1966 - 'Hymek' at Steventon
Scruffy BR WR 'Hymek' diesel-hydraulic passing the remains of Steventon station with a short fitted-freight train, in 1966.
A signal post on the left has been removed, and only the white-painted background remains..
The station had been closed at the end of 1964, and the bridge seen here was awarded 'Grade II Listed' status..
The 'Hymek' s later became BR Class 35, but were never renumbered, and just had their 'D' prefix painted over. They were all withdrawn from BR service by 1975, apart from a few in departmental use. Four of the class have been preserved.
Today (2017) all traces of the old station have vanished, and this 'historic' bridge has become the source of some controversy, as it would - apparently - need to be replaced to provide clearance for overhead electric wires for the GW electrification.. A decision on this has been postponed for the time being, and a 'creative' solution is proposed to allow electrification to proceed, which will involve trains actually having to lower their pantographs when passing under the bridge, and then raise them again - with associated speed restrictions..
Original slide - photographer unknown.
1966 - 'Hymek' at Steventon
Scruffy BR WR 'Hymek' diesel-hydraulic passing the remains of Steventon station with a short fitted-freight train, in 1966.
A signal post on the left has been removed, and only the white-painted background remains..
The station had been closed at the end of 1964, and the bridge seen here was awarded 'Grade II Listed' status..
The 'Hymek' s later became BR Class 35, but were never renumbered, and just had their 'D' prefix painted over. They were all withdrawn from BR service by 1975, apart from a few in departmental use. Four of the class have been preserved.
Today (2017) all traces of the old station have vanished, and this 'historic' bridge has become the source of some controversy, as it would - apparently - need to be replaced to provide clearance for overhead electric wires for the GW electrification.. A decision on this has been postponed for the time being, and a 'creative' solution is proposed to allow electrification to proceed, which will involve trains actually having to lower their pantographs when passing under the bridge, and then raise them again - with associated speed restrictions..
Original slide - photographer unknown.