have wild cat running around there I walking up the line with my grandfather in the morning still dark he had to take the number of each wagon very very happy times
That was an excellent video. Well produced, great use of overlays, and lots of historic facts. Well done!
Try contacting Leonardo Helicopters, as the reprographic department used to have some quite old aerial pictures of the area. Thanks for the video.
I have been in touch with them as they let me do some filming over Yeovil. I will ask about historical photos.
I grew up in Yeovil in the 1960s and spent many happy hours at Hendford Halt watching the single line token being exchanged with the signalman
Lovely video, very interesting
Fantastic brought back many happy memories of my youth.
Brilliant film, thankyou ❤
Wow. That photo of 4103 at Pen Mill on the last day reveals me having just chalked "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN" on the tanks. (6:45) As reported by the Somerset County Gazette "Railway employee Nicholas Hales chalks a farewell message on the side of 4103 i the hands of driver Dominay of Taunton shed" A memory that will live with me for ever.
The Taunton to Yeopvil line wasn't closed, it was murdered. Scores of people used it to get to Westlands each day, a GWR 'B' set (I think) would disgorge passengers at Hendford. So what did 'they' do? Altered the times so an early train had to wait once it reached Langport, for no proper reason. Look at the timetables of old for proof. Instantly hundreds of people had to find a different way to get to work from that direction. A friend of my wife related the story - she lived in Martock so that was her way of getting to work at Westlands. No more proof is needed. With swine like Marples in charge, what would we expect? Nothing less, obviously...
Afraid this happened many time.Passenger surveys made during school holidays etc.
Interesting.I have often being to Yeovil,and a friend's property is by the line near Yeovil Junction.
excellent
The vast majority of people in Martock, Montecute work in Yeovil or Taunton this line would now be a big money maker. Remember walking along the old track bed from Martock to Hendford as a teenager. Wish I’d dug out that old rail sign at Fold Hill Lane bridge it would be worth a few Bob now.
Remember.....Beeching closed railways because folks were moving towards car ownership as incomes rose due to the economy improvement after WW2.
I see what Beaching was trying to do, and have some sympathy for him, but what he did to smaller rural communities was devastating for many people. People who couldn't afford a car at the time.
Forgive me please I didn't realise that was the case on those closures@@AarchiveRailways
Beaching didn't close anything. Nobody ever mentions Ernest Maples.